The history of the valorous and vvitty-knight-errant, Don-Quixote, of the Mancha tr. out of the Spanish.

CHAP. IX.

Which treates of many rare Successes befaln in the Inne.

WHIL'ST they discoursed thus, the In-keeper, who stood all the while at the dore, said, Here comes a faire troope of Guests, and if they will here alight, wee may sing Gaudeamus. What folke is it, quoth Cardenio? Foure men on Horseback quoth the Hoast, and ride Gennet-wise, with Lances and Targets, and Maskes on their faces; and with them comes likewise a woman apparelled in white, in a side-Saddle, and her face also masked, and two Lacquies that run with them a foote. Are they neere quoth the Curate? So neere replyed the Inn∣keeper, as they doe now arive. Dorotea hearing him say so, covered her face, and Car∣denio entred into Don-Quixotes chamber; and scarce had they leisure to doe it, when the others of whom the Oast spake, entred into the Inne, and the foure Horsemen a∣lighting, which were all of very comely and gallant disposition; they went to helpe downe the Lady that rode in the side-Saddle, and one of them taking her downe in his armes did seat her in a chair that stood at the Chamber door, into which Cardenio had entred: and all this while neither shee nor they took off their Ma••ks, or spake a word, only the Gentlewoman at her sitting down in the chair breathed forth a very deep sigh, and let fall her armes like a sick and dismayed person: The Lacquies carried away their Horses to the Stable. Master Curate seeing and nothing all this, and curious to know what they were that came to the Inn in so unwonted an attire, and kept such profound silence therein, went to the Lacquies and demanded of one of them that which hee desired to know, Who answered, In good faith Sir, I cannot tell you what folk this is; only this I know, that they seem to bee very Noble, but chiefly hee that went and took down the Lady in his armes that you see there; and this I say, because all the others doe respect him very much, and nothing is done but what hee ordains and com∣mands. And the Lady, what is shee quoth the Curate? I can as hardly informe you, quoth the Lacquie; for I have not once seen her face in all this Journey; yet I have heard her often groan and breath out so profound sighs, as it seems shee would give up the ghost at every one of them: And it is no marvell, that wee should know no more then wee have said; for my Companion and my self have been in their companie but two dayes; for they incountred us on the way, and prayed and perswaded us to goe with them unto Andalusia, promising that they would recompence our pains largely. And hast thou heard them name one another, said the Curate? No truely, answered the Lacquie; for they all travail with such silence, as it is a wonder: for you shall not hear a word among, but the sighs and throbs of the poor Ladie, which doe move in us very great compassion: And we doe questionlesse perswade our selves that shee is forced wheresoever shee goes: and as it may bee collected by her attire, shee is a Nunne, or, as is most probable, goes to bee one; and perhaps shee goeth so sorrowfull as it seems,

because shee hath no desire to become Religious. It may very well bee so, quoth the Curate: And so leaving them, hee returned to the place where hee had left Dorotea; who hearing the disguised Lady to sigh so often moved by the native compassion of that Sex, drew neer her and said, What ayles you, good Madame? I pray you think if it bee any of those inconveniences to which Women bee subject, and whereof they m••y have use and experience to cure them: I doe offer unto you my Service, Assistance, and good-Will to help you, as much as lyes in my power. To all those complements the dolefull Ladie answered nothing; and although Dorotea made her again larger offers of her Service, yet stood shee ever silent, untill the bemasked Gentleman (whom the Lacquie said the rest did obey) came over and said to Dorotea; Ladie, doe not trouble your self to offer any thing to that woman, for shee is of a most ingratefull nature, and is never wont to gratifie any courtesie, nor doe you seek her to answer unto your demands, if you would not heare some lie from her mouth. I never said any (quoth the silent Ladie) but rather because I am so true and sincere without guiles; I am now drowned here in those misfortunes; and of this I would have thy self bear witnesse, seeing my pure truth makes thee to bee so false and disloyall.

