Which deals with how don Quixote bade farewell to the duke, and what happened with the discreet and impudent Altisidora.
IT SEEMED TO DON QUIXOTE that it was a good idea to leave the life of ease that he was leading in that castle. He imagined that he was making a great mistake in allowing himself to be cloistered in idleness among infinite distractions and delights those señores had given him because he was a knight errant, and that he would have to give a strict accounting in heaven for his easy life and shunning his responsibilities. He thus asked permission of the duke and duchess to leave. This was granted to him with a show of grief because they had to let him go.
The duchess gave the letters from his wife to Sancho Panza who wept on receiving them and said: “Who would have thought that such big hopes engendered in the heart of my wife Teresa Panza by the news of my government would end by me returning to the unpredictable adventures of my master don Quixote? Even so, I’m happy to see that my Teresa behaved like herself in sending the acorns to the duchess. For if she hadn’t sent them, I would have been sorrowful and she would have shown herself to be ungrateful. I’m consoled that this gift can’t be said to be a bribe since I already had the government when she sent it, and it’s reasonable that those who get some benefit should show they’re grateful, even if it’s only with trifles. So, I went to the government naked, and I came out of it naked. I can say with sure conscience—which is no little thing—that «naked I was born, naked I find myself; I neither lose nor gain».”
This is what Sancho said to himself on the day of the departure. And as don Quixote was getting ready to leave—for he’d bade farewell to the duke and duchess the previous evening—in the morning he presented himself in full armor in the courtyard of the castle. From the galleries all the people in the castle were looking at him, and the duke and duchess came out to see him as well. Sancho was on his grey—with his saddlebags, suitcase, and stores—and was very happy, because the steward of the duke (the one who had played the part of Trifaldi) had given him a little purse with two hundred gold ducados in it to help with the expenses of the journey, although don Quixote wasn’t told about it.
And while all were looking at him, suddenly, from amidst the other duennas and maidens of the duchess who were looking at him, the voice of the impudent and clever Altisidora was heard saying in a doleful tone:
While the stricken maiden was thus complaining, don Quixote was looking at her fixedly, and without responding with a single word, he turned to face Sancho and said: “On the lives of your forebears, Sancho mío, I beg you to tell me the truth. Do you, by chance, have the three kerchiefs and the garters that this enamored young woman has mentioned?”
“I have the three kerchiefs,” responded Sancho, “but as for the garters, that’s a bunch of nonsense.”
The duchess was amazed at the brazenness of Altisidora, who, although held her to be daring, light hearted, and free-and-easy, they never thought she would dare to do such an audacious thing. And since the duchess wasn’t privy to this trick, her wonder grew.
The duke was eager to bolster the prank and said: “It doesn’t seem right to me, señor knight, since you were so well received in this my castle, for you to have dared to take the three kerchiefs, if not the garters of my maiden as well. This is a sign of ill-will and it doesn’t reflect your fame. Return the garters. If you don’t, I challenge you to a mortal battle, and you need not fear that mischievous enchanters will change my form or face, as happened with Tosilos, my groom, who entered into battle with you.”
“God forbid,” responded don Quixote, “that I should take my sword out against your illustrious person, from whom I’ve received so many favors. I can return the kerchiefs because Sancho has them. It’s impossible to give back the garters, because I never had them nor did he, and if your maiden wishes to look in her hiding places, no doubt she’ll find them. I, señor duke, have never been a thief in my entire life, as long as God holds me in his hand. As this maiden confesses, she’s speaking as a woman in love, for which I’m not to blame, and so I don’t have to beg her pardon nor yours, who I hope will have a higher opinion of me, and give me leave once again to continue my journey.”
“May God give señor don Quixote such a good journey,” said the duchess, “that we may always hear good news of your deeds. Go with God, for the longer you stay, you increase the fire that burns in the hearts of the maidens who gaze at you. And as for my maiden, I’ll punish her so that from now on she’ll not let either her eyes nor her tongue go astray.”
“I would like you to hear just one more word, brave don Quixote,” Altisidora said, “and that is that I beg your pardon for the theft of the garters because, before God and my soul, I’m wearing them, and I made the blunder of the man who, while riding his donkey, was looking for him.”
“Didn’t I say so?” said Sancho. “A fine one I am to hide thefts. If I had wanted to steal, there were plenty of occasions while I was a governor.”
Don Quixote bowed his head to the duke and duchess and to all those who were in attendance, and turning Rocinante’s reins, with Sancho following on his grey, he left the castle, on the road toward Zaragoza.