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and as he had been told beforehand by his uncle who the persons were
that would come with him that day into the chamber where the head was；
it was an easy matter for him to answer the first question at once and
correctly； the others he answered by guess…work； and； being clever；
cleverly。 Cide Hamete adds that this marvellous contrivance stood
for some ten or twelve days； but that； as it became noised abroad
through the city that he had in his house an enchanted head that
answered all who asked questions of it； Don Antonio； fearing it
might come to the ears of the watchful sentinels of our faith；
explained the matter to the inquisitors； who commanded him to break it
up and have done with it； lest the ignorant vulgar should be
scandalised。 By Don Quixote； however； and by Sancho the head was still
held to be an enchanted one； and capable of answering questions；
though more to Don Quixote's satisfaction than Sancho's。
The gentlemen of the city； to gratify Don Antonio and also to do the
honours to Don Quixote； and give him an opportunity of displaying
his folly； made arrangements for a tilting at the ring in six days
from that time； which； however； for reason that will be mentioned
hereafter； did not take place。
Don Quixote took a fancy to stroll about the city quietly and on
foot； for he feared that if he went on horseback the boys would follow
him； so he and Sancho and two servants that Don Antonio gave him set
out for a walk。 Thus it came to pass that going along one of the
streets Don Quixote lifted up his eyes and saw written in very large
letters over a door； 〃Books printed here；〃 at which he was vastly
pleased； for until then he had never seen a printing office； and he
was curious to know what it was like。 He entered with all his
following； and saw them drawing sheets in one place； correcting in
another； setting up type here； revising there； in short all the work
that is to be seen in great printing offices。 He went up to one case
and asked what they were about there； the workmen told him； he watched
them with wonder； and passed on。 He approached one man； among
others； and asked him what he was doing。 The workman replied；
〃Senor； this gentleman here〃 （pointing to a man of prepossessing
appearance and a certain gravity of look） 〃has translated an Italian
book into our Spanish tongue； and I am setting it up in type for the
press。〃
〃What is the title of the book？〃 asked Don Quixote； to which the
author replied； 〃Senor； in Italian the book is called Le Bagatelle。〃
〃And what does Le Bagatelle import in our Spanish？〃 asked Don
Quixote。
〃Le Bagatelle；〃 said the author； 〃is as though we should say in
Spanish Los Juguetes； but though the book is humble in name it has
good solid matter in it。〃
〃I；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃have some little smattering of Italian；
and I plume myself on singing some of Ariosto's stanzas； but tell
me； senor… I do not say this to test your ability； but merely out of
curiosity… have you ever met with the word pignatta in your book？〃
〃Yes； often；〃 said the author。
〃And how do you render that in Spanish？〃
〃How should I render it；〃 returned the author； 〃but by olla？〃
〃Body o' me；〃 exclaimed Don Quixote； 〃what a proficient you are in
the Italian language！ I would lay a good wager that where they say
in Italian piace you say in Spanish place； and where they say piu
you say mas； and you translate su by arriba and giu by abajo。〃
〃I translate them so of course；〃 said the author； 〃for those are
their proper equivalents。〃
〃I would venture to swear；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃that your worship
is not known in the world； which always begrudges their reward to rare
wits and praiseworthy labours。 What talents lie wasted there！ What
genius thrust away into corners！ What worth left neglected！ Still it
seems to me that translation from one language into another； if it
be not from the queens of languages； the Greek and the Latin； is
like looking at Flemish tapestries on the wrong side； for though the
figures are visible； they are full of threads that make them
indistinct； and they do not show with the smoothness and brightness of
the right side； and translation from easy languages argues neither
ingenuity nor command of words； any more than transcribing or
copying out one document from another。 But I do not mean by this to
draw the inference that no credit is to be allowed for the work of
translating； for a man may employ himself in ways worse and less
profitable to himself。 This estimate does not include two famous
translators； Doctor Cristobal de Figueroa； in his Pastor Fido； and Don
Juan de Jauregui； in his Aminta； wherein by their felicity they
leave it in doubt which is the translation and which the original。 But
tell me； are you printing this book at your own risk； or have you sold
the copyright to some bookseller？〃
〃I print at my own risk；〃 said the author； 〃and I expect to make a
thousand ducats at least by this first edition； which is to be of
two thousand copies that will go off in a twinkling at six reals
apiece。〃
〃A fine calculation you are making！〃 said Don Quixote； 〃it is
plain you don't know the ins and outs of the printers； and how they
play into one another's hands。 I promise you when you find yourself
saddled with two thousand copies you will feel so sore that it will
astonish you； particularly if the book is a little out of the common
and not in any way highly spiced。〃
〃What！〃 said the author； 〃would your worship； then； have me give
it to a bookseller who will give three maravedis for the copyright and
think he is doing me a favour？ I do not print my books to win fame
in the world； for I am known in it already by my works； I want to make
money； without which reputation is not worth a rap。〃
〃God send your worship good luck；〃 said Don Quixote； and he moved on
to another case； where he saw them correcting a sheet of a book with
the title of 〃Light of the Soul；〃 noticing it he observed； 〃Books like
this； though there are many of the kind； are the ones that deserve
to be printed； for many are the sinners in these days； and lights
unnumbered are needed for all that are in darkness。〃
He passed on； and saw they were also correcting another book； and
when he asked its title they told him it was called； 〃The Second
Part of the Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha；〃 by one of
Tordesillas。
〃I have heard of this book already；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃and verily
and on my conscience I thought it had been by this time burned to
ashes as a meddlesome intruder； but its Martinmas will come to it as
it does to every pig； for fictions have the more merit and charm about
them the more nearly they approach the truth or what looks like it；
and true stories； the truer they are the better they are；〃 and so
saying he walked out of the printing office with a certain amount of
displeasure in his looks。 That same day Don Antonio arranged to take
him to see the galleys that lay at the beach； whereat Sancho was in
high delight； as he had never seen any all his life。 Don Antonio
sent word to the commandant of the galleys that he intended to bring
his guest； the famous Don Quixote of La Mancha； of whom the