don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第65章

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　　〃And　have　you　heard　any　of　them　called　by　his　name？〃　asked　the
curate。
　　〃No；　indeed；〃　replied　the　servant；　〃they　all　preserve　a　marvellous
silence　on　the　road；　for　not　a　sound　is　to　be　heard　among　them
except　the　poor　lady's　sighs　and　sobs；　which　make　us　pity　her；　and
we　feel　sure　that　wherever　it　is　she　is　going；　it　is　against　her　will；
and　as　far　as　one　can　judge　from　her　dress　she　is　a　nun　or；　what　is
more　likely；　about　to　become　one；　and　perhaps　it　is　because　taking　the
vows　is　not　of　her　own　free　will；　that　she　is　so　unhappy　as　she
seems　to　be。〃
　　〃That　may　well　be；〃　said　the　curate；　and　leaving　them　he　returned　to
where　Dorothea　was；　who；　hearing　the　veiled　lady　sigh；　moved　by
natural　compassion　drew　near　to　her　and　said；　〃What　are　you
suffering　from；　senora？　If　it　be　anything　that　women　are　accustomed
and　know　how　to　relieve；　I　offer　you　my　services　with　all　my　heart。〃
　　To　this　the　unhappy　lady　made　no　reply；　and　though　Dorothea　repeated
her　offers　more　earnestly　she　still　kept　silence；　until　the
gentleman　with　the　veil；　who；　the　servant　said；　was　obeyed　by　the
rest；　approached　and　said　to　Dorothea；　〃Do　not　give　yourself　the
trouble；　senora；　of　making　any　offers　to　that　woman；　for　it　is　her　way
to　give　no　thanks　for　anything　that　is　done　for　her；　and　do　not　try　to
make　her　answer　unless　you　want　to　hear　some　lie　from　her　lips。〃
　　〃I　have　never　told　a　lie；〃　was　the　immediate　reply　of　her　who　had
been　silent　until　now；　〃on　the　contrary；　it　is　because　I　am　so
truthful　and　so　ignorant　of　lying　devices　that　I　am　now　in　this
miserable　condition；　and　this　I　call　you　yourself　to　witness；　for　it
is　my　unstained　truth　that　has　made　you　false　and　a　liar。〃
　　Cardenio　heard　these　words　clearly　and　distinctly；　being　quite　close
to　the　speaker；　for　there　was　only　the　door　of　Don　Quixote's　room
between　them；　and　the　instant　he　did　so；　uttering　a　loud　exclamation
he　cried；　〃Good　God！　what　is　this　I　hear？　What　voice　is　this　that
has　reached　my　ears？〃　Startled　at　the　voice　the　lady　turned　her
head；　and　not　seeing　the　speaker　she　stood　up　and　attempted　to　enter
the　room；　observing　which　the　gentleman　held　her　back；　preventing
her　from　moving　a　step。　In　her　agitation　and　sudden　movement　the
silk　with　which　she　had　covered　her　face　fell　off　and　disclosed　a
countenance　of　incomparable　and　marvellous　beauty；　but　pale　and
terrified；　for　she　kept　turning　her　eyes；　everywhere　she　could
direct　her　gaze；　with　an　eagerness　that　made　her　look　as　if　she　had
lost　her　senses；　and　so　marked　that　it　excited　the　pity　of　Dorothea
and　all　who　beheld　her；　though　they　knew　not　what　caused　it。　The
gentleman　grasped　her　firmly　by　the　shoulders；　and　being　so　fully
occupied　with　holding　her　back；　he　was　unable　to　put　a　hand　to　his
veil　which　was　falling　off；　as　it　did　at　length　entirely；　and
Dorothea；　who　was　holding　the　lady　in　her　arms；　raising　her　eyes　saw
that　he　who　likewise　held　her　was　her　husband；　Don　Fernando。　The
instant　she　recognised　him；　with　a　prolonged　plaintive　cry　drawn
