"You must know, gentlemen, that in a town four leagues and a half from
this place, a certain alderman happened to lose his ass, all through the
artful contrivance (too long to be told) of a wench his maid-servant;
and though he tried every means to recover his beast, it was to no
purpose. Fifteen days passed, as public fame reports, after the ass was
missing, and while the unlucky alderman was standing in the
market-place, another alderman of the same town came up to him, and
said, 'Pay me for my good news, gossip, for your ass has made its
appearance.'
"'Most willingly, neighbor,' answered the other; 'but tell me--where has
he been seen?'
"'On the mountain,' answered the other; 'I saw him there this morning,
with no panel or furniture upon him of any kind, and so lank that it was
grievous to behold him. I would have driven him before me and brought
him to you, but he is already become so shy that when I went near him he
took to his heels and fled to a distance from me. Now, if you like it we
will both go seek him; but first let me put up this of mine at home, and
I will return instantly.'
"'You will do me a great favor,' said the owner of the lost ass, 'and I
shall be happy at any time to do as much for you.'
"In short the two aldermen, hand in hand and side by side, trudged
together up the hill; and on coming to the place where they expected to
find the ass, they found him not, nor was he anywhere to be seen, though
they made diligent search. Being thus disappointed, the alderman who had
seen him said to the other, 'Hark you, friend, I have thought of a
stratagem by which we shall certainly discover this animal, even though
he had crept into the bowels of the earth, instead of the mountain; and
it is this: I can bray marvellously well, and if you can do a little in
that way the business is done.'
"'A little, say you, neighbor?' quoth the other, 'before Heaven, in
braying I yield to none--no, not to asses themselves.'
"'We shall soon see that,' answered the second alderman; 'go you on one
side of the mountain, while I take the other, and let us walk round it,
and every now and then you shall bray, and I will bray; and the ass will
certainly hear and answer us, if he still remains in these parts.'
'Verily, neighbor, your device is excellent, and worthy your good
parts,' said the owner of the ass.
"They then separated, according to agreement, and both began braying at
the same instant, with such marvellous truth of imitation that, mutually
deceived, each ran towards the other, not doubting but that the ass was
found; and, on meeting, the loser said, 'Is it possible, friend, that it
was not my ass that brayed?'
"'No, it was I,' answered the other.
"'I declare, then,' said the owner, 'that, as far as regards braying,
there is not the least difference between you and an ass; for in my life
I never heard anything more natural.'
"'These praises and compliments,' answered the author of the stratagem,
'belong rather to you than to me, friend; for by Him that made me, you
could give the odds of two brays to the greatest and most skilful brayer
in the world; for your tones are rich, your time correct, your notes
well sustained, and cadences abrupt and beautiful; in short, I own
myself vanquished, and yield to you the palm in this rare talent.'
"'Truly,' answered the ass owner, 'I shall value and esteem myself the
more henceforth, since I am not without some endowment. It is true, I
fancy that I brayed indifferently well, yet never flattered myself that
I excelled so much as you are pleased to say.'
"'I tell you,' answered the second, 'there are rare abilities often lost
to the world, and they are ill-bestowed on those who know not how to
employ them to advantage.'
"'Right, brother,' quoth the owner, 'though, except in cases like the
present, ours may not turn to much account; and even in this business,
Heaven grant it may prove of service.'
"This said, they separated again, to resume their braying; and each time
were deceived as before, and met again, till they at length agreed, as a
signal, to distinguish their own voices from that of the ass, that they
should bray twice together, one immediately after the other. Thus,
doubling their brayings, they made the tour of the whole mountain,
without having any answer from the stray ass, not even by signs. How,
indeed, could the poor creature answer, whom at last they found in a
thicket, half devoured by wolves? On seeing the body, the owner said,
'Truly, I wondered at his silence; for, had he not been dead, he
certainly would have answered us, or he were no true ass; nevertheless,
neighbor, though I have found him dead, my trouble in the search has
been well repaid in listening to your exquisite braying.'
"'It is in good hands, friend,' answered the other; 'for if the abbot
sings well, the novice comes not far behind him.'
