know not how falsehood could have had the power of dressing them up to
seem so like truth； and the traitor contrived that his tears should
vouch for his words； and his sighs for his sincerity。
〃I； a poor young creature alone； ill versed among my people in cases
such as this； began； I know not how； to think all these lying
protestations true； though without being moved by his sighs and
tears to anything more than pure compassion； and so； as the first
feeling of bewilderment passed away； and I began in some degree to
recover myself； I said to him with more courage than I thought I could
have possessed； 'If； as I am now in your arms； senor； I were in the
claws of a fierce lion； and my deliverance could be procured by
doing or saying anything to the prejudice of my honour； it would no
more be in my power to do it or say it； than it would be possible that
what was should not have been； so then； if you hold my body clasped in
your arms； I hold my soul secured by virtuous intentions； very
different from yours； as you will see if you attempt to carry them
into effect by force。 I am your vassal； but I am not your slave；
your nobility neither has nor should have any right to dishonour or
degrade my humble birth； and low…born peasant as I am； I have my
self…respect as much as you； a lord and gentleman： with me your
violence will be to no purpose； your wealth will have no weight；
your words will have no power to deceive me； nor your sighs or tears
to soften me： were I to see any of the things I speak of in him whom
my parents gave me as a husband； his will should be mine； and mine
should be bounded by his； and my honour being preserved even though my
inclinations were not would willingly yield him what you； senor； would
now obtain by force； and this I say lest you should suppose that any
but my lawful husband shall ever win anything of me。' 'If that；'
said this disloyal gentleman； 'be the only scruple you feel； fairest
Dorothea' （for that is the name of this unhappy being）； 'see here I
give you my hand to be yours； and let Heaven； from which nothing is
hid； and this image of Our Lady you have here； be witnesses of this
pledge。'〃
When Cardenio heard her say she was called Dorothea； he showed fresh
agitation and felt convinced of the truth of his former suspicion； but
he was unwilling to interrupt the story； and wished to hear the end of
what he already all but knew； so he merely said：
〃What！ is Dorothea your name； senora？ I have heard of another of the
same name who can perhaps match your misfortunes。 But proceed；
by…and…by I may tell you something that will astonish you as much as
it will excite your compassion。〃
Dorothea was struck by Cardenio's words as well as by his strange
and miserable attire； and begged him if he knew anything concerning
her to tell it to her at once； for if fortune had left her any
blessing it was courage to bear whatever calamity might fall upon her；
as she felt sure that none could reach her capable of increasing in
any degree what she endured already。
〃I would not let the occasion pass； senora；〃 replied Cardenio； 〃of
telling you what I think； if what I suspect were the truth； but so far
there has been no opportunity； nor is it of any importance to you to
know it。〃
〃Be it as it may；〃 replied Dorothea； 〃what happened in my story
was that Don Fernando； taking an image that stood in the chamber；
placed it as a witness of our betrothal； and with the most binding
words and extravagant oaths gave me his promise to become my
husband； though before he had made an end of pledging himself I bade
him consider well what he was doing； and think of the anger his father
would feel at seeing him married to a peasant girl and one of his
vassals； I told him not to let my beauty； such as it was； blind him；
for that was not enough to furnish an excuse for his transgression；
and if in the love he bore me he wished to do me any kindness； it
would be to leave my lot to follow its course at the level my
condition required； for marriages so unequal never brought
happiness； nor did they continue long to afford the enjoyment they
began with。
〃All this that I have now repeated I said to him； and much more
which I cannot recollect； but it had no effect in inducing him to
forego his purpose； he who has no intention of paying does not trouble
himself about difficulties when he is striking the bargain。 At the
same time I argued the matter briefly in my own mind； saying to
myself； 'I shall not be the first who has risen through marriage
from a lowly to a lofty station； nor will Don Fernando be the first
whom beauty or； as is more likely； a blind attachment； has led to mate
himself below his rank。 Then； since I am introducing no new usage or
practice； I may as well avail myself of the honour that chance
offers me； for even though his inclination for me should not outlast
the attainment of his wishes； I shall be； after all； his wife before
God。 And if I strive to repel him by scorn； I can see that； fair means
failing； he is in a mood to use force； and I shall be left dishonoured
