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search had been necessary。 And if your misfortune should prove to be
one of those that refuse admission to any sort of consolation； it
was my purpose to join you in lamenting and mourning over it； so far
as I could； for it is still some comfort in misfortune to find one who
can feel for it。 And if my good intentions deserve to be
acknowledged with any kind of courtesy； I entreat you； senor； by
that which I perceive you possess in so high a degree； and likewise
conjure you by whatever you love or have loved best in life； to tell
me who you are and the cause that has brought you to live or die in
these solitudes like a brute beast； dwelling among them in a manner so
foreign to your condition as your garb and appearance show。 And I
swear；〃 added Don Quixote； 〃by the order of knighthood which I have
received； and by my vocation of knight…errant； if you gratify me in
this； to serve you with all the zeal my calling demands of me；
either in relieving your misfortune if it admits of relief； or in
joining you in lamenting it as I promised to do。〃
The Knight of the Thicket； hearing him of the Rueful Countenance
talk in this strain； did nothing but stare at him； and stare at him
again； and again survey him from head to foot； and when he had
thoroughly examined him； he said to him：
〃If you have anything to give me to eat； for God's sake give it
me； and after I have eaten I will do all you ask in acknowledgment
of the goodwill you have displayed towards me。〃
Sancho from his sack； and the goatherd from his pouch； furnished the
Ragged One with the means of appeasing his hunger； and what they
gave him he ate like a half…witted being； so hastily that he took no
time between mouthfuls； gorging rather than swallowing； and while he
ate neither he nor they who observed him uttered a word。 As soon as he
had done he made signs to them to follow him； which they did； and he
led them to a green plot which lay a little farther off round the
corner of a rock。 On reaching it he stretched himself upon the
grass； and the others did the same； all keeping silence； until the
Ragged One； settling himself in his place； said：
〃If it is your wish； sirs； that I should disclose in a few words the
surpassing extent of my misfortunes； you must promise not to break the
thread of my sad story with any question or other interruption； for
the instant you do so the tale I tell will come to an end。〃
These words of the Ragged One reminded Don Quixote of the tale his
squire had told him； when he failed to keep count of the goats that
had crossed the river and the story remained unfinished； but to return
to the Ragged One； he went on to say：
〃I give you this warning because I wish to pass briefly over the
story of my misfortunes； for recalling them to memory only serves to
add fresh ones； and the less you question me the sooner shall I make
an end of the recital； though I shall not omit to relate anything of
importance in order fully to satisfy your curiosity。〃
Don Quixote gave the promise for himself and the others； and with
this assurance he began as follows：
〃My name is Cardenio； my birthplace one of the best cities of this
Andalusia； my family noble； my parents rich； my misfortune so great
that my parents must have wept and my family grieved over it without
being able by their wealth to lighten it； for the gifts of fortune can
do little to relieve reverses sent by Heaven。 In that same country
there was a heaven in which love had placed all the glory I could
desire； such was the beauty of Luscinda； a damsel as noble and as rich
as I； but of happier fortunes； and of less firmness than was due to so
worthy a passion as mine。 This Luscinda I loved； worshipped； and
adored from my earliest and tenderest years； and she loved me in all
the innocence and sincerity of childhood。 Our parents were aware of
our feelings； and were not sorry to perceive them； for they saw
clearly that as they ripened they must lead at last to a marriage
between us； a thing that seemed almost prearranged by the equality
of our families and wealth。 We grew up； and with our growth grew the
love between us； so that the father of Luscinda felt bound for
propriety's sake to refuse me admission to his house； in this
perhaps imitating the parents of that Thisbe so celebrated by the
poets； and this refusal but added love to love and flame to flame； for
though they enforced silence upon our tongues they could not impose it
upon our pens； which can make known the heart's secrets to a loved one
more freely than tongues； for many a time the presence of the object
of love shakes the firmest will and strikes dumb the boldest tongue。
Ah heavens！ how many letters did I write her； and how many dainty
modest replies did I receive！ how many ditties and love…songs did I
compose in which my heart declared and made known its feelings；
described its ardent longings； revelled in its recollections and
dallied with its desires！ At length growing impatient and feeling my
heart languishing with longing to see her； I resolved to put into
execution and carry out what seemed to me the best mode of winning
my desired and merited reward； to ask her of her father for my
lawful wife； which I did。 To this his answer was that he thanked me
for the disposition I showed to do honour to him and to regard
myself as honoured by the bestowal of his treasure； but that as my
father was alive it was his by right to make this demand； for if it
were not in accordance with his full will and pleasure； Luscinda was
not to be taken or given by stealth。 I thanked him for his kindness；
reflecting that there was reason in what he said； and that my father
would assent to it as soon as I should tell him； and with that view
I went the very same instant to let him know what my desires were。
When I entered the room where he was I found him with an open letter
in his hand； which； before I could utter a word； he gave me； saying；
'By this letter thou wilt see； Cardenio； the disposition the Duke
Ricardo has to serve thee。' This Duke Ricardo； as you； sirs；
probably know already； is a grandee of Spain who has his seat in the
best part of this Andalusia。 I took and read the letter； which was
couched in terms so flattering that even I myself felt it would be
wrong in my father not to comply with the request the duke made in it；
which was that he would send me immediately to him； as he wished me to
become the companion； not servant； of his eldest son； and would take
upon himself the charge of placing me in a position corresponding to
the esteem in which he held me。 On reading the letter my voice
failed me； and still more when I heard my father say； 'Two days
hence thou wilt depart； Cardenio； in accordance with the duke's
wish； and give thanks to God who is opening a road to thee by which
thou mayest attain what I know thou dost deserve； and to these words
he added others of fatherly counsel。 The time for my departure
arrived； I spoke one night to Luscinda； I told her all that had
occurred； as I did also to her father； entreating him to allow some
delay； and to defer the disposal of her hand until I should see what
the Duke Ricardo sought of me： he gave me