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

CHAP. I.

Wherein is discoursed the new and pleasant aduenture that hapned to the Curate and Barber, in Sierra Morena.

MOst happy and fortunate were those times, wherein the thrise audacious and bolde Knight Don-Quixote of the Mancha, was bestowed on the world; by whose most honorable resoluti∣on, to reuiue and renue in it the already worne out, and wel∣nigh diseased exercise of armes, wee ioy in this our so niggard and scant an age of all pastimes, not onely the sweetnesse of his true Historie, but also of the other tales, and digressions contained there∣in, which are in some respects lesse pleasing, artificiall and true, then the very History it selfe. The which prosecu∣ting the carded, spun, and selfetwined threede of the rela¦tion

sayes, that as the Curate beganne to bethinke him∣selfe vpon some answere that might both confort and a∣nimate Cardenio, hee was hindered by a voyce which came to his hearing, said very dolefully the words en∣suing.

O God! is it possible that I haue yet found out the place which may serue for a hidden Sepulchre, to the load of this loathsome body that I vnwillingly beare so long? Yes it may be, if the solitarinesse of these rockes doe not illude me, ah vnfortunate that I am! How much more gratefull companions will these cragges and thickets proue to my designes, by affoording me leisure to com∣municate my mishaps to heauen with plaints; then that if any mortall man liuing, since there is none vpon earth from whom may be expected counsell in doubts, ease in complaints, or in harmes remedie. The Curate and his companions heard and vnderstood all the words cleerely, and for as much as they coniectured (as indeede it was) that those plaints were deliuered very neere vnto them, they did all arise to search out the plaintiffe; and hauing gone some twenty steppes thence, they behelde a young youth behinde a rocke, sitting vnder an Ashe tree, and at∣tired like a country Swaine, whom by reason his face was inclined, as hee sate washing of his feete in the cleere streame that glided that way, they could not perfectly di∣scerne; and therefore approched towards him with so great silence, as they were not descryed by him who only attended to the washing of his feet, which were so white, as they properly resembled two pieces of cleere crystall, that grew among the other stones of the streame. The whitenesse and beautie of the feete amazed them, being not made as they well coniectured, to treade cloddes, or measure the steppes of lazie Oxen, and holding the Plow, as the youthes apparrell would perswade them; and therefore the Curate, who went before the rest, seeing they were not yet espyed, made signes to the other two

that they should diuert a little out of the way, or hide themselues behinde some broken cliffes that were neere the place, which they did all of them, noting what the youth did with very great attention. Hee wore a little browne Capouch, gyrt very neere to his body with a white Towell; also a paire of Breeches and Gamasheos of the same coloured cloth, and on his head a clay colou∣red Cap. His Gamasheos were lifted vp halfe the legge, which verily seemed to be white Alablaster. Finally, ha∣uing washed his feete, taking out a linnen Kerchife from vnder his Cappe, he dried them therewithall, and at the taking out of the Kerchife, he held vp his face, and then those which stood gazing on him had leisure to discerne an vnmatchable beautie, so surpassing great, as Cardenio rounding the Curate in the eare, said, this bodie since it is not Luscinda can be no humane creature, but a diuine. The youth tooke off his Cappe at last, and shaking his head to the one and other part, did disheauell and disco∣uer such beautifull haires, as those of Phaebus might iustly emulate them: and thereby they knew the supposed Swaine to be a delicate woman, yea and the fairest that euer the first two had seene in their liues, or Cardenio himselfe, the louely Luscinda excepted; for as he after affirmed, no feature saue Luscindas could contend with hers. The long and golden haires did not onely couer her shoulders, but did also hide her round about, in such sort, as (her feete excepted) no other part of her body ap∣peared, they were so neere and long. At this time her hands serued her for a Combe, which as her feete seemed pieces of crystall in the water, so did they appeare among her haires like pieces of driuen Snow. All which circum∣stances did possesse the three which stood gazing at her with great admiration, and desire to know what she was; and therefore resolued to shew themselues; and with the noyse which they made when they arose, the beautifull mayden held vp her head, and remouing her haires from

