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and give it to you； and in sixteen hours from the time when it was
given me I have made the journey； which； as you know； is eighteen
leagues。'
〃All the while the good…natured improvised courier was telling me
this； I hung upon his words； my legs trembling under me so that I
could scarcely stand。 However； I opened the letter and read these
words：
〃'The promise Don Fernando gave you to urge your father to speak
to mine； he has fulfilled much more to his own satisfaction than to
your advantage。 I have to tell you； senor； that be has demanded me for
a wife； and my father； led away by what he considers Don Fernando's
superiority over you； has favoured his suit so cordially； that in
two days hence the betrothal is to take place with such secrecy and so
privately that the only witnesses are to be the Heavens above and a
few of the household。 Picture to yourself the state I am in； judge
if it be urgent for you to come； the issue of the affair will show you
whether I love you or not。 God grant this may come to your hand before
mine shall be forced to link itself with his who keeps so ill the
faith that he has pledged。'
〃Such； in brief； were the words of the letter； words that made me
set out at once without waiting any longer for reply or money； for I
now saw clearly that it was not the purchase of horses but of his
own pleasure that had made Don Fernando send me to his brother。 The
exasperation I felt against Don Fernando； joined with the fear of
losing the prize I had won by so many years of love and devotion； lent
me wings； so that almost flying I reached home the same day； by the
hour which served for speaking with Luscinda。 I arrived unobserved；
and left the mule on which I had come at the house of the worthy man
who had brought me the letter； and fortune was pleased to be for
once so kind that I found Luscinda at the grating that was the witness
of our loves。 She recognised me at once； and I her； but not as she
ought to have recognised me； or I her。 But who is there in the world
that can boast of having fathomed or understood the wavering mind
and unstable nature of a woman？ Of a truth no one。 To proceed： as soon
as Luscinda saw me she said； 'Cardenio； I am in my bridal dress； and
the treacherous Don Fernando and my covetous father are waiting for me
in the hall with the other witnesses； who shall be the witnesses of my
death before they witness my betrothal。 Be not distressed； my
friend； but contrive to be present at this sacrifice； and if that
cannot be prevented by my words； I have a dagger concealed which
will prevent more deliberate violence； putting an end to my life and
giving thee a first proof of the love I have borne and bear thee。' I
replied to her distractedly and hastily； in fear lest I should not
have time to reply； 'May thy words be verified by thy deeds； lady； and
if thou hast a dagger to save thy honour； I have a sword to defend
thee or kill myself if fortune be against us。'
〃I think she could not have heard all these words； for I perceived
that they called her away in haste； as the bridegroom was waiting。 Now
the night of my sorrow set in； the sun of my happiness went down； I
felt my eyes bereft of sight； my mind of reason。 I could not enter the
house； nor was I capable of any movement； but reflecting how important
it was that I should be present at what might take place on the
occasion； I nerved myself as best I could and went in； for I well knew
all the entrances and outlets； and besides； with the confusion that in
secret pervaded the house no one took notice of me； so； without
being seen； I found an opportunity of placing myself in the recess
formed by a window of the hall itself； and concealed by the ends and
borders of two tapestries； from between which I could； without being
seen； see all that took place in the room。 Who could describe the
agitation of heart I suffered as I stood there… the thoughts that came
to me… the reflections that passed through my mind？ They were such
as cannot be； nor were it well they should be； told。 Suffice it to say
that the bridegroom entered the hall in his usual dress； without
ornament of any kind； as groomsman he had with him a cousin of
Luscinda's and except the servants of the house there was no one
else in the chamber。 Soon afterwards Luscinda came out from an
antechamber； attended by her mother and two of her damsels； arrayed
and adorned as became her rank and beauty； and in full festival and
ceremonial attire。 My anxiety and distraction did not allow me to
observe or notice particularly what she wore； I could only perceive
the colours； which were crimson and white； and the glitter of the gems
and jewels on her head dress and apparel； surpassed by the rare beauty
of her lovely auburn hair that vying with the precious stones and
the light of the four torches that stood in the hall shone with a
brighter gleam than all。 Oh memory； mortal foe of my peace！ why
bring before me now the incomparable beauty of that adored enemy of
mine？ Were it not better； cruel memory； to remind me and recall what
she then did； that stirred by a wrong so glaring I may seek； if not
vengeance now； at least to rid myself of life？ Be not weary； sirs；
of listening to these digressions； my sorrow is not one of those
that can or should be told tersely and briefly； for to me each
incident seems to call for many words。〃
To this the curate replied that not only were they not weary of
listening to him； but that the details he mentioned interested them
greatly； being of a kind by no means to be omitted and deserving of
the same attention as the main story。
〃To proceed； then；〃 continued Cardenio： 〃all being assembled in
the hall； the priest of the parish came in and as he took the pair
by the hand to perform the requisite ceremony； at the words； 'Will
you； Senora Luscinda； take Senor Don Fernando； here present； for
your lawful husband； as the holy Mother Church ordains？' I thrust my
head and neck out from between the tapestries； and with eager ears and
throbbing heart set myself to listen to Luscinda's answer； awaiting in
her reply the sentence of death or the grant of life。 Oh； that I had
but dared at that moment to rush forward crying aloud； 'Luscinda；
Luscinda！ have a care what thou dost； remember what thou owest me；
bethink thee thou art mine and canst not be another's； reflect that
thy utterance of 〃Yes〃 and the end of my life will come at the same
instant。 O； treacherous Don Fernando！ robber of my glory； death of
my life！ What seekest thou？ Remember that thou canst not as a
Christian attain the object of thy wishes； for Luscinda is my bride；
and I am her husband！' Fool that I am！ now that I am far away； and out
of danger； I say I should have done what I did not do： now that I have
allowed my precious treasure to be robbed from me； I curse the robber；
on whom I might have taken vengeance had I as much heart for it as I
have for bewailing my fate； in short； as I was then a coward and a
fool； little wonder is it if I am now dying shame…stricken；
remorseful； and mad。
〃The priest stood waiting for the answer of Luscinda； who for a long
time withheld it； and just as I thought she was ta