THEAUTHOR\'SPREFACE
GODblessme，gentleoritmaybeplebeianreader，howeagerlymustthoubelookingforwardtothispreface，expectingtofindthereretaliation，scolding，andabuseagainsttheauthorofthesecondDonQuixote-Imeanhimwhowas，theysay，begottenatTordesillasandbornatTarragona！Wellthen，thetruthis，Iamnotgoingtogivetheethatsatisfaction；for，thoughinjuriesstirupangerinhumblerbreasts，inminetherulemustadmitofanexception。
Thouwouldsthavemecallhimass，fool，andmalapert，butIhavenosuchintention；lethisoffencebehispunishment，withhisbreadlethimeatit，andthere\'sanendofit。WhatIcannothelptakingamissisthathechargesmewithbeingoldandone-handed，asifithadbeeninmypowertokeeptimefrompassingoverme，orasifthelossofmyhandhadbeenbroughtaboutinsometavern，andnotonthegrandestoccasionthepastorpresenthasseen，orthefuturecanhopetosee。Ifmywoundshavenobeautytothebeholder\'seye，theyare，atleast，honourableintheestimationofthosewhoknowwheretheywerereceived；forthesoldiershowstogreateradvantagedeadinbattlethanaliveinflight；andsostronglyisthismyfeeling，thatifnowitwereproposedtoperformanimpossibilityforme，Iwouldratherhavehadmyshareinthatmightyaction，thanbefreefrommywoundsthisminutewithouthavingbeenpresentatit。Thosethesoldiershowsonhisfaceandbreastarestarsthatdirectotherstotheheavenofhonourandambitionofmeritedpraise；andmoreoveritistobeobservedthatitisnotwithgreyhairsthatonewrites，butwiththeunderstanding，andthatcommonlyimproveswithyears。Itakeitamiss，too，thathecallsmeenvious，andexplainstome，asifIwereignorant，whatenvyis；forreallyandtruly，ofthetwokindsthereare，Ionlyknowthatwhichisholy，noble，andhigh-minded；andifthatbeso，asitis，Iamnotlikelytoattackapriest，aboveallif，inaddition，heholdstherankoffamiliaroftheHolyOffice。Andifhesaidwhathedidonaccountofhimonwhosebehalfitseemshespoke，heisentirelymistaken；forIworshipthegeniusofthatperson，andadmirehisworksandhisunceasingandstrenuousindustry。Afterall，Iamgratefultothisgentleman，theauthor，forsayingthatmynovelsaremoresatiricalthanexemplary，butthattheyaregood；fortheycouldnotbethatunlesstherewasalittleofeverythinginthem。
IsuspectthouwiltsaythatIamtakingaveryhumbleline，andkeepingmyselftoomuchwithintheboundsofmymoderation，fromafeelingthatadditionalsufferingshouldnotbeinflicteduponasufferer，andthatwhatthisgentlemanhastoenduremustdoubtlessbeverygreat，ashedoesnotdaretocomeoutintotheopenfieldandbroaddaylight，buthideshisnameanddisguiseshiscountryasifhehadbeenguiltyofsomelesemajesty。Ifperchancethoushouldstcometoknowhim，tellhimfrommethatIdonotholdmyselfaggrieved；forIknowwellwhatthetemptationsofthedevilare，andthatoneofthegreatestisputtingitintoaman\'sheadthathecanwriteandprintabookbywhichhewillgetasmuchfameasmoney，andasmuchmoneyasfame；andtoproveitIwillbegofyou，inyourownsprightly，pleasantway，totellhimthisstory。
TherewasamadmaninSevillewhotooktooneofthedrollestabsurditiesandvagariesthatevermadmanintheworldgavewayto。Itwasthis：hemadeatubeofreedsharpatoneend，andcatchingadoginthestreet，orwhereveritmightbe，hewithhisfootheldoneofitslegsfast，andwithhishandlifteduptheother，andasbesthecouldfixedthetubewhere，byblowing，hemadethedogasroundasaball；thenholdingitinthisposition，hegaveitacoupleofslapsonthebelly，andletitgo，sayingtothebystandersandtherewerealwaysplentyofthem：“Doyourworshipsthink，now，thatitisaneasythingtoblowupadog？”-Doesyourworshipthinknow，thatitisaneasythingtowriteabook？