before her eyes with both handes, she espyed those that had made it, and presently arising full of feare and trou∣ble, she laid hand on a packet that was by her, which see∣med to be of apparrell, and thought to flie away, without staying to pull on her shooes, or to gather vp her haire: But scarce had she gone sixe paces when her delicate and tender feete, vnable to abide the rough encounter of the stones made her to fall to the earth. Which the three per∣ceiuing, they came out to her, and the Curate arriuing first of all, said to her: Ladie, whatsoeuer you be, stay and feare nothing; for we which you beholde here, come on∣ly with intention to doe you seruice, and therefore you neede not pretend so impertinent a flight, which neyther your feete can endure nor would we permit. The poore Gyrle remained so amazed and confounded, as shee an∣swered not a word: wherefore the Curate and the rest drawing neerer, he tooke her by the hand, and then hee prosecuted his speech, saying, What your habite concea∣led from vs Ladie, your haires haue bewrayed, being ma∣nifest arguments that the causes were of no smal moment which haue thus bemasked your singular beauty, vnder so vnworthy array; and conducted you to this all-aban∣doned desart; wherein it was a wonderfull chaunce to haue met you, if not to remedie your harmes, yet at least to giue you some comfort, seeing no euill can afflict and vexe one so much, and plunge him in so deepe extreames, (whilest it depriues not the life) that will wholly abhorre from listening to the aduice that is offered, with a good and sincere intention; so that faire Ladie, or Lord, or what else you shall please to be termed, shake off your af∣frightment, and rehearse vnto vs your good or ill fortune, for you shall finde in vs ioyntly, or in euery one apart, companions to helpe you to deplore your disasters.

Whilest the Curate made this speech, the disguised woman stood as one halfe asleepe, now beholding the one, now the other, without once mouing her lippe or

saying a word; much like vnto a rusticke Clowne, when rare and vnseene things to him before, are vnexpectedly presented to his view. But the Curate insisting and vsing other perswasiue reasons addrest to that effect, won her at last to make a breach on her tedious silence, and with a profound sigh blow open her currall gates, saying som∣what to this effect: Since the solitarinesse of these rockes hath not beene potent to conceale me, nor the disheaue∣ling of my disordered haires, licensed my tongue to belie my sexe, it were in vaine for me to faine that anew, which if you beleeued it, would be more for courtesies sake then any other respect. Which presupposed, I say good Sirs, that I doe gratifie you highly for the liberall offers you haue made me, which are such, as haue bound me to sa∣tisfie your demaund as neere as I may; although I feare the relation which I must make to you of my mishappes, will breede sorrow at once with compassion in you, by reason you shal not be able to find any salue that may cure, comfort, or beguile them: yet notwithstanding to the end my reputation may not houer longer suspended in your opinions, seeing you know me to be a woman, and view me, young, alone and thus attyred, being things all of them able eyther ioyned or parted, to ouerthrow the best credite, I must be enforced to vnfolde, what I could otherwise most willingly conceale. All this she that ap∣peared so comely spoke without stoppe, or staggering, with so ready deliuerie and so sweete a voice, as her dis∣cretion admired them no lesse then her beautie. And re∣newing againe their complements and intreaties to her, to accōplish speedily her promise, she setting all coynesse apart, drawing on her shooes very modestly, and winding vp her haire, sate her downe on a stone, and the other three about her, where she vsed no little violence to smo∣ther certaine rebellious teares that stroue to breake forth without her permission: and then with a reposed and cleere voyce she began the Historie of her life in this manner.

In this Prouince of Andaluzia there is a certaine Towne, from whence a Duke deriues his denomination, which makes him one of those in Spain are call'd Grandes: He hath two sonnes, the elder is heire of his States, and likewise as may be presumed of his vertues: the younger is heire I know not of what, if it be not of Ʋellido his treacheries, or Galalous fraudes. My parents are this No∣blemans vassals, of humble and low calling; but so rich, as if the goods of nature had equalled those of their for∣tunes, then should they haue had nothing else to desire, nor I feared to see my selfe in the misfortunes, wherein I now am plunged. For perhaps my mishaps proceed from that of theirs in not being nobly descended. True it is that they are not so base, as they should therefore shame their calling, nor so high as may check my conceit, which perswades me, that my disasters proceede from their low∣nesse. In conclusion, they are but Farmours, and plaine people, but without any touch or spot of badde bloud, and as we vsually say, Olde rustie Christians, yet so rustie and auncient, as it, their riches, and magnificent porte, gaines them by little and little the title of Gentilitie; yea, and of worship also; although the treasure and Nobility, whereof they made most price and account, was to haue had me for their daughter: and therefore as well by rea∣son that they had none other heire then my selfe, as also because as affectionate parents, they held me most deere: I was one of the most made of and cherished daughters that euer father brought vp: I was the mirrour wherein they beheld themselues, the staffe of their olde age, and the subiect to which they addrest all their desires. From which, because they were most vertuous, mine did not stray an inch: and euen in the same manner that I was Ladie of their mindes, so was I also of their goods. By me were seruants admitted or dismissed: the notice and account of what was sowed or reaped, past through my handes, of the Oyle-mils, the Wine-presses, the number of

