I：ABOUTTHISTRANSLATION

ITWASwithconsiderablereluctancethatIabandonedinfavourofthepresentundertakingwhathadlongbeenafavouriteproject：thatofaneweditionofShelton's“DonQuixote，“whichhasnowbecomeasomewhatscarcebook。Therearesome-andIconfessmyselftobeone-forwhomShelton'sracyoldversion，withallitsdefects，hasacharmthatnomoderntranslation，howeverskilfulorcorrect，couldpossess。SheltonhadtheinestimableadvantageofbelongingtothesamegenerationasCervantes；“DonQuixote“hadtohimavitalitythatonlyacontemporarycouldfeel；itcosthimnodramaticefforttoseethingsasCervantessawthem；thereisnoanachronisminhislanguage；heputtheSpanishofCervantesintotheEnglishofShakespeare。Shakespearehimselfmostlikelyknewthebook；hemayhavecarriedithomewithhiminhissaddle-bagstoStratfordononeofhislastjourneys，andunderthemulberrytreeatNewPlacejoinedhandswithakindredgeniusinitspages。

ButitwassoonmadeplaintomethattohopeforevenamoderatepopularityforSheltonwasvain。HisfineoldcrustedEnglishwould，nodoubt，berelishedbyaminority，butitwouldbeonlybyaminority。HiswarmestadmirersmustadmitthatheisnotasatisfactoryrepresentativeofCervantes。HistranslationoftheFirstPartwasveryhastilymadeandwasneverrevisedbyhim。Ithasallthefreshnessandvigour，butalsoafullmeasureofthefaults，ofahastyproduction。Itisoftenveryliteral-barbarouslyliteralfrequently-butjustasoftenveryloose。HehadevidentlyagoodcolloquialknowledgeofSpanish，butapparentlynotmuchmore。Itneverseemstooccurtohimthatthesametranslationofawordwillnotsuitineverycase。

Itisoftensaidthatwehavenosatisfactorytranslationof“DonQuixote。“Tothosewhoarefamiliarwiththeoriginal，itsavoursoftruismorplatitudetosayso，forintruththerecanbenothoroughlysatisfactorytranslationof“DonQuixote“intoEnglishoranyotherlanguage。ItisnotthattheSpanishidiomsaresoutterlyunmanageable，orthattheuntranslatablewords，numerousenoughnodoubt，aresosuperabundant，butratherthatthesententioustersenesstowhichthehumourofthebookowesitsflavourispeculiartoSpanish，andcanatbestbeonlydistantlyimitatedinanyothertongue。

ThehistoryofourEnglishtranslationsof“DonQuixote“isinstructive。Shelton's，thefirstinanylanguage，wasmade，apparently，about1608，butnotpublishedtill1612。ThisofcoursewasonlytheFirstPart。IthasbeenassertedthattheSecond，publishedin1620，isnottheworkofShelton，butthereisnothingtosupporttheassertionsavethefactthatithaslessspirit，lessofwhatwegenerallyunderstandby“go，“aboutitthanthefirst，whichwouldbeonlynaturalifthefirstweretheworkofayoungmanwritingcurrentecalamo，andthesecondthatofamiddle-agedmanwritingforabookseller。Ontheotherhand，itiscloserandmoreliteral，thestyleisthesame，theverysametranslations，ormistranslations，occurinit，anditisextremelyunlikelythatanewtranslatorwould，bysuppressinghisname，haveallowedSheltontocarryoffthecredit。

In1687JohnPhillips，Milton'snephew，produceda“DonQuixote“

“madeEnglish，“hesays，“accordingtothehumourofourmodernlanguage。“His“Quixote“isnotsomuchatranslationasatravesty，andatravestythatforcoarseness，vulgarity，andbuffooneryisalmostunexampledevenintheliteratureofthatday。

NedWard's“LifeandNotableAdventuresofDonQuixote，merrilytranslatedintoHudibrasticVerse“(1700)，canscarcelybereckonedatranslation，butitservestoshowthelightinwhich“DonQuixote“wasregardedatthetime。

Afurtherillustrationmaybefoundintheversionpublishedin1712

byPeterMotteux，whohadthenrecentlycombinedtea-dealingwithliterature。Itisdescribedas“translatedfromtheoriginalbyseveralhands，“butifsoallSpanishflavourhasentirelyevaporatedunderthemanipulationoftheseveralhands。Theflavourthatithas，ontheotherhand，isdistinctlyFranco-cockney。AnyonewhocomparesitcarefullywiththeoriginalwillhavelittledoubtthatitisaconcoctionfromSheltonandtheFrenchofFilleaudeSaintMartin，ekedoutbyborrowingsfromPhillips，whosemodeoftreatmentitadopts。Itis，tobesure，moredecentanddecorous，butittreats“DonQuixote“inthesamefashionasacomicbookthatcannotbemadetoocomic。

Toattempttoimprovethehumourof“DonQuixote“byaninfusionofcockneyflippancyandfacetiousness，asMotteux'soperatorsdid，isnotmerelyanimpertinencelikelardingasirloinofprizebeef，butanabsolutefalsificationofthespiritofthebook，anditisaproofoftheuncriticalwayinwhich“DonQuixote“isgenerallyreadthatthisworsethanworthlesstranslation-worthlessasfailingtorepresent，worsethanworthlessasmisrepresenting-shouldhavebeenfavouredasithasbeen。

Ithadtheeffect，however，ofbringingoutatranslationundertakenandexecutedinaverydifferentspirit，thatofCharlesJervas，theportraitpainter，andfriendofPope，Swift，Arbuthnot，andGay。

Jervashasbeenallowedlittlecreditforhiswork，indeeditmaybesaidnone，foritisknowntotheworldingeneralasJarvis's。Itwasnotpublisheduntilafterhisdeath，andtheprintersgavethenameaccordingtothecurrentpronunciationoftheday。Ithasbeenthemostfreelyusedandthemostfreelyabusedofallthetranslations。

Ithasseenfarmoreeditionsthananyother，itisadmittedonallhandstobebyfarthemostfaithful，andyetnobodyseemstohaveagoodwordtosayforitorforitsauthor。Jervasnodoubtprejudicedreadersagainsthimselfinhispreface，whereamongmanytruewordsaboutShelton，Stevens，andMotteux，herashlyandunjustlychargesSheltonwithhavingtranslatednotfromtheSpanish，butfromtheItalianversionofFranciosini，whichdidnotappearuntiltenyearsafterShelton'sfirstvolume。Asuspicionofincompetence，too，seemstohaveattachedtohimbecausehewasbyprofessionapainterandamediocreone(thoughhehasgivenusthebestportraitwehaveofSwift)，andthismayhavebeenstrengthenedbyPope'sremarkthathe“translated'DonQuixote'withoutunderstandingSpanish。“HehasbeenalsochargedwithborrowingfromShelton，whomhedisparaged。ItistruethatinafewdifficultorobscurepassageshehasfollowedShelton，andgoneastraywithhim；butforonecaseofthissort，therearefiftywhereheisrightandSheltonwrong。AsforPope'sdictum，anyonewhoexaminesJervas'sversioncarefully，sidebysidewiththeoriginal，willseethathewasasoundSpanishscholar，incomparablyabetteronethanShelton，exceptperhapsinmerecolloquialSpanish。Hewas，infact，anhonest，faithful，andpainstakingtranslator，andhehasleftaversionwhich，whateveritsshortcomingsmaybe，issingularlyfreefromerrorsandmistranslations。

Thechargeagainstitisthatitisstiff，dry-“wooden“inaword，-

andnoonecandenythatthereisafoundationforit。ButitmaybepleadedforJervasthatagooddealofthisrigidityisduetohisabhorrenceofthelight，flippant，jocosestyleofhispredecessors。

Hewasoneofthefew，veryfew，translatorsthathaveshownanyapprehensionoftheunsmilinggravitywhichistheessenceofQuixotichumour；itseemedtohimacrimetobringCervantesforwardsmirkingandgrinningathisowngoodthings，andtothismaybeattributedinagreatmeasuretheasceticabstinencefromeverythingsavouringoflivelinesswhichisthecharacteristicofhistranslation。Inmostmoderneditions，itshouldbeobserved，hisstylehasbeensmoothedandsmartened，butwithoutanyreferencetotheoriginalSpanish，sothatifhehasbeenmadetoreadmoreagreeablyhehasalsobeenrobbedofhischiefmeritoffidelity。

Smollett'sversion，publishedin1755，maybealmostcountedasoneofthese。AtanyrateitisplainthatinitsconstructionJervas'stranslationwasveryfreelydrawnupon，andverylittleorprobablynoheedgiventotheoriginalSpanish。

Thelatertranslationsmaybedismissedinafewwords。GeorgeKelly's，whichappearedin1769，“printedfortheTranslator，“wasanimpudentimposture，beingnothingmorethanMotteux'sversionwithafewofthewords，hereandthere，artfullytransposed；

CharlesWilmot's(1774)wasonlyanabridgmentlikeFlorian's，butnotsoskilfullyexecuted；andtheversionpublishedbyMissSmirkein1818，toaccompanyherbrother'splates，wasmerelyapatchworkproductionmadeoutofformertranslations。Onthelatest，Mr。A。J。

Duffield's，itwouldbeineverysenseofthewordimpertinentinmetoofferanopinionhere。Ihadnotevenseenitwhenthepresentundertakingwasproposedtome，andsincethenImaysayviditantum，havingforobviousreasonsresistedthetemptationwhichMr。

Duffield'sreputationandcomelyvolumesholdouttoeveryloverofCervantes。

Fromtheforegoinghistoryofourtranslationsof“DonQuixote，“

itwillbeseenthatthereareagoodmanypeoplewho，providedtheygetthemerenarrativewithitsfullcomplementoffacts，incidents，andadventuresserveduptotheminaformthatamusesthem，careverylittlewhetherthatformistheoneinwhichCervantesoriginallyshapedhisideas。Ontheotherhand，itisclearthattherearemanywhodesiretohavenotmerelythestoryhetells，butthestoryashetellsit，sofaratleastasdifferencesofidiomandcircumstancespermit，andwhowillgiveapreferencetotheconscientioustranslator，eventhoughhemayhaveacquittedhimselfsomewhatawkwardly。

