PART II - CHAPTER XXXVII.

by Miguel de Cervantes

　　WHEREIN IS CONTINUED THE NOTABLE ADVENTURE OF THE DISTRESSED DUENNAThe duke and duchess were extremely glad to see how readily Don Quixotefell in with their scheme; but at this moment Sancho observed, "I hopethis senora duenna won't be putting any difficulties in the way of thepromise of my government; for I have heard a Toledo apothecary, whotalked like a goldfinch, say that where duennas were mixed up nothinggood could happen. God bless me, how he hated them, that same apothecary!And so what I'm thinking is, if all duennas, of whatever sort orcondition they may be, are plagues and busybodies, what must they be thatare distressed, like this Countess Three-skirts or Three-tails!--for inmy country skirts or tails, tails or skirts, it's all one.""Hush, friend Sancho," said Don Quixote; "since this lady duenna comes inquest of me from such a distant land she cannot be one of those theapothecary meant; moreover this is a countess, and when countesses serveas duennas it is in the service of queens and empresses, for in their ownhouses they are mistresses paramount and have other duennas to wait onthem."To this Dona Rodriguez, who was present, made answer, "My lady theduchess has duennas in her service that might be countesses if it was thewill of fortune; 'but laws go as kings like;' let nobody speak ill ofduennas, above all of ancient maiden ones; for though I am not onemyself, I know and am aware of the advantage a maiden duenna has over onethat is a widow; but 'he who clipped us has kept the scissors.'""For all that," said Sancho, "there's so much to be clipped aboutduennas, so my barber said, that 'it will be better not to stir the riceeven though it sticks.'""These squires," returned Dona Rodriguez, "are always our enemies; and asthey are the haunting spirits of the antechambers and watch us at everystep, whenever they are not saying their prayers (and that's oftenenough) they spend their time in tattling about us, digging up our bonesand burying our good name. But I can tell these walking blocks that wewill live in spite of them, and in great houses too, though we die ofhunger and cover our flesh, be it delicate or not, with widow's weeds, asone covers or hides a dunghill on a procession day. By my faith, if itwere permitted me and time allowed, I could prove, not only to those herepresent, but to all the world, that there is no virtue that is not to befound in a duenna.""I have no doubt," said the duchess, "that my good Dona Rodriguez isright, and very much so; but she had better bide her time for fightingher own battle and that of the rest of the duennas, so as to crush thecalumny of that vile apothecary, and root out the prejudice in the greatSancho Panza's mind."To which Sancho replied, "Ever since I have sniffed the governorship Ihave got rid of the humours of a squire, and I don't care a wild fig forall the duennas in the world."They would have carried on this duenna dispute further had they not heardthe notes of the fife and drums once more, from which they concluded thatthe Distressed Duenna was making her entrance. The duchess asked the dukeif it would be proper to go out to receive her, as she was a countess anda person of rank."In respect of her being a countess," said Sancho, before the duke couldreply, "I am for your highnesses going out to receive her; but in respectof her being a duenna, it is my opinion you should not stir a step.""Who bade thee meddle in this, Sancho?" said Don Quixote."Who, senor?" said Sancho; "I meddle for I have a right to meddle, as asquire who has learned the rules of courtesy in the school of yourworship, the most courteous and best-bred knight in the whole world ofcourtliness; and in these things, as I have heard your worship say, asmuch is lost by a card too many as by a card too few, and to one who hashis ears open, few words.""Sancho is right," said the duke; "we'll see what the countess is like,and by that measure the courtesy that is due to her."And now the drums and fife made their entrance as before; and here theauthor brought this short chapter to an end and began the next, followingup the same adventure, which is one of the most notable in the history.