is clearly shown by my forced retreat to the place where thou dost
find me； and by thy appearance under the circumstances in which I
see thee。 Nevertheless； I would not have thee suppose that I have come
here driven by my shame； it is only grief and sorrow at seeing
myself forgotten by thee that have led me。 It was thy will to make
me thine； and thou didst so follow thy will； that now； even though
thou repentest； thou canst not help being mine。 Bethink thee； my lord；
the unsurpassable affection I bear thee may compensate for the
beauty and noble birth for which thou wouldst desert me。 Thou canst
not be the fair Luscinda's because thou art mine； nor can she be thine
because she is Cardenio's； and it will be easier； remember； to bend
thy will to love one who adores thee； than to lead one to love thee
who abhors thee now。 Thou didst address thyself to my simplicity； thou
didst lay siege to my virtue； thou wert not ignorant of my station；
well dost thou know how I yielded wholly to thy will； there is no
ground or reason for thee to plead deception； and if it be so； as it
is； and if thou art a Christian as thou art a gentleman； why dost thou
by such subterfuges put off making me as happy at last as thou didst
at first？ And if thou wilt not have me for what I am； thy true and
lawful wife； at least take and accept me as thy slave； for so long
as I am thine I will count myself happy and fortunate。 Do not by
deserting me let my shame become the talk of the gossips in the
streets； make not the old age of my parents miserable； for the loyal
services they as faithful vassals have ever rendered thine are not
deserving of such a return； and if thou thinkest it will debase thy
blood to mingle it with mine； reflect that there is little or no
nobility in the world that has not travelled the same road； and that
in illustrious lineages it is not the woman's blood that is of
account； and； moreover； that true nobility consists in virtue； and
if thou art wanting in that； refusing me what in justice thou owest
me； then even I have higher claims to nobility than thine。 To make
an end； senor； these are my last words to thee： whether thou wilt；
or wilt not； I am thy wife； witness thy words； which must not and
ought not to be false； if thou dost pride thyself on that for want
of which thou scornest me； witness the pledge which thou didst give
me； and witness Heaven； which thou thyself didst call to witness the
promise thou hadst made me； and if all this fail； thy own conscience
will not fail to lift up its silent voice in the midst of all thy
gaiety； and vindicate the truth of what I say and mar thy highest
pleasure and enjoyment。〃
All this and more the injured Dorothea delivered with such earnest
feeling and such tears that all present； even those who came with
Don Fernando； were constrained to join her in them。 Don Fernando
listened to her without replying； until； ceasing to speak； she gave
way to such sobs and sighs that it must have been a heart of brass
that was not softened by the sight of so great sorrow。 Luscinda
stood regarding her with no less compassion for her sufferings than
admiration for her intelligence and beauty； and would have gone to her
to say some words of comfort to her； but was prevented by Don
Fernando's grasp which held her fast。 He； overwhelmed with confusion
and astonishment； after regarding Dorothea for some moments with a
fixed gaze； opened his arms； and； releasing Luscinda； exclaimed：
〃Thou hast conquered； fair Dorothea； thou hast conquered； for it
is impossible to have the heart to deny the united force of so many
truths。〃
Luscinda in her feebleness was on the point of falling to the ground
when Don Fernando released her； but Cardenio； who stood near； having
retreated behind Don Fernando to escape recognition； casting fear
aside and regardless of what might happen； ran forward to support her；
and said as he clasped her in his arms； 〃If Heaven in its compassion
is willing to let thee rest at last； mistress of my heart； true；
constant； and fair； nowhere canst thou rest more safely than in
these arms that now receive thee； and received thee before when
fortune permitted me to call thee mine。〃
At these words Luscinda looked up at Cardenio； at first beginning to
recognise him by his voice and then satisfying herself by her eyes
that it was he； and hardly knowing what she did； and heedless of all
considerations of decorum； she flung her arms around his neck and
pressing her face close to his； said； 〃Yes； my dear lord； you are
the true master of this your slave； even though adverse fate interpose
again； and fresh dangers threaten this life that hangs on yours。〃
A strange sight was this for Don Fernando and those that stood
around； filled with surprise at an incident so unlooked for。
Dorothea fancied that Don Fernando changed colour and looked as though
he meant to take vengeance on Cardenio； for she observed him put his
hand to his sword； and the instant the idea struck her； with wonderful
quickness she clasped him round the knees； and kissing them and
holding him so as to prevent his moving； she said； while her tears