Butafterallthereisnorealantagonismbetweenthetwoclasses；

thereisnoreasonwhywhatpleasestheoneshouldnotpleasetheother，orwhyatranslatorwhomakesithisaimtotreat“DonQuixote“

withtherespectduetoagreatclassic，shouldnotbeasacceptableeventothecarelessreaderastheonewhotreatsitasafamousoldjest-book。Itisnotaquestionofcaviaretothegeneral，or，ifitis，thefaultrestswithhimwhomakesso。ThemethodbywhichCervanteswontheearoftheSpanishpeopleought，mutatismutandis，tobeequallyeffectivewiththegreatmajorityofEnglishreaders。Atanyrate，eveniftherearereaderstowhomitisamatterofindifference，fidelitytothemethodisasmuchapartofthetranslator'sdutyasfidelitytothematter。Ifhecanpleaseallparties，somuchthebetter；buthisfirstdutyistothosewholooktohimforasfaithfularepresentationofhisauthorasitisinhispowertogivethem，faithfultothelettersolongasfidelityispracticable，faithfultothespiritsofarashecanmakeit。

Mypurposehereisnottodogmatiseontherulesoftranslation，buttoindicatethoseIhavefollowed，oratleasttriedtothebestofmyabilitytofollow，inthepresentinstance。Onewhich，itseemstome，cannotbetoorigidlyfollowedintranslating“DonQuixote，“istoavoideverythingthatsavoursofaffectation。Thebookitselfis，indeed，inonesenseaprotestagainstit，andnomanabhorreditmorethanCervantes。Forthisreason，Ithink，anytemptationtouseantiquatedorobsoletelanguageshouldberesisted。Itisafterallanaffectation，andoneforwhichthereisnowarrantorexcuse。

SpanishhasprobablyundergonelesschangesincetheseventeenthcenturythananylanguageinEurope，andbyfarthegreaterandcertainlythebestpartof“DonQuixote“differsbutlittleinlanguagefromthecolloquialSpanishofthepresentday。ExceptinthetalesandDonQuixote'sspeeches，thetranslatorwhousesthesimplestandplainesteverydaylanguagewillalmostalwaysbetheonewhoapproachesnearesttotheoriginal。

Seeingthatthestoryof“DonQuixote“andallitscharactersandincidentshavenowbeenformorethantwocenturiesandahalffamiliarashouseholdwordsinEnglishmouths，itseemstomethattheoldfamiliarnamesandphrasesshouldnotbechangedwithoutgoodreason。Ofcourseatranslatorwhoholdsthat“DonQuixote“shouldreceivethetreatmentagreatclassicdeserves，willfeelhimselfboundbytheinjunctionlaidupontheMoriscoinChap。IXnottoomitoraddanything。

II：ABOUTCERVANTESANDDONQUIXOTE

FOURgenerationshadlaughedover“DonQuixote“beforeitoccurredtoanyonetoask，whoandwhatmannerofmanwasthisMigueldeCervantesSaavedrawhosenameisonthetitle-page；anditwastoolateforasatisfactoryanswertothequestionwhenitwasproposedtoaddalifeoftheauthortotheLondoneditionpublishedatLordCarteret'sinstancein1738。AlltracesofthepersonalityofCervanteshadbythattimedisappeared。Anyfloatingtraditionsthatmayoncehaveexisted，transmittedfrommenwhohadknownhim，hadlongsincediedout，andofotherrecordtherewasnone；forthesixteenthandseventeenthcenturieswereincuriousasto“themenofthetime，“areproachagainstwhichthenineteenthhas，atanyrate，secureditself，ifithasproducednoShakespeareorCervantes。AllthatMayansySiscar，towhomthetaskwasentrusted，oranyofthosewhofollowedhim，Rios，Pellicer，orNavarrete，coulddowastoekeoutthefewallusionsCervantesmakestohimselfinhisvariousprefaceswithsuchpiecesofdocumentaryevidencebearinguponhislifeastheycouldfind。

This，however，hasbeendonebythelast-namedbiographertosuchgoodpurposethathehassupersededallpredecessors。ThoroughnessisthechiefcharacteristicofNavarrete'swork。Besidessifting，testing，andmethodisingwithrarepatienceandjudgmentwhathadbeenpreviouslybroughttolight，heleft，asthesayingis，nostoneunturnedunderwhichanythingtoillustratehissubjectmightpossiblybefound。Navarretehasdoneallthatindustryandacumencoulddo，anditisnofaultofhisifhehasnotgivenuswhatwewant。WhatHallamsaysofShakespearemaybeappliedtothealmostparallelcaseofCervantes：“Itisnottheregisterofhisbaptism，orthedraftofhiswill，ortheorthographyofhisnamethatweseek；noletterofhiswriting，norecordofhisconversation，nocharacterofhimdrawn……byacontemporaryhasbeenproduced。“

Itisonlynatural，therefore，thatthebiographersofCervantes，forcedtomakebrickwithoutstraw，shouldhaverecourselargelytoconjecture，andthatconjectureshouldinsomeinstancescomebydegreestotaketheplaceofestablishedfact。AllthatIproposetodohereistoseparatewhatismatteroffactfromwhatismatterofconjecture，andleaveittothereader'sjudgmenttodecidewhetherthedatajustifytheinferenceornot。

ThemenwhosenamesbycommonconsentstandinthefrontrankofSpanishliterature，Cervantes，LopedeVega，Quevedo，Calderon，GarcilasodelaVega，theMendozas，Gongora，wereallmenofancientfamilies，and，curiously，all，exceptthelast，offamiliesthattracedtheirorigintothesamemountaindistrictintheNorthofSpain。ThefamilyofCervantesiscommonlysaidtohavebeenofGalicianorigin，andunquestionablyitwasinpossessionoflandsinGaliciaataveryearlydate；butIthinkthebalanceoftheevidencetendstoshowthatthe“solar，“theoriginalsiteofthefamily，wasatCervatosinthenorth-westcornerofOldCastile，closetothejunctionofCastile，Leon，andtheAsturias。Asithappens，thereisacompletehistoryoftheCervantesfamilyfromthetenthcenturydowntotheseventeenthextantunderthetitleof“IllustriousAncestry，GloriousDeeds，andNoblePosterityoftheFamousNunoAlfonso，AlcaideofToledo，“writtenin1648bytheindustriousgenealogistRodrigoMendezSilva，whoavailedhimselfofamanuscriptgenealogybyJuandeMena，thepoetlaureateandhistoriographerofJohnII。

TheoriginofthenameCervantesiscurious。NunoAlfonsowasalmostasdistinguishedinthestruggleagainsttheMoorsinthereignofAlfonsoVIIastheCidhadbeenhalfacenturybeforeinthatofAlfonsoVI，andwasrewardedbydiversgrantsoflandintheneighbourhoodofToledo。Ononeofhisacquisitions，abouttwoleaguesfromthecity，hebuilthimselfacastlewhichhecalledCervatos，because“hewaslordofthesolarofCervatosintheMontana，“asthemountainregionextendingfromtheBasqueProvincestoLeonwasalwayscalled。Athisdeathinbattlein1143，thecastlepassedbyhiswilltohissonAlfonsoMunio，who，asterritorialorlocalsurnameswerethencomingintovogueinplaceofthesimplepatronymic，tooktheadditionalnameofCervatos。HiseldestsonPedrosucceededhiminthepossessionofthecastle，andfollowedhisexampleinadoptingthename，anassumptionatwhichtheyoungerson，Gonzalo，seemstohavetakenumbrage。

EveryonewhohaspaidevenaflyingvisittoToledowillremembertheruinedcastlethatcrownsthehillabovethespotwherethebridgeofAlcantaraspansthegorgeoftheTagus，andwithitsbrokenoutlineandcrumblingwallsmakessuchanadmirablependanttothesquaresolidAlcazartoweringoverthecityroofsontheoppositeside。Itwasbuilt，orassomesayrestored，byAlfonsoVIshortlyafterhisoccupationofToledoin1085，andcalledbyhimSanServandoafteraSpanishmartyr，anamesubsequentlymodifiedintoSanServan(inwhichformitappearsinthe“PoemoftheCid“)，SanServantes，andSanCervantes：withregardtowhichlastthe“HandbookforSpain“warnsitsreadersagainstthesuppositionthatithasanythingtodowiththeauthorof“DonQuixote。“Ford，asallknowwhohavetakenhimforacompanionandcounsellorontheroadsofSpain，isseldomwronginmattersofliteratureorhistory。Inthisinstance，however，heisinerror。Ithaseverythingtodowiththeauthorof“DonQuixote，“foritisinfacttheseoldwallsthathavegiventoSpainthenamesheisproudestofto-day。Gonzalo，abovementioned，itmaybereadilyconceived，didnotrelishtheappropriationbyhisbrotherofanametowhichhehimselfhadanequalright，forthoughnominallytakenfromthecastle，itwasinrealityderivedfromtheancientterritorialpossessionofthefamily，andasaset-off，andtodistinguishhimself(diferenciarse)fromhisbrother，hetookasasurnamethenameofthecastleonthebankoftheTagus，inthebuildingofwhich，accordingtoafamilytradition，hisgreat-grandfatherhadashare。

Bothbrothersfoundedfamilies。TheCervantesbranchhadmoretenacity；itsentoffshootsinvariousdirections，Andalusia，Estremadura，Galicia，andPortugal，andproducedagoodlylineofmendistinguishedintheserviceofChurchandState。Gonzalohimself，andapparentlyasonofhis，followedFerdinandIIIinthegreatcampaignof1236-48thatgaveCordovaandSevilletoChristianSpainandpenneduptheMoorsinthekingdomofGranada，andhisdescendantsintermarriedwithsomeofthenoblestfamiliesofthePeninsulaandnumberedamongthemsoldiers，magistrates，andChurchdignitaries，includingatleasttwocardinal-archbishops。

