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I love him so that I could not live without him。 This； dear senora； is
all I have to tell you about the musician whose voice has delighted
you so much； and from it alone you might easily perceive he is no
muleteer； but a lord of hearts and towns； as I told you already。〃
〃Say no more； Dona Clara；〃 said Dorothea at this； at the same time
kissing her a thousand times over； 〃say no more； I tell you； but
wait till day comes； when I trust in God to arrange this affair of
yours so that it may have the happy ending such an innocent
beginning deserves。〃
〃Ah； senora；〃 said Dona Clara； 〃what end can be hoped for when his
father is of such lofty position； and so wealthy； that he would
think I was not fit to be even a servant to his son； much less wife？
And as to marrying without the knowledge of my father； I would not
do it for all the world。 I would not ask anything more than that
this youth should go back and leave me； perhaps with not seeing him；
and the long distance we shall have to travel； the pain I suffer now
may become easier； though I daresay the remedy I propose will do me
very little good。 I don't know how the devil this has come about； or
how this love I have for him got in； I such a young girl； and he
such a mere boy； for I verily believe we are both of an age； and I
am not sixteen yet； for I will be sixteen Michaelmas Day； next； my
father says。〃
Dorothea could not help laughing to hear how like a child Dona Clara
spoke。 〃Let us go to sleep now； senora；〃 said she； 〃for the little
of the night that I fancy is left to us： God will soon send us
daylight； and we will set all to rights； or it will go hard with me。〃
With this they fell asleep； and deep silence reigned all through the
inn。 The only persons not asleep were the landlady's daughter and
her servant Maritornes； who； knowing the weak point of Don Quixote's
humour； and that he was outside the inn mounting guard in armour and
on horseback； resolved； the pair of them； to play some trick upon him；
or at any rate to amuse themselves for a while by listening to his
nonsense。 As it so happened there was not a window in the whole inn
that looked outwards except a hole in the wall of a straw…loft through
which they used to throw out the straw。 At this hole the two
demi…damsels posted themselves； and observed Don Quixote on his horse；
leaning on his pike and from time to time sending forth such deep
and doleful sighs； that he seemed to pluck up his soul by the roots
with each of them； and they could hear him； too； saying in a soft；
tender； loving tone； 〃Oh my lady Dulcinea del Toboso； perfection of
all beauty； summit and crown of discretion； treasure house of grace；
depositary of virtue； and finally； ideal of all that is good；
honourable； and delectable in this world！ What is thy grace doing now？
Art thou； perchance； mindful of thy enslaved knight who of his own
free will hath exposed himself to so great perils； and all to serve
thee？ Give me tidings of her； oh luminary of the three faces！
Perhaps at this moment； envious of hers； thou art regarding her；
either as she paces to and fro some gallery of her sumptuous
palaces； or leans over some balcony； meditating how； whilst preserving
her purity and greatness； she may mitigate the tortures this
wretched heart of mine endures for her sake； what glory should
recompense my sufferings； what repose my toil； and lastly what death
my life； and what reward my services？ And thou； oh sun； that art now
doubtless harnessing thy steeds in haste to rise betimes and come
forth to see my lady； when thou seest her I entreat of thee to
salute her on my behalf： but have a care； when thou shalt see her
and salute her； that thou kiss not her face； for I shall be more
jealous of thee than thou wert of that light…footed ingrate that
made thee sweat and run so on the plains of Thessaly； or on the
banks of the Peneus （for I do not exactly recollect where it was
thou didst run on that occasion） in thy jealousy and love。〃
Don Quixote had got so far in his pathetic speech when the
landlady's daughter began to signal to him； saying； 〃Senor； come
over here； please。〃
At these signals and voice Don Quixote turned his head and saw by
the light of the moon； which then was in its full splendour； that some
one was calling to him from the hole in the wall； which seemed to
him to be a window； and what is more； with a gilt grating； as rich
castles； such as he believed the inn to be； ought to have； and it
immediately suggested itself to his imagination that； as on the former
occasion； the fair damsel； the daughter of the lady of the castle；
