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loose to the tongue that breaks through every impediment； publishing
abroad the inmost secrets of their hearts； they are reduced to sore
extremities。 Such a one am I； Senor Don Quixote of La Mancha； crushed；
conquered； love…smitten； but yet patient under suffering and virtuous；
and so much so that my heart broke with grief and I lost my life。
For the last two days I have been dead； slain by the thought of the
cruelty with which thou hast treated me； obdurate knight；
O harder thou than marble to my plaint；
or at least believed to be dead by all who saw me； and had it not been
that Love； taking pity on me； let my recovery rest upon the sufferings
of this good squire； there I should have remained in the other world。〃
〃Love might very well have let it rest upon the sufferings of my
ass； and I should have been obliged to him；〃 said Sancho。 〃But tell
me； senora… and may heaven send you a tenderer lover than my master…
what did you see in the other world？ What goes on in hell？ For of
course that's where one who dies in despair is bound for。〃
〃To tell you the truth；〃 said Altisidora； 〃I cannot have died
outright； for I did not go into hell； had I gone in； it is very
certain I should never have come out again； do what I might。 The truth
is； I came to the gate； where some dozen or so of devils were
playing tennis； all in breeches and doublets； with falling collars
trimmed with Flemish bonelace； and ruffles of the same that served
them for wristbands； with four fingers' breadth of the arms exposed to
make their hands look longer； in their hands they held rackets of
fire； but what amazed me still more was that books； apparently full of
wind and rubbish； served them for tennis balls； a strange and
marvellous thing； this； however； did not astonish me so much as to
observe that； although with players it is usual for the winners to
be glad and the losers sorry； there in that game all were growling；
all were snarling； and all were cursing one another。〃 〃That's no
wonder；〃 said Sancho； 〃for devils； whether playing or not； can never
be content； win or lose。〃
〃Very likely；〃 said Altisidora； 〃but there is another thing that
surprises me too； I mean surprised me then； and that was that no
ball outlasted the first throw or was of any use a second time； and it
was wonderful the constant succession there was of books； new and old。
To one of them； a brand…new； well…bound one； they gave such a stroke
that they knocked the guts out of it and scattered the leaves about。
'Look what book that is；' said one devil to another； and the other
replied； 'It is the 〃Second Part of the History of Don Quixote of La
Mancha；〃 not by Cide Hamete； the original author； but by an
Aragonese who by his own account is of Tordesillas。' 'Out of this with
it；' said the first； 'and into the depths of hell with it out of my
sight。' 'Is it so bad？' said the other。 'So bad is it；' said the
first； 'that if I had set myself deliberately to make a worse； I could
not have done it。' They then went on with their game； knocking other
books about； and I； having heard them mention the name of Don
Quixote whom I love and adore so； took care to retain this vision in
my memory。〃
〃A vision it must have been； no doubt；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃for there
is no other I in the world； this history has been going about here for
some time from hand to hand； but it does not stay long in any； for
everybody gives it a taste of his foot。 I am not disturbed by
hearing that I am wandering in a fantastic shape in the darkness of
the pit or in the daylight above； for I am not the one that history
treats of。 If it should be good； faithful； and true； it will have ages
of life； but if it should be bad； from its birth to its burial will
not be a very long journey。〃
Altisidora was about to proceed with her complaint against Don
Quixote； when he said to her； 〃I have several times told you； senora
that it grieves me you should have set your affections upon me； as
from mine they can only receive gratitude； but no return。 I was born
to belong to Dulcinea del Toboso； and the fates； if there are any；
dedicated me to her； and to suppose that any other beauty can take the
place she occupies in my heart is to suppose an impossibility。 This
frank declaration should suffice to make you retire within the
bounds of your modesty； for no one can bind himself to do
impossibilities。〃
Hearing this； Altisidora； with a show of anger and agitation；
exclaimed； 〃God's life！ Don Stockfish； soul of a mortar； stone of a
date； more obstinate and obdurate than a clown asked a favour when
he has his mind made up； if I fall upon you I'll tear your eyes out！
Do you fancy； Don Vanquished； Don Cudgelled； that I died for your
sake？ All that you have seen to…night has been make…believe； I'm not
the woman to let the black of my nail suffer for such a camel； much
less die！〃
〃That I can well believe；〃 said Sancho； 〃for all that about lovers
pining to death is absurd； they may talk of it； but as for doing it…
Judas may believe that！〃
While they were talking； the musician； singer； and poet； who had
sung the two stanzas given above came in； and making a profound
obeisance to Don Quixote said； 〃Will your worship； sir knight；
reckon and retain me in the number of your most faithful servants； for
I have long been a great admirer of yours； as well because of your
fame as because of your achievements？〃 〃Will your worship tell me
who you are；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃so that my courtesy may be
answerable to your deserts？〃 The young man replied that he was the
musician and songster of the night before。 〃Of a truth；〃 said Don
Quixote； 〃your worship has a most excellent voice； but what you sang
did not seem to me very much to the purpose； for what have
Garcilasso's stanzas to do with the death of this lady？〃
〃Don't be surprised at that；〃 returned the musician； 〃for with the
callow poets of our day the way is for every one to write as he
pleases and pilfer where he chooses； whether it be germane to the
matter or not； and now…a…days there is no piece of silliness they
can sing or write that is not set down to poetic licence。〃
Don Quixote was about to reply； but was prevented by the duke and
duchess； who came in to see him； and with them there followed a long
and delightful conversation； in the course of which Sancho said so
many droll and saucy things that he left the duke and duchess
wondering not only at his simplicity but at his sharpness。 Don Quixote
begged their permission to take his departure that same day；
inasmuch as for a vanquished knight like himself it was fitter he
should live in a pig…sty than in a royal palace。 They gave it very
readily； and the duchess asked him if Altisidora was in his good
graces。
He replied； 〃Senora； let me tell your ladyship that this damsel's
ailment comes entirely of idleness； and the cure for it is honest
and constant employment。 She herself has told me that lace is worn
in hell； and as she must know how to make it； let it never be out of
her hands； for when she is occupied in shifting the bobbins to and
fro； the image or images of what she loves will not shift to and fro
in her thoughts； this