Galateo espagnol, or, The Spanish gallant instructing thee in that which thou must doe, and take heed of in thyusuall cariage, to be well esteemed, and loved of the people. Written in Spanish by Lucas Gracian de Antisco servant to his Majesty. And done into English by W.S. of the Inner Temple Esquire. Full of variety, and delight, and very necessary to be perused, not only of the generous youth of this kingdom, but also of all such as are exercised in their gentile education.

The end of the Tale, and proceeding of the Author, in his matter.

He ought also that takes upon him to tell any story or tale, (like this) although hee have many to tell, and that they heare him willingly, to give way, that every one, may tell his owne story, and not to exceede his lymits (so farre,) in this kinde, that hee should bee accompted tedious or troublesome: nor to invite men to be alwayes telling such stories, for the principall use of them, is but to fill up idle time.

2. One must also take heede in this, as in all other manner of discourses, that hee observe the propriety, and

purity of words, and not leaving the common use, and true Castilian tongue, rather striving for plainenesse, then curiosity, so that if in common discourse, we be to say the Sunne, we should not say, the light of the world, nor to say he stood in the frontispice of his House, when we should say he stood in the porch, or entry thereof. Nor when one should say, he tooke the fresh ayre of the morning, to say that hee received the Zephirus of Aurora, nor in ordinary things, to use words, which are strangers, in our language, like some, that thinke they shew great learning, in draw∣ing old words, out of use, into their discourses.

3. But what shall wee say of the coyned phrases, of some I deots, that labour to speake in metaphors, and high and excellent straynes, as they conceive.

4. A student, one Christmas com∣ming home to see his parents, and kindred, as he stood with them, by the fire, thinking to shew his lear∣ning by speaking in an extraordina∣ry manner, insteed of saying, lay this wood on the fire, sayd thus, Lady

Nurse, apply these materialls, to the consumer of all things, for you see, that the biting tooth of nature, makes me in a walking temper. His Father that was well studyed, and a good speaker, replyed to this, mee thinkes my Sonne, that the want you felt in the Castilian tongue you have as well met withall in the Latine, and that in a worse manner, for you might have expressed more in a plaine Song, then you have done, in the counter point. I say then, that our words ought to be such, as may bee significant, and plaine to bee understood, according to the custome of the place, where thou art, and not so obsolete, that they are growne rusty, (as the pro∣verb goes.) For it is better to say Tapiz, which is Tapistry or French Cloath, then Paramentos, which is an old word, that signifyes the same thing, and to say Ensenar to teach, then Averzar, being an old word, that signifyes the same thing, And Ac∣costombrado, accustomed, and not as others use to say, Estoy hecho a esto, which signifyes the same thing. I except Labourers, and Pesants, and other people of poore places, although

we make sport of their language: yet it becomes them well, and if they strive to alter their ordinary way, it shewes ill. And according to their ac∣compt, you shall finde such under∣standing men amongst them, that they may give us fifteene and a fault, as the proverbe goes, that thinke our selves wiser.

But it is not to bee doubted, but for the most part, if wee could heare the passages betwixt some of them, in their consultations, and discourses, wee would bee much taken with them.

5. A curious Courtier, walking in the habit of a labourer, passed through a Village, at the time they were in councell, and so by meanes of his habit, that hee wore, hee was per∣mitted, to behold what passed there, and at that instant, he saw one of the country fellowes, that sat there, stand up, and putting off his Cap spake thus to the Justices of the place. Noble Lords, Juan Gamorro & Pedro Gar∣cia se quieren chapar por cohadres if it please you. The most ancient of the Judges answered him thus. No engemineys tantos in lo c••hadria, que

succedera eugobello, so that we cannot determine of it.

6. In another more obscure place he sayd hee saw another Judge that being troubled spake thus, come you hither Meculas of Ana and tell mee why you weare that Dagger, Meculas de Ana answered him, I may weare it for my defence, to which the Judge in anger answered as he sat up∣on the bench, take it from him, and set him on the Pillory, and take it for Law, that I sentence him and com∣mand it. The concept of the Author is not to bee understood but in the Spanish.

7. Returning then to our purpose, I say, that our words must be plaine, and this we may doe, if we know how to use such as have their originall, and naturall signification, from the Land we are in: and they ought not to be so old, that they prove hard to be understood, and out of all use: like old Clothes, and habites, so that if when wee ought to leave them off, we shall goe abroad with them, we shall bee pointed at, and derided for so doing. And therefore, he that shall say, Membrose for Acordarse,

or ome Bueno for hombre Bueno, and sincar for que dar, and such like, shall doe very ill.