great and little cattell, the Bee-hiues; in fine, of all that which so rich a Farmour as my father was, had or could haue; I kept the account, and was the Steward thereof and Mistresse, with such care of my side and pleasure of theirs, as I cannot possible endure it enough. The times of leisure that I had in the day, after I had giuen what was necessary to the head seruants, and others, labourers I did intertaine in those exercises, which were both com∣mendable and requisite for maydens, to wit, in sowing, making of bone-lace, and many times handling the Di∣staffe: and if sometimes I left those exercises to recreate my minde a little, I would then take some godly booke in hand, or play at the Harpe; for experience had caught me, that musicke ordereth disordered mindes, and doth ligh∣ten the passions that afflict the spirit. This was the life which I ledde in my fathers house: the recounting wher∣of so particularly, hath not beene done for ostentation, nor to giue you to vnderstand that I am rich, but to the end you may note how much, without mine owne fault haue I falne from that happy state I haue said, vnto the vnhappie plight into which I am now reduced. The Hi∣storie therefore is this, that passing my life in so many oc∣cupations, and that with such recollection as might bee compared to a religious life, vnseene as I thought by any other person then those of our house: for when I went to Masse it was commonly so earely, and so accompanied by my mother and other maid-seruants; and I my selfe so couerd and watchfull, as mine eyes did scarce see the earth whereon I treade: and yet notwithstanding those of loue, or as I may better terme them, of idlenesse, to which Linces eyes may not be compared, did represent me to Don Ferdinandos affection and care; for this is the name of the Dukes younger sonne, of whom I spake be∣fore. Scarce had she named Don Ferdinando when Car∣denio changed colour, and began to sweate with such al∣teration of bodie and countenance, as the Curace and

Barber which beheld it, feared that the accident of fren∣zie did assault him which was wont as they had heard to possesse him at times. But Cardenio did nothing else then sweat, and stood still beholding now and then the coun∣trey gyrle imagining straight what she was, who with∣out taking notice of his alteration, followed on her dis∣course in this manner. And scarce had he seene me when (as he himselfe after confest) he abode greatly surpri∣zed by my loue, as his actions did after giue euident demonstration.

But to conclude, soone the relation of those misfor∣tunes which haue no conclusion, I will ouerslip in silence the diligences and practises of Don Ferdinando vsed to declare vnto me his affection: he suborned all the folke of the house. He bestowed gifts and fauours on my parents: euery day was a holy day, and a day of sports in the streets where I dwelled: at night no man could sleepe for mu∣sicke; the letters were innumerable that came to my hands without knowing who brought them; farsed too full of amorous conceits and offers; and containing more promises and protestations then they had characters. All which, not onely could not mollifie my mind, but rather hardened it as much as if he were my mortal enemie, and therefore did construe all the indeuours he vsed to gaine my good will to be practised to a contrary end: which I did not, as according Don Fernando vngentle, or that I esteemed him too importunat, for I took a kind of delight to see my selfe so highly esteemed and beloued of so no∣ble a Gentleman: nor was I any thing offended to see his papers written in my praise; for if I be not deceiued in this point, be we women euer so foule, we loue to heare men call vs beautifull. But mine honesty was that which opposed it selfe vnto all these things, and the continuall admonitions of my parents, which had by this plainely perceiued Don Fernandos pretence as one that cared not, all the world should know it. They would often say vn∣to

