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relief in distress！〃
All this was heard distinctly by the curate and those with him；
and as it seemed to them to be uttered close by； as indeed it was；
they got up to look for the speaker； and before they had gone twenty
paces they discovered behind a rock； seated at the foot of an ash
tree； a youth in the dress of a peasant； whose face they were unable
at the moment to see as he was leaning forward； bathing his feet in
the brook that flowed past。 They approached so silently that he did
not perceive them； being fully occupied in bathing his feet； which
were so fair that they looked like two pieces of shining crystal
brought forth among the other stones of the brook。 The whiteness and
beauty of these feet struck them with surprise； for they did not
seem to have been made to crush clods or to follow the plough and
the oxen as their owner's dress suggested； and so； finding they had
not been noticed； the curate； who was in front； made a sign to the
other two to conceal themselves behind some fragments of rock that lay
there； which they did； observing closely what the youth was about。
He had on a loose double…skirted dark brown jacket bound tight to
his body with a white cloth； he wore besides breeches and gaiters of
brown cloth； and on his head a brown montera； and he had the gaiters
turned up as far as the middle of the leg； which verily seemed to be
of pure alabaster。
As soon as he had done bathing his beautiful feet； he wiped them
with a towel he took from under the montera； on taking off which he
raised his face； and those who were watching him had an opportunity of
seeing a beauty so exquisite that Cardenio said to the curate in a
whisper：
〃As this is not Luscinda； it is no human creature but a divine
being。〃
The youth then took off the montera； and shaking his head from
side to side there broke loose and spread out a mass of hair that
the beams of the sun might have envied； by this they knew that what
had seemed a peasant was a lovely woman； nay the most beautiful the
eyes of two of them had ever beheld； or even Cardenio's if they had
not seen and known Luscinda； for he afterwards declared that only
the beauty of Luscinda could compare with this。 The long auburn
tresses not only covered her shoulders； but such was their length
and abundance； concealed her all round beneath their masses； so that
except the feet nothing of her form was visible。 She now used her
hands as a comb； and if her feet had seemed like bits of crystal in
the water； her hands looked like pieces of driven snow among her
locks； all which increased not only the admiration of the three
beholders； but their anxiety to learn who she was。 With this object
they resolved to show themselves； and at the stir they made in getting
upon their feet the fair damsel raised her head； and parting her
hair from before her eyes with both hands； she looked to see who had
made the noise； and the instant she perceived them she started to
her feet； and without waiting to put on her shoes or gather up her
hair； hastily snatched up a bundle as though of clothes that she had
beside her； and； scared and alarmed； endeavoured to take flight； but
before she had gone six paces she fell to the ground； her delicate
feet being unable to bear the roughness of the stones； seeing which；
the three hastened towards her； and the curate addressing her first
said：
〃Stay； senora； whoever you may be； for those whom you see here
only desire to be of service to you； you have no need to attempt a
flight so heedless； for neither can your feet bear it； nor we allow
it。〃
Taken by surprise and bewildered； she made no reply to these
words。 They； however； came towards her； and the curate taking her hand
went on to say：
〃What your dress would hide； senora； is made known to us by your
hair； a clear proof that it can be no trifling cause that has
disguised your beauty in a garb so unworthy of it； and sent it into
solitudes like these where we have had the good fortune to find you；
if not to relieve your distress； at least to offer you comfort； for no
distress； so long as life lasts； can be so oppressive or reach such
a height as to make the sufferer refuse to listen to comfort offered
with good intention。 And so； senora； or senor； or whatever you
prefer to be； dismiss the fears that our appearance has caused you and
make us acquainted with your good or evil fortunes； for from all of us
together； or from each one of us； you will receive sympathy in your
trouble。〃
While the curate was speaking； the disguised damsel stood as if
spell…bound； looking at them without opening her lips or uttering a
word； just like a village rustic to whom something strange that he has
never seen before has been suddenly shown； but on the curate
addressing some further words to the same effect to her； sighing
deeply she broke silence and said：
〃Since the solitude of these mountains has been unable to conceal
me； and the escape of my dishevelled tresses will not allow my
tongue to deal in falsehoods； it would be idle for me now to make
any further pretence of what； if you were to believe me； you would
believe more out of courtesy than for any other reason。 This being so；
I say I thank you； sirs； for the offer you have made me； which
places me under the obligation of complying with the request you
have made of me； though I fear the account I shall give you of my
misfortunes will excite in you as much concern as compassion； for
you will be unable to suggest anything to remedy them or any
consolation to alleviate them。 However； that my honour may not be left
a matter of doubt in your minds； now that you have discovered me to be
a woman； and see that I am young； alone； and in this dress； things
that taken together or separately would be enough to destroy any
good name； I feel bound to tell what I would willingly keep secret
if I could。〃
All this she who was now seen to be a lovely woman delivered without
any hesitation； with so much ease and in so sweet a voice that they
were not less charmed by her intelligence than by her beauty； and as
they again repeated their offers and entreaties to her to fulfil her
promise； she without further pressing； first modestly covering her
feet and gathering up her hair； seated herself on a stone with the
three placed around her； and； after an effort to restrain some tears
that came to her eyes； in a clear and steady voice began her story
thus：
〃In this Andalusia there is a town from which a duke takes a title
which makes him one of those that are called Grandees of Spain。 This
nobleman has two sons； the elder heir to his dignity and apparently to
his good qualities； the younger heir to I know not what； unless it
be the treachery of Vellido and the falsehood of Ganelon。 My parents
are this lord's vassals； lowly in origin； but so wealthy that if birth
had conferred as much on them as fortune； they would have had
nothing left to desire； nor should I have had reason to fear trouble
like that in which I find myself now； for it may be that my ill
fortune came of theirs in not having been nobly born。 It is true
they are not so low that they have any reason to be ashamed of their
condition； but neither are they so high as to remove from my mind
the impression that my mishap comes of their humble birth。 They are；
in short； peasants； plain homely people； without any taint of
disreputable blood； and； as the saying is； old rusty Christians； but
so rich that by their wealth and free…handed way of life they are
coming by degrees to be considered gentlefolk by birth； and even by
position； though the wealth and nobility they thought most of was
having me for their daughter； and as they have no other child to
make their heir； and are affectionate parents； I was one of the most
indulged daughters that ever parents indulged。
〃I was the mirror in which they beheld themselves； the staff of
their old age； and the object in which； with submission to Heaven； all
their wishes centred； and mine were in accordance with theirs； for I
knew their worth； and as I was mistress of their hearts； so was I also
of their possessions。 Through me they engaged or dismissed their
servants； through my hands passed the accounts and returns of what was
sown and reaped； the oil…mills； the wine…presses； the count of the
flocks and herds； the beehives； all in short that a rich farmer like
my father has or can have； I had under my care； and I acted as steward
and mistress with an assiduity on my part and satisfaction on theirs
that I cannot well describe to you。 The leisure hours left to me after
I had given the requisite orders to the head…shepherds； overseers； and
other labourers； I passed in such employments as are not only
allowable but necessary for young girls； those that the needle；
embroidery cushion； and spinning wheel usually afford； and if to
refresh my mind I quitted them for a while； I found recreation in
reading some devotional book or playing the harp； for experience
taught me that music soothes the troubled mind and relieves
weariness of spirit。 Such was the life I led in my parents' house
and if I have depicted it thus minutely； it is not out of ostentation；
or to let you know that I