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delay； and to defer the disposal of her hand until I should see what
the Duke Ricardo sought of me： he gave me the promise； and she
confirmed it with vows and swoonings unnumbered。 Finally； I
presented myself to the duke； and was received and treated by him so
kindly that very soon envy began to do its work； the old servants
growing envious of me； and regarding the duke's inclination to show me
favour as an injury to themselves。 But the one to whom my arrival gave
the greatest pleasure was the duke's second son； Fernando by name； a
gallant youth； of noble； generous； and amorous disposition； who very
soon made so intimate a friend of me that it was remarked by
everybody； for though the elder was attached to me； and showed me
kindness； he did not carry his affectionate treatment to the same
length as Don Fernando。 It so happened； then； that as between
friends no secret remains unshared； and as the favour I enjoyed with
Don Fernando had grown into friendship； he made all his thoughts known
to me； and in particular a love affair which troubled his mind a
little。 He was deeply in love with a peasant girl； a vassal of his
father's； the daughter of wealthy parents； and herself so beautiful；
modest； discreet； and virtuous； that no one who knew her was able to
decide in which of these respects she was most highly gifted or most
excelled。 The attractions of the fair peasant raised the passion of
Don Fernando to such a point that； in order to gain his object and
overcome her virtuous resolutions； he determined to pledge his word to
her to become her husband； for to attempt it in any other way was to
attempt an impossibility。 Bound to him as I was by friendship； I
strove by the best arguments and the most forcible examples I could
think of to restrain and dissuade him from such a course； but
perceiving I produced no effect I resolved to make the Duke Ricardo；
his father； acquainted with the matter； but Don Fernando； being
sharp…witted and shrewd； foresaw and apprehended this； perceiving that
by my duty as a good servant I was bound not to keep concealed a thing
so much opposed to the honour of my lord the duke； and so； to
mislead and deceive me； he told me he could find no better way of
effacing from his mind the beauty that so enslaved him than by
absenting himself for some months； and that he wished the absence to
be effected by our going； both of us； to my father's house under the
pretence； which he would make to the duke； of going to see and buy
some fine horses that there were in my city； which produces the best
in the world。 When I heard him say so； even if his resolution had
not been so good a one I should have hailed it as one of the
happiest that could be imagined； prompted by my affection； seeing what
a favourable chance and opportunity it offered me of returning to
see my Luscinda。 With this thought and wish I commended his idea and
encouraged his design； advising him to put it into execution as
quickly as possible； as； in truth； absence produced its effect in
spite of the most deeply rooted feelings。 But； as afterwards appeared；
when he said this to me he had already enjoyed the peasant girl
under the title of husband； and was waiting for an opportunity of
making it known with safety to himself； being in dread of what his
father the duke would do when he came to know of his folly。 It
happened； then； that as with young men love is for the most part
nothing more than appetite； which； as its final object is enjoyment；
comes to an end on obtaining it； and that which seemed to be love
takes to flight； as it cannot pass the limit fixed by nature； which
fixes no limit to true love… what I mean is that after Don Fernando
had enjoyed this peasant girl his passion subsided and his eagerness
cooled； and if at first he feigned a wish to absent himself in order
to cure his love； he was now in reality anxious to go to avoid keeping
his promise。
〃The duke gave him permission； and ordered me to accompany him； we
arrived at my city； and my father gave him the reception due to his
rank； I saw Luscinda without delay； and； though it had not been dead
or deadened； my love gathered fresh life。 To my sorrow I told the
story of it to Don Fernando； for I thought that in virtue of the great
friendship he bore me I was bound to conceal nothing from him。 I
extolled her beauty； her gaiety； her wit； so warmly； that my praises
excited in him a desire to see a damsel adorned by such attractions。
To my misfortune I yielded to it； showing her to him one night by
the light of a taper at a window where we used to talk to one another。
As she appeared to him in her dressing…gown； she drove all the
beauties he had seen until then out of his recollection； speech failed
him； his head turned； he was spell…bound； and in the end love…smitten；
as you will see in the course of the story of my misfortune； and to
inflame still further his passion； which he hid from me and revealed
to Heaven alone； it so happened that one day he found a note of hers
entreating me to demand her of her father in marriage； so delicate； so
modest； and so tender； that on reading it he told me that in
Luscinda alone were combined all the charms of beauty and
understanding that were distributed among all the other women in the
world。 It is true； and I own it now； that though I knew what good
cause Don Fernando had to praise Luscinda； it gave me uneasiness to
hear these praises from his mouth； and I began to fear； and with
reason to feel distrust of him； for there was no moment when he was
not ready to talk of Luscinda； and he would start the subject
himself even though he dragged it in unseasonably； a circumstance that
aroused in me a certain amount of jealousy； not that I feared any
change in the constancy or faith of Luscinda； but still my fate led me
to forebode what she assured me against。 Don Fernando contrived always
to read the letters I sent to Luscinda and her answers to me； under
the pretence that he enjoyed the wit and sense of both。 It so
happened； then； that Luscinda having begged of me a book of chivalry
to read； one that she was very fond of； Amadis of Gaul…〃
Don Quixote no sooner heard a book of chivalry mentioned； than he
said：
〃Had your worship told me at the beginning of your story that the
Lady Luscinda was fond of books of chivalry； no other laudation
would have been requisite to impress upon me the superiority of her
understanding； for it could not have been of the excellence you
describe had a taste for such delightful reading been wanting； so；
as far as I am concerned； you need waste no more words in describing
her beauty； worth； and intelligence； for； on merely hearing what her
taste was； I declare her to be the most beautiful and the most
intelligent woman in the world； and I wish your worship had； along
with Amadis of Gaul； sent her the worthy Don Rugel of Greece； for I
know the Lady Luscinda would greatly relish Daraida and Garaya； and
the shrewd sayings of the shepherd Darinel； and the admirable verses
of his bucolics； sung and delivered by him with such sprightliness；
wit； and ease； but a time may come when this omission can be remedied；
and to rectify it nothi