8. In like manner, our words must be as proper, as may be, to expresse that which we desire to shew by them, and lesse significant, and common to expresse other things by; As to say, hee was knowne Enlas faciones, by his fashion, is more proper then to say he was knowne En la figura o Imagen. And it is better to say, Re∣clino le Puerta, que no grito la puerta, the dore squeekes, and we may more properly say, Et tremblor de quarātana then El frio the shaking of the quar∣tan Ague, and many such like as these.

9. None can well speak to another, in the tongue which hee unto whom he speaketh understandeth not, and for this reason, those that are curious, and especially strangers doe labour to understand Latine, because it is a tongue so common in the World, and which they teach by art unto those that are to travell, into strange Coun∣tries. And in my opinion, those who have or may have meanes to learne it, ought not to neglect the

knowledge thereof, that they may enjoy the treasure, that is written in that language. And the reason that in Spaine, men doe not ordinarily discourse so well, as in other King∣domes, is, because in many places thereof, they teach many rules, and doe very little exercise to discourse, but for a mans ordinary custome, none ought to alter his mother tongue, except necessity require. And if a Spaniard be to discourse with an Ita∣lian, or one of another language, whom hee knowes doth well under∣stand the Castilian tongue, he is not bound to speake to him in any other then his owne Castilian tongue. Nei∣ther is an Italian, or stranger, that knowes that the Spaniard (with whom hee discourses) understands him, tyed to speake Castilian, or to excuse himselfe for his foolish lan∣guage: And it hath bin seene that an Italian hath spoken in Spanish, with a Spaniard, for vaine glory, and often∣tations sake, and a Spaniard to an∣swer him in Italian, and both one, and the other, to speake such broken language, that they might easily dis∣cover one another to speake ill, and

any other, that heard them, must needs laugh at them, to heare the improprieties and fooleries spoken of them.

10. There was after this manner a Spaniard that met with an Italian his friend, and each of them speaking the others language, when they had spoken much on both sides without well understanding each the other: The Spaniard spake to the Italian in this manner, Sir I am of opinion, that except we change tongues, wee can proceede no farther, therefore let me have my Castilian tongue, and doe you take your Italian.

11. To this purpose, I can tell you of a great drinker, that called a Iew newly become a Christian, drunkard, and the other called him Iew, and having accused and sued each the o∣ther, for the same, the Judge being in examination of the businesse, The drunkard sayd, Sir he confesseth hee called me Iew, and I deny not but that I did call him drunkard, let them therefore passe one for the other, and so we are even: if not, let him re∣turne me my drunkard, I will returne him his Iew, and so the Judge set

them both free, and made them friends. I say then returning to my matter, that wee must take heede of speaking in a strange language, when there is no necessity to doe it.

12. A discreete Gentleman must (in like manner) bee sure that his words bee modest, and honest and well sounding, I meane that they be well sounding or delivered in a good tone, and have a good signification, for there are some words, that sound in the meaning of them, and not in the let∣ter of thē, as when they say, she recoy∣led insteed of she fell backward, which as to the meaning of it, is better; and it may more honestly be sayd, his shee friend, then his harlot, and of a dis∣honest woman such a one is her ser∣vant, then to say, he is ruffian to such a yong Queane, and such like or worse words. And when we may expresse things of this nature by one word, it is better to doe it so then with two, as to say, much good may it doe you, and he gained, and enjoyed her. Except he chang it into mirth, which a Coun∣try fellow found, who comming for a dispensation sayd to the Justice of the Court, Sir, They have made mee

come hither to buy a dispēsa, or dispen∣sation from the Sumo Ponfize, meaning the Pope, & the notary asking him Si avi tēido accesso o copula if he had layē with her or had copulation, Hee answered I Sr. ya hemos tenido eucientios y popula, and shee is with child, that thankes be to God, they cannot accompt me pro omnipotente, meaning an impotent fellow. There befell a witty accident to a Lawyer of this Court, from a Country fellow, who being of his counsell, after hee had discoursed of his case, hee sayd unto him, master Lawyer, I desire with your worships leave, that I may give your wife two blowes on the buttockes, the Lawyer was something troubled with this, un∣till the labourer proceeded in this manner, saying, indeed I am the bol∣der to give them, because the Bacon is good, and so the mistake was, that insteed of saying Lunadas de tocino, gammons of Bacon, hee called them nalgadas, which signifyes claps on the buttocks.

