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at the miserable appearance of him who mentioned it； for it has been
already said how wretchedly clad Cardenio was； so she said to him：
〃And who may you be； brother； who seem to know my father's name so
well？ For so far； if I remember rightly； I have not mentioned it in
the whole story of my misfortunes。〃
〃I am that unhappy being； senora；〃 replied Cardenio； 〃whom； as you
have said； Luscinda declared to be her husband； I am the unfortunate
Cardenio； whom the wrong…doing of him who has brought you to your
present condition has reduced to the state you see me in； bare；
ragged； bereft of all human comfort； and what is worse； of reason； for
I only possess it when Heaven is pleased for some short space to
restore it to me。 I； Dorothea； am he who witnessed the wrong done by
Don Fernando； and waited to hear the 'Yes' uttered by which Luscinda
owned herself his betrothed： I am he who had not courage enough to see
how her fainting fit ended； or what came of the paper that was found
in her bosom； because my heart had not the fortitude to endure so many
strokes of ill…fortune at once； and so losing patience I quitted the
house； and leaving a letter with my host； which I entreated him to
place in Luscinda's hands； I betook myself to these solitudes；
resolved to end here the life I hated as if it were my mortal enemy。
But fate would not rid me of it； contenting itself with robbing me
of my reason； perhaps to preserve me for the good fortune I have had
in meeting you； for if that which you have just told us be true； as
I believe it to be； it may be that Heaven has yet in store for both of
us a happier termination to our misfortunes than we look for；
because seeing that Luscinda cannot marry Don Fernando； being mine； as
she has herself so openly declared； and that Don Fernando cannot marry
her as he is yours； we may reasonably hope that Heaven will restore to
us what is ours； as it is still in existence and not yet alienated
or destroyed。 And as we have this consolation springing from no very
visionary hope or wild fancy； I entreat you； senora； to form new
resolutions in your better mind； as I mean to do in mine； preparing
yourself to look forward to happier fortunes； for I swear to you by
the faith of a gentleman and a Christian not to desert you until I see
you in possession of Don Fernando； and if I cannot by words induce him
to recognise his obligation to you； in that case to avail myself of
the right which my rank as a gentleman gives me； and with just cause
challenge him on account of the injury he has done you； not
regarding my own wrongs； which I shall leave to Heaven to avenge；
while I on earth devote myself to yours。〃
Cardenio's words completed the astonishment of Dorothea； and not
knowing how to return thanks for such an offer； she attempted to
kiss his feet； but Cardenio would not permit it； and the licentiate
replied for both； commended the sound reasoning of Cardenio； and
lastly； begged； advised； and urged them to come with him to his
village； where they might furnish themselves with what they needed；
and take measures to discover Don Fernando； or restore Dorothea to her
parents； or do what seemed to them most advisable。 Cardenio and
Dorothea thanked him； and accepted the kind offer he made them； and
the barber； who had been listening to all attentively and in
silence； on his part some kindly words also； and with no less
good…will than the curate offered his services in any way that might
be of use to them。 He also explained to them in a few words the object
that had brought them there； and the strange nature of Don Quixote's
madness； and how they were waiting for his squire； who had gone in
search of him。 Like the recollection of a dream； the quarrel he had
had with Don Quixote came back to Cardenio's memory； and he
described it to the others； but he was unable to say what the
dispute was about。
At this moment they heard a shout； and recognised it as coming
from Sancho Panza； who； not finding them where he had left them； was
calling aloud to them。 They went to meet him； and in answer to their
inquiries about Don Quixote； be told them how he had found him
stripped to his shirt； lank； yellow； half dead with hunger； and
sighing for his lady Dulcinea； and although he had told him that she
commanded him to quit that place and come to El Toboso； where she
was expecting him； he had answered that he was determined not to
appear in the presence of her beauty until he had done deeds to make
him worthy of her favour； and if this went on； Sancho said； he ran the
risk of not becoming an emperor as in duty bound； or even an
archbishop； which was the least he could be； for which reason they
ought to consider what was to be done to get him away from there。
The licentiate in reply told him not to be uneasy； for they would
fetch him away in spite of himself。 He then told Cardenio and Dorothea
what they had proposed to do to cure Don Quixote； or at any rate
take him home； upon which Dorothea said that she could play the
distressed damsel better than the barber； especially as she had
there the dress in which to do it to the life； and that they might
trust to her acting the part in every particular requisite for
carrying out their scheme； for she had read a great many books of
chivalry； and knew exactly the style in which afflicted damsels begged
boons of knights…errant。
〃In that case；〃 said the curate； 〃there is nothing more required
than to set about it at once； for beyond a doubt fortune is
declaring itself in our favour； since it has so unexpectedly begun
to open a door for your relief； and smoothed the way for us to our
object。〃
Dorothea then took out of her pillow…case a complete petticoat of
some rich stuff； and a green mantle of some other fine material； and a
necklace and other ornaments out of a little box； and with these in an
instant she so arrayed herself that she looked like a great and rich
lady。 All this； and more； she said； she had taken from home in case of
need； but that until then she had had no occasion to make use of it。
They were all highly delighted with her grace； air； and beauty； and
declared Don Fernando to be a man of very little taste when he
rejected such charms。 But the one who admired her most was Sancho
Panza； for it seemed to him （what indeed was true） that in all the
days of his life he had never seen such a lovely creature； and he
asked the curate with great eagerness who this beautiful lady was； and
what she wanted in these out…of…the…way quarters。
〃This fair lady； brother Sancho；〃 replied the curate； 〃is no less
a personage than the heiress in the direct male line of the great
kingdom of Micomicon； who has come in search of your master to beg a
boon of him； which is that he redress a wrong or injury that a
wicked giant has done her； and from the fame as a good knight which
your master has acquired far and wide； this princess has come from
Guinea to seek him。〃
〃A lucky seeking and a lucky finding！〃 said Sancho Panza at this；
〃especially if my master has the good fortune to redress that
injury； and right that wrong； and kill that son of a bitch of a
giant your worship speaks of； as kill him he