"Hereupon they returned home hoarse and disconsolate, and told their
friends and neighbors all that had happened to them in their search
after the ass; each of them extolling the other for his excellence in
braying. The story spread all over the adjacent villages, and the devil,
who sleeps not, as he loves to sow discord wherever he can, raising a
bustle in the wind, and mischief out of nothing, so ordered it that all
the neighboring villagers, at the sight of any of our towns-people,
would immediately begin to bray, as it were hitting us in the teeth with
the notable talent of our aldermen. The boys fell to it, which was the
same as falling into the hands and mouths of a legion of devils; and
thus braying spread far and wide, insomuch that the natives of the town
of Bray are as well known and distinguished as the negroes are from
white men. And this unhappy jest has been carried so far that our people
have often sallied out in arms against their scoffers, and given them
battle: neither king nor rook, nor fear nor shame, being able to
restrain them. Tomorrow, I believe, or next day, those of our town will
take the field against the people of another village about two leagues
from us, being one of those which persecute us most: and I have brought
the lances and halberds which you saw, that we may be well prepared for
them."
The hypocrite who cloaks his knavery is less dangerous to
the commonwealth than he who transgresses in the face of
day.
He who only wears the garb of piety does less harm than the
professed sinner.
I had rather serve the king in his wars abroad, than be the
lackey of any beggarly courtier at home.
There is nothing more honorable, next to the service which
you owe to God, than to serve your king and natural lord,
especially in the profession of arms, which, if less
profitable than learning, far exceeds it in glory. More
great families, it is true, have been established by
learning, yet there is in the martial character a certain
splendor, which seems to exalt it far above all other
pursuits. But allow me, sir, to offer you a piece of advice,
which, believe me, you will find worth your attention. Never
suffer your mind to dwell on the adverse events of your
life; for the worst that can befall you is death, and when
attended with honor there is no event so glorious. Julius
Caesar, that valorous Roman, being asked which was the kind
of death to be preferred, "That," said he, "which is sudden
and unforeseen!"
Though he answered like a heathen, who knew not the true
God, yet, considering human infirmity, it was well said.
For, supposing you should be cut off in the very first
encounter, either by cannon-shot or the springing of a mine,
what does it signify? it is but dying, which is inevitable,
and, being over, there it ends. Terence observes that the
corpse of a man who is slain in battle looks better than the
living soldier who has saved himself by flight; and the good
soldier rises in estimation according to the measure of his
obedience to those who command him. Observe, moreover, my
son, that a soldier had better smell of gunpowder than of
musk; and if old age overtakes you in this noble profession,
though lame and maimed, and covered with wounds, it will
find you also covered with honor; and of such honor as
poverty itself cannot deprive you. From poverty, indeed, you
are secure; for care is now taken that veteran and disabled
soldiers shall not be exposed to want, nor be treated as
many do their negro slaves, when old and past service,
turning them out of their houses, and, under pretence of
giving them freedom, leave them slaves to hunger, from which
they can have no relief but in death.
There are often rare abilities lost to the world that are
but ill-bestowed on those who do not know how to employ them
to advantage.
Who reads and travels much, sees and learns much.
It is the prerogative of God alone to truly comprehend all
things. To Him there is nothing past or future. Everything
is present.
There is nothing that Time, the discoverer of all things,
will not bring to light, even though it be hidden in the
bowels of the earth.
Length begets loathing.
Heaven is merciful, and sends relief in the greatest
distress.
Affectation is the devil.
Heaven help every one to what is their just due, but let us
have plain dealing.
When choler once is born,
The tongue all curb doth scorn.
When a brave man flies, he must have discovered foul play.
To retire is not to fly. The valor which has not prudence
for its basis is termed rashness, and the successful
exploits of the rash are rather to be ascribed to good
fortune than to courage.
Other men's pains are easily borne.
He who errs and mends, Himself to Heaven commends.
Those who sin and kiss the rod, Find favor in the sight of
God.
If you obey the commands of your lord, You may sit as a
guest at his board.
In this world there is nothing but plots and counter-plots,
mines and countermines.
A good paymaster needs no surety; and where there is plenty,
dinner is soon dressed.
Often the hare starts where she is least expected.
I have heard it said that the power called Nature is like a
potter, who, if he can make one beautiful vessel, can in
like manner make two, three, ay, and a hundred.
Wit and gay conceits proceed not from dull heads.
Every man must speak of his wants wherever he may be.
Modesty is as becoming a knight-errant as courage.
The master is respected in proportion to the discretion and
good breeding of his servants.
Who sets up for a talker and a wit, sinks at the first trip
into a contemptible buffoon.
The weapons of gownsmen, like those of women, are their
tongues.
Keep company with the good, and you will be one of them.
Not where you were born, but where you were bred.
Well sheltered shall he be
Who leans against a sturdy tree.
An affront must come from a person who not only gives it,
but who can maintain it when it is given; an injury may come
from any hand.
He who can receive no affront can give none.
One must live long to see much.
He who lives long; must suffer much.