OfthelinethatsettledinAndalusia，DeigodeCervantes，CommanderoftheOrderofSantiago，marriedJuanaAvellaneda，daughterofJuanAriasdeSaavedra，andhadseveralsons，ofwhomonewasGonzaloGomez，CorregidorofJerezandancestoroftheMexicanandColumbianbranchesofthefamily；andanother，Juan，whosesonRodrigomarriedDonaLeonordeCortinas，andbyherhadfourchildren，Rodrigo，Andrea，Luisa，andMiguel，ourauthor。

ThepedigreeofCervantesisnotwithoutitsbearingon“DonQuixote。“Amanwhocouldlookbackuponanancestryofgenuineknights-errantextendingfromwell-nighthetimeofPelayotothesiegeofGranadawaslikelytohaveastrongfeelingonthesubjectoftheshamchivalryoftheromances。Itgivesapoint，too，towhathesaysinmorethanoneplaceaboutfamiliesthathaveoncebeengreatandhavetaperedawayuntiltheyhavecometonothing，likeapyramid。

Itwasthecaseofhisown。

HewasbornatAlcaladeHenaresandbaptisedinthechurchofSantaMariaMayoronthe9thofOctober，1547。Ofhisboyhoodandyouthweknownothing，unlessitbefromtheglimpsehegivesusintheprefacetohis“Comedies“ofhimselfasaboylookingonwithdelightwhileLopedeRuedaandhiscompanysetuptheirrudeplankstageintheplazaandactedtherusticfarceswhichhehimselfafterwardstookasthemodelofhisinterludes。Thisfirstglimpse，however，isasignificantone，foritshowstheearlydevelopmentofthatloveofthedramawhichexercisedsuchaninfluenceonhislifeandseemstohavegrownstrongerashegrewolder，andofwhichthisverypreface，writtenonlyafewmonthsbeforehisdeath，issuchastrikingproof。Hegivesustounderstand，too，thathewasagreatreaderinhisyouth；butofthisnoassurancewasneeded，fortheFirstPartof“DonQuixote“aloneprovesavastamountofmiscellaneousreading，romancesofchivalry，ballads，popularpoetry，chronicles，forwhichhehadnotimeoropportunityexceptinthefirsttwentyyearsofhislife；andhismisquotationsandmistakesinmattersofdetailarealways，itmaybenoticed，thoseofamanrecallingthereadingofhisboyhood。

OtherthingsbesidesthedramawereintheirinfancywhenCervanteswasaboy。TheperiodofhisboyhoodwasineverywayatransitionperiodforSpain。TheoldchivalrousSpainhadpassedaway。

ThenewSpainwasthemightiestpowertheworldhadseensincetheRomanEmpireandithadnotyetbeencalledupontopaythepriceofitsgreatness。BythepolicyofFerdinandandXimenezthesovereignhadbeenmadeabsolute，andtheChurchandInquisitionadroitlyadjustedtokeephimso。Thenobles，whohadalwaysresistedabsolutismasstrenuouslyastheyhadfoughttheMoors，hadbeendivestedofallpoliticalpower，alikefatehadbefallenthecities，thefreeconstitutionsofCastileandAragonhadbeensweptaway，andtheonlyfunctionthatremainedtotheCorteswasthatofgrantingmoneyattheKing'sdictation。

Thetransitionextendedtoliterature。Menwho，likeGarcilasodelaVegaandDiegoHurtadodeMendoza，followedtheItalianwars，hadbroughtbackfromItalytheproductsofthepost-Renaissanceliterature，whichtookrootandflourishedandeventhreatenedtoextinguishthenativegrowths。DamonandThyrsis，PhyllisandChloehadbeenfairlynaturalisedinSpain，togetherwithallthedevicesofpastoralpoetryforinvestingwithanairofnoveltytheideaofadispairingshepherdandinflexibleshepherdess。Asaset-offagainstthis，theoldhistoricalandtraditionalballads，andthetruepastorals，thesongsandballadsofpeasantlife，werebeingcollectedassiduouslyandprintedinthecancionerosthatsucceededoneanotherwithincreasingrapidity。Butthemostnotableconsequence，perhaps，ofthespreadofprintingwasthefloodofromancesofchivalrythathadcontinuedtopourfromthepresseversinceGarciOrdonezdeMontalvohadresuscitated“AmadisofGaul“atthebeginningofthecentury。

Forayouthfondofreading，solidorlight，therecouldhavebeennobetterspotinSpainthanAlcaladeHenaresinthemiddleofthesixteenthcentury。Itwasthenabusy，populousuniversitytown，somethingmorethantheenterprisingrivalofSalamanca，andaltogetheraverydifferentplacefromthemelancholy，silent，desertedAlcalathetravellerseesnowashegoesfromMadridtoSaragossa。Theologyandmedicinemayhavebeenthestrongpointsoftheuniversity，butthetownitselfseemstohaveinclinedrathertothehumanitiesandlightliterature，andasaproducerofbooksAlcalawasalreadybeginningtocompetewiththeolderpressesofToledo，Burgos，SalamancaandSeville。

ApendanttothepictureCervanteshasgivenusofhisfirstplaygoingsmight，nodoubt，havebeenoftenseeninthestreetsofAlcalaatthattime；abright，eager，tawny-hairedboypeeringintoabook-shopwherethelatestvolumeslayopentotemptthepublic，wondering，itmaybe，whatthatlittlebookwiththewoodcutoftheblindbeggarandhisboy，thatcalleditself“VidadeLazarillodeTormes，segundaimpresion，“couldbeabout；orwitheyesbrimmingoverwithmerrimentgazingatoneofthosepreposterousportraitsofaknight-errantinoutrageouspanoplyandplumeswithwhichthepublishersofchivalryromanceslovedtoembellishthetitle-pagesoftheirfolios。Iftheboywasthefatheroftheman，thesenseoftheincongruousthatwasstrongatfiftywaslivelyatten，andsomesuchreflectionsasthesemayhavebeenthetruegenesisof“DonQuixote。“

Forhismoresolideducation，wearetold，hewenttoSalamanca。ButwhyRodrigodeCervantes，whowasverypoor，shouldhavesenthissontoauniversityahundredandfiftymilesawaywhenhehadoneathisowndoor，wouldbeapuzzle，ifwehadanyreasonforsupposingthathedidso。TheonlyevidenceisavaguestatementbyProfessorTomasGonzalez，thatheoncesawanoldentryofthematriculationofaMigueldeCervantes。Thisdoesnotappeartohavebeeneverseenagain；butevenifithad，andifthedatecorresponded，itwouldprovenothing，astherewereatleasttwootherMiguelsbornaboutthemiddleofthecentury；oneofthem，moreover，aCervantesSaavedra，acousin，nodoubt，whowasasourceofgreatembarrassmenttothebiographers。

ThathewasastudentneitheratSalamancanoratAlcalaisbestprovedbyhisownworks。Nomandrewmorelargelyuponexperiencethanhedid，andhehasnowhereleftasinglereminiscenceofstudentlife-

forthe“TiaFingida，“ifitbehis，isnotone-nothing，noteven“acollegejoke，“toshowthatheremembereddaysthatmostmenrememberbest。AllthatweknowpositivelyabouthiseducationisthatJuanLopezdeHoyos，aprofessorofhumanitiesandbelles-lettresofsomeeminence，callshimhis“dearandbelovedpupil。“ThiswasinalittlecollectionofversesbydifferenthandsonthedeathofIsabeldeValois，secondqueenofPhilipII，publishedbytheprofessorin1569，towhichCervantescontributedfourpieces，includinganelegy，andanepitaphintheformofasonnet。Itisonlybyararechancethata“Lycidas“findsitswayintoavolumeofthissort，andCervanteswasnoMilton。Hisversesarenoworsethansuchthingsusuallyare；somuch，atleast，maybesaidforthem。

BythetimethebookappearedhehadleftSpain，and，asfateorderedit，fortwelveyears，themosteventfulonesofhislife。

Giulio，afterwardsCardinal，Acquavivahadbeensentattheendof1568toPhilipIIbythePopeonamission，partlyofcondolence，partlypolitical，andonhisreturntoRome，whichwassomewhatbrusquelyexpeditedbytheKing，hetookCervanteswithhimashiscamarero(chamberlain)，theofficehehimselfheldinthePope'shousehold。ThepostwouldnodoubthaveledtoadvancementatthePapalCourthadCervantesretainedit，butinthesummerof1570heresigneditandenlistedasaprivatesoldierinCaptainDiegoUrbina'scompany，belongingtoDonMigueldeMoncada'sregiment，butatthattimeformingapartofthecommandofMarcAntonyColonna。

Whatimpelledhimtothisstepweknownot，whetheritwasdistasteforthecareerbeforehim，orpurelymilitaryenthusiasm。Itmaywellhavebeenthelatter，foritwasastirringtime；theevents，however，whichledtothealliancebetweenSpain，Venice，andthePope，againstthecommonenemy，thePorte，andtothevictoryofthecombinedfleetsatLepanto，belongrathertothehistoryofEuropethantothelifeofCervantes。HewasoneofthosethatsailedfromMessina，inSeptember1571，underthecommandofDonJohnofAustria；butonthemorningofthe7thofOctober，whentheTurkishfleetwassighted，hewaslyingbelowillwithfever。Atthenewsthattheenemywasinsightherose，and，inspiteoftheremonstrancesofhiscomradesandsuperiors，insistedontakinghispost，sayinghepreferreddeathintheserviceofGodandtheKingtohealth。Hisgalley，theMarquesa，wasinthethickofthefight，andbeforeitwasoverhehadreceivedthreegunshotwounds，twointhebreastandoneinthelefthandorarm。Onthemorningafterthebattle，accordingtoNavarrete，hehadaninterviewwiththecommander-in-chief，DonJohn，whowasmakingapersonalinspectionofthewounded，oneresultofwhichwasanadditionofthreecrownstohispay，andanother，apparently，thefriendshipofhisgeneral。

