Part 2 (1/2)

”It is,” said the barber, ”the 'Adventures of Esplandian,' the legitimate son of 'Amadis de Gaul.'”

”Verily,” said the priest, ”the goodness of the father shall avail the son nothing; take him, Mistress Housekeeper; open that cas.e.m.e.nt, and throw him into the yard, and let him make a beginning to the pile for the intended bonfire.”

The housekeeper did so with much satisfaction, and good Esplandian was sent flying into the yard, there to wait with patience for the fire with which he was threatened.

”Proceed,” said the priest.

”The next,” said the barber, ”is 'Amadis of Greece;' yea, and all these on this side, I believe, are of the lineage of Amadis.”

”Then into the yard with them all!” quoth the priest; ”for rather than not burn Queen Pintiquiniestra, and the shepherd Darinel with his eclogues, and the devilish perplexities of the author, I would burn the father who begot me, were I to meet him in the shape of a knight-errant.”

”Of the same opinion am I,” said the barber.

”And I too,” added the niece.

”Well, then,” said the housekeeper, ”away with them all into the yard.”

They handed them to her; and, as they were numerous, to save herself the trouble of the stairs, she threw them all out of the window.

”What tun of an author is that?” said the priest.

”This,” answered the barber, ”is 'Don Olivante de Laura.'”

”The author of that book,” said the priest, ”was the same who composed the 'Garden of Flowers;' and in good truth I know not which of the two books is the truest, or rather, the least lying: I can only say that this goes to the yard for its arrogance and absurdity.”

”This that follows is 'Florismarte of Hyrcania,'” said the barber.

”What! is Signor Florismarte there?” replied the priest; ”now, by my faith, he shall soon make his appearance in the yard, notwithstanding his strange birth and chimerical adventures; for the harshness and dryness of his style will admit of no excuse. To the yard with him, and this other, Mistress Housekeeper.

”With all my heart, dear sir,” answered she, and with much joy executed what she was commanded.

”Here is the 'Knight Platir,'” said the barber.

”That,” said the priest, ”is an ancient book, and I find nothing in him deserving pardon: without more words, let him be sent after the rest;”

which was accordingly done. They opened another book, and found it ent.i.tled the ”Knight of the Cross.” ”So religious a t.i.tle,” quoth the priest, ”might, one would think, atone for the ignorance of the author; but it is a common saying 'the devil lurks behind the cross:' so to the fire with him.”

The barber, taking down another book, said, ”This is 'The Mirror of Chivalry.'”

”Oh! I know his wors.h.i.+p very well,” quoth the priest. ”I am only for condemning this to perpetual banishment because it contains some things of the famous Mateo Boyardo.

”If I find him here uttering any other language than his own, I will show no respect; but if he speaks in his own tongue, I will put him upon my head.”

”I have him in Italian,” said the barber, ”but I do not understand him.”

”Neither is it any great matter, whether you understand him or not,”

answered the priest; ”and we would willingly have excused the good captain from bringing him into Spain and making him a Castilian; for he has deprived him of a great deal of his native value; which, indeed, is the misfortune of all those who undertake the translation of poetry into other languages; for, with all their care and skill, they can never bring them on a level with the original production. This book, neighbor, is estimable upon two accounts; the one, that it is very good of itself; and the other, because there is a tradition that it was written by an ingenious king of Portugal. All the adventures of the castle of Miraguarda are excellent, and contrived with much art; the dialogue courtly and clear; and all the characters preserved with great judgment and propriety. Therefore, Master Nicholas, saving your better judgment, let this and 'Amadis de Gaul' be exempted from the fire, and let all the rest perish without any further inquiry.”

”Not so, friend,” replied the barber; ”for this which I have here is the renowned 'Don Bellianis.'”

The priest replied: ”This, and the second, third, and fourth parts, want a little rhubarb to purge away their excess of bile; besides, we must remove all that relates to the castle of Fame, and other absurdities of greater consequence; for which let sentence of transportation be pa.s.sed upon them, and, according as they show signs of amendment, they shall be treated with mercy or justice. In the mean time, neighbor, give them room in your house; but let them not be read.”