Page:The History of the Valorous and Wity Knight-Errant, Don-Quixote of the Mancha. Volume two.djvu/10

4 to pull on her Shoes, or to gather up her Hair; but scarce had she gone fix Paces, when her delicate and tender Feet, unable to abide the rough Encounter of the Stones, made her to fall to the Earth. Which the three perceiving, they came out to her, and the Curate arriving first of all, said unto her, Lady, whatsoever you be, stay, and fear nothing; for we which behold you here, come only with Intention to do you Service, and therefore you need not pretend so impertinent a Flight, which neither your Feet can endure, nor would we permit.

The poor Girl remained so amazed and confounded, as she answered not a Word; wherefore the Curate and the rest drawing near, he took her by the Hand, and then he prosecuted his Speech, saying, What your Habit concealed from us, Lady, your Hairs have bewrayed, being manifest Arguments, that the Causes were of no small Moment which have thus bemasked your singular Beauty under so unworthy Array, and conducted you to this ill-abandoned Desart; wherein it was a wonderful Chance to have met you, if not to remedy your Harms, yet at least to give you some Comfort, seeing no Evil can afflict and vex one so much, and plunge him in so deep Extremes (whilst it deprives not the Life) that will wholly abhor from listening to the Advice that is offered, with a good and sincere Intention; So that, fair Lady, or Lord, or what else you shall please to be termed, strike off your Affrightment, and rehearse unto us your good or ill Fortune; for you shall find in us jointly, or in every one apart, Companions to help you to deplore your Disasters.

Whilst the Curate made this Speech, the disguised Woman stood as one half asleep, now beholding the one, now the other, without once moving her Lip, or saying a Word; much like unto a rustick Clown, when rare and unseen Things to him before are unexpectedly presented to his View.

But the Curate insisting, and using other persuasive Reasons addressed to that Effect, won her at last to make a Breach on her tedious Silence, and with a profound Sigh blow open her Coral Gates, saying somewhat to this Effect: