按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
unlace the bosom of her dress to give her air； he found a paper in her
own handwriting； in which she said and declared that she could not
be Don Fernando's bride； because she was already Cardenio's； who；
according to the man's account； was a gentleman of distinction of
the same city； and that if she had accepted Don Fernando； it was
only in obedience to her parents。 In short； he said； the words of
the paper made it clear she meant to kill herself on the completion of
the betrothal； and gave her reasons for putting an end to herself
all which was confirmed； it was said； by a dagger they found somewhere
in her clothes。 On seeing this； Don Fernando； persuaded that
Luscinda had befooled； slighted； and trifled with him； assailed her
before she had recovered from her swoon； and tried to stab her with
the dagger that had been found； and would have succeeded had not her
parents and those who were present prevented him。 It was said；
moreover； that Don Fernando went away at once； and that Luscinda did
not recover from her prostration until the next day； when she told her
parents how she was really the bride of that Cardenio I have
mentioned。 I learned besides that Cardenio； according to report； had
been present at the betrothal； and that upon seeing her betrothed
contrary to his expectation； he had quitted the city in despair；
leaving behind him a letter declaring the wrong Luscinda had done him；
and his intention of going where no one should ever see him again。 All
this was a matter of notoriety in the city； and everyone spoke of
it； especially when it became known that Luscinda was missing from her
father's house and from the city； for she was not to be found
anywhere； to the distraction of her parents； who knew not what steps
to take to recover her。 What I learned revived my hopes； and I was
better pleased not to have found Don Fernando than to find him
married； for it seemed to me that the door was not yet entirely shut
upon relief in my case； and I thought that perhaps Heaven had put this
impediment in the way of the second marriage； to lead him to recognise
his obligations under the former one； and reflect that as a
Christian he was bound to consider his soul above all human objects。
All this passed through my mind； and I strove to comfort myself
without comfort； indulging in faint and distant hopes of cherishing
that life that I now abhor。
〃But while I was in the city； uncertain what to do； as I could not
find Don Fernando； I heard notice given by the public crier offering a
great reward to anyone who should find me； and giving the
particulars of my age and of the very dress I wore； and I heard it
said that the lad who came with me had taken me away from my
father's house； a thing that cut me to the heart； showing how low my
good name had fallen； since it was not enough that I should lose it by
my flight； but they must add with whom I had fled； and that one so
much beneath me and so unworthy of my consideration。 The instant I
heard the notice I quitted the city with my servant； who now began
to show signs of wavering in his fidelity to me； and the same night；
for fear of discovery； we entered the most thickly wooded part of
these mountains。 But； as is commonly said； one evil calls up another
and the end of one misfortune is apt to be the beginning of one
still greater； and so it proved in my case； for my worthy servant；
until then so faithful and trusty when he found me in this lonely
spot； moved more by his own villainy than by my beauty； sought to take
advantage of the opportunity which these solitudes seemed to present
him； and with little shame and less fear of God and respect for me；
began to make overtures to me； and finding that I replied to the
effrontery of his proposals with justly severe language； he laid aside
the entreaties which he had employed at first； and began to use
violence。 But just Heaven； that seldom fails to watch over and aid
good intentions； so aided mine that with my slight strength and with
little exertion I pushed him over a precipice； where I left him；
whether dead or alive I know not； and then； with greater speed than
seemed possible in my terror and fatigue； I made my way into the
mountains； without any other thought or purpose save that of hiding
myself among them； and escaping my father and those despatched in
search of me by his orders。 It is now I know not how many months since
with this object I came here； where I met a herdsman who engaged me as
his servant at a place in the heart of this Sierra； and all this
time I have been serving him as herd； striving to keep always afield
to hide these locks which have now unexpectedly betrayed me。 But all
my care and pains were unavailing； for my master made the discovery
that I was not a man； and harboured the same base designs as my
servant； and as fortune does not always supply a remedy in cases of
difficulty； and I had no precipice or ravine at hand down which to
fling the master and cure his passion； as I had in the servant's case；
I thought it a lesser evil to leave him and again conceal myself among
these crags； than make trial of my strength and argument with him。 So；
as I say； once more I went into hiding to seek for some place where
I might with sighs and tears implore Heaven to have pity on my misery；
and grant me help and strength to escape from it； or let me die
among the solitudes； leaving no trace of an unhappy being who； by no
fault of hers； has furnished matter for talk and scandal at home and
abroad。〃
CHAPTER XXIX
WHICH TREATS OF THE DROLL DEVICE AND METHOD ADOPTED TO EXTRICATE OUR
LOVE…STRICKEN KNIGHT FROM THE SEVERE PENANCE HE HAD IMPOSED UPON
HIMSELF
〃SUCH； sirs； is the true story of my sad adventures； judge for
yourselves now whether the sighs and lamentations you heard； and the
tears that flowed from my eyes； had not sufficient cause even if I had
indulged in them more freely； and if you consider the nature of my
misfortune you will see that consolation is idle； as there is no
possible remedy for it。 All I ask of you is； what you may easily and
reasonably do； to show me where I may pass my life unharassed by the
fear and dread of discovery by those who are in search of me； for
though the great love my parents bear me makes me feel sure of being
kindly received by them； so great is my feeling of shame at the mere
thought that I cannot present myself before them as they expect；
that I had rather banish myself from their sight for ever than look
them in the face with the reflection that they beheld mine stripped of
that purity they had a right to expect in me。〃
With these words she became silent； and the colour that overspread
her face showed plainly the pain and shame she was suffering at heart。
In theirs the listeners felt as much pity as wonder at her
misfortunes； but as the curate was just about to offer her some
consolation and advice Cardenio forestalled him； saying； 〃So then；
senora； you are the fair Dorothea； the only daughter of the rich
Clenardo？〃 Dorothea was astonished at hearing her father's name； and
at the miserable appearance of him who mentioned it； for it has been
already said how wretchedly clad Ca