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years bring； he will be fitter and better qualified for being a
governor than he is at present。〃
〃By God； master；〃 said Sancho； 〃the island that I cannot govern with
the years I have； I'll not be able to govern with the years of
Methuselah； the difficulty is that the said island keeps its
distance somewhere； I know not where； and not that there is any want
of head in me to govern it。〃
〃Leave it to God； Sancho；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃for all will be and
perhaps better than you think； no leaf on the tree stirs but by
God's will。〃
〃That is true；〃 said Samson； 〃and if it be God's will； there will
not be any want of a thousand islands； much less one； for Sancho to
govern。〃
〃I have seen governors in these parts；〃 said Sancho； 〃that are not
to be compared to my shoe…sole； and for all that they are called 'your
lordship' and served on silver。〃
〃Those are not governors of islands；〃 observed Samson； 〃but of other
governments of an easier kind： those that govern islands must at least
know grammar。〃
〃I could manage the gram well enough；〃 said Sancho； 〃but for the mar
I have neither leaning nor liking； for I don't know what it is； but
leaving this matter of the government in God's hands； to send me
wherever it may be most to his service； I may tell you； senor bachelor
Samson Carrasco； it has pleased me beyond measure that the author of
this history should have spoken of me in such a way that what is
said of me gives no offence； for； on the faith of a true squire； if he
had said anything about me that was at all unbecoming an old
Christian； such as I am； the deaf would have heard of it。〃
〃That would be working miracles；〃 said Samson。
〃Miracles or no miracles；〃 said Sancho； 〃let everyone mind how he
speaks or writes about people； and not set down at random the first
thing that comes into his head。〃
〃One of the faults they find with this history；〃 said the
bachelor； 〃is that its author inserted in it a novel called 'The
Ill…advised Curiosity；' not that it is bad or ill…told； but that it is
out of place and has nothing to do with the history of his worship
Senor Don Quixote。〃
〃I will bet the son of a dog has mixed the cabbages and the
baskets；〃 said Sancho。
〃Then； I say；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃the author of my history was no
sage； but some ignorant chatterer； who； in a haphazard and heedless
way； set about writing it； let it turn out as it might； just as
Orbaneja； the painter of Ubeda； used to do； who； when they asked him
what he was painting； answered； 'What it may turn out。' Sometimes he
would paint a cock in such a fashion； and so unlike； that he had to
write alongside of it in Gothic letters； 'This is a cock； and so it
will be with my history； which will require a commentary to make it
intelligible。〃
〃No fear of that；〃 returned Samson； 〃for it is so plain that there
is nothing in it to puzzle over； the children turn its leaves； the
young people read it； the grown men understand it； the old folk praise
it； in a word； it is so thumbed； and read； and got by heart by
people of all sorts； that the instant they see any lean hack； they
say； 'There goes Rocinante。' And those that are most given to
reading it are the pages； for there is not a lord's ante…chamber where
there is not a 'Don Quixote' to be found； one takes it up if another
lays it down； this one pounces upon it； and that begs for it。 In
short； the said history is the most delightful and least injurious
entertainment that has been hitherto seen； for there is not to be
found in the whole of it even the semblance of an immodest word； or
a thought that is other than Catholic。〃
〃To write in any other way；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃would not be to
write truth； but falsehood； and historians who have recourse to
falsehood ought to be burned； like those who coin false money； and I
know not what could have led the author to have recourse to novels and
irrelevant stories； when he had so much to write about in mine； no
doubt he must have gone by the proverb 'with straw or with hay；
&c。；' for by merely setting forth my thoughts； my sighs； my tears；
my lofty purposes； my enterprises； he might have made a volume as
large； or larger than all the works of El Tostado would make up。 In
fact； the conclusion I arrive at； senor bachelor； is； that to write
histories； or books of any kind； there is need of great judgment and a
ripe understanding。 To give expression to humour； and write in a
strain of graceful pleasantry； is the gift of great geniuses。 The
cleverest character in comedy is the clown； for he who would make
people take him for a fool； must not be one。 History is in a measure a
sacred thing； for it should be true； and where the truth is； there God
is； but notwithstanding this； there are some who write and fling books
broadcast on the world as if they were fritters。〃
〃There is no book so bad but it has something good in it；〃 said
the bachelor。
〃No doubt of that；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃but it often happens
that those who have acquired and attained a well…deserved reputation
by their writings； lose it entirely； or damage it in some degree； when
they give them to the press。〃
〃The reason of that；〃 said Samson； 〃is； that as printed works are
examined leisurely； their faults are easily seen； and the greater
the fame of the writer； the more closely are they scrutinised。 Men
famous for their genius； great poets； illustrious historians； are
always； or most commonly； envied by those who take a particular
delight and pleasure in criticising the writings of others； without
having produced any of their own。〃
〃That is no wonder；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃for there are many divines
who are no good for the pulpit； but excellent in detecting the defects
or excesses of those who preach。〃
〃All that is true； Senor Don Quixote；〃 said Carrasco； 〃but I wish
such fault…finders were more lenient and less exacting； and did not
pay so much attention to the spots on the bright sun of the work
they grumble at； for if aliquando bonus dormitat Homerus； they
should remember how long he remained awake to shed the light of his
work with as little shade as possible； and perhaps it may be that what
they find fault with may be moles； that sometimes heighten the
beauty of the face that bears them； and so I say very great is the
risk to which he who prints a book exposes himself； for of all
impossibilities the greatest is to write one that will satisfy and
please all readers。〃
〃That which treats of me must have pleased few；〃 said Don Quixote。
〃Quite the contrary；〃 said the bachelor； 〃for； as stultorum
infinitum est numerus； innumerable are those who have relished the
said history； but some have brought a charge against the author's
memory； inasmuch as he forgot to say who the thief was who stole
Sancho's Dapple； for it is not stated there； but only to be inferred
from what is set down； that he was stolen； and a little farther on
we see Sancho mounted on the same ass； without any reappearance of it。
They say； too； that he forgot to state what Sancho did with those
hundred crowns that he found in the valise in the Sierra Morena； as he
never alludes to them again； and there are many who would be glad to
kno