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himself； and if there was nothing in it that demanded secrecy to
read it aloud。 The secretary did so； and after he had skimmed the
contents he said； 〃It may well be read aloud； for what Senor Don
Quixote writes to your worship deserves to be printed or written in
letters of gold； and it is as follows。〃
DON QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA'S LETTER TO SANCHO PANZA；
GOVERNOR OF THE ISLAND OF BARATARIA。
When I was expecting to hear of thy stupidities and blunders； friend
Sancho； I have received intelligence of thy displays of good sense；
for which I give special thanks to heaven that can raise the poor from
the dunghill and of fools to make wise men。 They tell me thou dost
govern as if thou wert a man； and art a man as if thou wert a beast；
so great is the humility wherewith thou dost comport thyself。 But I
would have thee bear in mind； Sancho； that very often it is fitting
and necessary for the authority of office to resist the humility of
the heart； for the seemly array of one who is invested with grave
duties should be such as they require and not measured by what his own
humble tastes may lead him to prefer。 Dress well； a stick dressed up
does not look like a stick； I do not say thou shouldst wear trinkets
or fine raiment； or that being a judge thou shouldst dress like a
soldier； but that thou shouldst array thyself in the apparel thy
office requires； and that at the same time it be neat and handsome。 To
win the good…will of the people thou governest there are two things；
among others； that thou must do； one is to be civil to all （this；
however； I told thee before）； and the other to take care that food
be abundant； for there is nothing that vexes the heart of the poor
more than hunger and high prices。 Make not many proclamations； but
those thou makest take care that they be good ones； and above all that
they be observed and carried out； for proclamations that are not
observed are the same as if they did not exist； nay； they encourage
the idea that the prince who had the wisdom and authority to make them
had not the power to enforce them； and laws that threaten and are
not enforced come to he like the log； the king of the frogs； that
frightened them at first； but that in time they despised and mounted
upon。 Be a father to virtue and a stepfather to vice。 Be not always
strict； nor yet always lenient； but observe a mean between these two
extremes； for in that is the aim of wisdom。 Visit the gaols； the
slaughter…houses； and the market…places； for the presence of the
governor is of great importance in such places； it comforts the
prisoners who are in hopes of a speedy release； it is the bugbear of
the butchers who have then to give just weight； and it is the terror
of the market…women for the same reason。 Let it not be seen that
thou art （even if perchance thou art； which I do not believe）
covetous； a follower of women； or a glutton； for when the people and
those that have dealings with thee become aware of thy special
weakness they will bring their batteries to bear upon thee in that
quarter； till they have brought thee down to the depths of
perdition。 Consider and reconsider； con and con over again the advices
and the instructions I gave thee before thy departure hence to thy
government； and thou wilt see that in them； if thou dost follow
them； thou hast a help at hand that will lighten for thee the troubles
and difficulties that beset governors at every step。 Write to thy lord
and lady and show thyself grateful to them； for ingratitude is the
daughter of pride； and one of the greatest sins we know of； and he who
is grateful to those who have been good to him shows that he will be
so to God also who has bestowed and still bestows so many blessings
upon him。
My lady the duchess sent off a messenger with thy suit and another
present to thy wife Teresa Panza； we expect the answer every moment。 I
have been a little indisposed through a certain scratching I came in
for； not very much to the benefit of my nose； but it was nothing；
for if there are enchanters who maltreat me； there are also some who
defend me。 Let me know if the majordomo who is with thee had any share
in the Trifaldi performance； as thou didst suspect； and keep me
informed of everything that happens thee； as the distance is so short；
all the more as I am thinking of giving over very shortly this idle
life I am now leading； for I was not born for it。 A thing has occurred
to me which I am inclined to think will put me out of favour with
the duke and duchess； but though I am sorry for it I do not care；
for after all I must obey my calling rather than their pleasure； in
accordance with the common saying； amicus Plato； sed magis amica
veritas。 I quote this Latin to thee because I conclude that since thou
hast been a governor thou wilt have learned it。 Adieu； God keep thee
from being an object of pity to anyone。
Thy friend；
DON QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA。
Sancho listened to the letter with great attention； and it was
praised and considered wise by all who heard it； he then rose up
from table； and calling his secretary shut himself in with him in
his own room； and without putting it off any longer set about
answering his master Don Quixote at once； and he bade the secretary
write down what he told him without adding or suppressing anything；
which he did； and the answer was to the following effect。
SANCHO PANZA'S LETTER TO DON QUIXOTE OF LA MANCHA。
The pressure of business is so great upon me that I have no time
to scratch my head or even to cut my nails； and I have them so long…
God send a remedy for it。 I say this； master of my soul； that you
may not be surprised if I have not until now sent you word of how I
fare； well or ill； in this government； in which I am suffering more
hunger than when we two were wandering through the woods and wastes。
My lord the duke wrote to me the other day to warn me that certain
spies had got into this island to kill me； but up to the present I
have not found out any except a certain doctor who receives a salary
in this town for killing all the governors that come here； he is
called Doctor Pedro Recio； and is from Tirteafuera； so you see what
a name he has to make me dread dying under his hands。 This doctor says
of himself that he does not cure diseases when there are any； but
prevents them coming； and the medicines he uses are diet and more diet
until he brings one down to bare bones； as if leanness was not worse
than fever。
In short he is killing me with hunger； and I am dying myself of
vexation； for when I thought I was coming to this government to get my
meat hot and my drink cool； and take my ease between holland sheets on
feather beds； I find I have come to do penance as if I was a hermit；
and as I don't do it willingly I suspect that in the end the devil
will carry me off。
So far I have not handled any dues or taken any bribes； and I
don't know what to think of it； for here they tell me that the
governors that come to this island； before entering it have plenty
of money either given to them or lent to them by the people of the
town； and t