HowseverelyCervanteswaswoundedmaybeinferredfromthefact，thatwithyouth，avigorousframe，andascheerfulandbuoyantatemperamentaseverinvalidhad，hewassevenmonthsinhospitalatMessinabeforehewasdischarged。Hecameoutwithhislefthandpermanentlydisabled；hehadlosttheuseofit，asMercurytoldhiminthe“ViajedelParnaso“forthegreatergloryoftheright。This，however，didnotabsolutelyunfithimforservice，andinApril1572

hejoinedManuelPoncedeLeon'scompanyofLopedeFigueroa'sregiment，inwhich，itseemsprobable，hisbrotherRodrigowasserving，andsharedintheoperationsofthenextthreeyears，includingthecaptureoftheGolettaandTunis。TakingadvantageofthelullwhichfollowedtherecaptureoftheseplacesbytheTurks，heobtainedleavetoreturntoSpain，andsailedfromNaplesinSeptember1575onboardtheSungalley，incompanywithhisbrotherRodrigo，PedroCarrillodeQuesada，lateGovernoroftheGoletta，andsomeothers，andfurnishedwithlettersfromDonJohnofAustriaandtheDukeofSesa，theViceroyofSicily，recommendinghimtotheKingforthecommandofacompany，onaccountofhisservices；adonoinfeliceaseventsproved。Onthe26ththeyfellinwithasquadronofAlgerinegalleys，andafterastoutresistancewereoverpoweredandcarriedintoAlgiers。

Bymeansofaransomedfellow-captivethebrotherscontrivedtoinformtheirfamilyoftheircondition，andthepoorpeopleatAlcalaatoncestrovetoraisetheransommoney，thefatherdisposingofallhepossessed，andthetwosistersgivinguptheirmarriageportions。ButDaliMamihadfoundonCervantesthelettersaddressedtotheKingbyDonJohnandtheDukeofSesa，and，concludingthathisprizemustbeapersonofgreatconsequence，whenthemoneycameherefuseditscornfullyasbeingaltogetherinsufficient。TheownerofRodrigo，however，wasmoreeasilysatisfied；ransomwasacceptedinhiscase，anditwasarrangedbetweenthebrothersthatheshouldreturntoSpainandprocureavesselinwhichhewastocomebacktoAlgiersandtakeoffMiguelandasmanyoftheircomradesaspossible。ThiswasnotthefirstattempttoescapethatCervanteshadmade。SoonafterthecommencementofhiscaptivityheinducedseveralofhiscompanionstojoinhimintryingtoreachOran，thenaSpanishpost，onfoot；butafterthefirstday'sjourney，theMoorwhohadagreedtoactastheirguidedesertedthem，andtheyhadnochoicebuttoreturn。Thesecondattemptwasmoredisastrous。Inagardenoutsidethecityonthesea-shore，heconstructed，withthehelpofthegardener，aSpaniard，ahiding-place，towhichhebrought，onebyone，fourteenofhisfellow-captives，keepingthemthereinsecrecyforseveralmonths，andsupplyingthemwithfoodthrougharenegadeknownasElDorador，“theGilder。“Howhe，acaptivehimself，contrivedtodoallthis，isoneofthemysteriesofthestory。Wildastheprojectmayappear，itwasverynearlysuccessful。ThevesselprocuredbyRodrigomadeitsappearanceoffthecoast，andundercoverofnightwasproceedingtotakeofftherefugees，whenthecrewwerealarmedbyapassingfishingboat，andbeatahastyretreat。Onrenewingtheattemptshortlyafterwards，they，oraportionofthematleast，weretakenprisoners，andjustasthepoorfellowsinthegardenwereexultinginthethoughtthatinafewmomentsmorefreedomwouldbewithintheirgrasp，theyfoundthemselvessurroundedbyTurkishtroops，horseandfoot。TheDoradorhadrevealedthewholeschemetotheDeyHassan。

WhenCervantessawwhathadbefallenthem，hechargedhiscompanionstolayalltheblameuponhim，andastheywerebeingboundhedeclaredaloudthatthewholeplotwasofhiscontriving，andthatnobodyelsehadanyshareinit。BroughtbeforetheDey，hesaidthesame。Hewasthreatenedwithimpalementandwithtorture；andascuttingoffearsandnoseswereplayfulfreakswiththeAlgerines，itmaybeconceivedwhattheirtortureswerelike；butnothingcouldmakehimswervefromhisoriginalstatementthatheandhealonewasresponsible。Theupshotwasthattheunhappygardenerwashangedbyhismaster，andtheprisonerstakenpossessionofbytheDey，who，however，afterwardsrestoredmostofthemtotheirmasters，butkeptCervantes，payingDaliMami500crownsforhim。Hefelt，nodoubt，thatamanofsuchresource，energy，anddaring，wastoodangerousapieceofpropertytobeleftinprivatehands；andhehadhimheavilyironedandlodgedinhisownprison。Ifhethoughtthatbythesemeanshecouldbreakthespiritorshaketheresolutionofhisprisoner，hewassoonundeceived，forCervantescontrivedbeforelongtodespatchalettertotheGovernorofOran，entreatinghimtosendhimsomeonethatcouldbetrusted，toenablehimandthreeothergentlemen，fellow-captivesofhis，tomaketheirescape；intendingevidentlytorenewhisfirstattemptwithamoretrustworthyguide。

UnfortunatelytheMoorwhocarriedtheletterwasstoppedjustoutsideOran，andtheletterbeingfounduponhim，hewassentbacktoAlgiers，wherebytheorderoftheDeyhewaspromptlyimpaledasawarningtoothers，whileCervanteswascondemnedtoreceivetwothousandblowsofthestick，anumberwhichmostlikelywouldhavedeprivedtheworldof“DonQuixote，“hadnotsomepersons，whotheywereweknownot，intercededonhisbehalf。

Afterthisheseemstohavebeenkeptinstillcloserconfinementthanbefore，fornearlytwoyearspassedbeforehemadeanotherattempt。Thistimehisplanwastopurchase，bytheaidofaSpanishrenegadeandtwoValencianmerchantsresidentinAlgiers，anarmedvesselinwhichheandaboutsixtyoftheleadingcaptivesweretomaketheirescape；butjustastheywereabouttoputitintoexecutiononeDoctorJuanBlancodePaz，anecclesiasticandacompatriot，informedtheDeyoftheplot。Cervantesbyforceofcharacter，byhisself-devotion，byhisuntiringenergyandhisexertionstolightenthelotofhiscompanionsinmisery，hadendearedhimselftoall，andbecometheleadingspiritinthecaptivecolony，and，incredibleasitmayseem，jealousyofhisinfluenceandtheesteeminwhichhewasheld，movedthismantocompasshisdestructionbyacrueldeath。ThemerchantsfindingthattheDeyknewall，andfearingthatCervantesundertorturemightmakedisclosuresthatwouldimperiltheirownlives，triedtopersuadehimtoslipawayonboardavesselthatwasonthepointofsailingforSpain；buthetoldthemtheyhadnothingtofear，fornotortureswouldmakehimcompromiseanybody，andhewentatonceandgavehimselfuptotheDey。

Asbefore，theDeytriedtoforcehimtonamehisaccomplices。

Everythingwasmadereadyforhisimmediateexecution；thehalterwasputroundhisneckandhishandstiedbehindhim，butallthatcouldbegotfromhimwasthathehimself，withthehelpoffourgentlemenwhohadsinceleftAlgiers，hadarrangedthewhole，andthatthesixtywhoweretoaccompanyhimwerenottoknowanythingofituntilthelastmoment。Findinghecouldmakenothingofhim，theDeysenthimbacktoprisonmoreheavilyironedthanbefore。

Thepoverty-strickenCervantesfamilyhadbeenallthistimetryingoncemoretoraisetheransommoney，andatlastasumofthreehundredducatswasgottogetherandentrustedtotheRedemptoristFatherJuanGil，whowasabouttosailforAlgiers。TheDey，however，demandedmorethandoublethesumoffered，andashistermofofficehadexpiredandhewasabouttosailforConstantinople，takingallhisslaveswithhim，thecaseofCervanteswascritical。Hewasalreadyonboardheavilyironed，whentheDeyatlengthagreedtoreducehisdemandbyone-half，andFatherGilbyborrowingwasabletomakeuptheamount，andonSeptember19，1580，afteracaptivityoffiveyearsallbutaweek，Cervanteswasatlastsetfree。BeforelonghediscoveredthatBlancodePaz，whoclaimedtobeanofficeroftheInquisition，wasnowconcoctingonfalseevidenceachargeofmisconducttobebroughtagainsthimonhisreturntoSpain。TocheckmatehimCervantesdrewupaseriesoftwenty-fivequestions，coveringthewholeperiodofhiscaptivity，uponwhichherequestedFatherGiltotakethedepositionsofcrediblewitnessesbeforeanotary。ElevenwitnessestakenfromamongtheprincipalcaptivesinAlgiersdeposedtoallthefactsabovestatedandtoagreatdealmorebesides。Thereissomethingtouchingintheadmiration，love，andgratitudeweseestrugglingtofindexpressionintheformallanguageofthenotary，astheytestifyoneafteranothertothegooddeedsofCervantes，howhecomfortedandhelpedtheweak-hearted，howhekeptuptheirdroopingcourage，howhesharedhispoorpursewiththisdeponent，andhow“inhimthisdeponentfoundfatherandmother。“