me, that they had deposited their honours and repu∣tation in my vertue alone and discretion, and bad me consider the inequality that was betweene Don Fernando and me, and that I might collect by it how his thoughts (did he euer so much affirme the contrary) were more addrest to compasse his pleasures then my profit. And that if I feared any inconuenience might befall, to the end they might crosse it, & cause him to abandon his so vniust a pursuite they would match me where I most liked, ey∣ther to the best of that towne, or any other towne ad∣ioyning, saying they might easily compasse it, both by reason of their great wealth and my good report. I forti∣fied my resolution and integrity with these certaine pro∣mises, and the knowne truth which they told me, and therefore would neuer answere to Don Fernando any word, that might euer so farre of argue the least hope of condiscending to his desires. All which cautions of mine which I think he deemed to be disdains, did inflame more his lasciuious appetite (for this is the name wherewithal I intitle his affection towards me) which had it beene such as it ought, you had not knowne it now, for then the cause of reuealing it had not befalne me. Finally Don Fernando vnderstand how my parents meant to marrie mee: to the end they might illude his hope of euer pos∣sessing me, or at least set more gards to preserue mine ho∣nour, and this newes or surmise was an occasion that hee did, what you shall presently heare.

For one night as I sate in my chamber only attended by a young Mayden that serued me, I hauing shut the doores very safe, for feare least through any negligence my hone∣stie might incur any danger without knowing or imagi∣ning how it might happē: notwithstanding all my diligē∣ces vsed and preuentions, & amidst the solitude of this si∣lence and recollection, he stood before me in my cham∣ber. At his presence I was so troubled as I lost both sight and speech, and by reason thereof could not crie, nor I

thinke he would not though I had attempted it, permit me. For he presently ranne ouer to me, and taking me betweene his armes (for as I haue said I was so amazed, as I had no power to defend my selfe) he said such things to me as I knew not how it is possible that vntruth should haue the ability to faine things resembling in shew so much the truth: and the traytor caused teares, to giue credit to his words, and sighes to giue countenance to his intention. I poore soule being alone amidst my friends, & weakly practised in such affairs began I know not how to account his leesings for verities, but not in such sort, as his teares or sighes might any wise moue me to any com∣passion that were not commendable. And so the first trouble & amazement of mind being past. I began again to recouer my defectiue spirits, and then said to him with more courage then I thought I should haue had, if as I am my Lord betweene your armes, I were betweene the pawes of a fierce Lyon, and that I were made certaine of my liberty on condition to doe or say any thing preiudi∣ciall to mine honour: it would proue as impossible for me to accept it, as for that which once hath beene, to leaue off his essence and being. Wherefore euen as you haue ingyrt my middle with your armes, so likewise haue I tied fast my minde with vertuous and forcible desires, that are wholy discrepant from yours, as you shall per∣ceiue, if seeking to force me, you presume to passe fur∣ther with your inordinate designe, I am your vassall, but not your slaue, nor hath the nobility of your bloud power nor ought it to harden, to dishonour, staine or hold in little account the humility of mine; and I doe esteeme my selfe though a countrey wench and farmers daughter, as much as you can your selfe, though a Nobleman and a Lord: With me your violence shall not preuaile, your riches gaine any grace, your words haue power to de∣ceiue, or your sighes and teares be able to moue: yet if I shall finde any of these properties mentioned in him

when my parents shall please to bestow on me for my spouse, I will presently subiect my will to his, nor shall it euer varie from his minde a iot: So that if I might re∣maine with honor, although I rested void of delights, yet would I willingly bestow on you, that which you present∣ly labour so much to obtaine: all which I do say to diuert your straying thought from euer thinking that any one may obtaine of me ought who is not my lawfull spouse: If the let onely consistes therein most beautifull Dorotea (for so I am called) answered the disloyall Lord: behold I giue thee here my hand to be thine alone: and let the hea∣uens from which nothing is concealed; and this Image of our Lady which thou hast heere present, be witnesses of this truth. When Cardenio heard her say that she was cal∣led Dorotea, he fell again into his former suspicion, and in the end confirmed his first opinion to be true: but would not interrupt her speech, being desirous to know the suc∣cesse, which he knew wholy almost before, and therefore said onely. Lady is it possible that you are named Doro∣tea. I haue heard speake of another of that name, which perhaps hath runne the like course of your misfortunes: but I request you to continue your relatiō, for a time may come wherein I may recount vnto you things of the same kinde, which will breed no small admiration. Dorotea noted Cardenios words, and his vncouth, and disastrous attire, and then intreated him very instantly if he knew any thing of her affaires, he would acquaint her there∣withall. For if fortune had left her any good, it was one∣ly the courage which she had to beare patiently and disa∣ster that might befall her, being certaine in her opinion that no new one could arriue which might increase a whit those she had alreadie. Ladie I would not let slip the oc∣casion (quoth Cardenio) to tell you what I thinke, if that which I imagine were true: and yet there is no commo∣ditie left to doe it: nor can it auaile you much to know it. Let it be what it list said Dorotea: but that which af∣ter

