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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 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