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from head to foot； what is it you want now？ Come to the point
without all this beating about the bush； and all these scraps and
additions。〃
〃I want your worship； senor；〃 said the farmer； 〃to do me the
favour of giving me a letter of recommendation to the girl's father；
begging him to be so good as to let this marriage take place； as we
are not ill…matched either in the gifts of fortune or of nature； for
to tell the truth； senor governor； my son is possessed of a devil； and
there is not a day but the evil spirits torment him three or four
times； and from having once fallen into the fire； he has his face
puckered up like a piece of parchment； and his eyes watery and
always running； but he has the disposition of an angel； and if it
was not for belabouring and pummelling himself he'd be a saint。〃
〃Is there anything else you want； good man？〃 said Sancho。
〃There's another thing I'd like；〃 said the farmer； 〃but I'm afraid
to mention it； however； out it must； for after all I can't let it be
rotting in my breast； come what may。 I mean； senor； that I'd like your
worship to give me three hundred or six hundred ducats as a help to my
bachelor's portion； to help him in setting up house； for they must； in
short； live by themselves； without being subject to the
interferences of their fathers…in…law。〃
〃Just see if there's anything else you'd like；〃 said Sancho； 〃and
don't hold back from mentioning it out of bashfulness or modesty。〃
〃No； indeed there is not；〃 said the farmer。
The moment he said this the governor started to his feet； and
seizing the chair he had been sitting on exclaimed； 〃By all that's
good； you ill…bred； boorish Don Bumpkin； if you don't get out of
this at once and hide yourself from my sight； I'll lay your head
open with this chair。 You whoreson rascal； you devil's own painter；
and is it at this hour you come to ask me for six hundred ducats！
How should I have them； you stinking brute？ And why should I give them
to you if I had them； you knave and blockhead？ What have I to do
with Miguelturra or the whole family of the Perlerines？ Get out I say；
or by the life of my lord the duke I'll do as I said。 You're not
from Miguelturra； but some knave sent here from hell to tempt me。 Why；
you villain； I have not yet had the government half a day； and you
want me to have six hundred ducats already！〃
The carver made signs to the farmer to leave the room； which he
did with his head down； and to all appearance in terror lest the
governor should carry his threats into effect； for the rogue knew very
well how to play his part。
But let us leave Sancho in his wrath； and peace be with them all；
and let us return to Don Quixote； whom we left with his face
bandaged and doctored after the cat wounds； of which he was not
cured for eight days； and on one of these there befell him what Cide
Hamete promises to relate with that exactitude and truth with which he
is wont to set forth everything connected with this great history；
however minute it may be。
CHAPTER XLVIII
OF WHAT BEFELL DON QUIXOTE WITH DONA RODRIGUEZ； THE DUCHESS'S
DUENNA； TOGETHER WITH OTHER OCCURRENCES WORTHY OF RECORD AND ETERNAL
REMEMBRANCE
EXCEEDINGLY moody and dejected was the sorely wounded Don Quixote；
with his face bandaged and marked； not by the hand of God； but by
the claws of a cat； mishaps incidental to knight…errantry。 Six days he
remained without appearing in public； and one night as he lay awake
thinking of his misfortunes and of Altisidora's pursuit of him； he
perceived that some one was opening the door of his room with a key；
and he at once made up his mind that the enamoured damsel was coming
to make an assault upon his chastity and put him in danger of
failing in the fidelity he owed to his lady Dulcinea del Toboso。 〃No；〃
said he； firmly persuaded of the truth of his idea （and he said it
loud enough to be heard）； 〃the greatest beauty upon earth shall not
avail to make me renounce my adoration of her whom I bear stamped
and graved in the core of my heart and the secret depths of my bowels；
be thou； lady mine； transformed into a clumsy country wench； or into a
nymph of golden Tagus weaving a web of silk and gold； let Merlin or
Montesinos hold thee captive where they will； whereer thou art； thou
art mine； and where'er I am； must he thine。〃 The very instant he had
uttered these words； the door opened。 He stood up on the bed wrapped
from head to foot in a yellow satin coverlet； with a cap on his
head； and his face and his moustaches tied up； his face because of the
scratches； and his moustaches to keep them from drooping and falling
