Wit and Wisdom of Don Quixote
way, runs back to his own house with fear and consternation.
Another Foresight by accident scatters the salt upon the
table, by which fear and melancholy are scattered through
his heart; as if Nature was obliged to foretell future
misfortunes by such trivial signs and tokens; whereas a
prudent man and a good Christian will not so minutely
scrutinize the purposes of Heaven. Scipio, chancing to fall
in landing upon the coast of Afric, and perceiving that his
soldiers looked upon this accident as a bad omen, he
embraced the soil with seeming eagerness, saying, "Thou
shalt not 'scape me, Afric, for I have thee safe in my
arms."
Love has no respect of persons, and laughs at the
admonitions of reason; like Death, he pursues his game both
in the stately palaces of kings and the humble huts of
shepherds. When he has got a soul fairly in his clutches,
his first business is to deprive it of all shame and fear.
Beauty, they say, is the chief thing in love-matters.
"Hearken to me, Sancho," said Don Quixote; "there are two kinds of
beauty,--the one of the mind, the other of the body. That of the mind
shines forth in good sense and good conduct, in modesty, liberality, and
courtesy; and all these qualities may be found in one who has no
personal attractions; and when that species of beauty captivates, it
produces a vehement and superior passion. I well know, Sancho, that I am
not handsome, but I know also that I am not deformed; and a man of
worth, if he be not hideous, may inspire love, provided he has those
qualities of the mind which I have mentioned."
Of all the sins that men commit, though some say pride, in my opinion
ingratitude is the worst. It is truly said that hell is full of the
ungrateful. From that foul crime I have endeavored to abstain ever since
I enjoyed the use of reason; and if I cannot return the good offices
done me by equal benefits, I substitute my desire to repay them; and if
this be not enough, I publish them: for he who proclaims the favors he
has received would return them if he could. And generally the power of
the receiver is unequal to that of the giver, like the bounty of Heaven,
to which no man can make an equal return. But, though utterly unable to
repay the unspeakable beneficence of God, gratitude affords an humble
compensation suited to our limited powers.
Lay a bridge of silver for a flying enemy.
Let Martha die, so that she be well fed.
He that has skill should handle the quill.
There is no greater folly than to give way to despair.
Patience often falls to the ground when it is over-loaded
with injuries.
Alexander the Great ventured to cut the Gordian knot, on the
supposition that cutting would be as effectual as untying
it, and, notwithstanding this violence, became sole master
of all Asia.
"Be not concerned," said Roque, addressing himself to Don
Quixote, "nor tax Fortune with unkindness. By thus
stumbling, you may chance to stand more firmly than ever;
for Heaven, by strange and circuitous ways,
incomprehensible to men, is wont to raise the fallen and
enrich the needy."
Oh, maddening sting of jealousy, how deadly thy effects!
Justice must needs be a good thing, for it is necessary even
among thieves.
"Signor Roque," said he, "the beginning of a cure consists
in the knowledge of the distemper and in the patient's
willingness to take the medicines prescribed to him by his
physician. You are sick; you know your malady, and God, our
physician, is ready with medicines that, in time, will
certainly effect a cure. Besides, sinners of good
understanding are nearer to amendment than those who are
devoid of it; and, as your superior sense is manifest be of
good cheer and hope for your entire recovery. If in this
desirable work you would take the shortest way and at once
enter that of your salvation, come with me and I will teach
you to be a knight-errant,--a profession, it is true, full
of labors and disasters, but which, being placed to the
account of penance, will not fail to lead you to honor and
felicity."
The abbot must eat that sings for his meat.
Courtesy begets courtesy.
The jest that gives pain is no jest.
That pastime should not be indulged which tends to the
detriment of a fellow-creature.
The fire is discovered by its own light; so is virtue by its
own excellence.
No renown equals in splendor that which is acquired by the
profession of arms.
Virtue demands our homage wherever it is found.
Women are commonly impatient and inquisitive.
By a man's actions may be seen the true disposition of his
mind.
"Body of me," said Don Quixote, "what a progress you have made, signor,
in the Tuscan language! I would venture a good wager that where the
Tuscan says _piace_, you say, in Castilian, _plaze_; and where he says
_piu_, you say _mas_; and _su_ you translate by the word _arriba_; and
_giu_ by _abaxo_."
"I do so, most certainly," quoth the author, "for such are the
corresponding words."
"And yet, I dare say, sir," quoth Don Quixote, "that you are scarcely
known in the world,--but it is the fate of all ingenious men. What
abilities are lost, what genius obscured, and what talents despised!
Nevertheless, I cannot but think that translation from one language into
another, unless it be from the noblest of all languages, Greek and
Latin, is like presenting the back of a piece of tapestry, where,
though the figures are seen, they are obscured by innumerable knots and
ends of thread, very different from the smooth and agreeable texture of
the proper face of the work; and to translate easy languages of a
similar construction requires no more talent than transcribing one paper
from another. But I would not hence infer that translating is not a
laudable exercise; for a man may be worse and more unprofitably
employed. Nor can my observation apply to the two celebrated
translators, Doctor Christopher de Figueroa, in his 'Pastor Fido,' and
Don John de Xaurigui, in his 'Aminta,' who, with singular felicity, have
made it difficult to decide which is the translation and which is the
original. But tell me, signor, is this book printed at your charge, or
have you sold the copyright to some bookseller?"
