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What holds my heart in anguish of suspense？
Absence。
If that be so； then for my grief
Where shall I turn to seek relief；
When hope on every side lies slain
By Absence； Jealousies； Disdain？
What the prime cause of all my woe doth prove？
Love。
What at my glory ever looks askance？
Chance。
Whence is permission to afflict me given？
Heaven。
If that be so； I but await
The stroke of a resistless fate；
Since； working for my woe； these three；
Love； Chance and Heaven； in league I see。
What must I do to find a remedy？
Die。
What is the lure for love when coy and strange？
Change。
What； if all fail； will cure the heart of sadness？
Madness。
If that be so； it is but folly
To seek a cure for melancholy：
Ask where it lies； the answer saith
In Change； in Madness； or in Death。
The hour； the summer season； the solitary place； the voice and skill
of the singer； all contributed to the wonder and delight of the two
listeners； who remained still waiting to hear something more； finding；
however； that the silence continued some little time； they resolved to
go in search of the musician who sang with so fine a voice； but just
as they were about to do so they were checked by the same voice； which
once more fell upon their ears； singing this
SONNET
When heavenward； holy Friendship； thou didst go
Soaring to seek thy home beyond the sky；
And take thy seat among the saints on high；
It was thy will to leave on earth below
Thy semblance； and upon it to bestow
Thy veil； wherewith at times hypocrisy；
Parading in thy shape； deceives the eye；
And makes its vileness bright as virtue show。
Friendship； return to us； or force the cheat
That wears it now； thy livery to restore；
By aid whereof sincerity is slain。
If thou wilt not unmask thy counterfeit；
This earth will be the prey of strife once more；
As when primaeval discord held its reign。
The song ended with a deep sigh； and again the listeners remained
waiting attentively for the singer to resume； but perceiving that
the music had now turned to sobs and heart…rending moans they
determined to find out who the unhappy being could be whose voice
was as rare as his sighs were piteous； and they had not proceeded
far when on turning the corner of a rock they discovered a man of
the same aspect and appearance as Sancho had described to them when he
told them the story of Cardenio。 He； showing no astonishment when he
saw them； stood still with his head bent down upon his breast like one
in deep thought； without raising his eyes to look at them after the
first glance when they suddenly came upon him。 The curate； who was
aware of his misfortune and recognised him by the description； being a
man of good address； approached him and in a few sensible words
entreated and urged him to quit a life of such misery； lest he
should end it there； which would be the greatest of all misfortunes。
Cardenio was then in his right mind； free from any attack of that
madness which so frequently carried him away； and seeing them
dressed in a fashion so unusual among the frequenters of those
wilds； could not help showing some surprise； especially when he
heard them speak of his case as if it were a well…known matter （for
the curate's words gave him to understand as much） so he replied to
them thus：
〃I see plainly； sirs； whoever you may be； that Heaven； whose care it
is to succour the good； and even the wicked very often； here； in
this remote spot； cut off from human intercourse； sends me； though I
deserve it not； those who seek to draw me away from this to some
better retreat； showing me by many and forcible arguments how
unreasonably I act in leading the life I do； but as they know； that if
I escape from this evil I shall fall into another still greater；
perhaps they will set me down as a weak…minded man； or； what is worse；
one devoid of reason； nor would it be any wonder； for I myself can
perceive that the effect of the recollection of my misfortunes is so
great and works so powerfully to my ruin； that in spite of myself I
become at times like a stone； without feeling or consciousness； and
I come to feel the truth of it when they tell me and show me proofs of
the things I have done when the terrible fit overmasters me； and all I
can do is bewail my lot in vain； and idly curse my destiny； and
plead for my madness by telling how it was caused； to any that care to
hear it； for no reasonable beings on learning the cause will wonder at
the effects； and if they cannot help me at least they will not blame
me； and the repugnance they feel at my wild ways will turn into pity
for my woes。 If it be； sirs； that you are here with the same design as
others have come wah； before you proceed with your wise arguments； I
entreat you to hear the story of my countless misfortunes； for perhaps
when you have heard it you will spare yourselves the trouble you would
take in offering consolation to grief that is beyond the reach of it。〃
As they； both of them； desired nothing more than to hear from his
own lips the cause of his suffering； they entreated him to tell it；
promising not to do anything for his relief or comfort that he did not
wish； and thereupon the unhappy gentleman began his sad story in
nearly the same words and manner in which he had related it to Don
Quixote and the goatherd a few days before； when； through Master
Elisabad； and Don Quixote's scrupulous observance of what was due to
chivalry； the tale was left unfinished； as this history has already
recorded； but now fortunately the mad fit kept off； allowed him to
tell it to the end； and so； coming to the incident of the note which
Don Fernando had found in the volume of 〃Amadis of Gaul；〃 Cardenio
said that he remembered it perfectly and that it was in these words：
〃Luscinda to Cardenio。
〃Every day I discover merits in you that oblige and compel me to
hold you in higher estimation； so if you desire to relieve me of
this obligation without cost to my honour； you may easily do so。 I
have a father who knows you and loves me dearly； who without putting
any constraint on my inclination will grant what will be reasonable
for you to have； if it be that you value me as you say and as I
believe you do。〃
〃By this letter I was induced； as I told you； to demand Luscinda for
my wife； and it was through it that Luscinda came to be regarded by
Don Fernando as one of the most discreet and prudent women of the day；
and this letter it was that suggested his design of ruining me
before mine could be carried into effect。 I told Don Fernando that all
Luscinda's father was waiting for was that mine should ask her of him；
which I did not dare to suggest to him； fearing that he would not
consent to do so； not because he did not know perfectly well the rank；
goodness； virtue； and beauty of Luscinda； and that she had q