befell, of my relation was this: That Don Fernando tooke an Image that was in my chamber for witnesse of our contract, and added withall most forcible words and vnusuall oathes, promising vnto me to become my hus∣band. Although I warned him, before he had ended his speech, to see well what he did, and to weigh the wrath of his father, when he should see him married to one so base, and his vassall, and that therefore he should take heede that my beautie such as it was should not blinde him. Seeing he should not finde therein a sufficient ex∣cuse for his errour: and that if he meant to doe me any good, I coniured him by the loue that he bore vnto me, to license my fortunes to roule in their owne spheare, ac∣cording as my quality reached: For such vnequall mat∣ches doe neuer please long, nor perseuer with that delight wherewithall they begunne.

All the reasons heere rehearsed, I said vnto him, and many moe; which now are falne out of minde, but yet proued of no efficacy to weane him from his obstinate purpose, euen like vnto one that goeth to buy; which intention neuer to pay for what he takes: and therefore neuer considers the price, worthinesse, or faultlesse of the stuffe he takes to credit. I at this season made a briefe dis∣course, and said thus to my selfe: I may doe this, for I am not the first which by matrimonie hath ascended from a low degree to a high estate: nor shall Don Fernando be the first whom beautie or blind affection (for that is the most certaine) hath induced to make choyce of a con∣sort vnequall to his greatnesse. Then since herein I cre∣ate no new world, nor custome, what error can be com∣mitted by embracing the honour wherewithall fortune crownes me: Although it so befell that his affection to to me endured no longer then till he accomplish his will, for before God, I ce••tes shall still remaine his wife. And if I should disdainfully giue him the repulse, I see him now in such termes, as perhaps forgetting the dutie of a Noble

man, hee may vse violence, and then shall I remaine for euer dishonoured, and also without excuse of the im∣putations of the ignorant which knew not how much without any fault I haue falne into this ineuitable dan∣ger. For, what reasons may be sufficiently forcible to perswade my father and other that this Noble man did enter into my chamber without my consent? All these demaunds and answers did I in an instant reuoule in mine imagination, and found my selfe chiefly forced (how I cannot tell) to assent to his petition, by the witnesses hee inuoked, the teares hee shed, and finally by his sweete disposition and comely feature, which ac∣companied with so many arguments of vnfained affecti∣on, were able to conquere and enthrall any other heart, though it were as free and wary as mine owne. Then called I for my waiting Maide that she might on earth accompany the celestiall witnesses. And then Don Fernando turned againe to reiterate and confirme his oathes, and added to his former, other new Saints as witnesses, and wished a thousand succeeding maledictions to light on him, if he did not accomplish his promise to me. His eyes againe waxed moyst, his sighes increased, and himselfe inwreathed mee more straightly betweene his armes, from which he had ne∣uer once loosed mee: and with this, and my Maydens departure, I left to be a Mayden, and hee beganne to be a traytor, and disloyall man. The day that succeded to the night of my mishaps came not I thinke so soone as Don Fernando desired it: for after a man hath satisfied that which the appetite couets, the greatest delight it can take after is to appart it selfe from the place where the desire was accomplished. I say this, because Don Fernando did hasten his departure from me, by my Maids industrie, who was the very same that had brought him into my chamber, hee was got in the streete before dawning. And at his departure from mee he said (al∣though

not with so great shew of affection and vehe∣mencie, as hee had vsed at his comming) that I might be secure of his faith, and that his oathes were firme most true: and for a more confirmation of his word hee tooke a rich ring off his finger, and put it on mine. In fine he departed and I remained behinde I cannot well say, whether ioyfull or sad; but this much I know that I rested confused and pensiue, and almost beside my selfe for the late mischance; yet eyther I had not the heart, or else I forgot to chide my Maide for her treacherie committed by shutting vp Don Fernando in my cham∣ber: for as yet I could not determine, wherther that which had befalne mee, was a good or an euill. I said to Don Ferdinando at his departure that he might see mee other nights when he pleased by the same meanes hee had come that night seeing I was his owne, and would rest so, vntill it pleased him to let the world know that I was his wife. But hee neuer returned againe, but the next night following; could I see him after for the space of a moneth eyther in the streete or Church, so as I did but spend time in vaine to expect him: although I vnderstoode that hee was still in towne, and rode euerie other day a hunting an exercise to which hee was much addicted.

