The history of the valorous and vvitty-knight-errant, Don-Quixote, of the Mancha tr. out of the Spanish.

The Authors Preface to the Reader.

THou maist beleeve me (gentle Reader) without swearing, that I could willingly desire this book (as a childe of understand∣ing) to be the most beautifull, gallant and discreet that might possibly bee imagined. But I could not transgresse the order of Nature, wherein every thing begets his like: which being so what could my sterile and ill-tild wit engender, but the Hi∣story of a dry, toasted, and humorous sonne, full of various thoughts and conceits, never before imagined of any other; much like one who was ingendred within some noysome prison, where all discommodities have taken pos∣session, and all dolefull noyses made their habitation? seeing that rest, pleasant places, amenity of the fields, the cheerfulnesse of cleer skie, the murmuring noyse of the cristal fountains, & quiet repose of the spirit, are great helps for the most bar∣ren Muses to shew themselves fruitful, & to bring forth into the world such births as may enrich it with admiration & delight. It oft times befals, that a father hath a child both by by birth evil favoured and quite devoid of all perfection, and yet the love that hee bears him is such, as it casts a mask over his eyes, which hinders his descerning of the faults and simplicities thereof, and makes him rather to deem them discretions & beauty, and so tels them to his friends for witty jests & conceits. But I (though in shew a father, yet in truth but a step-father to Don Quixote) will not bee born away by the violent current of the modern custome now a daies; and therefore intreat thee with the tears almost in mine eyes, as many others are wont to doe, (most dear Reader) to pardon and dissemble the faults which thou shalt discern in this my soone; for thou art neither his kinsman nor friend, and thou hast thy soul in thy body, and thy free will therein as absolute as the best, and thou art in thine own house, wherein thou art as absolute a Lord, as the King is of his subsidies, and thou knowest well the common Proverb, that Under my cloak a fig for the King, all which doth exempt thee, and makes thee free from all respect and obligation; and so thou maiest holdly say of this History whatsoever thou shalt think good, without fear either to bee controled for the evill, or rewarded for the good thou shalt speak thereof.

I would very fain have presented it unto thee pure and Naked, without the or∣nament of a Preface, or the rabblement & Catalogue of the wonted Sonnets, Epi∣grams, Poems, Elegies, &c. which are wont to bee put at the beginning of Books. For I dare say unto thee, that (although it cost me some pains to compose it) yet in no respect did it equalize that which I took to make this preface which thou doest now read. I took oftentimes my pen in my hand to write it, and as often set it down again, as not knowing what I should write, and being once in amuse with my Paper before me, my Pen in mine eare, mine elbow on the table, and my hand on my cheek, imagining what I might write; there entred a friend of mine un∣expectedly, who was a very discreet and pleasantly witted man; who seeing me so pensative, demanded of me the reason of my musing: And not concealing it from him, said, That I bethought my self on my preface I was to make to Don Qui∣xotes History, which did so much trouble me, as I neither mean to make any at all, nor publish the History of the Acts of so noble a Knight: For how can I choose quoth I) but be much confounded at that which the old legislator (the Vulgar) will say when it sees that after the end of so many years (as are spent since I first step in the

bosome of oblivion) I come out loaden with my gray haires, and bring with me a Book as dry as a Kex, void of invention, barren of good phrase, poor of conceits, and altogether emptie both of learning and eloquence; without quotations on the margents, or annotations in the end of the Book, wherewith I see other Books are still adorned, bee they never so idle, fabulous and prophane: so full of sentences of Aristotle and Plato and the other crue of the Philosophers, as admires the Rea∣ders, and makes them beleeve that these Authours were very learned and eloquent. And after, when they cite Plutarch or Cicero, what can they say, but that they are the sayings of S. Thomas or other Doctors of the Church? observing herein so ingenious a method, as in one line they will paint you an enamoured gull, and in the other will lay you down a little seeming devout sermon, so that it is a great plea∣sure and delight to read or heare it; all which things must be wanting in my Book, for neither have I any thing to cite on the margent or note in the end, & much lesse doe I know what Authors I follow, to put them at the beginning as the custome is, by the letter of the A.B.C. beginning with Aristotle, and ending in Xenophon, or in Zoylus, or Zeuxis. Although the one was a Railer, and the other a Painter. So likewise shall my Book want Sonnets at the beginning, at least such Sonnets whose Authours bee Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Bishops, Ladies or famous Poets. Although if I would demand them of two or three Ahtificers of mine acquaintance, I know they would make me some such, as those of the most renowed in Spain would in no wise be able to equall or compare with them.

