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and found； so as to enable him to come and be present at the
marriage and baptism of Zoraida； for it was impossible for the Judge
to put off his journey； as he was informed that in a month from that
time the fleet was to sail from Seville for New Spain； and to miss the
passage would have been a great inconvenience to him。 In short；
everybody was well pleased and glad at the captive's good fortune； and
as now almost two…thirds of the night were past； they resolved to
retire to rest for the remainder of it。 Don Quixote offered to mount
guard over the castle lest they should be attacked by some giant or
other malevolent scoundrel； covetous of the great treasure of beauty
the castle contained。 Those who understood him returned him thanks for
this service； and they gave the Judge an account of his
extraordinary humour； with which he was not a little amused。 Sancho
Panza alone was fuming at the lateness of the hour for retiring to
rest； and he of all was the one that made himself most comfortable； as
he stretched himself on the trappings of his ass； which； as will be
told farther on； cost him so dear。
The ladies； then； having retired to their chamber； and the others
having disposed themselves with as little discomfort as they could；
Don Quixote sallied out of the inn to act as sentinel of the castle as
he had promised。 It happened； however； that a little before the
approach of dawn a voice so musical and sweet reached the ears of
the ladies that it forced them all to listen attentively； but
especially Dorothea； who had been awake； and by whose side Dona
Clara de Viedma； for so the Judge's daughter was called； lay sleeping。
No one could imagine who it was that sang so sweetly； and the voice
was unaccompanied by any instrument。 At one moment it seemed to them
as if the singer were in the courtyard； at another in the stable；
and as they were all attention； wondering； Cardenio came to the door
and said； 〃Listen； whoever is not asleep； and you will hear a
muleteer's voice that enchants as it chants。〃
〃We are listening to it already； senor；〃 said Dorothea； on which
Cardenio went away； and Dorothea； giving all her attention to it； made
out the words of the song to be these：
CHAPTER XLIII
WHEREIN IS RELATED THE PLEASANT STORY OF THE MULETEER； TOGETHER WITH
OTHER STRANGE THINGS THAT CAME TO PASS IN THE INN
AH ME； Love's mariner am I
On Love's deep ocean sailing；
I know not where the haven lies；
I dare not hope to gain it。
One solitary distant star
Is all I have to guide me；
A brighter orb than those of old
That Palinurus lighted。
And vaguely drifting am I borne；
I know not where it leads me；
I fix my gaze on it alone；
Of all beside it heedless。
But over…cautious prudery；
And coyness cold and cruel；
When most I need it； these； like clouds；
Its longed…for light refuse me。
Bright star； goal of my yearning eyes
As thou above me beamest；
When thou shalt hide thee from my sight
I'll know that death is near me。
The singer had got so far when it struck Dorothea that it was not
fair to let Clara miss hearing such a sweet voice； so； shaking her
from side to side； she woke her； saying：
〃Forgive me； child； for waking thee； but I do so that thou mayest
have the pleasure of hearing the best voice thou hast ever heard；
perhaps； in all thy life。〃
Clara awoke quite drowsy； and not understanding at the moment what
Dorothea said； asked her what it was； she repeated what she had
said； and Clara became attentive at once； but she had hardly heard two
lines； as the singer continued； when a strange trembling seized her；
as if she were suffering from a severe attack of quartan ague； and
throwing her arms round Dorothea she said：
〃Ah； dear lady of my soul and life！ why did you wake me？ The
greatest kindness fortune could do me now would be to close my eyes
and ears so as neither to see or hear that unhappy musician。〃
〃What art thou talking about； child？〃 said Dorothea。 〃Why； they
say this singer is a muleteer！〃
〃Nay； he is the lord of many places；〃 replied Clara； 〃and that one
in my heart which he holds so firmly shall never be taken from him；
unless he be willing to surrender it。〃
Dorothea was amazed at the ardent language of the girl； for it
seemed to be far beyond such experience of life as her tender years
gave any promise of； so she said to her：
〃You speak in such a way that I cannot understand you； Senora Clara；
explain yourself more clearly； and tell me what is this you are saying
about hearts and places and this musician whose voice has so moved
you？ But do not tell me anything now； I do not want to lose the
pleasure I get from listening to the singer by giving my attention
to your transports； for I perceive he is beginning to sing a new
strain and a new air。〃
〃Let him； in Heaven's name；〃 returned Clara； and not to hear him she
stopped both ears with her hands； at which Dorothea was again
surprised； but turning her attention to the song she found that it ran
in this fashion：
Sweet Hope； my stay；
That onward to the goal of thy intent
Dost make thy way；
Heedless of hindrance or impediment；
Have thou no fear
If at each step thou findest death is near。
No victory；
No joy of triumph doth the faint heart know；
Unblest is he
That a bold front to Fortune dares not show；
But soul and sense
In bondage yieldeth up to indolence。
If Love his wares
Do dearly sell； his right must be contest；
What gold compares
With that whereon his stamp he hath imprest？
And all men know
What costeth little that we rate but low。
Love resolute
Knows not the word 〃impossibility；〃
And though my suit
Beset by endless obstacles I see；
Yet no despair
Shall hold me bound to earth while heaven is there。
Here the voice ceased and Clara's sobs began afresh； all which
excited Dorothea's curiosity to know what could be the cause of
singing so sweet and weeping so bitter； so she again asked her what it
was she was going to say before。 On this Clara； afraid that Luscinda
might overhear her； winding her arms tightly round Dorothea put her
mouth so close to her ear that she could speak without fear of being
heard by anyone else； and said：
〃This singer； dear senora； is the son of a gentleman of Aragon； lord
of two villages； who lives opposite my father's house at Madrid； and
though my father had curtains to the windows of his house in winter；
and lattice…work in summer； in some way… I know not how… this
gentleman； who was pursuing his studies； saw me； whether in church
or elsewhere； I cannot tell； and； in fact； fell in love with me； and
gave me to know it from the windows of his house； with so many signs
and tears that I was forced to believe him； and even to love him；
without knowing what it was he wanted of me。 One of the signs he
used to make me was to link one hand in the other； to show me he
wished to marry me； and though I should have been glad if that could
be； being alone and motherless I knew not whom to open my mind to； and
so I left it as it was； showing him no favour； except when my
father； and his too； were from home； to raise the curtain or the
lattice a little and let him see me plainly； at which he would show
such delight that he seemed as if he were going mad。 Meanwhile the
time for my father's departure arrived； which he became aware of；
but not from me； for I had never been able to tell him of it。 He
fell sick； of grief I believe； and so the day we were going away I
could not see him to take farewell of him； were it only with the eyes。
But after we had been two days on the road； on entering the posada
of a village a day's journey from this； I saw him at the inn door in
the dress of a muleteer； and so well disguised； that if I did not
carry his image graven on my heart it would have been impossible for
me to recognise him。 But I knew him； and I was surprised； and glad； he
watched me； unsuspected by my father； from whom he always hides
himself when he crosses my path on the road； or in the posadas where
we halt； and； as I know what he is； and reflect that for love of me he
makes this journey on foot in all this hardship； I am ready to die
of sorrow； and where he sets foot there I set my eyes。 I know not with
what object he has come； or how he could have got away from his
father； who loves him beyond measure； having no other heir； and
because he deserves it； as you will perceive when you see him。 And
moreover； I can tell you； all that he sings is out of his own head；
for I have heard them say he is a great scholar and poet； and what is
more； every time I see him or hear him sing I tremble all over； and am
terrified lest my father should recognise him and come to know of our
loves。 I have never spoken a word to him in my life； and for all that
I love him so that I could not live without him。 This； dear senora； is
all I have to tell you about the mu