Page:The History of the Valorous and Wity Knight-Errant, Don-Quixote of the Mancha. Volume two.djvu/16

And so the first Trouble and Amazement of my Mind being past, I began again to recover my defective Spirits, and then said to him, with more Courage than I thought I should have had: If, as I am, my Lord, between your Arms, I were between the Paws of a fierce Lion; and that I were made certain of my Liberty on Condition to do or say any thing prejudicial to mine Honour, it would prove as impossible for me to accept it, as for that which once hath been, to leave off his Essence and Being; wherefore, even as you have ingirt my Middle with your Arms, so likewise have I tied fast my Mind with virtuous and forcible Desires that are wholly different from yours, as you shall perceive, if seeking to force me you presume to pass further with your inordinate Design. I am your Vassal, but not your Slave, nor hath the Nobility of your Blood Power, nor ought it to harden, to dishonor, stain, or hold in little Account the Humility of mine; and I do esteem myself tho' a Country Wench and Farmer's Daughter, as much as you can yourself, tho' a Nobleman and a Lord; With me your Violence shall not prevail, your Riches gain any Grace, your Words have Power to deceive, or your Sighs and Tears be able to move; yet, if, I shall find any of these Properties mentioned in him whom my Parents shall please to bestow on me for my Spouse, I will presently subject my Will to his, nor shall it ever vary from his Mind a Jot: So that if I might remain with Honour, altho' I rested void of Delights, yet would I willingly bestow on you that which you presently labour so much to obtain. All which I do say to divert your straying Thought from ever thinking, that any one may obtain of me ought, who is not my lawful Spouse. If the Let only conflicts therein, most beautiful Dorotea (for so I am called) answered the disloyal Lord, behold, I give thee here my Hand to be thine alone; and let the Heavens from which nothing is concealed, and this Image of our Lady, which thou hall here present, be Witnesses of this Truth.

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