Page:The History of the Valorous and Wity Knight-Errant, Don-Quixote of the Mancha. Volume two.djvu/13

quisite for Maidens, to wit, in Sewing, making of Bone-lace, and many times handling the Distast; and if sometimes I left those Exercises, to recreate my Mind a little, I would then take some godly Book in Hand, or play on the Harp; for Experience had taught me, that Musick ordereth disordered Minds, and doth lighten the Passions that afflict the Spirit. This was the Life which I led in my Father's House; the recounting, whereof so particularly hath not been divine for Ostentation, nor to give you to understand that I am rich, but to the end you may note how much, without mine own Fault, have I fallen from that happy State I have said, unto the unhappy Plight into which I am now reduced. The History therefore is this, that passing my Life in so many Occupations, and that with such Recollection as might be compared to a religious Life unseen, as I thought, by any other Person than those of our House; for when I Went to Mass, it was commonly so early, and so accompanied by my Mother and other Maid-servants, and I myself so covered and watchful, as mine Eyes did scarce see the Earth whereon I trod. And yet notwithstanding, those of Love, or, as I may better term them, of Idleness, to which Lynx's Eyes may not be compared, did represent me to Don Ferdinando's Affection and Care; for this is the Name of the Duke's younger Son, of whom I spoke before. Scarce had she named Don Ferdinando, when Cordenio changed Colour, and began to sweat with such Alteration of Body and Countenance, as the Curate and Barber which beheld it, feared that the Accident of Frenzy did assault him, which was wont (as they had heard) to possess him at Times. But Cordenio did nothing else than sweat, and stood still, beholding now and then the Country Girl, imagining straight what she was; who, without taking Notice of his Alteration, followed on her Discourse in this Manner; And scarce had he seen me, when (as he himself after confessed) he abode greatly surprised by my Love, as his Actions did after give evident Demonstration.