down； in which trim he looked the most extraordinary scarecrow that
could be conceived。 He kept his eyes fixed on the door； and just as he
was expecting to see the love…smitten and unhappy Altisidora make
her appearance； he saw coming in a most venerable duenna； in a long
white…bordered veil that covered and enveloped her from head to
foot。 Between the fingers of her left hand she held a short lighted
candle； while with her right she shaded it to keep the light from
her eyes； which were covered by spectacles of great size； and she
advanced with noiseless steps； treading very softly。
Don Quixote kept an eye upon her from his watchtower； and
observing her costume and noting her silence； he concluded that it
must be some witch or sorceress that was coming in such a guise to
work him some mischief； and he began crossing himself at a great rate。
The spectre still advanced； and on reaching the middle of the room；
looked up and saw the energy with which Don Quixote was crossing
himself； and if he was scared by seeing such a figure as hers； she was
terrified at the sight of his； for the moment she saw his tall
yellow form with the coverlet and the bandages that disfigured him；
she gave a loud scream； and exclaiming； 〃Jesus！ what's this I see？〃
let fall the candle in her fright； and then finding herself in the
dark； turned about to make off； but stumbling on her skirts in her
consternation； she measured her length with a mighty fall。
Don Quixote in his trepidation began saying； 〃I conjure thee；
phantom； or whatever thou art； tell me what thou art and what thou
wouldst with me。 If thou art a soul in torment； say so； and all that
my powers can do I will do for thee； for I am a Catholic Christian and
love to do good to all the world； and to this end I have embraced
the order of knight…errantry to which I belong； the province of
which extends to doing good even to souls in purgatory。〃
The unfortunate duenna hearing herself thus conjured； by her own
fear guessed Don Quixote's and in a low plaintive voice answered；
〃Senor Don Quixote… if so be you are indeed Don Quixote… I am no
phantom or spectre or soul in purgatory； as you seem to think； but
Dona Rodriguez； duenna of honour to my lady the duchess； and I come to
you with one of those grievances your worship is wont to redress。〃
〃Tell me； Senora Dona Rodriguez；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃do you
perchance come to transact any go…between business？ Because I must
tell you I am not available for anybody's purpose； thanks to the
peerless beauty of my lady Dulcinea del Toboso。 In short； Senora
Dona Rodriguez； if you will leave out and put aside all love messages；
you may go and light your candle and come back； and we will discuss
all the commands you have for me and whatever you wish； saving only；
as I said； all seductive communications。〃
〃I carry nobody's messages； senor；〃 said the duenna； 〃little you
know me。 Nay； I'm not far enough advanced in years to take to any such
childish tricks。 God be praised I have a soul in my body still； and
all my teeth and grinders in my mouth； except one or two that the
colds； so common in this Aragon country； have robbed me of。 But wait a
little； while I go and light my candle； and I will return
immediately and lay my sorrows before you as before one who relieves
those of all the world；〃 and without staying for an answer she quitted
the room and left Don Quixote tranquilly meditating while he waited
for her。 A thousand thoughts at once suggested themselves to him on
the subject of this new adventure； and it struck him as being ill done
and worse advised in him to expose himself to the danger of breaking
his plighted faith to his lady； and said he to himself； 〃Who knows but
that the devil； being wily and cunning； may be trying now to entrap me
with a duenna； having failed with empresses； queens； duchesses；
marchionesses； and countesses？ Many a time have I heard it said by
many a man of sense that he will sooner offer you a flat…nosed wench
than a roman…nosed one； and who knows but this privacy； this
opportunity； this silence； may awaken my sleeping desires； and lead me
in these my latter years to fall where I have never tripped？ In
cases of this sort it is better to flee than to await the battle。
But I must be out of my senses to think and utter such nonsense； for
it is impossible that a long； white…hooded spectacled duenna could
stir up or excite a wanton thought in the most graceless bosom in
the world。 Is there a duenna on earth that has fair flesh？ Is there
a duenna in the world that escapes being ill…tempered； wrinkl