In the first pamphlet the battle between Don Quixote and the Biscayan was

drawn to the very life, they planted in the same attitude as the history

describes, their swords raised, and the one protected by his buckler, the

other by his cushion, and the Biscayan's mule so true to nature that it

could be seen to be a hired one a bowshot off. The Biscayan had an

inscription under his feet which said, "Don Sancho de Azpeitia," which no

doubt must have been his name; and at the feet of Rocinante was another

that said, "Don Quixote." Rocinante was marvellously portrayed, so long

and thin, so lank and lean, with so much backbone and so far gone in

consumption, that he showed plainly with what judgment and propriety the

name of Rocinante had been bestowed upon him. Near him was Sancho Panza

holding the halter of his ass, at whose feet was another label that said,

"Sancho Zancas," and according to the picture, he must have had a big

belly, a short body, and long shanks, for which reason, no doubt, the

names of Panza and Zancas were given him, for by these two surnames the

history several times calls him. Some other trifling particulars might be

mentioned, but they are all of slight importance and have nothing to do

with the true relation of the history; and no history can be bad so long

as it is true.

If against the present one any objection be raised on the score of its

truth, it can only be that its author was an Arab, as lying is a very

common propensity with those of that nation; though, as they are such

enemies of ours, it is conceivable that there were omissions rather than

additions made in the course of it. And this is my own opinion; for,

where he could and should give freedom to his pen in praise of so worthy

a knight, he seems to me deliberately to pass it over in silence; which

is ill done and worse contrived, for it is the business and duty of

historians to be exact, truthful, and wholly free from passion, and

neither interest nor fear, hatred nor love, should make them swerve from

the path of truth, whose mother is history, rival of time, storehouse of

deeds, witness for the past, example and counsel for the present, and

warning for the future. In this I know will be found all that can be

desired in the pleasantest, and if it be wanting in any good quality, I

maintain it is the fault of its hound of an author and not the fault of

the subject. To be brief, its Second Part, according to the translation,

began in this way:




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