Those dayes were I know, vnfortunate and accursed to me, and those houses sorrowfull; for in them I began to doubt, nay rather wholly to discredite Don Fernando his faith: and my maide did then heare loudly the checkes I gaue vnto her for her presumption, euer vntill then dis∣sembled. And I was moreouer constrained to watch and keepe guard on my teares and countenance, lest I should giue occasion to my parents to demaund of me the cause of my discontents, and therby ingage me to vse ambages or vntruthes to couer them. But all this ended in an in∣stant, one moment arriuing whereon all these respects stumbled, all honourable discourses ended, patience was

lost, and my most hidden secrets issued in publicke: which was when there was spread a certaine rumour through∣out the towne within a few dayes after, that Don Fernan∣do had married in a Citie neere adioyning, a damzell of surpassing beautie, and of very noble birth, although not so rich, as could deserue by her preferment or dowrie so worthy a husband. It was also said, that she was named Luscinda, with many other things that hapned at their Spousals, worthy of admiration. Cardenio hearing Lu∣scinda named, did nothing else but lift vp his shoulders, bite his lippe, bend his browes, and after a little while shedde from his eyes two floods of teares. But yet for all that Dorotea did not interrupt the file of her Historie, say∣ing, This dolefull newes came to my hearing, and my heart in steede of freezing thereat, was so inflamed with choler and rage, as I had welnigh runne out to the streets, and with outcries published the deceit and treason that was done to me: but my furie was presently asswaged by the resolution which I made, to doe what I put in execu∣tion the very same night, and then I put on this habite which you see, being giuen vnto me by one of those that among vs Countrey-folke are called Swaines, who was my fathers seruant; to whom I disclosed all my misfor∣tunes, and requested him to accompany me to the Citie, where I vnderstood mine enemie soiourned. He, after he had reprehended my boldnesse, perceiuing me to haue an inflexible resolution, made offer to attend on me as hee said, vnto the end of the world: and presently afeer I trus∣sed vp in a pillowbeate, a womans attire, some mony and jewels, to preuent necessities that might befall; and in the silence of night, without acquainting my treacherous maide with my purpose, I issued out of my house, accom∣panied by my seruant, and many imaginations: and in that manner set on towards the Citie, and though I went on foote, was yet borne away flying, by my desires, to come if not time enough to hinder that which was past,

yet at least to demaund of Don Fernando that he would tell me with what conscience or soule he had done it. I arriued where I wished within two dayes and a halfe; and at the entry of the Citie I demaunded where Luscin∣da her father dwelled? and he of whom I first demaunded the question answered me more then I desired to heare: he shewed me the house, and recounted to me all that be∣fell at the daughters marriage, being a thing so publique and knowne in the Citie, as men made meetings of pur∣pose to discourse thereof. Hee said to me that the very night wherein Don Fernando was espoused to Luscinda, after that she had giuen her consent to be his wife, shee was instantly assayled by a terrible accident, that strucke her into a traunce, and her spouse approching to vnclaspe her bosome, that she might take the ayre, found a paper foulded in it, written with Luscindas owne hand, wherein she said and declared, that she could not be Don Fernan∣does wife, because she was already Cardenioes, who was, as the man tolde me, a very principall Gentleman of the same Citie; and that if she had giuen her consent to Don Fernando, it was onely done because she would not diso∣bey her parents: in conclusion he tolde me, that the Bil∣let made also mention, how shee had a resolution to kill her selfe presently after the marriage, and did also lay downe therein the motiues she had to doe it. All which as they say, was confirmed by a poynard that was found hidden about her in her apparrell. Which Don Fernando perceiuing presuming that Luscinda did flout him, and holde him in little account, hee set vpon her ere she had turned to her selfe, and attempted to kill her with the ve∣ry same poynard; and had done it if her father and other friends which were present had not opposed themselues, and hindered his determination. Moreouer they reported that presently after Don Fernando absented himselfe from the Citie, and that Luscinda turned not out of her agony vntill the next day, and then recounted to her parents