Cardenio over-heard those words very cleere and distinctly, as one that stood so neer unto her that said them, as only Don-Quixotes chamber door stood between them: And instantly when hee heard them, hee said with a very loud voyce; Good God! what is this that I heare? What voyce is this that hath touched mine eare? The Ladie moved with a sodain passion, turned her head at those out-cries, and seeing shee could not perceive him that gave them, shee got up, and would have entred into the Roome, which the Gentleman espying with-held her, and would not let her stir out of the place: and with the alteration and sodain motion the Mask fell off her face, & she discovered an incomparable beautie, and an Angellicall countenance, although it was somewhat wan and pale, and turned here and ••here with her eyes to every place so earnestly as shee seemed to bee distracted: which motions without knowing the rea∣son why they were made, struck Dorotea and the rest that beheld her into very great compassion. The Gentleman holding her very strongly fast by the shoulders, the Mask he wore on his own face was falling; and he being so busied could not hold it up, but in the end fell wholy. Dorotea, who had likewise imbraced the Ladie, lifting up her eyes by chance, saw that hee, which did also imbrace the Ladie, was her Spouse Don Fernando: and scarce had shee known him, when breathing out a long and most pittifull Alas from the bottome of her heart, shee fell backward in a Traunce: And if the Barber had not been by good hap at hand, shee would have faln on the ground with all the weight of her body. The Curate presently repaired to take off the vaile of her face and cast water thereon: and as soon as hee did discover it, Don Fernando, who was hee indeed that held fast the other, knew her, and looked like a dead man as soon as hee viewed her; but did not all this while let goe Luscinda, who was the other whom hee held so fast, and that laboured so much to escape out of his hands. Cardenio likewise heard the Alas that Dorotea said when shee fell into a Trance, and believing that it was his Luscinda, issued out of the chamber greatly altered, and the first hee espied was Don Fernando which held Luscinda fast, who forthwith knew him. And all the three, Luscinda, Cardenio, and Dorotea, stood dumbe and amazed, as folk that knew not what had befaln unto them. All of them held their peace and beheld one another: Dorotea looked on Don Fernando, Don Fernando on Cardenio, Cardenio on Lu∣scinda, and Luscinda again on Cardenio: but Luscinda was the first that broke silence, speaking to Don Fernando in this manner; Leave me off, Lord Fernando, I conjure thee, by that thou shouldest be, for that which thou art: and if thou wilt not doe it for any other respect; Let me cleave to the wall whose Ivie I am; to the supporter, from whom, neither thy importunitie nor threats, promises or gifts, could once deflect me. Note how Hea∣ven, by unusuall, unfrequented, and from us concealed waies, hath set my true Spouse before mine eyes: and thou doest know well by a thousand costly experiences, that only death is potent to blot forth his remembrance out of my memorie: Let then so manifest truths bee of power (if thou must doe none other) to convert thine affliction

into rage, and thy good will into despight, and therewithall end my life: for if I may render up the Ghost in the presence of my deer Spouse, I shall account it fortunately lost. Perhaps by my death hee will remain satisfied of the faith which I ever kept sincere towards him, untill the last period of my life. By this time Dorotea was come to her self, and listened to most of Luscindaes reasons, and by them came to the knowledge of her self: But seeing Don Fernando did not yet let ••er depart from between his armes, nor answer any thing to her words, encouraging her self the best that shee might, shee arose and kneeling at his feet, and shedding a number of Cristall and penetrating T••ares, she spoke to him thus.

If it bee not so my Lord, that the beames of that Sunne which thou holdest eclyp∣sed betweene thine armes, doe darken and deprive those of thine eyes, thou mightest have by this perceived, how shee that is prostrated at thy feete, is the unfortunate (un∣till thou shalt please) and the disastrous Dorotea. I am that poore humble country-wo∣man, whom thou eyther through thy bountie, or for thy pleasure didst daigne to rayse to that height that shee might call thee her owne. I am shee which sometime immured within the limits of honestie, did lead a most contented life, untill it opened the gates of her recollection and wearinesse to thine importunity, and seeming just, and amorous requests, and rendred up to thee the keyes of her libertie; a griefe by thee so ill recom∣penced, as the finding my selfe in so remote a place as this wherein you have met with mee, and I seene you, may cleerely testifie; but yet for all this, I would not have you to imagine that I come here guided by dishonourable steps, being only hitherto condu∣cted by the tracts of dolour and feeling, to see my selfe thus forgotten by thee. It was thy will that I should bee thine owne, and thou didst desire it in such a manner, as al∣though now thou wouldst not have it so, yet canst not thou possibly leave off to be mine. Know my deere Lord, that the matchlesse affections that I doe beare towards thee, may recompence and be equivalent to her beautie and nobilitie for whom thou dost aban∣don mee.

