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kingdom of Micomicon； and with this cue your highness may now recall
to your sorrowful recollection all you may wish to tell us。〃
〃That is the truth；〃 said the damsel； 〃but I think from this on I
shall have no need of any prompting； and I shall bring my true story
safe into port； and here it is。 The king my father； who was called
Tinacrio the Sapient； was very learned in what they call magic arts；
and became aware by his craft that my mother； who was called Queen
Jaramilla； was to die before he did； and that soon after he too was to
depart this life； and I was to be left an orphan without father or
mother。 But all this； he declared； did not so much grieve or
distress him as his certain knowledge that a prodigious giant； the
lord of a great island close to our kingdom； Pandafilando of the Scowl
by name …for it is averred that； though his eyes are properly placed
and straight； he always looks askew as if he squinted； and this he
does out of malignity； to strike fear and terror into those he looks
at… that he knew； I say； that this giant on becoming aware of my
orphan condition would overrun my kingdom with a mighty force and
strip me of all； not leaving me even a small village to shelter me；
but that I could avoid all this ruin and misfortune if I were
willing to marry him； however； as far as he could see； he never
expected that I would consent to a marriage so unequal； and he said no
more than the truth in this； for it has never entered my mind to marry
that giant； or any other； let him be ever so great or enormous。 My
father said； too； that when he was dead； and I saw Pandafilando
about to invade my kingdom； I was not to wait and attempt to defend
myself； for that would be destructive to me； but that I should leave
the kingdom entirely open to him if I wished to avoid the death and
total destruction of my good and loyal vassals； for there would be
no possibility of defending myself against the giant's devilish power；
and that I should at once with some of my followers set out for Spain；
where I should obtain relief in my distress on finding a certain
knight…errant whose fame by that time would extend over the whole
kingdom； and who would be called； if I remember rightly； Don Azote
or Don Gigote。〃
〃'Don Quixote；' he must have said； senora；〃 observed Sancho at this；
〃otherwise called the Knight of the Rueful Countenance。〃
〃That is it；〃 said Dorothea； 〃he said； moreover； that he would be
tall of stature and lank featured； and that on his right side under
the left shoulder； or thereabouts； he would have a grey mole with
hairs like bristles。〃
On hearing this； Don Quixote said to his squire； 〃Here； Sancho my
son； bear a hand and help me to strip； for I want to see if I am the
knight that sage king foretold。〃
〃What does your worship want to strip for？〃 said Dorothea。
〃To see if I have that mole your father spoke of；〃 answered Don
Quixote。
〃There is no occasion to strip；〃 said Sancho； 〃for I know your
worship has just such a mole on the middle of your backbone； which
is the mark of a strong man。〃
〃That is enough；〃 said Dorothea； 〃for with friends we must not
look too closely into trifles； and whether it be on the shoulder or on
the backbone matters little； it is enough if there is a mole； be it
where it may； for it is all the same flesh； no doubt my good father
hit the truth in every particular； and I have made a lucky hit in
commending myself to Don Quixote； for he is the one my father spoke
of； as the features of his countenance correspond with those
assigned to this knight by that wide fame he has acquired not only
in Spain but in all La Mancha； for I had scarcely landed at Osuna when
I heard such accounts of his achievements； that at once my heart
told me he was the very one I had come in search of。〃
〃But how did you land at Osuna； senora；〃 asked Don Quixote； 〃when it
is not a seaport？〃
But before Dorothea could reply the curate anticipated her；
saying； 〃The princess meant to say that after she had landed at Malaga
the first place where she heard of your worship was Osuna。〃
〃That is what I meant to say；〃 said Dorothea。
〃And that would be only natural；〃 said the curate。 〃Will your
majesty please proceed？〃
〃There is no more to add；〃 said Dorothea； 〃save that in finding
Don Quixote I have had such good fortune； that I already reckon and
regard myself queen and mistress of my entire dominions； since of
his courtesy and magnanimity he has granted me the boon of
accompanying me whithersoever I may conduct him； which will be only to
bring him face to face with Pandafilando of the Scowl； that he may
slay him and restore to me what has been unjustly usurped by him：
for all this must come to pass satisfactorily since my good father
Tinacrio the Sapient foretold it； who likewise left it declared in
writing in Chaldee or Greek characters （for I cannot read them）；
that if this predicted knight； after having cut the giant's throat；
should be disposed to marry me I was to offer myself at once without
demur as his lawful wife； and yield him possession of my kingdom
together with my person。〃
〃What thinkest thou now； friend Sancho？〃 said Don Quixote at this。
〃Hearest thou that？ Did I not tell thee so？ See how we have already
got a kingdom to govern and a queen to marry！〃
〃On my oath it is so；〃 said Sancho； 〃and foul fortune to him who
won't marry after slitting Senor Pandahilado's windpipe！ And then； how
illfavoured the queen is！ I wish the fleas in my bed were that sort！〃
And so saying he cut a couple of capers in the air with every sign
of extreme satisfaction； and then ran to seize the bridle of
Dorothea's mule； and checking it fell on his knees before her； begging
her to give him her hand to kiss in token of his acknowledgment of her
as his queen and mistress。 Which of the bystanders could have helped
laughing to see the madness of the master and the simplicity of the
servant？ Dorothea therefore gave her hand； and promised to make him
a great lord in her kingdom； when Heaven should be so good as to
permit her to recover and enjoy it； for which Sancho returned thanks
in words that set them all laughing again。
〃This； sirs；〃 continued Dorothea； 〃is my story； it only remains to
tell you that of all the attendants I took with me from my kingdom I
have none left except this well…bearded squire； for all were drowned
in a great tempest we encountered when in sight of port； and he and
I came to land on a couple of planks as if by a miracle； and indeed
the whole course of my life is a miracle and a mystery as you may have
observed； and if I have been over minute in any respect or not as
precise as I ought； let it be accounted for by what the licentiate
said at the beginning of my tale； that constant and excessive troubles
deprive the sufferers of their memory。〃
〃They shall not deprive me of mine； exalted and worthy princess；〃
said Don Quixote； 〃however great and unexampled those which I shall
endure in your service may be； and here I confirm anew the boon I have
promised you； and I swear to go with you to the end of the world until
I find myself in the presence of your fierce enemy； whose haughty head
I trust by