"I print it, sir, on my own account," answered the author, "and expect a
thousand ducats by this first impression of two thousand copies. At six
reals each copy they will go off in a trice."
"'Tis mighty well," quoth Don Quixote, "though I fear you know but
little of the tricks of booksellers, and the juggling there is amongst
them. Take my word for it, you will find a burden of two thousand
volumes upon your back no trifling matter, especially if the book be
deficient in sprightliness."
"What, sir!" cried the author, "would you have me give my labor to a
bookseller, who, if he paid me three maravedis for it, would think it
abundant, and say I was favored? No, sir, fame is not my object: of that
I am already secure. Profit is what I now seek, without which fame is
nothing."
"Well, Heaven prosper you, sir!" said the knight, who, passing on,
observed a man correcting a sheet of a book entitled "The Light of the
Soul." On seeing the title, he said, "Books of this kind, numerous as
they already are, ought still to be encouraged; for numerous are the
benighted sinners that require to be enlightened." He went forward, and
saw another book under the corrector's hand, and, on inquiring the
title, they told him it was the second part of the ingenious gentleman
Don Quixote de la Mancha, written by such a one, of Tordesillas.
"I know something of that book," quoth Don Quixote, "and, on my
conscience, I thought it had been burnt long before now for its
stupidity; but its Martinmas will come, as it does to every hog. Works
of invention are only so far good as they come near to truth and
probability; as general history is valuable in proportion as it is
authentic."
Rashness is not valor; doubtful hopes ought to make men
resolute, not rash.
There is a remedy for all things except death.
Between said and done
A long race may be run.
He whom Heaven favors may St. Peter bless.
They that give must take.
Where there are hooks, we do not always find bacon.
Good expectation is better than bad possession.
To-day for you, and to-morrow for me.
He that falls to-day may rise to-morrow.
Great hearts should be patient under misfortunes, as well as
joyful when all goes well.
I have heard say, she they call Fortune is a drunken,
freakish dame, and withal so blind that she does not see
what she is about; neither whom she raises, nor whom she
pulls down.
One thing I must tell thee, there is no such thing in the
world as fortune; nor do the events which fall out, whether
good or evil, proceed from chance, but from the particular
appointment of Heaven,--and hence comes the usual saying,
that every man is the maker of his own fortune.
The faults of the ass should not be laid on the pack-saddle.
When it rains let the shower fall upon my cloak.
"Observe, Sancho," said Don Quixote, "there is a great deal
of difference between love and gratitude. It is very
possible for a gentleman not to be in love; but, strictly
speaking, it is impossible he should be ungrateful."
The sin will cease when the temptation is removed.
The heart will not grieve for what the eye doth not
perceive.
What prayers can ne'er gain, a leap from a hedge may obtain.
Proverbs are short maxims of human wisdom, the result of
experience and observation, and are the gifts of ancient
sages; yet the proverb which is not aptly applied, instead
of being wisdom, is stark nonsense.
It is the part of a good servant to sympathize with his
master's pains.
"Methinks," quoth Sancho, "that a man cannot be suffering
much when he can turn his brain to verse-making."
SANCHO PANZA ON SLEEP.
"No entiendo eso," replied Sancho; "solo entiendo que en tanto que
duermo, ni tengo temor, ni esperanza, ni trabajo, ni gloria; y bien haya
el que invento el sueno, capa que cubre todos los humanos pensamientos,
manjar que quita la hambre, agua que ahuyenta la sed, fuego que calienta
el frio, frio que templa el ardor, y finalmente moneda general con que
todas las cosas se compran, balanza y peso que iguala al pastor con el
rey, y al simple con el discreto. Sola una cosa tiene mala el sueno,
segun he oido decir, y es que se parece a la muerte, pues de un dormido
a un muerto hay muy poca diferencia."
"I know not what that means," replied Sancho; "I only know that while I
am asleep I have neither fear, nor hope, nor trouble, nor glory.
Blessings light on him who first invented sleep! Sleep is the mantle
that shrouds all human thoughts; the food that dispels hunger; the drink
that quenches thirst; the fire that warms the cold; the cool breeze that
moderates heat; in a word, the general coin that purchases every
commodity; the weight and balance that makes the shepherd even with his
sovereign, and the simple with the sage. There is only one bad
circumstance, as I have heard, in sleep: it resembles death, inasmuch as
between a dead corse and a sleeping man there is no apparent
difference."
"Enjoy thy repose," said Don Quixote; "thou wast born to sleep and I to
watch; and, during the little of night that remains, I will give my
thoughts the rein, and cool the furnace of my reflections with a short
madrigal, which I have this evening, unknown to thee, composed in my own
mind."
Amor, cuando yo pienso
En el mal que me das terrible y fuerte,
Voy corriendo a la muerte,
Pensando asi acabar mi mal inmenso:
Mas en llegando al paso,