Tales Of The Duenna 8 32: The Story of the Lakes of Ruidera and the River Guadiana

Back at the inn, the barber sheds his beard and appears to DQ as himself, affirming the tale of the highway robbers. DQ sleeps soundly. The others discuss DQ's strange madness, in which he can be so sane about all matters except chivalry. They discuss tales of chivalry... The priest asserts most of them are made up. The innkeeper starts to tell the Tale of Inappropriate Curiosity:

SP argues that since DQ still likes food and needs to perform normal bodily functions, he cannot be enchanted. DQ agrees to have SP contrive his release. The canon marvels at how selective DQ's madness is. He tries to persuade DQ to be restored to good sense, and recommends he substitute readings from the Bible such as Book of Judges, and authentic historical tales of heroism. DQ disputes the canon's dismissal of the validity of chivalric tales. He launches an extended defense of chivalric literature, believing that the canon is out of his senses and under a spell. He refers to the great tales of Arthur and Tristan and Iseult, the Trojan War, etc. The canon is amazed at DQ's blending of fictional and historical events, but concedes the truthfulness of some of the stories of knight errantry and the Cid etc. but still says DQ should not put so much faith in those ridiculous books of chivalry.

Tales Of The Duenna 8 32

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DQ and Sansón discuss the reception, merits, and defects of DQ Part I. The author, being most likely a Moor, cannot be fully trusted. Sansón is 24, a great practical joker. He tells how popular the book has become, that it is being translated into many languages. DQ wishes the author had not published events which tend to discredit DQ. Many readers prefer to hear about SP. Some including DQ criticize the seemingly unrelated tales such as Inappropriate Curiosity. The book is very wholesome even for children and is in keeping with the Catholic church. Sansón wishes the critics were less censorious. They discuss how SP's dun was stolen and then reappears out of sequence, and what SP did with the 100 escudos.

He tells what he saw in the cave. While descending, he diverted into a side concave space, thus leaving the rope slack. He was overcome with deep sleep, awakening [more likely, dreaming] to find himself in a meadow. An old man, Montesinos, appeared to him in a purple cloak. DQ asked him about the legend dating to the Battle of Roncesvalles in which Montesinos cut the heart out of his dead friend Durandarte as Durandarte had instructed him to do, in order to give it to his beloved lady Belerma. Montesinos shows him the tomb and corpse of Durandarte, who is kept there enchanted by Merlin "the French sorcerer" [though of course he came originally from Britain]. Durandarte cries out to Montesinos, and Montesinos reminds him he did carry out the mission. Belerma, Guadiana (Durandarte's squire), the duenna Ruidera, and her 7 daughters were all there in a state of enchantment that has lasted over 500 years (Ruidera and daughters were eventually turned into the lakes of Ruidera, and Guadiana into a river). Montesinos speaks how DQ may help them become unenchanted. A procession of lovely damsels enters, bearing the mummified heart, accompanied by Belerma, whose beauty has suffered during her years of enchantment. Montesinos compares her to Dulcinea, but DQ objects. SP and the cousin challenge how this could all have happened in such a short time-but he believes it has taken place over three days. They ask skeptical questions about how the enchanted live. DQ talks about enchantment, cites Dulcinea, but SP disparages this fantastic tale. DQ claims that Montesinos showed him three village girls one of whom was Dulcinea, who was still enchanted and spoke nothing to him. Montesinos tells him that someday he will be able to disenchant all of them. He also recounts how one of Dulcinea's companions came to him [still in the dream] and asked him to lend her money for Dulcinea. He gives money and swears a vow to disenchant her. SP again tries to talk him out of this hocus-pocus.

DQ is royally received at their castle. But SP encounters a venerable duenna, Doña Rodríguez de Grijalba, who brusquely tells him he can look after his dun himself. Lovely maids remove DQ's armor. In private DQ criticizes SP's handling of the duenna. SP tells a tale about table sitting arrangements, which the Duchess finds very entertaining. The Duchess asks about Dulcinea, and DQ sadly tells how she has been turned into an ugly peasant girl. A resident grave churchman scorns DQ's illusions of being a knight and chastises the Duke for putting up with this deception.

SP knows nothing good can come from the involvement of duennas [duennas appear to be a convenient butt for humor]. But duenna Doña Rodríguez takes offense and defends duennas to him, saying squires have always been their enemies.

The Countess Trifaldi or Dolorous Duenna arrives with her retinue of duennas (their faces are covered by veils). She is pleased to find DQ in attendance, and kisses his feet. She tells how she was duenna to Kingdom of Kandy (near Sri Lanka) where Queen Maguncia ruled, and in charge of the lovely young heiress Princess Antonomasia. She tells how the young lady was seduced (with her complicity) and made pregnant by the smooth-talking Don Clavijo, who promised marriage.

The Dolorous Duenna's story continues. Queen Maguncia was enraged at the marriage of her daughter to a man of lower rank, and soon died. Her cousin the giant Malambruno came to avenge her. He turned the lovers into metal animals, and sent a challenge saying that only DQ can free them by doing combat with him. He also denounces all duennas, and punished all of the duennas by giving them beards (which the gathered duennas now reveal by lifting their veils).

The bearded duennas lack money to be shaved. DQ agrees to go to the lands of the Moors. The DD tells him Kandy is 5,000 leagues away, but that there is a magical horse of wood named Clavileño, made by Merlin, which DQ (like Malambruno and Pierres) can use to fly great distances. She says Malambruno, who is a Christian enchanter, will send the horse. Trifaldi insists SP go as well, and SP agrees reluctantly.

Duke reminds SP he must do this to win his governorship. DQ and SP mount the wooden horse and journey while blindfolded (ostensibly to keep from being dizzy), blown by bellows and warmed as in the upper atmosphere by flames. SP wonders why they can still hear the people they have left on the ground. They finally are hurled to the ground, and are surprised to find themselves in the same garden. A note on a lance proclaims that Malambruno regards them to have satisfied his requirements, and that the duennas are now clean-shaven and that the new queen and king have been restored to normal. SP tells some tall tales of seeing 7 goats in the sky, and DQ wonders if SP is lying or dreaming. He reminds SP that for him to believe in SP's tale, SP should believe his tale of the Cave of Montesinos.

The duenna Rodriguez comes to DQ in the night, and after getting over her shock at how he appears (and reassuring him she is not enchanted or intending him harm or seduction), she tells her story of need. She is widowed: her husband was squire to the Duchess (Doña Casilda), who stabbed him with a large pin and accidentally killed him. Her 16 y/o daughter has been seduced by a farmer who won't marry her. The Duchess is said to be sick with draining wounds in her legs (apparently a lie). Two "ghosts" (the Duchess and Altisidora) enter in the dark, and punish her by choking her, also pinching DQ.

Another duenna informed the Duchess on the presence of the DD in DQ's room. The Duchess was angry about the story of her draining legs, and Altisidora had her pride injured-thus they attacked DD and DQ.

Altisidora lies "dead" on a catafalque in the courtyard. SP is swathed in robes of black and given a cardboard cone hood with devils painted on it. A mystical ceremony ensues, which requires SP to take various physical punishments to bring her back to life. He refuses initially, but finally relents if duennas will not touch him. Altisidora returns to life, thanks SP, and blames DQ's cruelty for what happened to her. 2ff7e9595c