and without any means of proving my innocence to those who cannot know
how innocently I have come to be in this position； for what
arguments would persuade my parents that this gentleman entered my
chamber without my consent？'
〃All these questions and answers passed through my mind in a moment；
but the oaths of Don Fernando； the witnesses he appealed to； the tears
he shed； and lastly the charms of his person and his high…bred
grace； which； accompanied by such signs of genuine love； might well
have conquered a heart even more free and coy than mine… these were
the things that more than all began to influence me and lead me
unawares to my ruin。 I called my waiting…maid to me； that there
might be a witness on earth besides those in Heaven； and again Don
Fernando renewed and repeated his oaths； invoked as witnesses fresh
saints in addition to the former ones； called down upon himself a
thousand curses hereafter should he fail to keep his promise； shed
more tears； redoubled his sighs and pressed me closer in his arms；
from which he had never allowed me to escape； and so I was left by
my maid； and ceased to be one； and he became a traitor and a
perjured man。
〃The day which followed the night of my misfortune did not come so
quickly； I imagine； as Don Fernando wished； for when desire has
attained its object； the greatest pleasure is to fly from the scene of
pleasure。 I say so because Don Fernando made all haste to leave me；
and by the adroitness of my maid； who was indeed the one who had
admitted him； gained the street before daybreak； but on taking leave
of me he told me； though not with as much earnestness and fervour as
when he came； that I might rest assured of his faith and of the
sanctity and sincerity of his oaths； and to confirm his words he
drew a rich ring off his finger and placed it upon mine。 He then
took his departure and I was left； I know not whether sorrowful or
happy； all I can say is； I was left agitated and troubled in mind
and almost bewildered by what had taken place； and I had not the
spirit； or else it did not occur to me； to chide my maid for the
treachery she had been guilty of in concealing Don Fernando in my
chamber； for as yet I was unable to make up my mind whether what had
befallen me was for good or evil。 I told Don Fernando at parting； that
as I was now his； he might see me on other nights in the same way；
until it should be his pleasure to let the matter become known； but；
except the following night； he came no more； nor for more than a month
could I catch a glimpse of him in the street or in church； while I
wearied myself with watching for one； although I knew he was in the
town； and almost every day went out hunting； a pastime he was very
fond of。 I remember well how sad and dreary those days and hours
were to me； I remember well how I began to doubt as they went by；
and even to lose confidence in the faith of Don Fernando； and I
remember； too； how my maid heard those words in reproof of her
audacity that she had not heard before； and how I was forced to put
a constraint on my tears and on the expression of my countenance；
not to give my parents cause to ask me why I was so melancholy； and
drive me to invent falsehoods in reply。 But all this was suddenly
brought to an end； for the time came when all such considerations were
disregarded； and there was no further question of honour； when my
patience gave way and the secret of my heart became known abroad。
The reason was； that a few days later it was reported in the town that
Don Fernando had been married in a neighbouring city to a maiden of
rare beauty； the daughter of parents of distinguished position； though
not so rich that her portion would entitle her to look for so
brilliant a match； it was said； too； that her name was Luscinda； and
that at the betrothal some strange things had happened。〃
Cardenio heard the name of Luscinda； but he only shrugged his
shoulders； bit his lips； bent his brows； and before long two streams
of tears escaped from his eyes。 Dorothea； however； did not interrupt
her story； but went on in these words：
〃This sad intelligence reached my ears； and； instead of being struck
with a chill； with such wrath and fury did my heart burn that I
scarcely restrained myself from rushing out into the streets； crying
aloud and proclaiming openly the perfidy and treachery of which I
was the victim； but this transport of rage was for the time checked by
a resolution I formed； to be carried out the same night； and that
was to assume this dress； which I got from a servant of my father's；
one of the zagals； as they are called in farmhouses； to whom I
confided the whole of my misfortune； and whom I entreated to accompany
me to the city where I heard my enemy was。 He； though he
remonstrated with me for my boldness； and condemned my resolution；
when he saw me bent upon my purpose； offered to bear me company； as he
said； to the end of the world。 I at once packed up in a linen
pillow…case a woman's dress； and some jewels and money to provide
for emergencies； and in the silence of the night； without letting my
treacherous maid know； I