Thou canst not bee the beautifull L••scindaes because thou art mine; nor shee thine, for as much as shee belongs to Cardenio, and it will bee more easie, if you will note it well, to reduce thy will to love her that adores thee, then to addresse hers, that hates thee, to beare thee affection: Thou diddest sollicite my wretchlessenesse, thou prayedst to mine integritie, and wast not ignorant of my qualitie; thou knowest also very well upon what termes I subjected my selfe to thy will, so as there remaines no place nor co∣lour to term it a fraud or deceit; and all this being so, as in veritie it is, & that thou beest as Christian as thou art noble, why dost thou with these so many untoward wreathings dilate the making of mine end happy, whose cōmencement thou didst illustrate so much? and if thou wilt not have mee for what I am, who am thy true and lawfull Spouse; yet at least take and admit mee for thy slave, for so that I may bee in thy possession, I will account my selfe happy and fortunate. Doe not permit that by leaving and abandoning mee, meetings may bee made to discourse of my dishonour. Doe not vexe thus the de∣clining yeeres of my Parents, seeing that the loyall services which they ever have done as Vassals to thine, deserve not so dishonest a recompence: And if thou esteemest that thy blood by medling with mine shall bee stayned or embased, consider how few noble houses, or rather none at all, are there in the world, which have not runne the same way; and that the womans side is not essentially requisite for the illustrating of noble discents: how much more, seeing that true Nobilitie consists in virtue, which if it shall want in thee, by refusing that which thou owest mee so justly, I shall remain with many more degrees of Nobilitie then thou shalt. And in conclusion, that which I will lastly say is, that whether thou wilt or no, I am thy wife; the witnesses are thine owne words, which neither should nor ought to lie, if thou dost pri••e thy selfe of that for whose want thou despisest mee. Witnesse shall also bee thine owne hand writing. Wit∣nesse Heaven, which thou didst invoke to beare witnesse of that which thou didst pro∣mise unto mee; and when all this shall faile, thy very Conscience shall never faile from using clamors, being silent in thy myrth and turning, for this truth which I have said to thee now, shall trouble thy greatest pleasure and delight.