OnhisreturntoSpainhefoundhisoldregimentabouttomarchforPortugaltosupportPhilip'sclaimtothecrown，andutterlypennilessnow，hadnochoicebuttorejoinit。HewasintheexpeditionstotheAzoresin1582andthefollowingyear，andontheconclusionofthewarreturnedtoSpainintheautumnof1583，bringingwithhimthemanuscriptofhispastoralromance，the“Galatea，“andprobablyalso，tojudgebyinternalevidence，thatofthefirstportionof“PersilesandSigismunda。“Healsobroughtbackwithhim，hisbiographersassert，aninfantdaughter，theoffspringofanamour，assomeofthemwithgreatcircumstantialityinformus，withaLisbonladyofnoblebirth，whosename，however，aswellasthatofthestreetshelivedin，theyomittomention。Thesolefoundationforallthisisthatin1605therecertainlywaslivinginthefamilyofCervantesaDonaIsabeldeSaavedra，whoisdescribedinanofficialdocumentashisnaturaldaughter，andthentwentyyearsofage。

Withhiscrippledlefthandpromotioninthearmywashopeless，nowthatDonJohnwasdeadandhehadnoonetopresshisclaimsandservices，andforamandrawingontofortylifeintherankswasadismalprospect；hehadalreadyacertainreputationasapoet；hemadeuphismind，therefore，tocasthislotwithliterature，andforafirstventurecommittedhis“Galatea“tothepress。Itwaspublished，asSalvayMallenshowsconclusively，atAlcala，hisownbirth-place，in1585andnodoubthelpedtomakehisnamemorewidelyknown，butcertainlydidnotdohimmuchgoodinanyotherway。

Whileitwasgoingthroughthepress，hemarriedDonaCatalinadePalaciosSalazaryVozmediano，aladyofEsquiviasnearMadrid，andapparentlyafriendofthefamily，whobroughthimafortunewhichmaypossiblyhaveservedtokeepthewolffromthedoor，butifso，thatwasall。Thedramahadbythistimeoutgrownmarket-placestagesandstrollingcompanies，andwithhisoldloveforithenaturallyturnedtoitforacongenialemployment。Inaboutthreeyearshewrotetwentyorthirtyplays，whichhetellsuswereperformedwithoutanythrowingofcucumbersorothermissiles，andrantheircoursewithoutanyhisses，outcries，ordisturbance。Inotherwords，hisplayswerenotbadenoughtobehissedoffthestage，butnotgoodenoughtoholdtheirownuponit。Onlytwoofthemhavebeenpreserved，butastheyhappentobetwoofthesevenoreighthementionswithcomplacency，wemayassumetheyarefavourablespecimens，andnoonewhoreadsthe“Numancia“andthe“TratodeArgel“willfeelanysurprisethattheyfailedasactingdramas。

Whatevermeritstheymayhave，whateveroccasionaltheymayshow，theyare，asregardsconstruction，incurablyclumsy。Howcompletelytheyfailedismanifestfromthefactthatwithallhissanguinetemperamentandindomitableperseverancehewasunabletomaintainthestruggletogainalivelihoodasadramatistformorethanthreeyears；norwastherisingpopularityofLopethecause，asisoftensaid，notwithstandinghisownwordstothecontrary。WhenLopebegantowriteforthestageisuncertain，butitwascertainlyafterCervanteswenttoSeville。

Amongthe“NuevosDocumentos“printedbySenorAsensioyToledoisonedated1592，andcuriouslycharacteristicofCervantes。ItisanagreementwithoneRodrigoOsorio，amanager，whowastoacceptsixcomediesatfiftyducats(about6l。)apiece，nottobepaidinanycaseunlessitappearedonrepresentationthatthesaidcomedywasoneofthebestthathadeverbeenrepresentedinSpain。Thetestdoesnotseemtohavebeeneverapplied；perhapsitwassufficientlyapparenttoRodrigoOsoriothatthecomedieswerenotamongthebestthathadeverbeenrepresented。AmongthecorrespondenceofCervantestheremighthavebeenfound，nodoubt，morethanoneletterlikethatweseeinthe“Rake'sProgress，““Sir，Ihavereadyourplay，anditwillnotdoo。“

HewasmoresuccessfulinaliterarycontestatSaragossain1595inhonourofthecanonisationofSt。Jacinto，whenhiscompositionwonthefirstprize，threesilverspoons。TheyearbeforethishehadbeenappointedacollectorofrevenuesforthekingdomofGranada。Inordertoremitthemoneyhehadcollectedmoreconvenientlytothetreasury，heentrustedittoamerchant，whofailedandabsconded；andasthebankrupt'sassetswereinsufficienttocoverthewhole，hewassenttoprisonatSevilleinSeptember1597。Thebalanceagainsthim，however，wasasmallone，about26l。，andongivingsecurityforithewasreleasedattheendoftheyear。

Itwasashejourneyedfromtowntotowncollectingtheking'staxes，thathenoteddownthosebitsofinnandwaysidelifeandcharacterthataboundinthepagesof“DonQuixote：“theBenedictinemonkswithspectaclesandsunshades，mountedontheirtallmules；

thestrollersincostumeboundforthenextvillage；thebarberwithhisbasinonhishead，onhiswaytobleedapatient；therecruitwithhisbreechesinhisbundle，trampingalongtheroadsinging；thereapersgatheredintheventagatewaylisteningto“FelixmarteofHircania“readouttothem；andthoselittleHogarthiantouchesthathesowellknewhowtobringin，theox-tailhangingupwiththelandlord'scombstuckinit，thewine-skinsatthebed-head，andthosenotableexamplesofhostelryart，HelengoingoffinhighspiritsonParis'sarm，andDidoonthetowerdroppingtearsasbigaswalnuts。

Nay，itmaywellbethatonthosejourneysintoremoteregionshecameacrossnowandthenaspecimenofthepaupergentleman，withhisleanhackandhisgreyhoundandhisbooksofchivalry，dreamingawayhislifeinhappyignorancethattheworldhadchangedsincehisgreat-grandfather'soldhelmetwasnew。ButitwasinSevillethathefoundouthistruevocation，thoughhehimselfwouldnotbyanymeanshaveadmittedittobeso。Itwasthere，inTriana，thathewasfirsttemptedtotryhishandatdrawingfromlife，andfirstbroughthishumourintoplayintheexquisitelittlesketchof“RinconeteyCortadillo，“thegerm，inmorewaysthanone，of“DonQuixote。“

Whereandwhenthatwaswritten，wecannottell。AfterhisimprisonmentalltraceofCervantesinhisofficialcapacitydisappears，fromwhichitmaybeinferredthathewasnotreinstated。ThathewasstillinSevilleinNovember1598appearsfromasatiricalsonnetofhisontheelaboratecatafalqueerectedtotestifythegriefofthecityatthedeathofPhilipII，butfromthisupto1603wehavenocluetohismovements。ThewordsintheprefacetotheFirstPartof“DonQuixote“aregenerallyheldtobeconclusivethatheconceivedtheideaofthebook，andwrotethebeginningofitatleast，inaprison，andthathemayhavedonesoisextremelylikely。

ThereisatraditionthatCervantesreadsomeportionsofhisworktoaselectaudienceattheDukeofBejar's，whichmayhavehelpedtomakethebookknown；buttheobviousconclusionisthattheFirstPartof“DonQuixote“layonhishandssometimebeforehecouldfindapublisherboldenoughtoundertakeaventureofsonovelacharacter；andsolittlefaithinithadFranciscoRoblesofMadrid，towhomatlasthesoldit，thathedidnotcaretoincurtheexpenseofsecuringthecopyrightforAragonorPortugal，contentinghimselfwiththatforCastile。TheprintingwasfinishedinDecember，andthebookcameoutwiththenewyear，1605。Itisoftensaidthat“DonQuixote“wasatfirstreceivedcoldly。Thefactsshowjustthecontrary。NosoonerwasitinthehandsofthepublicthanpreparationsweremadetoissuepiratededitionsatLisbonandValencia，andtobringoutasecondeditionwiththeadditionalcopyrightsforAragonandPortugal，whichhesecuredinFebruary。

Nodoubtitwasreceivedwithsomethingmorethancoldnessbycertainsectionsofthecommunity。Menofwit，taste，anddiscriminationamongthearistocracygaveitaheartywelcome，butthearistocracyingeneralwerenotlikelytorelishabookthatturnedtheirfavouritereadingintoridiculeandlaughedatsomanyoftheirfavouriteideas。ThedramatistswhogatheredroundLopeastheirleaderregardedCervantesastheircommonenemy，anditisplainthathewasequallyobnoxioustotheotherclique，thecultopoetswhohadGongorafortheirchief。Navarrete，whoknewnothingoftheletterabovementioned，trieshardtoshowthattherelationsbetweenCervantesandLopewereofaveryfriendlysort，asindeedtheywereuntil“DonQuixote“waswritten。Cervantes，indeed，tothelastgenerouslyandmanfullydeclaredhisadmirationofLope'spowers，hisunfailinginvention，andhismarvellousfertility；butintheprefaceoftheFirstPartof“DonQuixote“andintheversesof“UrgandatheUnknown，“andoneortwootherplaces，thereare，ifwereadbetweenthelines，slyhitsatLope'svanitiesandaffectationsthatarguenopersonalgood-will；andLopeopenlysneersat“DonQuixote“andCervantes，andfourteenyearsafterhisdeathgiveshimonlyafewlinesofcoldcommonplaceinthe“LaureldeApolo，“thatseemallthecolderfortheeulogiesofahostofnonentitieswhosenamesarefoundnowhereelse。

