Dorothea, who was discreet enough to see they were carrying the jest too far, now said: 'Remember, Sir Knight, the boon you promised me, never to engage in any other adventure, be it ever so urgent, until you have seen me righted. And had Master Curate known that it was the mighty arm of Don Quixote that freed the galley slaves, I feel sure he would have bit his tongue through ere he spoke words which might cause you anger.'
'That I dare swear,' said the Curate.
'Madam,' replied Don Quixote, 'I will hold my peace and keep my anger to myself, and will ride on peaceably and quietly until I have done the thing I promised. Tell me, therefore, without delay, what are your troubles and on whom am I to take revenge.'
To this Dorothea replied: 'Willingly will I do what you ask, so you will give me your attention.'
At this Cardenio and the Barber drew near to hear the witty Dorothea tell her tale, and Sancho, who was as much deceived as his Master, was the most eager of all to listen.
She, after settling herself in her saddle, began with a lively air to speak as follows: 'In the first place, I would have you know, gentlemen, that my name is ——' Here she stopped a moment, for she had forgotten what name the Curate had given her.
He, seeing her trouble, said quickly: 'It is no wonder, great Lady, that you hesitate to tell your misfortunes. Great sufferers often lose their memory, so that they even forget their own names, as seems to have happened to your Ladyship, who has forgotten that she is called the Princess Micomicona, heiress of the great Kingdom of Micomicon.'
'True,' said the damsel, 'but let me proceed. The King, my father, was called Tinacrio the Sage, and was learned in the magic art. By this he discovered that my mother, the Queen Xaramilla, would die before him, and that I should soon afterwards be left an orphan. This did not trouble him so much as the knowledge that a certain Giant, called Pandafilando of the Sour Face, Lord of a great Island near our border, when he should hear that I was an orphan, would pass over with a mighty force into my Kingdom and take it from me. My father warned me that when this came to pass I should not stay to defend myself, and so cause the slaughter of my people, but should at once set out for Spain, where I should meet with a Knight whose fame would then extend through all that Kingdom. His name, he said, should be Don Quixote, and he would be tall of stature, have a withered face, and on his right side, a little under his left shoulder, he should have a tawny spot with certain hairs like bristles.'
On hearing this, Don Quixote said: 'Hold my horse, son Sancho, and help me to strip, for I would know if I am the Knight of whom the sage King spoke.'
'There is no need,' said Sancho, 'for I know that your Worship has such a mark near your backbone.'