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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 sallied forth from the house； accompanied
by my servant and abundant anxieties； and on foot set out for the
city； but borne as it were on wings by my eagerness to reach it； if
not to prevent what I presumed to be already done； at least to call
upon Don Fernando to tell me with what conscience he had done it。 I
reached my destination in two days and a half； and on entering the
city inquired for the house of Luscinda's parents。 The first person
I asked gave me more in reply than I sought to know； he showed me
the house； and told me all that had occurred at the betrothal of the
daughter of the family； an affair of such notoriety in the city that
it was the talk of every knot of idlers in the street。 He said that on
the night of Don Fernando's betrothal with Luscinda； as soon as she
had consented to be his bride by saying 'Yes；' she was taken with a
sudden fainting fit； and that on the bridegroom approaching to
unlace the bosom of her dress to give her air； he found a paper in her
own handwriting； in which she said and declared that she could not
be Don Fernando's bride； because she was already Cardenio's； who；
according to the man's account； was a gentleman of distinction of
the same city； and that if she had accepted Don Fernando； it was
only in obedience to her parents。 In short； he said； the words of
the paper made it clear she meant to kill herself on the completion of
the betrothal； and gave her reasons for putting an end to herself
all which was confirmed； it was said； by a dagger they found somewhere
in her clothes。 On seeing this； Don Fernando； persuaded that
Luscinda had befooled； slighted； and trifled with him； assailed her
before she had recovered from her swoon； and tried to stab her with
the dagger that had been found； and would have succeeded had not her
parents and those who were present prevented him。 It was said；
moreover； that Don Fernando went away at once； and that Luscinda did
not recover from her prostration until the next day； when she told her
parents how she was really the bride of that Cardenio I have
mentioned。 I learned besides that Cardenio； according to report； had
been present at the betrothal； and that upon seeing her betrothed
contrary to his expectation； he had quitted the city in despair；
leaving behind him a letter declaring the wrong Luscinda had done him；
and his intention of going where no one should ever see him again。 All
this was a matter of notoriety in the city； and everyone spoke of
it； especially when it became known that Luscinda was missing from her
father's house and from the city； for she was not to be found
anywhere； to the distraction of her parents； who knew not what steps
to take to recover her。 What I learned revived my hopes； and I was
better pleased not to have found Don Fernando than to find him
married； for it seemed to me that the door was not yet entirely shut
upon relief in my case； and I thought that perhaps Heaven had put this
impediment in the way of the second marriage； to lead him to recognise
his obligations under