These and many other like reasons did the sweetly grieved Dorotea use with such fee∣ling and abundance of teares, as all those that were present, as well such as accompani∣ed Don Fernando, as all the others that did accompany her. Don Fernando listned unto her without replying a word, untill shee had ended her speech, and given beginning to so many sighs and sobs, as the heart that could indure to behold them without moving, were harder then brasse. Luscinda did also regard her, no lesse compassionate of her sorrow, then admired at her discretion and beautie, and although shee would have ap∣proached to her, and used some consolatorie words, yet was shee hindred by Don Fer∣nandoes armes, which held her still embraced; who full of confusion and marvell, after hee had stood very attentively beholding Dorotea a good while, opening his armes, and leaving Luscynda free said, Thou hast vanquished, O beautifull Dorotea, thou hast van∣quished me; for it is not possible to resist or denie so many united truths. Luscinda through her former trance and weakenesse, as Don Fernando left her, was like to fall, if Cardenio who stood behind Don Fernando all the while lest hee should bee known, shak∣ing off all feare and in indangering his person, had not started forward to stay her from falling; and clasping her sweetly betweene his armes hee said. If pittifull Heaven bee pleased, and would have thee now at last take some ease, my loyall, constant and beau∣tifull Ladie, I presume that thou canst not possesse it more securely then betweene these armes which doe now receive thee, as whilom they did when fortune was pleased that I might call thee mine owne. And then Luscinda first severing her eye lids beheld Car∣denio, and having first taken notice of him by his voyce, and confirmed it againe by her sight, like one quite distracted, without farther regarding modest respects, shee cast both her armes about his neck, and joyning her face to his said, Yea, thou indeede art my Lord; thou the true owne of this poore Captive, howsoever adverse fortune shall thwart it, or this life, which is only sustayned and lives by thine, bee ever so much threat∣ned. This was a marvelous spectacle to Don Fernando, and all the rest of the beholders, which did universally admire at this so unexpected an event: and Dorotea perceiving Don Fernando to change colour, as one resolving to take revenge on Cardenio, for hee had set hand to his Sword, which shee conjecturing, did with marvelous expedition kneele, and catching hold on his legs, kissing them, shee strained them with so loving embracements, as hee could not stir out of the place, and then with her eyes overflown with teeres, said unto him, What meanest thou to doe, my only refuge in this unexpe∣cted trance? Thou hast here thine own Spouse at thy feete, and her whom thou wouldst faine possesse is betweene her owne husbands armes: Judge then whether it become thee, or is a thing possible to dissolve that which Heaven hath knit, or whether it bee a∣ny wise laudable to endeavor to raise and equall to thy selfe her, who contemning all dangers and inconveniences, and confirmed in faith and constancy, doth in thy presence bathe her eyes with amorous liquor of her true Loves face and bosome. I desire thee for Gods sake, and by thine owne worths; I request thee, that this so notorious a ve∣ritie may not only asswage thy choller, b••t also diminish it in such sort, as thou maiest quietly and peaceably permit those two Lovers to enjoy their desires without any en∣cumbrance, all the time that Heaven shall grant it to them; and herein thou shalt shew the generositie of thy magnanimous and noble brest, and give the world to understand how reason prevaileth in thee, and domaniereth over passion. All the time that Doro∣tea spoke thus to Don Fernando, although Cardenio held Luscinda betweene his armes, yet did hee never take his eye off Don Fernando, with resolution, that if hee did see him once stir in his prejudice, hee would labor both to defend himself and offend his adver∣sary & all those should joyn with him to do him any harm, as much as he could, although it were with the rest of his life: but Don Fernandoes friends, the Curat and Barber that were present and saw all that was past, repayred in the meane season, without omitting the good Sancho Panca, and all of them together compassed Don Fernando, intreating him to have regard of the beautifull Doroteas teares, and it being true (as they beleeved it was) that she had said, he should not permit her to remain defrauded of her so just and lawfull hopes, assuring him that it was not by chance, but rather by the parti∣cular providence and disposition of the Heavens, that they had all met together so un∣expectedly:

And that hee should remember, as Master Curate said very well, that only death could sever Luscinda from her Cardenio: And that although the edge of a Sword might divide and part them asunder, yet in that case they would account their death most happy, and that in irremedilesse events, it was highest prudence, by strain∣ing and overcoming himself, to shew a generous minde, permitting that hee might conquer his own will, they two should joy that good which Heaven had already grant∣ed to them, and that hee should convert his eyes to behold the beautie of Dorotea, and hee should see that few or none could for feature paragon with her; and much lesse excell her; and that hee should conferre her humilitie and extreame love which shee bore to him with her other indowments; and principally that if hee gloried in the titles of Nobility or Christianity, hee could not doe any other then accomplish the promise that hee had past to her; and that by fulfilling it hee should please God and satisfie discreet persons, which know very well how it is a speciall prerogative of beautie though it bee in an humble and mean subject, if it bee consorted with Modestie and Virtue, to exalt and equall it self to any dignitie, without disparagement of him which doth help to raise or unite it to himself. And when the strong laws of delight are ac∣complished (so that there intercurre no sinne in the acting thereof) hee is not to bee condemned which doth follow them. Finally, they added to these reasons others so many and forcible, that the valorous brest of Don Fernando (as commonly all those that are warmed and nourished by Noble Blood are wont) was mollified, and permitted it self to bee vanquished by that truth which hee could not denye though hee would: And the token that hee gave of his being overcome, was to stoop down and imbrace Dorotea, saying unto her, A••ise Ladie; for it is not just that shee bee prostrate at my feet, whose image I have erected in my minde: And if I have not hitherto given de∣monstrations of what I now averr, it hath perhaps befaln through the disposition of Heaven, to the end I might by noting the constancie and faith wherewithall thou doest affect me, know after how to value and esteeme thee according unto thy merits: and that which in recompence thereof I doe intreat of thee is, that thou wilt excuse in mee mine ill manner of proceeding and exceeding carelessenesse in repaying thy good will: For the very occasion and violent passions that made me to accept thee as mine, the very same did also impell me again not to be thine: & for the more verifying of mine assertion, doe but once behold the eyes of the now contented Luscinda and thou mayest read in them a thousand excuses for mine errour: & seeing shee hath found and obtained her hearts desire, and I have in thee also gotten what is most convenient: for I wish shee may live securely and joyfully many and happie yeers with her Cardenio; for I will pray the same, that it will licence me to enjoy my beloved Dorotea: And saying so, hee embraced her again, and joyned his face to hers with so lovely moti∣on, as it constrained him to hold watch over his Teares, lest violently bursting forth, they should give doubtlesse arguments of his servent Love, and re∣morse.

Cardenio Luscinda and almost all the rest could not doe so, for the greater number of them shed so many teares, some for their private contentment, and others for their friends, as it seemed that some grievous and heavie misfortune had betided them all; even very Sancho Panca wept, although hee excused it afterward, saying, That he wept only because that hee saw that Dorotea was not the Queene Micomicona, as hee had imagined, of whom hee hoped to have received so great gifts and favours. The admira∣tion and teares joyned, indured in them all for a pretty space, and presently after Car∣denio and Luscinda went and kneeled to Don Fernando, yeelding him thanks for the fa∣vour that hee had done to them, with so courteous complements, as hee knew not what to answere, and therefore lifted them up, and embraced them with very great a∣fection and kindnesse, and presently after he demanded of Dorotea how she came to that place, so far from her own dwelling? and shee recounted unto him all that shee had told to Cardenio; wherea•• Don Fernando and those which came with him took so great delight, as they could have wished that her story had continued a longer time in the telling then it did; so great was Doroteaes grace in setting out her misfortunes. And

as soon as shee had ended, Don Fernando told all that had befaln him in the Citie, after that hee had found the scroule in Luscindaes bosome, wherein shee declared Cardenio to bee her Husband; and that hee therefore could not marrie her; And also how hee attempted to kill her, and would have done it, were it not that her Parents hindred him; And that hee therefore departed out of the house full of shame and despight, with resolution to revenge himself more commodiously: And how hee understood the next day following, how Luscinda was secretly departed from her fathers house, and gone no body knew where; but that hee finally learned within a few moneths after, that shee had entred into a certain Monastery, with intention to re∣main there all the daies of her life, if shee could not passe them with Cardenio: And that as soon as hee had learned that, choosing those three Gentlemen for his Associates, hee came to the place where shee was, but would not speake to her, fearing lest that as soon as they knew of his being there, they would increase the guards of the Mona∣stery; and therefore expected untill he found on a day the gates of the Monastery open, and leaving two of his fellows to keep the doore, hee with the other entred into the Abby in Luscindaes search, whom they found talking with a Nunne in the Cloyster; and snatching her away e're shee could retire her self, they brought her to a certain Village, where they disguised themselves in that sort they were; for so it was requisite for to bring her away: All which they did with the more facilitie, that the Monastery was seated abroad in the Fields, a good way from any Village. Hee like∣wise told, That as soon as Luscinda saw her self in his power, shee fell into a Swone; and that after shee had returned to her self, shee never did any other thing but weep and sigh, without speaking a word; And that in that manner, accompanied with silence and tears, they had arrived to that Inne, which was to him as gratefull as an arrivall to Heaven, wherein all earthly mis-haps are concluded and finished.