oftiest degree.

What inwardly I feel of mine
Doth raise me all that's base above;
For majesty, be sure, and love
Do not on common soil recline.

Preciosa having ended her song, Andrew and Clement rose to meet her. An
animated conversation ensued between the three; and Preciosa displayed
so much intelligence, modesty, and acuteness, as fully excused, in
Clement's opinion, the extraordinary determination of Andrew, which he
had before attributed more to his youth than his judgment. The next
morning the camp was broken up, and they proceeded to a place in the
jurisdiction of Murcia, three leagues from the city, where a mischance
befel Andrew, which went near to cost him his life.

After they had given security in that place, according to custom, by
the deposit of some silver vessels and ornaments, Preciosa and her
grandmother, Christina and two other gitanillas, Clement, and Andrew,
took up their quarters in an inn, kept by a rich widow, who had a
daughter aged about seventeen or eighteen, rather more forward than
handsome. Her name was Juana Carducha. This girl having seen the gipsies
dance, the devil possessed her to fall in love with Andrew to that
degree that she proposed to tell him of it, and take him for a husband,
if he would have her, in spite of all her relations. Watching for an
opportunity to speak to him, she found it in a cattle-yard, which Andrew
had entered in search of two young asses, when she said to him,
hurriedly, "Andrew" (she already knew his name), "I am single and
wealthy. My mother has no other child: this inn is her own; and besides
it she has large vineyards, and several other houses. You have taken my
fancy; and if you will have me for a wife, only say the word. Answer me
quickly, and if you are a man of sense, only wait, and you shall see
what a life we shall lead."

Astonished as he was at Carducha's boldness, Andrew nevertheless
answered her with the promptitude she desired, "Senora doncella, I am
under promise to marry, and we gitanos intermarry only with gitanas.
Many thanks for the favour you would confer on me, of which I am not
worthy."

Carducha was within two inches of dropping dead at this unwelcome reply,
to which she would have rejoined, but that she saw some of the gitanos
come into the yard. She rushed from the spot, athirst for vengeance.
Andrew, like a wise man, determined to get out of her way, for he read
in her eyes that she would willingly give h