To deprive a knight-errant of his mistress is to rob him of
the eyes with which he sees, the sun by which he is
enlightened, and the support by which he is maintained. I
have many times said, and now I repeat the observation, that
a knight-errant without a mistress is like a tree without
leaves, a building without cement, and a shadow without the
substance by which it is produced.
Possessing beauty without blemish, dignity without pride,
love with modesty, politeness springing from courtesy, and
courtesy from good breeding, and, finally, of illustrious
descent: for the beauty that is of a noble race shines with
more splendor than that which is meanly born.
Virtue ennobles blood, and a virtuous person of humble birth
is more estimable than a vicious person of rank.
I must inform your graces that Sancho Panza is one of the
most pleasant squires that ever served a knight-errant.
Sometimes his simplicity is so arch, that to consider
whether he is more fool or wag yields abundance of pleasure.
He has roguery enough to pass for a knave, and absurdities
sufficient to confirm him a fool. He doubts everything and
believes everything; and often, when I think he is going to
discharge nonsense, he will utter apothegms that will raise
him to the skies. In a word, I would not exchange him for
any other squire, even with a city to boot; and therefore I
am in doubt whether or not it will be expedient to send him
to that government which your grace has been so good as to
bestow upon him, although I can perceive in him a certain
aptitude for such an office; so that, when his understanding
is a very little polished, he will agree with any
government, like the king with his customs; for we know by
repeated experience that great talents and learning are not
necessary in a governor, as there are a hundred at least who
govern like gerfalcons, though they can hardly read their
mother tongue. Provided their intention is righteous and
their desire to do justice, they will never want counsellors
to direct them in every transaction, like your military
governors, who being illiterate themselves, never decide
without the advice of an assessor. I shall advise him
corruption to eschew, but never quit his due, and inculcate
some other small matters that are in my head, which, in
process of time, may redound to his own interest as well as
to the advantage of the island under his command.
The customs of countries, or of great men's houses, are good
as far as they are agreeable.
"Faith, madam," quoth Sancho, "that same scruple is an honest scruple,
and need not speak in a whisper, but plain out, or as it lists; for I
know it says true, and had I been wise, I should long since have left my
master but such is my lot, or such my evil-errantry, I cannot help
it,--follow him I must. We are both of the same town; I have eaten his
bread; I love him, and he returns my love; he gave me his ass-colts.
Above all, I am faithful, so that nothing in the world, can part us but
the sexton's spade and shovel; and if your highness does not choose to
give me the government you promised, God made me without it, and perhaps
it may be all the better for my conscience if I do not get it; for fool
as I am, I understand the proverb, 'The pismire had wings to her
sorrow;' and perhaps it may be easier for Sancho the squire to get to
heaven than for Sancho the governor. They make as good bread here as in
France, and by night all cats are gray. Unhappy is he who has not
breakfasted at three, and no stomach is a span bigger than another, and
may be filled as they say, with straw or with hay.
"Of the little birds in the air, God himself takes the care; and four
yards of coarse cloth of Cuenza are warmer than as many of fine Segovia
serge; and in travelling from this world to the next, the road is no
wider for the prince than the peasant. The Pope's body takes up no more
room than that of the sexton, though a loftier person, for in the grave
we must pack close together whether we like it or not; so good-night to
all.
"And let me tell you again that if your highness will not give me the
island because I am a fool, I will be wise enough not to care a fig for
it. I have heard say the devil lurks behind the cross; all is not gold
that glitters. From the plough-tail Bamba was raised to the throne of
Spain, and from his riches and revels was Roderigo cast down to be
devoured by serpents, if ancient ballads tell the truth."
None shall dare the loaf to steal
From him that sifts and kneads the meal.
An old dog is not to be coaxed with a crust.
No man is ever a scholar at his birth, and bishops are made
of men, not of stones.
There is a Judge in heaven who knows the heart.
A good name is better than tons of gold.
"And you, Signor Panza, be quiet and leave the care of making much of
Dapple to me; for being a jewel of Sancho's, I will lay him upon the
apple of my eye."
"Let him lie in the stable, my good lady," answered Sancho, "for upon
the apple of your grandeur's eye neither he nor I are worthy to lie one
single moment,--'slife! they should stick me like a sheep sooner than I
would consent to such a thing; for though my master says that, in
respect to good manners, we should rather lose the game by a card too
much than too little, yet, when the business in hand is about asses and
eyes, we should step warily, with compass in hand."
"Carry him, Sancho," quoth the Duchess, "to your government, and there
you may regale him as you please, and set him free from further labor."
"Think not, my lady Duchess," quoth Sancho, "that you have said much,
for I have seen more asses than one go to governments, and therefore, if
I should carry mine, it would be nothing new."