In1601ValladolidwasmadetheseatoftheCourt，andatthebeginningof1603CervanteshadbeensummonedthitherinconnectionwiththebalanceduebyhimtotheTreasury，whichwasstilloutstanding。HeremainedatValladolid，apparentlysupportinghimselfbyagenciesandscrivener'sworkofsomesort；probablydraftingpetitionsanddrawingupstatementsofclaimstobepresentedtotheCouncil，andthelike。So，atleast，wegatherfromthedepositionstakenontheoccasionofthedeathofagentleman，thevictimofastreetbrawl，whohadbeencarriedintothehouseinwhichhelived。Inthesehehimselfisdescribedasamanwhowroteandtransactedbusiness，anditappearsthathishouseholdthenconsistedofhiswife，thenaturaldaughterIsabeldeSaavedraalreadymentioned，hissisterAndrea，nowawidow，herdaughterConstanza，amysteriousMagdalenadeSotomayorcallingherselfhissister，forwhomhisbiographerscannotaccount，andaservant-maid。

Meanwhile“DonQuixote“hadbeengrowinginfavour，anditsauthor'snamewasnowknownbeyondthePyrenees。In1607aneditionwasprintedatBrussels。Robles，theMadridpublisher，founditnecessarytomeetthedemandbyathirdedition，theseventhinall，in1608。ThepopularityofthebookinItalywassuchthataMilanbooksellerwasledtobringoutaneditionin1610；andanotherwascalledforinBrusselsin1611。Itmightnaturallyhavebeenexpectedthat，withsuchproofsbeforehimthathehadhitthetasteofthepublic，Cervanteswouldhaveatoncesetaboutredeeminghisrathervaguepromiseofasecondvolume。

But，toallappearance，nothingwasfartherfromhisthoughts。Hehadstillbyhimoneortwoshorttalesofthesamevintageasthosehehadinsertedin“DonQuixote“andinsteadofcontinuingtheadventuresofDonQuixote，hesettoworktowritemoreofthese“NovelasExemplares“asheafterwardscalledthem，withaviewtomakingabookofthem。

Thenovelswerepublishedinthesummerof1613，withadedicationtotheCondedeLemos，theMaecenasoftheday，andwithoneofthosechattyconfidentialprefacesCervanteswassofondof。Inthis，eightyearsandahalfaftertheFirstPartof“DonQuixote“hadappeared，wegetthefirsthintofaforthcomingSecondPart。“Youshallseeshortly，“hesays，“thefurtherexploitsofDonQuixoteandhumoursofSanchoPanza。“Hisideaof“shortly“wasasomewhatelasticone，for，asweknowbythedatetoSancho'sletter，hehadbarelyone-halfofthebookcompletedthattimetwelvemonth。

Butmorethanpoems，orpastorals，ornovels，itwashisdramaticambitionthatengrossedhisthoughts。ThesameindomitablespiritthatkepthimfromdespairinthebagniosofAlgiers，andpromptedhimtoattempttheescapeofhimselfandhiscomradesagainandagain，madehimpersevereinspiteoffailureanddiscouragementinhiseffortstowintheearofthepublicasadramatist。ThetemperamentofCervanteswasessentiallysanguine。Theportraithedrawsintheprefacetothenovels，withtheaquilinefeatures，chestnuthair，smoothuntroubledforehead，andbrightcheerfuleyes，istheveryportraitofasanguineman。Nothingthatthemanagersmightsaycouldpersuadehimthatthemeritsofhisplayswouldnotberecognisedatlastiftheywereonlygivenafairchance。TheoldsoldieroftheSpanishSalamiswasbentonbeingtheAeschylusofSpain。Hewastofoundagreatnationaldrama，basedonthetrueprinciplesofart，thatwastobetheenvyofallnations；hewastodrivefromthestagethesilly，childishplays，the“mirrorsofnonsenseandmodelsoffolly“

thatwereinvoguethroughthecupidityofthemanagersandshortsightednessoftheauthors；hewastocorrectandeducatethepublictasteuntilitwasripefortragediesonthemodeloftheGreekdrama-likethe“Numancia“forinstance-andcomediesthatwouldnotonlyamusebutimproveandinstruct。Allthishewastodo，couldheoncegetahearing：therewastheinitialdifficulty。

Heshowsplainlyenough，too，that“DonQuixote“andthedemolitionofthechivalryromanceswasnottheworkthatlaynexthisheart。Hewas，indeed，ashesayshimselfinhispreface，moreastepfatherthanafatherto“DonQuixote。“Neverwasgreatworksoneglectedbyitsauthor。Thatitwaswrittencarelessly，hastily，andbyfitsandstarts，wasnotalwayshisfault，butitseemsclearheneverreadwhathesenttothepress。Heknewhowtheprintershadblundered，buthenevertookthetroubletocorrectthemwhenthethirdeditionwasinprogress，asamanwhoreallycaredforthechildofhisbrainwouldhavedone。Heappearstohaveregardedthebookaslittlemorethanamerelibrodeentretenimiento，anamusingbook，athing，ashesaysinthe“Viaje，““todivertthemelancholymoodyheartatanytimeorseason。“Nodoubthehadanaffectionforhishero，andwasveryproudofSanchoPanza。Itwouldhavebeenstrangeindeedifhehadnotbeenproudofthemosthumorouscreationinallfiction。Hewasproud，too，ofthepopularityandsuccessofthebook，andbeyondmeasuredelightfulisthenaivetewithwhichheshowshisprideinadozenpassagesintheSecondPart。Butitwasnotthesuccesshecoveted。Inallprobabilityhewouldhavegivenallthesuccessof“DonQuixote，“nay，wouldhaveseeneverycopyof“DonQuixote“burnedinthePlazaMayor，foronesuchsuccessasLopedeVegawasenjoyingonanaverageonceaweek。

Andsohewenton，dawdlingover“DonQuixote，“addingachapternowandagain，andputtingitasidetoturnto“PersilesandSigismunda“-which，asweknow，wastobethemostentertainingbookinthelanguage，andtherivalof“TheagenesandChariclea“-orfinishingoffoneofhisdarlingcomedies；andifRoblesaskedwhen“DonQuixote“wouldbeready，theanswernodoubtwas：Enbreve-

shortly，therewastimeenoughforthat。Atsixty-eighthewasasfulloflifeandhopeandplansforthefutureasaboyofeighteen。

Nemesiswascoming，however。HehadgotasfarasChapterLIX，whichathisleisurelypacehecouldhardlyhavereachedbeforeOctoberorNovember1614，whentherewasputintohishandasmalloctavelatelyprintedatTarragona，andcallingitself“SecondVolumeoftheIngeniousGentlemanDonQuixoteofLaMancha：bytheLicentiateAlonsoFernandezdeAvellanedaofTordesillas。“ThelasthalfofChapterLIXandmostofthefollowingchaptersoftheSecondPartgiveussomeideaoftheeffectproduceduponhim，andhisirritationwasnotlikelytobelessenedbythereflectionthathehadnoonetoblamebuthimself。HadAvellaneda，infact，beencontentwithmerelybringingoutacontinuationto“DonQuixote，“Cervanteswouldhavehadnoreasonablegrievance。Hisownintentionswereexpressedintheveryvaguestlanguageattheendofthebook；nay，inhislastwords，“forsealtrocanteraconmigliorplettro，“heseemsactuallytoinvitesomeoneelsetocontinuethework，andhemadenosignuntileightyearsandahalfhadgoneby；bywhichtimeAvellaneda'svolumewasnodoubtwritten。

InfactCervanteshadnocase，oraverybadone，asfarasthemerecontinuationwasconcerned。ButAvellanedachosetowriteaprefacetoit，fullofsuchcoarsepersonalabuseasonlyanill-conditionedmancouldpourout。HetauntsCervanteswithbeingold，withhavinglosthishand，withhavingbeeninprison，withbeingpoor，withbeingfriendless，accuseshimofenvyofLope'ssuccess，ofpetulanceandquerulousness，andsoon；anditwasinthisthatthestinglay。

Avellaneda'sreasonforthispersonalattackisobviousenough。

Whoeverhemayhavebeen，itisclearthathewasoneofthedramatistsofLope'sschool，forhehastheimpudencetochargeCervanteswithattackinghimaswellasLopeinhiscriticismonthedrama。Hisidentificationhasexercisedthebestcriticsandbaffledalltheingenuityandresearchthathasbeenbroughttobearonit。

NavarreteandTicknorbothinclinetothebeliefthatCervantesknewwhohewas；butImustsayIthinktheangerheshowssuggestsaninvisibleassailant；itisliketheirritationofamanstungbyamosquitointhedark。CervantesfromcertainsolecismsoflanguagepronounceshimtobeanAragonese，andPellicer，anAragonesehimself，supportsthisviewandbelieveshim，moreover，tohavebeenanecclesiastic，aDominicanprobably。

AnymeritAvellanedahasisreflectedfromCervantes，andheistoodulltoreflectmuch。“Dullanddirty“willalwaysbe，I

imagine，theverdictofthevastmajorityofunprejudicedreaders。

Heis，atbest，apoorplagiarist；allhecandoistofollowslavishlytheleadgivenhimbyCervantes；hisonlyhumourliesinmakingDonQuixotetakeinnsforcastlesandfancyhimselfsomelegendaryorhistoricalpersonage，andSanchomistakewords，invertproverbs，anddisplayhisgluttony；allthroughheshowsaproclivitytocoarsenessanddirt，andhehascontrivedtointroducetwotalesfilthierthananythingbythesixteenthcenturynovellieriandwithouttheirsprightliness。

ButwhateverAvellanedaandhisbookmaybe，wemustnotforgetthedebtweowethem。Butforthem，therecanbenodoubt，“DonQuixote“wouldhavecometousameretorsoinsteadofacompletework。EvenifCervanteshadfinishedthevolumehehadinhand，mostassuredlyhewouldhaveleftoffwithapromiseofaThirdPart，givingthefurtheradventuresofDonQuixoteandhumoursofSanchoPanzaasshepherds。Itisplainthathehadatonetimeanintentionofdealingwiththepastoralromancesashehaddealtwiththebooksofchivalry，andbutforAvellanedahewouldhavetriedtocarryitout。Butitismorelikelythat，withhisplans，andprojects，andhopefulness，thevolumewouldhaveremainedunfinishedtillhisdeath，andthatweshouldhavenevermadetheacquaintanceoftheDukeandDuchess，orgonewithSanchotoBarataria。

