“The author of that book, too,” said the
curate, “is a great friend of mine, and his
verses from his own mouth are the admiration of all
who hear them, for such is the sweetness of his voice
that he enchants when he chants them: it gives
rather too much of its eclogues, but what is good
was never yet plentiful: let it be kept with those
that have been set apart. But what book is that
next it?”
“The ‘Galatea’ of Miguel de Cervantes,”
said the barber.
“That Cervantes has been for many years a great
friend of mine, and to my knowledge he has had more
experience in reverses than in verses. His book
has some good invention in it, it presents us with
something but brings nothing to a conclusion:
we must wait for the Second Part it promises:
perhaps with amendment it may succeed in winning the
full measure of grace that is now denied it; and in
the mean time do you, senor gossip, keep it shut up
in your own quarters.”
“Very good,” said the barber; “and
here come three together, the ‘Araucana’
of Don Alonso de Ercilla, the ‘Austriada’
of Juan Rufo, Justice of Cordova, and the ‘Montserrate’
of Christobal de Virues, the Valencian poet.”
“These three books,” said the curate,
“are the best that have been written in Castilian
in heroic verse, and they may compare with the most
famous of Italy; let them be preserved as the richest
treasures of poetry that Spain possesses.”
The curate was tired and would not look into any more
books, and so he decided that, “contents uncertified,”
all the rest should be burned; but just then the barber
held open one, called “The Tears of Angelica.”
“I should have shed tears myself,” said
the curate when he heard the title, “had I ordered
that book to be burned, for its author was one of
the famous poets of the world, not to say of Spain,
and was very happy in the translation of some of Ovid’s
fables.”
OF THE SECOND SALLY OF OUR WORTHY KNIGHT DON QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA
At this instant Don Quixote began shouting out, “Here,
here, valiant knights! here is need for you to put
forth the might of your strong arms, for they of the
Court are gaining the mastery in the tourney!”
Called away by this noise and outcry, they proceeded
no farther with the scrutiny of the remaining books,
and so it is thought that “The Carolea,”
“The Lion of Spain,” and “The Deeds
of the Emperor,” written by Don Luis de Avila,
went to the fire unseen and unheard; for no doubt they
were among those that remained, and perhaps if the
curate had seen them they would not have undergone
so severe a sentence.
When they reached Don Quixote he was already out of
bed, and was still shouting and raving, and slashing
and cutting all round, as wide awake as if he had
never slept.
They closed with him and by force got him back to
bed, and when he had become a little calm, addressing
the curate, he said to him, “Of a truth, Senor
Archbishop Turpin, it is a great disgrace for us who
call ourselves the Twelve Peers, so carelessly to
allow the knights of the Court to gain the victory
in this tourney, we the adventurers having carried
off the honour on the three former days.”