overcome by love for him； was once more endeavouring to win his
affections； and with this idea； not to show himself discourteous； or
ungrateful； he turned Rocinante's head and approached the hole； and as
he perceived the two wenches he said：
〃I pity you； beauteous lady； that you should have directed your
thoughts of love to a quarter from whence it is impossible that such a
return can be made to you as is due to your great merit and gentle
birth； for which you must not blame this unhappy knight…errant whom
love renders incapable of submission to any other than her whom； the
first moment his eyes beheld her； he made absolute mistress of his
soul。 Forgive me； noble lady； and retire to your apartment； and do
not； by any further declaration of your passion； compel me to show
myself more ungrateful； and if； of the love you bear me； you should
find that there is anything else in my power wherein I can gratify
you； provided it be not love itself； demand it of me； for I swear to
you by that sweet absent enemy of mine to grant it this instant；
though it be that you require of me a lock of Medusa's hair； which was
all snakes； or even the very beams of the sun shut up in a vial。〃
〃My mistress wants nothing of that sort； sir knight；〃 said
Maritornes at this。
〃What then； discreet dame； is it that your mistress wants？〃
replied Don Quixote。
〃Only one of your fair hands；〃 said Maritornes； 〃to enable her to
vent over it the great passion passion which has brought her to this
loophole； so much to the risk of her honour； for if the lord her
father had heard her； the least slice he would cut off her would be
her ear。〃
〃I should like to see that tried；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃but he had
better beware of that； if he does not want to meet the most disastrous
end that ever father in the world met for having laid hands on the
tender limbs of a love…stricken daughter。〃
Maritornes felt sure that Don Quixote would present the hand she had
asked； and making up her mind what to do； she got down from the hole
and went into the stable； where she took the halter of Sancho
Panza's ass； and in all haste returned to the hole； just as Don
Quixote had planted himself standing on Rocinante's saddle in order to
reach the grated window where he supposed the lovelorn damsel to be；
and giving her his hand； he said； 〃Lady； take this hand； or rather
this scourge of the evil…doers of the earth； take； I say； this hand
which no other hand of woman has ever touched； not even hers who has
complete possession of my entire body。 I present it to you； not that
you may kiss it； but that you may observe the contexture of the
sinews； the close network of the muscles； the breadth and capacity
of the veins； whence you may infer what must be the strength of the
arm that has such a hand。〃
〃That we shall see presently；〃 said Maritornes； and making a running
knot on the halter； she passed it over his wrist and coming down
from the hole tied the other end very firmly to the bolt of the door
of the straw…loft。
Don Quixote； feeling the roughness of the rope on his wrist；
exclaimed； 〃Your grace seems to be grating rather than caressing my
hand； treat it not so harshly； for it is not to blame for the
offence my resolution has given you； nor is it just to wreak all
your vengeance on so small a part； remember that one who loves so well
should not revenge herself so cruelly。〃
But there was nobody now to listen to these words of Don
Quixote's； for as soon as Maritornes had tied him she and the other
made off； ready to die with laughing； leaving him fastened in such a
way that it was impossible for him to release himself。
He was； as has been said； standing on Rocinante； with his arm passed
through the hole and his wrist tied to the bolt of the door； and in
mighty fear and dread of being left hanging by the arm if Rocinante
were to stir one side or the other； so he did not dare to make the
least movement； although from the patience and imperturbable
disposition of Rocinante； he had good reason to expect that he would
stand without budging for a whole century。 Finding himself fast； then；
and that the ladies had retired； he began to fancy that all this was
done by enchantment； as on the former occasion when in that same
castle that enchanted Moor of a carrier had belaboured him； and he
cursed in his heart his own want of sense and judgment in venturing to
enter the castle again； after having come off so badly the first time；
it being a settled point with knights…errant that when they have tried
an adventure； and have not succeeded in it； it is a sign tha