from　the　depths　of　her　heart；　she　fell　backwards　fainting；　and　but　for
the　barber　being　close　by　to　catch　her　in　his　arms；　she　would　have
fallen　completely　to　the　ground。　The　curate　at　once　hastened　to
uncover　her　face　and　throw　water　on　it；　and　as　he　did　so　Don　Fernando；
for　he　it　was　who　held　the　other　in　his　arms；　recognised　her　and　stood
as　if　death…stricken　by　the　sight；　not；　however；　relaxing　his　grasp　of
Luscinda；　for　it　was　she　that　was　struggling　to　release　herself　from
his　hold；　having　recognised　Cardenio　by　his　voice；　as　he　had
recognised　her。　Cardenio　also　heard　Dorothea's　cry　as　she　fell
fainting；　and　imagining　that　it　came　from　his　Luscinda　burst　forth
in　terror　from　the　room；　and　the　first　thing　he　saw　was　Don　Fernando
with　Luscinda　in　his　arms。　Don　Fernando；　too；　knew　Cardenio　at　once；
and　all　three；　Luscinda；　Cardenio；　and　Dorothea；　stood　in　silent
amazement　scarcely　knowing　what　had　happened　to　them。
　　They　gazed　at　one　another　without　speaking；　Dorothea　at　Don
Fernando；　Don　Fernando　at　Cardenio；　Cardenio　at　Luscinda；　and　Luscinda
at　Cardenio。　The　first　to　break　silence　was　Luscinda；　who　thus
addressed　Don　Fernando：　〃Leave　me；　Senor　Don　Fernando；　for　the　sake　of
what　you　owe　to　yourself；　if　no　other　reason　will　induce　you；　leave　me
to　cling　to　the　wall　of　which　I　am　the　ivy；　to　the　support　from
which　neither　your　importunities；　nor　your　threats；　nor　your　promises；
nor　your　gifts　have　been　able　to　detach　me。　See　how　Heaven；　by　ways
strange　and　hidden　from　our　sight；　has　brought　me　face　to　face　with　my
true　husband；　and　well　you　know　by　dear…bought　experience　that　death
alone　will　be　able　to　efface　him　from　my　memory。　May　this　plain
declaration；　then；　lead　you；　as　you　can　do　nothing　else；　to　turn
your　love　into　rage；　your　affection　into　resentment；　and　so　to　take　my
life；　for　if　I　yield　it　up　in　the　presence　of　my　beloved　husband　I
count　it　well　bestowed；　it　may　be　by　my　death　he　will　be　convinced
that　I　kept　my　faith　to　him　to　the　last　moment　of　life。〃
　　Meanwhile　Dorothea　had　come　to　herself；　and　had　heard　Luscinda's
words；　by　means　of　which　she　divined　who　she　was；　but　seeing　that
Don　Fernando　did　not　yet　release　her　or　reply　to　her；　summoning　up　her
resolution　as　well　as　she　could　she　rose　and　knelt　at　his　feet；　and
with　a　flood　of　bright　and　touching　tears　addressed　him　thus：
　　〃If；　my　lord；　the　beams　of　that　sun　that　thou　holdest　eclipsed　in
thine　arms　did　not　dazzle　and　rob　thine　eyes　of　sight　thou　wouldst
have　seen　by　this　time　that　she　who　kneels　at　thy　feet　is；　so　long
as　thou　wilt　have　it　so；　the　unhappy　and　unfortunate　Dorothea。　I　am

that　lowly　peasant　girl　whom　thou　in　thy　goodness　or　for　thy
pleasure　wouldst　raise　high　enough　to　call　herself　thine；　I　am　she　who
in　the　seclusion　of　innocence　led　a　contented　life　until　at　the
voice　of　thy　importunity；　and　thy　true　and　tender　passion；　as　it
seemed；　she　opened　the　gates　of　her　modesty　and　surrendered　to　thee
the　keys　of　her　liberty；　a　gift　received　by　thee　but　thanklessly；　as
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