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of Demosthenes； as Ciceronian means that of Cicero； who were the two
most eloquent orators in the world。〃
〃True；〃 said the duke； 〃you must have lost your wits to ask such a
question。 Nevertheless； Senor Don Quixote would greatly gratify us
if he would depict her to us； for never fear； even in an outline or
sketch she will be something to make the fairest envious。〃
〃I would do so certainly；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃had she not been
blurred to my mind's eye by the misfortune that fell upon her a
short time since； one of such a nature that I am more ready to weep
over it than to describe it。 For your highnesses must know that； going
a few days back to kiss her hands and receive her benediction；
approbation； and permission for this third sally； I found her
altogether a different being from the one I sought； I found her
enchanted and changed from a princess into a peasant； from fair to
foul； from an angel into a devil； from fragrant to pestiferous； from
refined to clownish； from a dignified lady into a jumping tomboy； and；
in a word； from Dulcinea del Toboso into a coarse Sayago wench。〃
〃God bless me！〃 said the duke aloud at this； 〃who can have done
the world such an injury？ Who can have robbed it of the beauty that
gladdened it； of the grace and gaiety that charmed it； of the
modesty that shed a lustre upon it？〃
〃Who？〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃who could it be but some malignant
enchanter of the many that persecute me out of envy… that accursed
race born into the world to obscure and bring to naught the
achievements of the good； and glorify and exalt the deeds of the
wicked？ Enchanters have persecuted me； enchanters persecute me
still； and enchanters will continue to persecute me until they have
sunk me and my lofty chivalry in the deep abyss of oblivion； and
they injure and wound me where they know I feel it most。 For to
deprive a knight…errant of his lady is to deprive him of the eyes he
sees with； of the sun that gives him light； of the food whereby he
lives。 Many a time before have I said it； and I say it now once
more； a knight…errant without a lady is like a tree without leaves；
a building without a foundation； or a shadow without the body that
causes it。〃
〃There is no denying it；〃 said the duchess； 〃but still； if we are to
believe the history of Don Quixote that has come out here lately
with general applause； it is to be inferred from it； if I mistake not；
that you never saw the lady Dulcinea； and that the said lady is
nothing in the world but an imaginary lady； one that you yourself
begot and gave birth to in your brain； and adorned with whatever
charms and perfections you chose。〃
〃There is a good deal to be said on that point；〃 said Don Quixote；
〃God knows whether there he any Dulcinea or not in the world； or
whether she is imaginary or not imaginary； these are things the
proof of which must not be pushed to extreme lengths。 I have not
begotten nor given birth to my lady； though I behold her as she
needs must be； a lady who contains in herself all the qualities to
make her famous throughout the world； beautiful without blemish；
dignified without haughtiness； tender and yet modest； gracious from
courtesy and courteous from good breeding； and lastly； of exalted
lineage； because beauty shines forth and excels with a higher degree
of perfection upon good blood than in the fair of lowly birth。〃
〃That is true；〃 said the duke； 〃but Senor Don Quixote will give me
leave to say what I am constrained to say by the story of his exploits
that I have read； from which it is to be inferred that； granting there
is a Dulcinea in El Toboso； or out of it； and that she is in the
highest degree beautiful as you have described her to us； as regards
the loftiness of her lineage she is not on a par with the Orianas；
Alastrajareas； Madasimas； or others of that sort； with whom； as you
well know； the histories abound。〃
〃To that I may reply；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃that Dulcinea is the
daughter of her own works； and that virtues rectify blood； and that
lowly virtue is more to be regarded and esteemed than exalted vice。
Dulcinea； besides； has that within her that may raise her to be a
crowned and sceptred queen； for the merit of a fair and virtuous woman
is capable of performing greater miracles； and virtually； though not
formally； she has in herself higher fortunes。〃
〃I protest； Senor Don Quixote；〃 said the duchess； 〃that in all you
say； you go most cautiously and lead in hand； as the saying is；
henceforth I will believe myself； and I will take care that everyone
in my house believes； even my lord the duke if needs be； that there is
a Dulcinea in El Toboso； and that she is living to…day； and that she
is beautiful and nobly born and deserves to have such a knight as
Senor Don Quixote in her service； and that is the highest praise
that it is in my power to give her or that I can think of。 But I
cannot help entertaining a doubt； and having a certain grudge
against Sancho Panza； the doubt is this； that the aforesaid history
declares that the said Sancho Panza； when he carried a letter on
your worship's behalf to the said lady Dulcinea； found her sifting a
sack of wheat； and more by token it says it was red wheat； a thing
which makes me doubt the loftiness of her lineage。〃
To this Don Quixote made answer； 〃Senora； your highness must know
that everything or almost everything that happens me transcends the
ordinary limits of what happens to other knights…errant； whether it he
that it is directed by the inscrutable will of destiny； or by the
malice of some jealous enchanter。 Now it is an established fact that
all or most famous knights…errant have some special gift； one that
of being proof against enchantment； another that of being made of such
invulnerable flesh that he cannot be wounded； as was the famous
Roland； one of the twelve peers of France； of whom it is related
that he could not be wounded except in the sole of his left foot；
and that it must be with the point of a stout pin and not with any
other sort of weapon whatever； and so； when Bernardo del Carpio slew
him at Roncesvalles； finding that he could not wound him with steel；
he lifted him up from the ground in his arms and strangled him；
calling to mind seasonably the death which Hercules inflicted on
Antaeus； the fierce giant that they say was the son of Terra。 I
would infer from what I have mentioned that perhaps I may have some
gift of this kind； not that of being invulnerable； because
experience has many times proved to me that I am of tender flesh and
not at all impenetrable； nor that of being proof against
enchantment； for I have already seen myself thrust into a cage； in
which all the world would not have been able to confine me except by
force of enchantments。 But as I delivered myself from that one； I am
inclined to believe that there is no other that can hurt me； and so；
these enchanters； seeing that they cannot exert their vile craft
against my person； revenge themselves on what I love most； and seek to
rob me of life by maltreating that of Dulcinea in whom I live； and
therefore I am convinced that when my squire carried my message to
her； they changed her into a common peas