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to recollect that you； senor； who ask who we are； are Pedro de
Bustamante； my uncle。〃
The Christian captive had hardly uttered these words； when the
horseman threw himself off his horse； and ran to embrace the young
man； crying：
〃Nephew of my soul and life！ I recognise thee now； and long have I
mourned thee as dead； I； and my sister； thy mother； and all thy kin
that are still alive； and whom God has been pleased to preserve that
they may enjoy the happiness of seeing thee。 We knew long since that
thou wert in Algiers； and from the appearance of thy garments and
those of all this company； I conclude that ye have had a miraculous
restoration to liberty。〃
〃It is true；〃 replied the young man； 〃and by…and…by we will tell you
all。〃
As soon as the horsemen understood that we were Christian
captives； they dismounted from their horses； and each offered his to
carry us to the city of Velez Malaga； which was a league and a half
distant。 Some of them went to bring the boat to the city； we having
told them where we had left it； others took us up behind them； and
Zoraida was placed on the horse of the young man's uncle。 The whole
town came out to meet us； for they had by this time heard of our
arrival from one who had gone on in advance。 They were not
astonished to see liberated captives or captive Moors； for people on
that coast are well used to see both one and the other； but they
were astonished at the beauty of Zoraida； which was just then
heightened； as well by the exertion of travelling as by joy at finding
herself on Christian soil； and relieved of all fear of being lost； for
this had brought such a glow upon her face； that unless my affection
for her were deceiving me； I would venture to say that there was not a
more beautiful creature in the world… at least； that I had ever seen。
We went straight to the church to return thanks to God for the
mercies we had received； and when Zoraida entered it she said there
were faces there like Lela Marien's。 We told her they were her images；
and as well as he could the renegade explained to her what they meant；
that she might adore them as if each of them were the very same Lela
Marien that had spoken to her； and she； having great intelligence
and a quick and clear instinct； understood at once all he said to
her about them。 Thence they took us away and distributed us all in
different houses in the town； but as for the renegade； Zoraida； and
myself； the Christian who came with us brought us to the house of
his parents； who had a fair share of the gifts of fortune； and treated
us with as much kindness as they did their own son。
We remained six days in Velez； at the end of which the renegade；
having informed himself of all that was requisite for him to do； set
out for the city of Granada to restore himself to the sacred bosom
of the Church through the medium of the Holy Inquisition。 The other
released captives took their departures； each the way that seemed best
to him； and Zoraida and I were left alone； with nothing more than
the crowns which the courtesy of the Frenchman had bestowed upon
Zoraida； out of which I bought the beast on which she rides； and； I
for the present attending her as her father and squire and not as
her husband； we are now going to ascertain if my father is living；
or if any of my brothers has had better fortune than mine has been；
though； as Heaven has made me the companion of Zoraida； I think no
other lot could be assigned to me； however happy； that I would
rather have。 The patience with which she endures the hardships that
poverty brings with it； and the eagerness she shows to become a
Christian； are such that they fill me with admiration； and bind me
to serve her all my life； though the happiness I feel in seeing myself
hers； and her mine； is disturbed and marred by not knowing whether I
shall find any corner to shelter her in my own country； or whether
time and death may not have made such changes in the fortunes and
lives of my father and brothers； that I shall hardly find anyone who
knows me； if they are not alive。
I have no more of my story to tell you； gentlemen； whether it be
an interesting or a curious one let your better judgments decide；
all I can say is I would gladly have told it to you more briefly；
although my fear of wearying you has made me leave out more than one
circumstance。
CHAPTER XLII
WHICH TREATS OF WHAT FURTHER TOOK PLACE IN THE INN； AND OF SEVERAL
OTHER THINGS WORTH KNOWING
WITH these words the captive held his peace； and Don Fernando said
to him； 〃In truth； captain； the manner in which you have related
this remarkable adventure has been such as befitted the novelty and
strangeness of the matter。 The whole story is curious and uncommon；
and abounds with incidents that fill the hearers with wonder and
astonishment； and so great is the pleasure we have found in
listening to it that we should be glad if it were to begin again； even
though to…morrow were to find us still occupied with the same tale。〃
And while he said this Cardenio and the rest of them offered to be
of service to him in any way that lay in their power； and in words and
language so kindly and sincere that the captain was much gratified
by their good…will。 In particular Don Fernando offered； if he would go
back with him； to get his brother the marquis to become godfather at
the baptism of Zoraida； and on his own part to provide him with the
means of making his appearance in his own country with the credit
and comfort he was entitled to。 For all this the captive returned
thanks very courteously； although he would not accept any of their
generous offers。
By this time night closed in； and as it did； there came up to the
inn a coach attended by some men on horseback； who demanded
accommodation； to which the landlady replied that there was not a
hand's breadth of the whole inn unoccupied。
〃Still； for all that；〃 said one of those who had entered on
horseback； 〃room must be found for his lordship the Judge here。〃
At this name the landlady was taken aback； and said； 〃Senor； the
fact is I have no beds； but if his lordship the Judge carries one with
him； as no doubt he does； let him come in and welcome； for my
husband and I will give up our room to accommodate his worship。〃
〃Very good； so be it；〃 said the squire； but in the meantime a man
had got out of the coach whose dress indicated at a glance the
office and post he held； for the long robe with ruffled sleeves that
he wore showed that he was； as his servant said； a Judge of appeal。 He
led by the hand a young girl in a travelling dress； apparently about
sixteen years of age； and of such a high…bred air； so beautiful and so
graceful； that all were filled with admiration when she made her
appearance； and but for having seen Dorothea； Luscinda； and Zoraida；
who were there in the inn； they would have fancied that a beauty
like that of this maiden's would have been hard to find。 Don Quixote
was present at the entrance of the Judge with the young lady； and as
soon as he saw him he said； 〃Your worship may with confidence enter
and take your ease in this castle； for though the accommodation be
scanty and poor； there are no quarters so cramped or inconvenient that
they cannot make room for arms and letters； above all if arms and
letters have beauty for a guide and leader； as letters represented
by your worship have in this fair maiden； to whom not only ought
castles to throw themselves open and yield themselves up； but rocks
should rend themselves asunder and mountains divide and bow themselves
down to give her a reception。 Enter； your worship； I say； into this
paradise； for here you will find stars and suns to accompany the
heaven your worship brings with you； here you will find arms in
their supreme excellence； and beauty in its highest perfection。〃
The Judge was struck with amazement at the language of Don
Quixote； whom he scrutinized very carefully； no less astonished by his
figure than by his talk； and before he could find words to answer
him he had a fresh surprise； when he saw opposite to him Luscinda；
Dorothea； and Zoraida； who； having heard of the new guests and of
the beauty of the young lady； had come to see her and welcome her； Don
Fernando； Cardenio； and the curate； however； greeted him in a more
intelligible and polished style。 In short； the Judge made his entrance
in a state of bewilderment； as well with what he saw as what he heard；
and the fair ladies of the inn gave the fair damsel a cordial welcome。
On the whole he could perceive that all who were there were people
of quality； but with the figure； countenance； and bearing of Don
Quixote he was at his wits' end； and all civilities having been
exchanged； and the accommodation of the inn inquired into； it was
settled； as it had been before settled； that all the women should
retire to the garret that has been already mentioned； and that the men
should remain outside as if to guard them； the Judge； therefore； was
very well pleased to allow his daughter； for such the damsel was； to
go with the ladies； which she did very willingly； and with part of the
host's narrow bed and half of what the Judge had brought with him；
they made a m