INTRODUCTION
In Chapter VI of the immortal work, Don Quijote de la
Mancha, is given a glowing account of the burning of the
books to which were ascribed the mental derangement of
the "ingenioso hidalgo." In the passage in question,
Cervantes, speaking through the priest, pays the following
tribute to the Catalan romance of chivalry, Tirant lo
Blanch:
[1]Válame Dios, dijo el Cura, dando una gran voz.—Que
aquí esté Tirante el Blanco! Dádmele acá,
compadre; que hago cuenta que he hallado en
él un tesoro de contento y una mina de pasatiempos.
Aquí está D. Quirieleisón de Montalbán,
valeroso caballero, y su hermano Tomás de Montalbán,
y el caballero Fonseca, con la batalla que
el valiente de Tirante hizo con el alano, y las
agudezas de la doncella Placerdemivida, con los
amores y embustes de la viuda Reposada, y la
señora Emperatriz, enamorada de Hipólito, su
escudero. Dígoos verdad, señor compadre, que,
por su estilo es éste el mejor libro del mundo:*
- ↑ Bless me, cried the Priest in a low voice, and is Tirante the White here? Give it to me, gossip, for I reckon that I have found herein a treasure of delight and a mine of entertainment. Here you have Don Qurieleison of Montalvan, the valiant cavalier, and his brother Thomas of Montalvan, and the Knight Fonseca, with the fight which the valiant Tirante had with the big mastiff, and the witty conceits of the damsel Placer-de-mi-vida, and the amours and tricks of the widow Reposada, and my Lady the Empress in love with Hippolito, her squire. I tell you truth, good master gossip, that this for its style is the best book in the world. Here
