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By Root 881 0

Do you think the Amaryllises, Phyllises, Sylvias, Dianas, Galateas, Alidas, and all the rest that fill books, ballads, barbershops, and theaters are really ladies of flesh and blood who belong to those who celebrate them? No, of course not, for most are imagined in order to provide a subject for their verses, and so that people will think of them as lovers and as men who have the capacity to be lovers. And therefore it is enough for me to think and believe that my good Aldonza Lorenzo is beautiful and virtuous; as for her lineage, it matters little, for no one is going to investigate it in order to give her a robe of office, and I can think she is the highest princess in the world. Because you should know, Sancho, if you do not know already, that two things inspire love more than any other; they are great beauty and a good name, and these two things reach their consummation in Dulcinea, for in beauty, no one is her equal, and as for a good name, few can approach her. And to conclude, I imagine that everything I say is true, no more and no less, and I depict her in my imagination as I wish her to be in beauty and in distinction, and Helen cannot approach her, Lucretia cannot match her, nor can any of the other famous women of past ages, Greek, barbarian, or Latin. Let each man say what he chooses; if because of this I am criticized by the ignorant, I shall not be chastised by the learned.”

“I say that your grace is correct in everything,” responded Sancho, “and that I am an ass. But I don’t know why my mouth says ass, when you shouldn’t mention rope in the hanged man’s house. But let’s have the letter, and I’ll say goodbye and be on my way.”

Don Quixote took out the notebook, moved off to one side, and very calmly began to write the letter, and when he had finished, he called Sancho and said he wanted to read it to him so that Sancho could commit it to memory in the event he lost it along the way, for his own misfortune was such that it was reasonable to fear the worst. To which Sancho responded:

“Your grace should write it two or three times in the book, and give it to me, and I’ll take good care of it, because it’s foolish to think I’ll commit it to memory; mine is so bad I often forget my own name. But even so, your grace should read it to me, and I’ll be very happy to hear it, for it must be perfect.”

“Listen, then, for this is what it says,” said Don Quixote:

LETTER FROM DON QUIXOTE TO DULCINEA OF TOBOSO

Supreme and most high lady:

He who is sore wounded by the sharp blade of absence, he whose heart-strings are broken, most gentle Dulcinea of Toboso, sendeth thee wishes for the well-being he doth not have. If thy beauty scorneth me, if thy great merit opposeth me, if thy disdain standeth firm against me e’en though I possess a goodly portion of forbearance, I shall not be able to endure this affliction, which is both grievous and long-lasting. My good squire, Sancho, will recount the entire tale to thee, O ungrateful beauty! O my beloved enemy! regarding the state in which I findeth myself for thy sake: if it be thy desire to succor me, I am thine; if not, do as thou pleaseth, for by ending my life I shall have satisfied both thy cruelty and mine own desire.

Thine until death,

THE KNIGHT OF THE SORROWFUL FACE

“By my father’s life,” said Sancho when he heard the letter, “that’s the highest thing I’ve ever heard. Confound it, but how your grace says everything anyone could want, and how well The Knight of the Sorrowful Face fits into the closing! I’m telling the truth when I say your grace is the devil himself, and there’s nothing your grace doesn’t know.”

“Everything is necessary,” responded Don Quixote, “for the profession I follow.”

“Well, then,” said Sancho, “your grace just has to make a note on the other page about the three donkeys, and sign it very clearly so that when they see it they’ll know the signature.”

“It will be my pleasure,” said Don Quixote.

And when he had written it, he read it to Sancho, and it said:

Señora, my niece, your grace will arrange, by means of this order for donkeys,