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went and fell on their knees before Don Fernando； returning him thanks
for the favour he had rendered them in language so grateful that he
knew not how to answer them； and raising them up embraced them with
every mark of affection and courtesy。
He then asked Dorothea how she had managed to reach a place so far
removed from her own home； and she in a few fitting words told all
that she had previously related to Cardenio； with which Don Fernando
and his companions were so delighted that they wished the story had
been longer； so charmingly did Dorothea describe her misadventures。
When she had finished Don Fernando recounted what had befallen him
in the city after he had found in Luscinda's bosom the paper in
which she declared that she was Cardenio's wife； and never could be
his。 He said he meant to kill her； and would have done so had he not
been prevented by her parents； and that he quitted the house full of
rage and shame； and resolved to avenge himself when a more
convenient opportunity should offer。 The next day he learned that
Luscinda had disappeared from her father's house； and that no one
could tell whither she had gone。 Finally； at the end of some months he
ascertained that she was in a convent and meant to remain there all
the rest of her life； if she were not to share it with Cardenio； and
as soon as he had learned this； taking these three gentlemen as his
companions； he arrived at the place where she was； but avoided
speaking to her； fearing that if it were known he was there stricter
precautions would be taken in the convent； and watching a time when
the porter's lodge was open he left two to guard the gate； and he
and the other entered the convent in quest of Luscinda； whom they
found in the cloisters in conversation with one of the nuns； and
carrying her off without giving her time to resist； they reached a
place with her where they provided themselves with what they
required for taking her away； all which they were able to do in
complete safety； as the convent was in the country at a considerable
distance from the city。 He added that when Luscinda found herself in
his power she lost all consciousness； and after returning to herself
did nothing but weep and sigh without speaking a word； and thus in
silence and tears they reached that inn； which for him was reaching
heaven where all the mischances of earth are over and at an end。
CHAPTER XXXVII
IN WHICH IS CONTINUED THE STORY OF THE FAMOUS PRINCESS MICOMICONA；
WITH OTHER DROLL ADVENTURES
TO ALL this Sancho listened with no little sorrow at heart to see
how his hopes of dignity were fading away and vanishing in smoke；
and how the fair Princess Micomicona had turned into Dorothea； and the
giant into Don Fernando； while his master was sleeping tranquilly；
totally unconscious of all that had come to pass。 Dorothea was
unable to persuade herself that her present happiness was not all a
dream； Cardenio was in a similar state of mind； and Luscinda's
thoughts ran in the same direction。 Don Fernando gave thanks to Heaven
for the favour shown to him and for having been rescued from the
intricate labyrinth in which he had been brought so near the
destruction of his good name and of his soul； and in short everybody
in the inn was full of contentment and satisfaction at the happy issue
of such a complicated and hopeless business。 The curate as a
sensible man made sound reflections upon the whole affair； and
congratulated each upon his good fortune； but the one that was in
the highest spirits and good humour was the landlady； because of the
promise Cardenio and the curate had given her to pay for all the
losses and damage she had sustained through Don Quixote's means。
Sancho； as has been already said； was the only one who was distressed；
unhappy； and dejected； and so with a long face he went in to his
master； who had just awoke； and said to him：
〃Sir Rueful Countenance； your worship may as well sleep on as much
as you like； without troubling yourself about killing any giant or
restoring her kingdom to the princess； for that is all over and
settled now。〃
〃I should think it was；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃for I have had the
most prodigious and stupendous battle with the giant that I ever
remember having had all the days of my life； and with one back…stroke…
swish！… I brought his head tumbling to the ground； and so much blood
gushed forth from him that it ran in rivulets over the earth like
water。〃
〃Like red wine； your worship had better say；〃 replied Sancho；
〃for I would have you know； if you don't know it； that the dead