how she was verily Spouse to that Cardenio of whom we spake euen now. I learned besides that Cardenio as it is rumourd, was present at the marriage, and that as soone as he saw her married, being a thing he would neuer haue credited, departed out of the Citie in a desperate moode, but first left behinde him a letter, wherein he shewed at large the wrong Luscinda had done to him, and that hee himselfe meant to go to some place where people should neuer after heare of him. All this was notorious, and publiquely bruited throughout the Citie, and euery one spoke thereof, but most of all hauing very soone after vn∣derstood that Luscinda was missing from her parents house and the Citie; for shee could not be found in ney∣ther of both: for which her parents were almost beside themselues, not knowing what meanes to vse to finde her.

These newes reduced my hopes again to their rancks, and I esteemed it better to find Don Fernando vnmarried then married, presuming that yet the gates of my remedy were not wholly shut, I giuing my selfe to vnderstand that heauen had peraduenture set that impediment on the second marriage, to make him vnderstand what hee ought to the first; and to remember, how he was a Chri∣stian, and that he was more obliged to his soule then to humane respects. I reuolued all these things in my mind, and comfortlesse did yet comfort my selfe, by faining large yet languishing hopes to sustaine that life which I now do so much abhor. And whilest I staide thus in the Citie, ignorant what I might doe, seeing I found not Don Fernando, I heard a cryer goe about publikely, promising great rewards to any one that could finde me out, giuing signes of the very age & apparrell I wore. And I likewise heard it was bruited abroad, that the youth which came with me had carried me away from my fathers house. A thing that touched my soule very neerely, to view my credite so greatly wrackt, seeing that it was not sufficient

to haue lost it by my comming away, without the additi∣on of him with whom I departed, being a subiect so base and vnworthy of my loftier thoughts. Hauing heard this crie, I departed out of the Citie with my seruant: who e∣uen then began to giue tokens that he faultred in the fi∣delitie he had promised to me: and both of vs together entred the very same night into the most hidden parts of this mountaine, fearing lest we might be found. But as it is commonly said, that one euill cals on another, and that the end of one disaster is the beginning of a greater, so proued it with me; for my good seruant, vntill then faith∣full and trustie, rather incited by his owne villany then my beautie, thought to haue taken the benefite of the o∣portunity which these inhabitable places offered; and sol∣licited me of loue, with little shame and lesse feare of GOD or respect of my selfe: and now seeing that I answered his impudencies with seuere and reprehen∣siue wordes, leauing the intreaties aside, wherewithall he thought first to haue compast his will, he began to vse his force. But iust heauen which seldome or neuer neg∣lects the iust mans assistance, did so fauour my procee∣dings, as with my weake forces, and very little labour, I threw him downe a steepe rocke, and there I left him, I know not whether aliue or dead. And presently I entred in among these mountaines, with more swiftnesse then my feare and wearinesse required; hauing therein no o∣ther proiect or designe, then to hide my selfe in them, and shunne my father and others, which by his intreaty and meanes sought for me euery where. Some moneths are past since my first comming here, where I found a Heard∣man, who carried me to a village seated in the midst of these rockes, wherein he dwelled and intertained me, whom I haue serued as a Sheepheard euer since, procuring as much as lay in me to abide still in the fielde, to couer these haires, which haue now so vnexpectedly betraide me. Yet all my care and industry was not very beneficiall

seeing my Master came at last to the notice that I was no man but a woman, which was an occasion that the like euill thought sprung in him, as before in my seruant. And as fortune giues not alwayes remedie for the difficulties which occurre, I found neyther rocke nor downefall to coole and cure my Masters infirmitie, as I had done for my man: and therefore I accounted it a lesse inconueni∣ence to depart thence and hide my selfe againe among these desarts, then to aduenture the triall of my strength or reason with him. Therefore, as I say, I turned to im∣boske my selfe, and search out some place, where without any encumbrance I might intreat heauen with my sighes and teares, to haue compassion on my mishap; and lend me industry and fauour, eyther to issue fortunately out of it, or else to die amidst these solitudes, not leauing any memory of a wretch, who hath ministred matter, al∣though not through her owne default, that men may speake and murmure of her, both in her owne and in o∣ther countries.

Notes

• One that mur∣dered Sancho King of Castile, as he was easing himselfe at the siege of Camora.