one am
Altisidora , come back from death to life as Don Quixote fancied , following up the freak of her lord and lady , entered the chamber , crowned with the garland she had worn on the catafalque and in a robe of white taffeta embroidered with gold flowers , her hair flowing loose over her shoulders , and leaning upon a staff of fine black ebony . Don Quixote , disconcerted and in confusion at her appearance , huddled himself up and well-nigh covered himself altogether with the sheets and counterpane of the bed , tongue-tied , and unable to offer her any civility . Altisidora seated herself on a chair at the head of the bed , and , after a deep sigh , said to him in a feeble , soft voice , `` When women of rank and modest maidens trample honour under foot , and give a loose to the tongue that breaks through every impediment , publishing abroad the inmost secrets of their hearts , they are reduced to sore extremities . Such a one am I , Senor Don Quixote of La Mancha , crushed , conquered , love-smitten , but yet patient under suffering and virtuous , and so much so that my heart broke with grief and I lost my life . For the last two days I have been dead , slain by the thought of the cruelty with which thou hast treated me , obdurate knight , O harder thou than marble to my plaint ; or at least believed to be dead by all who saw me ; and had it not been that Love , taking pity on me , let my recovery rest upon the sufferings of this good squire , there I should have remained in the other world . '' `` Love might very well have let it rest upon the sufferings of my ass , and I should have been obliged to him , '' said Sancho . `` But tell me , senora -- and may heaven send you a tenderer lover than my master-what did you see in the other world ?