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from the depths of her heart； she fell backwards fainting； and but for
the barber being close by to catch her in his arms； she would have
fallen completely to the ground。 The curate at once hastened to
uncover her face and throw water on it； and as he did so Don Fernando；
for he it was who held the other in his arms； recognised her and stood
as if death…stricken by the sight； not； however； relaxing his grasp of
Luscinda； for it was she that was struggling to release herself from
his hold； having recognised Cardenio by his voice； as he had
recognised her。 Cardenio also heard Dorothea's cry as she fell
fainting； and imagining that it came from his Luscinda burst forth
in terror from the room； and the first thing he saw was Don Fernando
with Luscinda in his arms。 Don Fernando； too； knew Cardenio at once；
and all three； Luscinda； Cardenio； and Dorothea； stood in silent
amazement scarcely knowing what had happened to them。
They gazed at one another without speaking； Dorothea at Don
Fernando； Don Fernando at Cardenio； Cardenio at Luscinda； and Luscinda
at Cardenio。 The first to break silence was Luscinda； who thus
addressed Don Fernando： 〃Leave me； Senor Don Fernando； for the sake of
what you owe to yourself； if no other reason will induce you； leave me
to cling to the wall of which I am the ivy； to the support from
which neither your importunities； nor your threats； nor your promises；
nor your gifts have been able to detach me。 See how Heaven； by ways
strange and hidden from our sight； has brought me face to face with my
true husband； and well you know by dear…bought experience that death
alone will be able to efface him from my memory。 May this plain
declaration； then； lead you； as you can do nothing else； to turn
your love into rage； your affection into resentment； and so to take my
life； for if I yield it up in the presence of my beloved husband I
count it well bestowed； it may be by my death he will be convinced
that I kept my faith to him to the last moment of life。〃
Meanwhile Dorothea had come to herself； and had heard Luscinda's
words； by means of which she divined who she was； but seeing that
Don Fernando did not yet release her or reply to her； summoning up her
resolution as well as she could she rose and knelt at his feet； and
with a flood of bright and touching tears addressed him thus：
〃If； my lord； the beams of that sun that thou holdest eclipsed in
thine arms did not dazzle and rob thine eyes of sight thou wouldst
have seen by this time that she who kneels at thy feet is； so long
as thou wilt have it so； the unhappy and unfortunate Dorothea。 I am
that lowly peasant girl whom thou in thy goodness or for thy
pleasure wouldst raise high enough to call herself thine； I am she who
in the seclusion of innocence led a contented life until at the
voice of thy importunity； and thy true and tender passion； as it
seemed； she opened the gates of her modesty and surrendered to thee
the keys of her liberty； a gift received by thee but thanklessly； as
is clearly shown by my forced retreat to the place where thou dost
find me； and by thy appearance under the circumstances in which I
see thee。 Nevertheless； I would not have thee suppose that I have come
here driven by my shame； it is only grief and sorrow at seeing
myself forgotten by thee that have led me。 It was thy will to make
me thine； and thou didst so follow thy will； that now； even though
thou repentest； thou canst not help being mine。 Bethink thee； my lord；
the unsurpassable affection I bear thee may compensate for the
beauty and noble birth for which thou wouldst desert me。 Thou canst
not be the fair Luscinda's because thou art mine； nor can she be thine
because she is Cardenio's； and it will be easier； remember； to bend
thy will to love one who adores thee； than to lead one to love thee
who abhors thee now。 Thou didst address thyself to my simplicity； thou
didst lay siege to my virtue； thou wert not ignorant of my station；
well dost thou know how I yielded wholly to thy will； there is no
ground or reason for thee to plead deception； and if it be so； as it
is； and if thou art a Christian as thou art a gentleman； why dost thou
by such subterfuges put off making me as happy at last as thou didst
at first？ And if thou wilt not have me for what I am； thy true and
lawful wife； at least take and accept me as thy slave； for so long
as I am thine I will count myself happy and fortunate。 Do not by
deserting me let my shame become the talk of the gossips in the
streets； make not the old age of my parents miserable； for the loyal
services they as faithful vassals have ever rendered thine are not
deserving of such a return； and if thou thinkest it will debase thy
blood to mingle it with mine； reflect that there is little or no
nobility in the world that has not travelled the same road； and that
in illustrious lineages it is not the woman's blood that is of
account； and； moreover； that true nobility consists in virtue； and
if thou art wanting in that； refusing me what in justice thou owest
me； then even I have higher claims to nobility than thine。 To make
an end； senor； these are my last words to thee： whether thou wilt；
or wilt not； I am thy wife； witness thy words； which must not and
ought not to be false； if thou dost pride thyself on that for want
of which thou scornest me； witness the pledge which thou didst give
me； and witness Heaven； which thou thyself didst call to witness the
promise thou hadst made me； and if all this fail； thy own conscience
will not fail to lift up its silent voice in the midst of all thy
gaiety； and vindicate the truth of what I say and mar thy highest
pleasure and enjoyment。〃
All this and more the injured Dorothea delivered with such earnest
feeling and such tears that all present； even those who came with
Don Fernando； were constrained to join her in them。 Don Fernando
listened to her without replying； until； ceasing to speak； she gave
way to such sobs and sighs that it must have been a heart of brass
that was not softened by the sight of so great sorrow。 Luscinda
stood regarding her with no less compassion for her sufferings than
admiration for her intelligence and beauty； and would have gone to her
to say some words of comfort to her； but was prevented by Don
Fernando's grasp which held her fast。 He； overwhelmed with confusion
and astonishment； after regarding Dorothea for some moments with a
fixed gaze； opened his arms； and； releasing Luscinda； exclaimed：
〃Thou hast conquered； fair Dorothea； thou hast conquered； for it
is impossible to have the heart to deny the united force of so many
truths。〃
Luscinda in her feebleness was on the point of falling to the ground
when Don Fernando released her； but Cardenio； who stood near； having
retreated behind Don Fernando to escape recognition； casting fear
aside and regardless of what might happen； ran forward to support her；
and said as he clasped her in his arms； 〃If Heaven in its compassion
is willing to let thee rest at last； mistress of my heart； true；
constant； and fair； nowhere canst thou rest more safely than in
these arms that now receive thee； and received thee before when
fortune permitt