Finally good Sir, and my very deer friend (quoth I) I doe resolve that Sir Don Quixote remain intombed among the old Records of the Mancha, untill heaven ordain some to adorn him with the many graces that are yet wanting: for I find my self wholly unable to remedy them, through mine insufficiency and little learning; and also because I am naturally lazie and unwilling to goe searching for Authors to say that which I can say well enough without them. And hence proceeded the perple∣xity, & extasie wherein you found me plunged. My friend hearing that, & striking himself on the fore head, after a long and lowd laughter said: In good faith friend, I have now at last delivered my self of a long and intricate error wherewith I was possessed all the time of our acquaintance; for hitherto I accounted thee ever to bee discreet and prudent in all thy Actions, but now I see plainly that thou art as far from that I took thee to bee, as Heaven is from the Earth.

How is it possible, that things of so small moment and so easie to be redressed, can have force to suspend and swallow up so ripe a wit as yours hath seemed to bee, and so fitted to break up and trample over the greatest difficulties that can be propound∣ed? This proceeds not in good sooth from defect of will, but from superfluity of sloath, and penury of discourse: wilt thou see whether that I say be true or no? Listen then attentively a while, and thou shalt perceive how in the twinkling of an eye, I will confound all these difficulties, and supply all the wants which doe sus∣pend & affright thee from publishing to the world The History of the famous DON-QUIXOTE, the light and mirrour of all Knighthood Errant.

Say I pray thee, quoth I (hearing what hee had said) after what manner doest thou think to replenish the vacuity of my fear, and reduce the Chaos of my confu∣sion to any cleernesse and light? And hee replyed: The first thing whereat thou stopest, of Sonnets, Epigrams, Eglogues, &c. (which are wanting for the begin∣ning, and ought to be written by grave and noble persons) may be remedied, if thou thy self wilt but take a little pain to compasse them, and thou mayest after name them as thou pleasest, and father them on Prester John of the Indians, or the Emperour of Trapisonde, whom I know were held to be famous Poets; and sup∣pose

they were not, but that some pedantes and presumptuous, fellowes, would back∣bite thee and murmur against this truth, thou needest not waigh them two straws; for although they could prove it to bee an untruth, yet cannot they cut off thy hand for it.

As touching citations in the margent, and Authours out of whom thou mayest collect sentences and sayings, to insert in thy History, there is nothing else to bee done, but to bob into it some latine sentences that thou knowest already by rote, or mayest get easily with a little labour: as for example, When thou treatest of liber∣ty and thraldome, thou mayest cite that non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro: and presently quote Horace, or hee whosoever else that said it, on the mar∣gent. If thou shouldest speak of the power of death, have presently recourse to that, of Pallida mors equo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas, Regumque turres. If of the instability of friends, thou hast at hand Cato freely offering his disti••hon. Donec eris foelix multos numerabis amicos. Tempora si iuerint nubila, solus eris. If of riches, quantum quisque sua nummorum servat in arca tantum habet & fidei. If of love, hei mihi quod nullis amor est medicabi∣lis herbis. And so with these latine Authorities, and other such like, they will at least account thee a good Grammarian, and the being of such a one, is of no little honour and profit in this our age. As touching the addition of annotations in the end of thy Book, thou mayest boldly observe this course. If thou namest any Gyant in thy Book, procure that it bee the Gyant Goliah; and with this alone (which al∣most will cost thee nothing) thou hast gotten a fair annotation; for thou mayest say, The Gyant Golias or Goliat was a Philistine, whom the Sheepheard Da∣vid slew with the blow of a stone in the vale of Terebintho, as is recounted in the Book of Kings, in the chapter wherein thou shalt finde it written.

