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lawless； barbarous braggart； there a courteous prince； gallant and
gracious； setting forth the devotion and loyalty of vassals； the
greatness and generosity of nobles。 〃Or again；〃 said he； 〃the author
may show himself to be an astronomer； or a skilled cosmographer； or
musician； or one versed in affairs of state； and sometimes he will
have a chance of coming forward as a magician if he likes。 He can
set forth the craftiness of Ulysses； the piety of AEneas； the valour
of Achilles； the misfortunes of Hector； the treachery of Sinon； the
friendship of Euryalus； the generosity of Alexander； the boldness of
Caesar； the clemency and truth of Trajan； the fidelity of Zopyrus； the
wisdom of Cato； and in short all the faculties that serve to make an
illustrious man perfect； now uniting them in one individual； again
distributing them among many； and if this be done with charm of
style and ingenious invention； aiming at the truth as much as
possible； he will assuredly weave a web of bright and varied threads
that； when finished； will display such perfection and beauty that it
will attain the worthiest object any writing can seek； which； as I
said before； is to give instruction and pleasure combined； for the
unrestricted range of these books enables the author to show his
powers； epic； lyric； tragic； or comic； and all the moods the sweet and
winning arts of poesy and oratory are capable of； for the epic may
be written in prose just as well as in verse。〃
CHAPTER XLVIII
IN WHICH THE CANON PURSUES THE SUBJECT OF THE BOOKS OF CHIVALRY；
WITH OTHER MATTERS WORTHY OF HIS WIT
〃IT IS as you say； senor canon；〃 said the curate； 〃and for that
reason those who have hitherto written books of the sort deserve all
the more censure for writing without paying any attention to good
taste or the rules of art； by which they might guide themselves and
become as famous in prose as the two princes of Greek and Latin poetry
are in verse。〃
〃I myself； at any rate；〃 said the canon； 〃was once tempted to
write a book of chivalry in which all the points I have mentioned were
to be observed； and if I must own the truth I have more than a hundred
sheets written； and to try if it came up to my own opinion of it； I
showed them to persons who were fond of this kind of reading； to
learned and intelligent men as well as to ignorant people who cared
for nothing but the pleasure of listening to nonsense； and from all
I obtained flattering approval； nevertheless I proceeded no farther
with it； as well because it seemed to me an occupation inconsistent
with my profession； as because I perceived that the fools are more
numerous than the wise； and； though it is better to be praised by
the wise few than applauded by the foolish many； I have no mind to
submit myself to the stupid judgment of the silly public； to whom
the reading of such books falls for the most part。
〃But what most of all made me hold my hand and even abandon all idea
of finishing it was an argument I put to myself taken from the plays
that are acted now…a…days； which was in this wise： if those that are
now in vogue； as well those that are pure invention as those founded
on history； are； all or most of them； downright nonsense and things
that have neither head nor tail； and yet the public listens to them
with delight； and regards and cries them up as perfection when they
are so far from it； and if the authors who write them； and the players
who act them； say that this is what they must be； for the public wants
this and will have nothing else； and that those that go by rule and
work out a plot according to the laws of art will only find some
half…dozen intelligent people to understand them； while all the rest
remain blind to the merit of their composition； and that for
themselves it is better to get bread from the many than praise from
the few； then my book will fare the same way； after I have burnt off
my eyebrows in trying to observe the principles I have spoken of；
and I shall be 'the tailor of the corner。' And though I have sometimes
endeavoured to convince actors that they are mistaken in this notion
they have adopted； and that they would attract more people； and get
more credit； by producing plays in accordance with the rules of art；
than by absurd ones； they are so thoroughly wedded to their own
opinion that no argument or evidence can wean them from it。
〃I remember saying one day to one of these obstinate fellows；
'Tell me； do you not recollect that a few years ago； there were
three tragedies acted in Spain； written by a famous poet of these
kingdoms； which were such that they filled all who heard them with
admiration； delight； and interest； the ignorant as well as the wise；
the masses as well as the higher orders； and brought in more money
to the performers； these three alone； than thirty of the best that
have been since produced？'
〃'No doubt；' replied the actor in question； 'you mean the
〃Isabella；〃 the 〃Phyllis；〃 and the 〃Alexandra。〃'
〃'Those are the ones I mean；' said I； 'and see if they did not
observe the principles of art； and if； by observing them； they
failed to show their superiority and please all the world； so that the
fault does not lie with the public that insists upon nonsense； but
with those who don't know how to produce something else。 〃The
Ingratitude Revenged〃 was not nonsense； nor was there any in 〃The
Numantia；〃 nor any to be found in 〃The Merchant Lover；〃 nor yet in
〃The Friendly Fair Foe；〃 nor in some others that have been written
by certain gifted poets； to their own fame and renown； and to the
profit of those that brought them out；' some further remarks I added
to these； with which； I think； I left him rather dumbfoundered； but
not so satisfied or convinced that I could disabuse him of his error。〃
〃You have touched upon a subject； senor canon；〃 observed the
curate here； 〃that has awakened an old enmity I have against the plays
in vogue at the present day； quite as strong as that which I bear to
the books of chivalry； for while the drama； according to Tully； should
be the mirror of human life； the model of manners； and the image of
the truth； those which are presented now…a…days are mirrors of
nonsense； models of folly； and images of lewdness。 For what greater
nonsense can there be in connection with what we are now discussing
than for an infant to appear in swaddling clothes in the first scene
of the first act； and in the second a grown…up bearded man？ Or what
greater absurdity can there be than putting before us an old man as
a swashbuckler； a young man as a poltroon； a lackey using fine
language； a page giving sage advice； a king plying as a porter； a
princess who is a kitchen…maid？ And then what shall I say of their
attention to the time in which the action they represent may or can
take place； save that I have seen a play where the first act began
in Europe； the second in Asia； the third finished in Africa； and no
doubt； had it been in four acts； the fourth would have ended in
America； and so it would have been laid in all four quarters of the
globe？ And if truth to life is the main thing the drama should keep in
view； how is it possible for any average unders