disposing of what is not
his own. What authority have I over Leonisa to give her to another? Or
how can I bestow what is so far from being mine? Leonisa is her own
mistress, and so much so, that failing her parents (long and happily may
they live), her wishes could have no opposition to encounter. Should
they meet an imaginary obstacle in the obligations which she, in her
good feeling, may think she is under to me, from this moment I cancel
them, and declare them null and void. I unsay, then, what I have said,
and I give Cornelio nothing, for I cannot; only I confirm the transfer
of my property made to Leonisa, without desiring any other recompense
than that she will believe in the sincerity of my honourable sentiments
towards her, and be assured that they never had an aim unbecoming her
incomparable virtue, her worth, and her infinite beauty."

Ricardo closed his speech with these words, and Leonisa thus replied,
"If you imagine, Ricardo, that I bestowed any favour on Cornelio during
the time when you were enamoured of me and jealous, think that it was in
all honour, as being done by the express desire of my parents, who
wished to have him for their son-in-law. If you are satisfied with this
explanation, I am sure you are no less so with what you have yourself
experienced as to my virtue and modesty. I say this, Ricardo, that you
may know that I have always been mistress of myself, and subject to no
one else except my parents, whom I now entreat humbly, as is meet, to
grant me leave and license to dispose of what your magnanimous
generosity has given me."

Her parents said she might do so, for they relied on her great
discretion that she would make such use of it as would always redound to
her honour and advantage. "With that permission, then," said Leonisa, "I
beg it may not be taken amiss if I choose rather to seem overbold than
ungrateful; and so, worthy Ricardo, my inclination, hitherto coy,
perplexed, and dubious, declares in your favour, that the world may know
that women are not all ungrateful. I am yours, Ricardo, and yours I will
be till death, unless better knowledge move you to refuse me your hand."

Ricardo was almost beside himself to hear her speak thus, and could make
no other reply than by falling on his knees before her, grasping her
hands, and kissing them a thousand times, with delicious tears. Cornelio
wept with vexation, Leonisa's parents for joy, and all the bystanders
for admiration and sympath