giant is a hacked wine…skin； and the blood four…and…twenty gallons
of red wine that it had in its belly； and the cut…off head is the
bitch that bore me； and the devil take it all。〃
〃What art thou talking about； fool？〃 said Don Quixote； 〃art thou
in thy senses？〃
〃Let your worship get up；〃 said Sancho； 〃and you will see the nice
business you have made of it； and what we have to pay； and you will
see the queen turned into a private lady called Dorothea； and other
things that will astonish you； if you understand them。〃
〃I shall not be surprised at anything of the kind；〃 returned Don
Quixote； 〃for if thou dost remember the last time we were here I
told thee that everything that happened here was a matter of
enchantment； and it would be no wonder if it were the same now。〃
〃I could believe all that；〃 replied Sancho； 〃if my blanketing was
the same sort of thing also； only it wasn't； but real and genuine； for
I saw the landlord； Who is here to…day； holding one end of the blanket
and jerking me up to the skies very neatly and smartly； and with as
much laughter as strength； and when it comes to be a case of knowing
people； I hold for my part； simple and sinner as I am； that there is
no enchantment about it at all； but a great deal of bruising and bad
luck。〃
〃Well； well； God will give a remedy；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃hand me
my clothes and let me go out； for I want to see these
transformations and things thou speakest of。〃
Sancho fetched him his clothes； and while he was dressing； the
curate gave Don Fernando and the others present an account of Don
Quixote's madness and of the stratagem they had made use of to
withdraw him from that Pena Pobre where he fancied himself stationed
because of his lady's scorn。 He described to them also nearly all
the adventures that Sancho had mentioned； at which they marvelled
and laughed not a little； thinking it； as all did； the strangest
form of madness a crazy intellect could be capable of。 But now； the
curate said； that the lady Dorothea's good fortune prevented her
from proceeding with their purpose； it would be necessary to devise or
discover some other way of getting him home。
Cardenio proposed to carry out the scheme they had begun； and
suggested that Luscinda would act and support Dorothea's part
sufficiently well。
〃No；〃 said Don Fernando； 〃that must not be； for I want Dorothea to
follow out this idea of hers； and if the worthy gentleman's village is
not very far off； I shall be happy if I can do anything for his
relief。〃
〃It is not more than two days' journey from this；〃 said the curate。
〃Even if it were more；〃 said Don Fernando； 〃I would gladly travel so
far for the sake of doing so good a work。
〃At this moment Don Quixote came out in full panoply； with
Mambrino's helmet； all dinted as it was； on his head； his buckler on
his arm； and leaning on his staff or pike。 The strange figure he
presented filled Don Fernando and the rest with amazement as they
contemplated his lean yellow face half a league long； his armour of
all sorts； and the solemnity of his deportment。 They stood silent
waiting to see what he would say； and he； fixing his eyes on the air
Dorothea； addressed her with great gravity and composure：
〃I am informed； fair lady； by my squire here that your greatness has
been annihilated and your being abolished； since； from a queen and
lady of high degree as you used to be； you have been turned into a
private maiden。 If this has been done by the command of the magician
king your father； through fear that I should not afford you the aid
you need and are entitled to； I may tell you he did not know and
does not know half the mass； and was little versed in the annals of
chivalry； for； if he had read and gone through them as attentively and
deliberately as I have； he would have found at every turn that knights
of less renown than mine have accomplished things more difficult： it
is no great matter to kill a whelp of a giant； however arrogant he may
be； for it is not many hours since I myself was engaged with one； and…
I will not speak of it； that they may not say I am lying； time；
however； that reveals all； will tell the tale when we least expect
it。〃
〃You were engaged with a couple of wine…skins； and not a giant；〃
said the landlord at this； but Don Fernando told him to hold his
tongue and on no account interrupt Don Quixote； who continued； 〃I
say in conclusion； high and disinherited lady； that if your father has
brought about this metamorphosis in your person for the reason I
have mentioned； you ought not to attach any importance to it； for
there is no peril on eart