FromthemomentthebookcameintohishandsheseemstohavebeenhauntedbythefearthattheremightbemoreAvellanedasinthefield，andputtingeverythingelseaside，hesethimselftofinishoffhistaskandprotectDonQuixoteintheonlywayhecould，bykillinghim。

TheconclusionisnodoubtahastyandinsomeplacesclumsypieceofworkandthefrequentrepetitionofthescoldingadministeredtoAvellanedabecomesintheendratherwearisome；butitis，atanyrate，aconclusionandforthatwemustthankAvellaneda。

ThenewvolumewasreadyforthepressinFebruary，butwasnotprintedtilltheveryendof1615，andduringtheintervalCervantesputtogetherthecomediesandinterludeshehadwrittenwithinthelastfewyears，and，asheaddsplaintively，foundnodemandforamongthemanagers，andpublishedthemwithapreface，worththebookitintroducestenfold，inwhichhegivesanaccountoftheearlySpanishstage，andofhisownattemptsasadramatist。ItisneedlesstosaytheywereputforwardbyCervantesinallgoodfaithandfullconfidenceintheirmerits。Thereader，however，wasnottosupposetheywerehislastwordorfinaleffortinthedrama，forhehadinhandacomedycalled“Enganoalosojos，“aboutwhich，ifhemistooknot，therewouldbenoquestion。

Ofthisdramaticmasterpiecetheworldhasnoopportunityofjudging；hishealthhadbeenfailingforsometime，andhedied，apparentlyofdropsy，onthe23rdofApril，1616，thedayonwhichEnglandlostShakespeare，nominallyatleast，fortheEnglishcalendarhadnotyetbeenreformed。Hediedashehadlived，acceptinghislotbravelyandcheerfully。

Wasitanunhappylife，thatofCervantes？Hisbiographersalltellusthatitwas；butImustsayIdoubtit。Itwasahardlife，alifeofpoverty，ofincessantstruggle，oftoilillpaid，ofdisappointment，butCervantescarriedwithinhimselftheantidotetoalltheseevils。Hiswasnotoneofthoselightnaturesthatriseaboveadversitymerelybyvirtueoftheirownbuoyancy；itwasinthefortitudeofahighspiritthathewasproofagainstit。ItisimpossibletoconceiveCervantesgivingwaytodespondencyorprostratedbydejection。Asforpoverty，itwaswithhimathingtobelaughedover，andtheonlysighheeverallowstoescapehimiswhenhesays，“HappyhetowhomHeavenhasgivenapieceofbreadforwhichheisnotboundtogivethankstoanybutHeavenitself。“Addtoallthishisvitalenergyandmentalactivity，hisrestlessinventionandhissanguinetemperament，andtherewillbereasonenoughtodoubtwhetherhiscouldhavebeenaveryunhappylife。HewhocouldtakeCervantes'distressestogetherwithhisapparatusforenduringthemwouldnotmakesobadabargain，perhaps，asfarashappinessinlifeisconcerned。

Ofhisburial-placenothingisknownexceptthathewasburied，inaccordancewithhiswill，intheneighbouringconventofTrinitariannuns，ofwhichitissupposedhisdaughter，IsabeldeSaavedra，wasaninmate，andthatafewyearsafterwardsthenunsremovedtoanotherconvent，carryingtheirdeadwiththem。ButwhethertheremainsofCervanteswereincludedintheremovalornotnooneknows，andthecluetotheirresting-placeisnowlostbeyondallhope。Thisfurnishesperhapstheleastdefensibleoftheitemsinthechargeofneglectbroughtagainsthiscontemporaries。Insomeoftheothersthereisagooddealofexaggeration。TolistentomostofhisbiographersonewouldsupposethatallSpainwasinleaguenotonlyagainstthemanbutagainsthismemory，oratleastthatitwasinsensibletohismerits，andlefthimtoliveinmiseryanddieofwant。TotalkofhishardlifeandunworthyemploymentsinAndalusiaisabsurd。Whathadhedonetodistinguishhimfromthousandsofotherstrugglingmenearningaprecariouslivelihood？True，hewasagallantsoldier，whohadbeenwoundedandhadundergonecaptivityandsufferinginhiscountry'scause，buttherewerehundredsofothersinthesamecase。Hehadwrittenamediocrespecimenofaninsipidclassofromance，andsomeplayswhichmanifestlydidnotcomplywiththeprimaryconditionofpleasing：weretheplaygoerstopatroniseplaysthatdidnotamusethem，becausetheauthorwastoproduce“DonQuixote“twentyyearsafterwards？

Thescrambleforcopieswhich，aswehaveseen，followedimmediatelyontheappearanceofthebook，doesnotlooklikegeneralinsensibilitytoitsmerits。Nodoubtitwasreceivedcoldlybysome，butifamanwritesabookinridiculeofperiwigshemustmakehisaccountwithbeingcoldlyreceivedbytheperiwigwearersandhatedbythewholetribeofwigmakers。IfCervanteshadthechivalry-romancereaders，thesentimentalists，thedramatists，andthepoetsoftheperiodallagainsthim，itwasbecause“DonQuixote“

waswhatitwas；andifthegeneralpublicdidnotcomeforwardtomakehimcomfortablefortherestofhisdays，itisnomoretobechargedwithneglectandingratitudethantheEnglish-speakingpublicthatdidnotpayoffScott'sliabilities。Itdidthebestitcould；itreadhisbookandlikeditandboughtit，andencouragedthebooksellertopayhimwellforothers。

IthasbeenalsomadeareproachtoSpainthatshehaserectednomonumenttothemansheisproudestof；nomonument，thatistosay，ofhim；forthebronzestatueinthelittlegardenofthePlazadelasCortes，afairworkofartnodoubt，andunexceptionablehaditbeensetuptothelocalpoetinthemarket-placeofsomeprovincialtown，isnotworthyofCervantesorofMadrid。ButwhatneedhasCervantesof“suchweakwitnessofhisname；“orwhatcouldamonumentdoinhiscaseexcepttestifytotheself-glorificationofthosewhohadputitup？Simonumentumquoeris，circumspice。Thenearestbookseller'sshopwillshowwhatbathostherewouldbeinamonumenttotheauthorof“DonQuixote。“

NineeditionsoftheFirstPartof“DonQuixote“hadalreadyappearedbeforeCervantesdied，thirtythousandcopiesinall，accordingtohisownestimate，andatenthwasprintedatBarcelonatheyearafterhisdeath。Solargeanumbernaturallysuppliedthedemandforsometime，butby1634itappearstohavebeenexhausted；

andfromthattimedowntothepresentdaythestreamofeditionshascontinuedtoflowrapidlyandregularly。Thetranslationsshowstillmoreclearlyinwhatrequestthebookhasbeenfromtheveryoutset。InsevenyearsfromthecompletionoftheworkithadbeentranslatedintothefourleadinglanguagesofEurope。ExcepttheBible，infact，nobookhasbeensowidelydiffusedas“DonQuixote。“The“ImitatioChristi“mayhavebeentranslatedintoasmanydifferentlanguages，andperhaps“RobinsonCrusoe“andthe“VicarofWakefield“intonearlyasmany，butinmultiplicityoftranslationsandeditions“DonQuixote“leavesthemallfarbehind。

Stillmoreremarkableisthecharacterofthiswidediffusion。

“DonQuixote“hasbeenthoroughlynaturalisedamongpeoplewhoseideasaboutknight-errantry，iftheyhadanyatall，wereofthevaguest，whohadneverseenorheardofabookofchivalry，whocouldnotpossiblyfeelthehumouroftheburlesqueorsympathisewiththeauthor'spurpose。Anothercuriousfactisthatthis，themostcosmopolitanbookintheworld，isoneofthemostintenselynational。

“ManonLescaut“isnotmorethoroughlyFrench，“TomJones“notmoreEnglish，“RobRoy“notmoreScotch，than“DonQuixote“isSpanish，incharacter，inideas，insentiment，inlocalcolour，ineverything。What，then，isthesecretofthisunparalleledpopularity，increasingyearbyyearforwell-nighthreecenturies？Oneexplanation，nodoubt，isthatofallthebooksintheworld，“DonQuixote“isthemostcatholic。Thereissomethinginitforeverysortofreader，youngorold，sageorsimple，highorlow。AsCervanteshimselfsayswithatouchofpride，“Itisthumbedandreadandgotbyheartbypeopleofallsorts；thechildrenturnitsleaves，theyoungpeoplereadit，thegrownmenunderstandit，theoldfolkpraiseit。“

Butitwouldbeidletodenythattheingredientwhich，morethanitshumour，oritswisdom，orthefertilityofinventionorknowledgeofhumannatureitdisplays，hasinsureditssuccesswiththemultitude，istheveinoffarcethatrunsthroughit。Itwastheattackuponthesheep，thebattlewiththewine-skins，Mambrino'shelmet，thebalsamofFierabras，DonQuixoteknockedoverbythesailsofthewindmill，Sanchotossedintheblanket，themishapsandmisadventuresofmasterandman，thatwereoriginallythegreatattraction，andperhapsaresostilltosomeextentwiththemajorityofreaders。Itisplainthat“DonQuixote“wasgenerallyregardedatfirst，andindeedinSpainforalongtime，aslittlemorethanaqueerdrollbook，fulloflaughableincidentsandabsurdsituations，veryamusing，butnotentitledtomuchconsiderationorcare。AlltheeditionsprintedinSpainfrom1637to1771，whenthefamousprinterIbarratookitup，weremeretradeeditions，badlyandcarelesslyprintedonvilepaperandgotupinthestyleofchap-booksintendedonlyforpopularuse，with，inmostinstances，uncouthillustrationsandclap-trapadditionsbythepublisher。

ToEnglandbelongsthecreditofhavingbeenthefirstcountrytorecognisetherightof“DonQuixote“tobettertreatmentthanthis。

