THE STORY OF CARDENIO CONTINUED
CHAPTER XVIII
The Story of Cardenio continued
The next day they arrived at the place where Sancho had left the boughs strewn along his path, and there he told them they were near to Don Quixote, and that they had better get dressed. For they had told Sancho part of their plan to take away his Master from this wretched penance he was performing, and warned him not to tell the Knight who they were. They also said that if Don Quixote asked, as they were sure he would, whether he had delivered his letter to Dulcinea, he was to say that he had done so; but as his Lady could not read, she had sent a message that he was to return to her. Sancho listened to all this talk, and said he would remember everything, for he was anxious that his Master should give up penances and go forth again in search of Islands. He also suggested that it were best he should go on in advance, as perhaps the message from Dulcinea would of itself be enough to bring Don Quixote away from the mountains.
With that, Sancho went off into the mountain gorges, leaving the other two behind by a stream overhung with pleasant trees and rocks.
It was one of the hottest days of August, when in those parts the heat is very great, and it was about three in the afternoon when Sancho left them. The two were resting in the shade at their ease when they heard the sound of a voice, not accompanied by any instrument, but singing very sweetly and melodiously. The song surprised them not a little, for this did not seem the place in which to find so good a singer.
The singer finished his song, and the Barber and Curate, in wonder and delight, listened for more. But as silence continued, they agreed to go in search of this strange musician. As they were moving away he again burst into song, and at the end of this, uttered a deep sigh, and the music was changed into sobs and heart-rending moans.
They had not gone far in their search when, in turning the corner of a rock, they saw a man of the same figure that Sancho had described to them when he had told them the story of Cardenio. The Curate at once went up to him, and in a kindly manner begged him to quit this wretched, wandering life, lest he should perish among the mountains.