13. Of all these things we ought to be admonished of, in our common discourse, and being to handle a larger subject, every one may make use of the

rules and instructions of Rethorick. But in that which we heere call good courtship, we must use modest, gentile, and sweete language, that may have no bitternesse in them, and so wee should rather say. I doe not well ex∣presse my selfe, then that you cannot understand me. We will try, if it be so as you say, then to say, you are decei∣ved, or it is not true, or you doe not know it. For it is a courtly and plea∣sing fashion, to excuse another, even in that that thou knowest he is too blame in. We ought also to make our friends errour, common to our selves, and to take part of it, upon our selves, and after to reprove him, in a seasonable time, saying, we were out of the way and we never thought to doe this, al∣though the truth be, that the forget∣fulnesse was in the other, and not, in him that took the fault upon him. And if any one promise thee any thing, & cannot accomplish it, or be forgetfull of it, it is not civill to say, you have broke your credit or promise with me, or you have not kept your word, you have not regarded mee. For such words are pricking, and sharp, and imply in them, some suspition of in∣famy,

or reproach, and those that use such language, are accompted harsh, and simple, and so men avoid them, and their friendship: like unto them that shun to entangle themselves, with briars and brambles, which two to one, (although it be for things of no weight) are occasioned to bring us to destruction. And so wee must never speake, except first, we have framed in our minds, what to speake, that thy discourse may be well delivered, and be consonant in it selfe. Nor as little oughtest thou, to seeke to bee the speaker, in assemblies, or meetings, nor as little oughtest thou when thou art amongst thy equalls, to be alwayes si∣lent: yet in these two extremes, thou canst lesse erre, in holding thy peace. As they tell of one Piobano that was in Italy, a very pleasing man, and dis∣creete, that when one gave him many injurious, and opprobrious speeches, he heard them patiently, and sayd nothing to them, and being asked why hee held his peace, and did not answer for himselfe: made answer, that whilst the other was speaking, he was considering, that he never yet re∣pented, for being silent, but for speak∣ing

he had often repented him.

14. True it is, that those that speake well, and gracefully, without wrong∣ing of others, are blamelesse. Yet for all this, it must be done so modestly, that they give way with patience for o∣thers to speake, so that they doe not speake out of their course, to the end that they may have all the talke alone. For there be some that in this error of talking too much, are so passionate, that they place all their delight, and pleasure, in them, that will give them leave to talke.

15. And if by chance there be two talkers, at one meeting, it is a wonder to finde them agree well: for each of them will strive, to be the Cock of the company, where he is. As it fell out to a Cavallero, in this Court, that was a great talker, that being to goe to Cor∣dova, the day he was to take his jour∣ney, he entertayned a lacquay, to ac∣company him, who (according to his ability) was as great a talker as his master. And so it fell out that from the time he went out of Madrid, till hee came to the place whither he was to make his first dayes journey, for foure leagues they had travelled, the master

never ceased talking, to his new ser∣vant asking him questions, and telling him stories, not giving his servant leave to speake one word. For which cause he tooke his leave of him, say∣ing, your worship hath tyred your selfe, and I give you no thankes for it: For your worship is a great talker, and I have the same passion of talking, and if I may not play my play, and take my turne, but must bee forced to goe from hence to Cordova, without speak∣ing, I should bee so full that I must burst, and therefore I would goe no further with you, for more then I have agreed with you for.

16. But except thou observe a little these instructions, I advise thee, that when thou art to speake, thou be care∣full to understand the minde, of those thou discoursest withall, and sute thy talke to the applause of those that heare thee.

17. Be not so confident, to stand, listning, I say hugging and applauding thy selfe, making faces, and mouthes, and antique gestures, alwayes reaching out thy armes, and hands, as if thou wert to act some body. For there are some that all they fancy in their

braines, they fashion it out with their hands, playing it upon all their fingers.

18. The voyce must not be hoarse, nor shrill, nor must we be very loud, when we have cause to laugh, or for any other accident, like some, that skreeke like cartes, that want greasing, nor can any speake whilst he makes such a noise. Nor to be so heedlesse of our memories as to begin to speake a word, and then to stand stuttering a good while, ere we can utter it. And hee that is hoarse or hath an ill utter∣ance, should not desire to speake much, but let him correct the fault of his tongue, with silence and attention to others, who may also with care, and study, hide his naturall imperfection. As little pleasing is it, to lift up ones, voyce, as one that calles out for help, nor to speake so softly, that he cannot be heard, and except they heare thee at first, thou must the second time raise thy voyce, and not to be always wedded to one tone. Yet must thou as little speake too shrill, because they did not before heare thee when thou spakest so softly. Thy words must then be well marshalled, according to the use, and custome, and not wound,

and wreathen, here and there, nor in∣tricate, (as some in gallantry use to doe) as to say my light is dislighted, by your light, which are expressions only fitting for Poets. Except when with consent of all, and for mirth sake, they are discoursing of poetry, and making verses. Then if thou shalt see that those of thine owne profession, and age, doe entertaine, & busy them∣selves in this, thou oughtest not to bee out of order, or strange: but to say something thou knowest, as it comes to thy turne, and if thou have no fa∣culty in poetry, let it be very little that thou speakest retiring in time like a good sencer. Wherfore to conclude, such exercise is not ordinarily to bee used, as we shall hereafter declare.