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the world； and no such exploits or nonsense ever happened anywhere。〃
〃Try that bone on another dog；〃 said the landlord； 〃as if I did
not know how many make five； and where my shoe pinches me； don't think
to feed me with pap； for by God I am no fool。 It is a good joke for
your worship to try and persuade me that everything these good books
say is nonsense and lies； and they printed by the license of the Lords
of the Royal Council； as if they were people who would allow such a
lot of lies to be printed all together； and so many battles and
enchantments that they take away one's senses。〃
〃I have told you； friend；〃 said the curate； 〃that this is done to
divert our idle thoughts； and as in well…ordered states games of
chess； fives； and billiards are allowed for the diversion of those who
do not care； or are not obliged； or are unable to work； so books of
this kind are allowed to be printed； on the supposition that； what
indeed is the truth； there can be nobody so ignorant as to take any of
them for true stories； and if it were permitted me now； and the
present company desired it； I could say something about the
qualities books of chivalry should possess to be good ones； that would
be to the advantage and even to the taste of some； but I hope the time
will come when I can communicate my ideas to some one who may be
able to mend matters； and in the meantime； senor landlord； believe
what I have said； and take your books； and make up your mind about
their truth or falsehood； and much good may they do you； and God grant
you may not fall lame of the same foot your guest Don Quixote halts
on。〃
〃No fear of that；〃 returned the landlord； 〃I shall not be so mad
as to make a knight…errant of myself； for I see well enough that
things are not now as they used to be in those days； when they say
those famous knights roamed about the world。〃
Sancho had made his appearance in the middle of this conversation；
and he was very much troubled and cast down by what he heard said
about knights…errant being now no longer in vogue； and all books of
chivalry being folly and lies； and he resolved in his heart to wait
and see what came of this journey of his master's； and if it did not
turn out as happily as his master expected； he determined to leave him
and go back to his wife and children and his ordinary labour。
The landlord was carrying away the valise and the books； but the
curate said to him； 〃Wait； I want to see what those papers are that
are written in such a good hand。〃 The landlord taking them out
handed them to him to read； and he perceived they were a work of about
eight sheets of manuscript； with； in large letters at the beginning；
the title of 〃Novel of the Ill…advised Curiosity。〃 The curate read
three or four lines to himself； and said； 〃I must say the title of
this novel does not seem to me a bad one； and I feel an inclination to
read it all。〃 To which the landlord replied； 〃Then your reverence will
do well to read it； for I can tell you that some guests who have
read it here have been much pleased with it； and have begged it of
me very earnestly； but I would not give it； meaning to return it to
the person who forgot the valise； books； and papers here； for maybe he
will return here some time or other； and though I know I shall miss
the books； faith I mean to return them； for though I am an
innkeeper； still I am a Christian。〃
〃You are very right； friend；〃 said the curate； 〃but for all that； if
the novel pleases me you must let me copy it。〃
〃With all my heart；〃 replied the host。
While they were talking Cardenio had taken up the novel and begun to
read it； and forming the same opinion of it as the curate； he begged
him to read it so that they might all hear it。
〃I would read it；〃 said the curate； 〃if the time would not be better
spent in sleeping。〃
〃It will be rest enough for me；〃 said Dorothea； 〃to while away the
time by listening to some tale； for my spirits are not yet tranquil
enough to let me sleep when it would be seasonable。〃
〃Well then； in that case；〃 said the curate； 〃I will read it； if it
were only out of curiosity； perhaps it may contain something
pleasant。〃
Master Nicholas added his entreaties to the same effect； and
Sancho too； seeing which； and considering that he would give
pleasure to all； and receive it himself； the curate said； 〃Well
then； attend to me everyone； for the novel begins thus。〃
CHAPTER XXXIII
IN WHICH IS RELATED THE NOVEL OF 〃THE ILL…ADVISED CURIOSITY〃
IN Florence； a rich and famous city of Italy in the province
called Tuscany； there lived two gentlemen of wealth and quality；
Anselmo and Lothario； such great friends that by way of distinction
they were called by all that knew them 〃The Two Friends。〃 They were
unmarried； young； of the same age and of the same tastes； which was
enough to account for the reciprocal friendship between them。 Anselmo；
it is true； was somewhat more inclined to seek pleasure in love than
Lothario； for whom the pleasures of the chase had more attraction； but
on occasion Anselmo would forego his own tastes to yield to those of
Lothario； and Lothario would surrender his to fall in with those of
Anselmo； and in this way their inclinations kept pace one with the
other with a concord so perfect that the best regulated clock could
not surpass it。
Anselmo was deep in love with a high…born and beautiful maiden of
the same city； the daughter of parents so estimable； and so
estimable herself； that he resolved； with the approval of his friend
Lothario； without whom he did nothing； to ask her of them in marriage；
and did so； Lothario being the bearer of the demand； and conducting
the negotiation so much to the satisfaction of his friend that in a
short time he was in possession of the object of his desires； and
Camilla so happy in having won Anselmo for her husband； that she
gave thanks unceasingly to heaven and to Lothario； by whose means such
good fortune had fallen to her。 The first few days； those of a wedding
being usually days of merry…making； Lothario frequented his friend
Anselmo's house as he had been wont； striving to do honour to him
and to the occasion； and to gratify him in every way he could； but
when the wedding days were over and the succession of visits and
congratulations had slackened； he began purposely to leave off going
to the house of Anselmo； for it seemed to him； as it naturally would
to all men of sense； that friends' houses ought not to be visited
after marriage with the same frequency as in their masters' bachelor
days： because； though true and genuine friendship cannot and should
not be in any way suspicious； still a married man's honour is a
thing of such delicacy that it is held liable to injury from brothers；
much more from friends。 Anselmo remarked the cessation of Lothario's
visits； and complained of it to him； saying that if he had known
that marriage was to keep him from enjoying his society as he used； he
would have never married； and that； if by the thorough harmony that
subsisted between them while he was a bachelor they had earned such
a sweet name as that of 〃The Two Friends；〃 he should not allow a title
so rare and so delightful to be lost through a needless anxiety to act
circumspectly； and so he entreated him； if such a phrase was allowable
between them； to be once more master of his house and to come in and
go out as formerly； assuring him that his wife Camilla had no other
desire or inclination than that which he would wish her to have； and
that knowing how sincerely they loved one another she was grieved to
see such coldness in him。
To all this and much more that Anselmo said to Lothario to
persuade him to come to his house as he had been in the habit of
doing； Lothario replied with so much prudence； sense； and judgment；
that Anselmo was satisfied of his friend's good intentions； and it was
agreed that on two days in the week； and on holidays； Lothario
should come to dine with him； but though this arrangement was made
between them Lothario resolved to observe it no further than he
considered to be in accordance with the honour of his friend； whose
good name was more to him than his own。 He said； and justly； that a
married man upon whom heaven had bestowed a beautiful wife should
consider as carefully what friends he brought to his house as what
female friends his wife associated with； for what cannot be done or
arranged in the market…place； in church； at public festivals or at
stations （opportunities that husbands cannot always deny their wives）；
may be easily managed in the house of the female friend or relative in
whom most confidence is reposed。 Lothario said； too； that every
married man should have some friend who would point out to him any
negligence he might be guilty of in his conduct； for it will sometimes
happen that owing to the deep affection the husband bears his wife
either he does not caution her； or； not to vex her； refrains from
telling her to do or not to do certain things； doing or avoiding which
may be a matter of honour or reproach to him； and errors of this
kind he could easily correct if warned by a friend。 But where is
such a friend to be found as Lothario would have； so