continued to flow； 〃What is it thou wouldst do； my only refuge； in
this unforeseen event？ Thou hast thy wife at thy feet； and she whom
thou wouldst have for thy wife is in the arms of her husband：
reflect whether it will be right for thee； whether it will be possible
for thee to undo what Heaven has done； or whether it will be
becoming in thee to seek to raise her to be thy mate who in spite of
every obstacle； and strong in her truth and constancy； is before thine
eyes； bathing with the tears of love the face and bosom of her
lawful husband。 For God's sake I entreat of thee； for thine own I
implore thee； let not this open manifestation rouse thy anger； but
rather so calm it as to allow these two lovers to live in peace and
quiet without any interference from thee so long as Heaven permits
them； and in so doing thou wilt prove the generosity of thy lofty
noble spirit； and the world shall see that with thee reason has more
influence than passion。〃
All the time Dorothea was speaking； Cardenio； though he held
Luscinda in his arms； never took his eyes off Don Fernando；
determined； if he saw him make any hostile movement； to try and defend
himself and resist as best he could all who might assail him； though
it should cost him his life。 But now Don Fernando's friends； as well
as the curate and the barber； who had been present all the while；
not forgetting the worthy Sancho Panza； ran forward and gathered round
Don Fernando； entreating him to have regard for the tears of Dorothea；
and not suffer her reasonable hopes to be disappointed； since； as they
firmly believed； what she said was but the truth； and bidding him
observe that it was not； as it might seem； by accident； but by a
special disposition of Providence that they had all met in a place
where no one could have expected a meeting。 And the curate bade him
remember that only death could part Luscinda from Cardenio； that
even if some sword were to separate them they would think their
death most happy； and that in a case that admitted of no remedy his
wisest course was； by conquering and putting a constraint upon
himself； to show a generous mind； and of his own accord suffer these
two to enjoy the happiness Heaven had granted them。 He bade him；
too； turn his eyes upon the beauty of Dorothea and he would see that
few if any could equal much less excel her； while to that beauty
should be added her modesty and the surpassing love she bore him。
But besides all this； he reminded him that if he prided himself on
being a gentleman and a Christian； he could not do otherwise than keep
his plighted word； and that in doing so he would obey God and meet the
approval of all sensible people； who know and recognised it to be
the privilege of beauty； even in one of humble birth； provided
virtue accompany it； to be able to raise itself to the level of any
rank； without any slur upon him who places it upon an equality with
himself； and furthermore that when the potent sway of passion
asserts itself； so long as there be no mixture of sin in it； he is not
to be blamed who gives way to it。
To be brief； they added to these such other forcible arguments
that Don Fernando's manly heart； being after all nourished by noble
blood； was touched； and yielded to the truth which； even had he wished
it； he could not gainsay； and he showed his submission； and acceptance
of the good advice that had been offered to him； by stooping down
and embracing Dorothea； saying to her； 〃Rise； dear lady； it is not
right that what I hold in my heart should be kneeling at my feet；
and if until now I have shown no sign of what I own； it may have
been by Heaven's decree in order that； seeing the constancy with which
you love me； I may learn to value you as you deserve。 What I entreat
of you is that you reproach me not with my transgression and
grievous wrong…doing； for the same cause and force that drove me to
make you mine impelled me to struggle against being yours； and to
prove this； turn and look at the eyes of the now happy Luscinda； and
you will see in them an excuse for all my errors： and as she has found
and gained the object of her desires； and I have found in you what
satisfies all my wishes； may she live in peace and contentment as many
happy years with her Cardenio； as on my knees I pray Heaven to allow
me to live with my Dorothea；〃 and with these words he once more
embraced her and pressed his face to hers with so much tenderness that
he had to take great heed to keep his tears from completing the
proof of his love and repentance in the sight of all。 Not so Luscinda；
and Cardenio； and almost all the others； for they shed so many
tears； some in their own happiness； some at that of the others； that
one would have supposed a heavy calamity had fallen upon them all。
Even Sancho Panza was weeping； though afterwards he said he only
wept because he saw that Dorothea was not as he fancied the queen
Micomicona； of whom he expected such great favours。 Their wonder as
well as their weeping lasted some time； and then Cardenio and Luscinda
went and fell on their knees bef