TheLondoneditionof1738，commonlycalledLordCarteret'sfromhavingbeensuggestedbyhim，wasnotamereeditiondeluxe。Itproduced“DonQuixote“inbecomingformasregardspaperandtype，andembellishedwithplateswhich，ifnotparticularlyhappyasillustrations，wereatleastwellintentionedandwellexecuted，butitalsoaimedatcorrectnessoftext，amattertowhichnobodyexcepttheeditorsoftheValenciaandBrusselseditionshadgivenevenapassingthought；andforafirstattemptitwasfairlysuccessful，forthoughsomeofitsemendationsareinadmissible，agoodmanyofthemhavebeenadoptedbyallsubsequenteditors。

Thezealofpublishers，editors，andannotatorsbroughtaboutaremarkablechangeofsentimentwithregardto“DonQuixote。“Avastnumberofitsadmirersbegantogrowashamedoflaughingoverit。Itbecamealmostacrimetotreatitasahumorousbook。Thehumourwasnotentirelydenied，but，accordingtothenewview，itwasratedasanaltogethersecondaryquality，amereaccessory，nothingmorethanthestalking-horseunderthepresentationofwhichCervantesshothisphilosophyorhissatire，orwhateveritwashemeanttoshoot；

foronthispointopinionsvaried。Allwereagreed，however，thattheobjectheaimedatwasnotthebooksofchivalry。HesaidemphaticallyintheprefacetotheFirstPartandinthelastsentenceoftheSecond，thathehadnootherobjectinviewthantodiscreditthesebooks，andthis，toadvancedcriticism，madeitclearthathisobjectmusthavebeensomethingelse。

Onetheorywasthatthebookwasakindofallegory，settingforththeeternalstrugglebetweentheidealandthereal，betweenthespiritofpoetryandthespiritofprose；andperhapsGermanphilosophyneverevolvedamoreungainlyorunlikelycameloutofthedepthsofitsinnerconsciousness。Somethingoftheantagonism，nodoubt，istobefoundin“DonQuixote，“becauseitistobefoundeverywhereinlife，andCervantesdrewfromlife。Itisdifficulttoimagineacommunityinwhichthenever-ceasinggameofcross-purposesbetweenSanchoPanzaandDonQuixotewouldnotberecognizedastruetonature。Inthestoneage，amongthelakedwellers，amongthecavemen，therewereDonQuixotesandSanchoPanzas；theremusthavebeenthetroglodytewhonevercouldseethefactsbeforehiseyes，andthetroglodytewhocouldseenothingelse。ButtosupposeCervantesdeliberatelysettinghimselftoexpoundanysuchideaintwostoutquartovolumesistosupposesomethingnotonlyveryunliketheageinwhichhelived，butaltogetherunlikeCervanteshimself，whowouldhavebeenthefirsttolaughatanattemptofthesortmadebyanyoneelse。

Theextraordinaryinfluenceoftheromancesofchivalryinhisdayisquiteenoughtoaccountforthegenesisofthebook。SomeideaoftheprodigiousdevelopmentofthisbranchofliteratureinthesixteenthcenturymaybeobtainedfromthescrutinyofChapterVII，ifthereaderbearsinmindthatonlyaportionoftheromancesbelongingtobyfarthelargestgroupareenumerated。Astoitseffectuponthenation，thereisabundantevidence。FromthetimewhentheAmadisesandPalmerinsbegantogrowpopulardowntotheveryendofthecentury，thereisasteadystreamofinvective，frommenwhosecharacterandpositionlendweighttotheirwords，againsttheromancesofchivalryandtheinfatuationoftheirreaders。Ridiculewastheonlybesomtosweepawaythatdust。

ThatthiswasthetaskCervantessethimself，andthathehadampleprovocationtourgehimtoit，willbesufficientlycleartothosewholookintotheevidence；asitwillbealsothatitwasnotchivalryitselfthatheattackedandsweptaway。Ofalltheabsurditiesthat，thankstopoetry，willberepeatedtotheendoftime，thereisnogreateronethansayingthat“CervantessmiledSpain'schivalryaway。“Inthefirstplacetherewasnochivalryforhimtosmileaway。Spain'schivalryhadbeendeadformorethanacentury。ItsworkwasdonewhenGranadafell，andaschivalrywasessentiallyrepublicaninitsnature，itcouldnotliveundertherulethatFerdinandsubstitutedforthefreeinstitutionsofmediaevalSpain。Whathedidsmileawaywasnotchivalrybutadegradingmockeryofit。

Thetruenatureofthe“rightarm“andthe“brightarray，“beforewhich，accordingtothepoet，“theworldgaveground，“andwhichCervantes'singlelaughdemolished，maybegatheredfromthewordsofoneofhisowncountrymen，DonFelixPacheco，asreportedbyCaptainGeorgeCarleton，inhis“MilitaryMemoirsfrom1672to1713。““BeforetheappearanceintheworldofthatlabourofCervantes，“hesaid，“itwasnexttoanimpossibilityforamantowalkthestreetswithanydelightorwithoutdanger。Therewereseensomanycavaliersprancingandcurvettingbeforethewindowsoftheirmistresses，thatastrangerwouldhaveimaginedthewholenationtohavebeennothinglessthanaraceofknight-errants。Butaftertheworldbecamealittleacquaintedwiththatnotablehistory，themanthatwasseeninthatoncecelebrateddraperywaspointedatasaDonQuixote，andfoundhimselfthejestofhighandlow。AndI

verilybelievethattothis，andthisonly，weowethatdampnessandpovertyofspiritwhichhasrunthroughallourcouncilsforacenturypast，solittleagreeabletothosenobleractionsofourfamousancestors。“

Tocall“DonQuixote“asadbook，preachingapessimistviewoflife，arguesatotalmisconceptionofitsdrift。Itwouldbesoifitsmoralwerethat，inthisworld，trueenthusiasmnaturallyleadstoridiculeanddiscomfiture。Butitpreachesnothingofthesort；itsmoral，sofarasitcanbesaidtohaveone，isthatthespuriousenthusiasmthatisbornofvanityandself-conceit，thatismadeanendinitself，notameanstoanend，thatactsonmereimpulse，regardlessofcircumstancesandconsequences，ismischievoustoitsowner，andaveryconsiderablenuisancetothecommunityatlarge。

Tothosewhocannotdistinguishbetweentheonekindandtheother，nodoubt“DonQuixote“isasadbook；nodoubttosomemindsitisverysadthatamanwhohadjustutteredsobeautifulasentimentasthat“itisahardcasetomakeslavesofthosewhomGodandNaturemadefree，“shouldbeungratefullypeltedbythescoundrelshiscrazyphilanthropyhadletlooseonsociety；buttoothersofamorejudicialcastitwillbeamatterofregretthatrecklessself-sufficiententhusiasmisnotoftenerrequitedinsomesuchwayforallthemischiefitdoesintheworld。

Averyslightexaminationofthestructureof“DonQuixote“willsufficetoshowthatCervanteshadnodeepdesignorelaborateplaninhismindwhenhebeganthebook。Whenhewrotethoselinesinwhich“withafewstrokesofagreatmasterhesetsbeforeusthepaupergentleman，“hehadnoideaofthegoaltowhichhisimaginationwasleadinghim。Therecanbelittledoubtthatallhecontemplatedwasashorttaletorangewiththosehehadalreadywritten，atalesettingforththeludicrousresultsthatmightbeexpectedtofollowtheattemptofacrazygentlemantoactthepartofaknight-errantinmodernlife。

Itisplain，foronething，thatSanchoPanzadidnotenterintotheoriginalscheme，forhadCervantesthoughtofhimhecertainlywouldnothaveomittedhiminhishero'soutfit，whichheobviouslymeanttobecomplete。Himweowetothelandlord'schanceremarkinChapterIII

thatknightsseldomtravelledwithoutsquires。TotrytothinkofaDonQuixotewithoutSanchoPanzaisliketryingtothinkofaone-bladedpairofscissors。

Thestorywaswrittenatfirst，liketheothers，withoutanydivisionandwithouttheinterventionofCideHameteBenengeli；anditseemsnotunlikelythatCervanteshadsomeintentionofbringingDulcinea，orAldonzaLorenzo，onthesceneinperson。ItwasprobablytheransackingoftheDon'slibraryandthediscussiononthebooksofchivalrythatfirstsuggestedittohimthathisideawascapableofdevelopment。What，ifinsteadofamerestringoffarcicalmisadventures，heweretomakehistaleaburlesqueofoneofthesebooks，caricaturingtheirstyle，incidents，andspirit？

Inpursuanceofthischangeofplan，hehastilyandsomewhatclumsilydividedwhathehadwrittenintochaptersonthemodelof“Amadis，“inventedthefableofamysteriousArabicmanuscript，andsetupCideHameteBenengeliinimitationofthealmostinvariablepracticeofthechivalry-romanceauthors，whowerefondoftracingtheirbookstosomereconditesource。Inworkingoutthenewideas，hesoonfoundthevalueofSanchoPanza。Indeed，thekeynote，notonlytoSancho'spart，buttothewholebook，isstruckinthefirstwordsSanchoutterswhenheannounceshisintentionoftakinghisasswithhim。“Abouttheass，“wearetold，“DonQuixotehesitatedalittle，tryingwhetherhecouldcalltomindanyknight-erranttakingwithhimanesquiremountedonass-back；butnoinstanceoccurredtohismemory。“Wecanseethewholesceneataglance，thestolidunconsciousnessofSanchoandtheperplexityofhismaster，uponwhoseperceptiontheincongruityhasjustforceditself。ThisisSancho'smissionthroughoutthebook；heisanunconsciousMephistopheles，alwaysunwittinglymakingmockeryofhismaster'saspirations，alwaysexposingthefallacyofhisideasbysomeunintentionaladabsurdum，alwaysbringinghimbacktotheworldoffactandcommonplacebyforceofsheerstolidity。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读