After all this, to shew that thou art learned in humane letters, and a Cosmogra∣pher, take some occasion to make mention of the River Tagus, and thou shalt pre∣sently finde thy self stored with another notable notation, saying the River Tagus was so called of a King of Spain, it takes it beginning from such a place, and dies in the Ocean Seas, kissing first the walls of the famous Citie of Lisborne: And some are of opinion, that the sands thereof are of Gold, &c. If thou wilt treat of Theeves, I will recite the History of Cacus to thee, for I know it by memory. If of Whores or Curtezans, there thou hast the Bishop of Mondonnedo, who will lend thee Lamia, Layda, and Flora, whose annotation will gain thee no small cre∣dit. If of cruell persons, Ovid will tender Medea. If of Enchanters and Witches, Homer hath Calipso and Virgill Circe. If of valorous Captains, Julius Cae∣sar shall lend himself in his commentaries to thee; and Plutarch shall give thee a thousand Alexanders. If thou doest treat of Love, and hast but two ounces of the Thuscane language, thou shalt encounter with Lion the Hebrew, who will re∣plenish thy vessells with store in that kinde; but if thou wilt not travel for it into strange Countries, thou hast here at home in thy house Fonseca of the love of God, wherein is deciphered all that either thou, or the most ingenious capacitie can desire to learn of that subject. In conclusion, there is nothing else to bee done, but that thou only indeavour to name those names, or to touch those Histories in thine own which I have here related, and leave the adding of Annotations and citations unto me, for I doe promise thee that I will both fill up the margent, and also spend four or five sheets of advantage at the end of the Book.

Now let us come to the citation of Authours, which other Books have, and thine wanteth, the remedie hereof is very easie; for thou needest doe naught else but seek out a Book that doth quote them all from the Letter A untill Z, as thou saidst

thy self but even now, and thou shalt set that very same Alphabet to thine own Book, for although the little necessity that thou hadst to use their assistance in thy work, will presently convict thee of falshood, it makes no matter, and perhaps there may not a few bee found so simple as to beleeve that thou hast holp thy self in, the Narration of thy most simple & sincere History, with all their authorities. And though that large Catalogue of Authors doe serve to none other purpose; yet will it at least give some authority to the Book at the first blush: and the rather, be∣cause none will bee so mad as to stand to examine whether thou doest follow them or no, seeing they can gain nothing by the matter. Yet if I doe not erre in the consi∣deration of so weighty an affaire, this Book of thine needs none of all these things, for as much as it is only an invective against Books of Knighthood, a subject whereof Aristotle never dreamed, Saint Basil said nothing, Cicero never heard any word. Nor doe the punctualities of truth, nor observations of Astrologie fall within the Sphear of such fabulous jestings. Nor doe Geometricall dimentions im∣part it anything; nor the confutation of arguments usurped by Rhetorick; nor ought it to preach unto any the mixture of holy matters with prophane (a motly where∣with no Christian well should bee attyred) only it hath need to help it self with imitation; for, by how much the more it shall excell therein, by so much the more will the work be esteemed. And since that thy labour doth aime at no more then to diminish the authoritie and acceptance that Books of Chivalrie have in the world, and among the vulgar, there is no occasion why thou shouldest goe begging of sentences from Philosophers, fables from Poets, Orations from Rhetoritians, or miracles from the Saints, but onely endeavour to deliver with significant, plain, honest, and well-ordered words thy joviall and cheerfull discourse, expressing as neer as thou mayest possibly thy intention, making thy conceits cleer, and not in∣tricate or dark; and labour also, that the melancholy Mare by the reading thereof, may bee urged to laughter, the pleasant disposition increased, the simple not cloyed; and that the judicious may admire thy invention, the grave not despise it, the pru∣dent applaude it. In conclusion, let thy project bee to overthrow the ill-compiled Machina, and bulk of those knightly Books, abhorred by many, but applauded by more. For if thou bring this to passe, thou hast not atchieved a small matter.

I listned with very great attention to my friends Speech; and his reasons are so firmly imprinted in my minde, as without making any reply unto them, I ap∣proved them all for good, and framed my preface of them: Wherein (sweet Rea∣der) thou mayest perceive my friends discretion, my happinesse to meet with so good a councellour at such a pinch, and thine own ease in finding so plainly and sincerely related, The History of the famous DON-QUIXOTE of the Mancha, of whom it is the common opinion of all the inhabitants bordering on the Fields of Montiel, that hee was the most chaste, enamoured and valiant Knight that hath been seen, read, or heard of these many ages. I will not indeer the benefit and service I have done thee, by making thee acquainted with so Noble and Ho∣nourable a Knight, but only doe desire that thou gratifie me for the notice of the famous Sancho Panca his Squire; in whom, in mine opinion, are deciphered all the Squire-like graces dispersed throughout the vain rout of Knightly Books: And herewithall I bid thee farewell, and doe not forget me.

Vale.