 his Countrymen a Colour for dissolving their Oath.
Laying
Peter
aside, who, think you, was the greatest Hero among the Moderns?
To confess the Truth; among all that I have heard or read of; the Hero whom I most affect was a Madman, and the Lawgiver whom I most affect was a Fool.
'Troth, I believe you never would have been the Writer you are at this Day, if you had not adopted somewhat of both the said Qualities. But, come, unriddle I beseech you; where may this favourite Hero and Legislator be found?
In a Fragment of the
Spanish
History, bequeathed to the World by one Signior
Cervantes.
O !  �  have you led me to my old Acquaintance? pray, has not your
Pegasus
some Smatch of the Qualities of the famous
Rosinante?
Quite as chaste, I assure you. But, I perceive that you think I am drolling; you don't suppose that you can ever be seriously of the same Opinion. Yet, if you demand of your own Memory, for what have the great Heroes throughout History been renowned? it must answer, for Mischief merely, for spreading Desolation and Calamity among Men. How greatly, how gloriously, how divinely superior was our Hero of the
Mancha!
who went about
righting of Wrongs,
and
redressing of Injuries,
lifting up the fallen, and pulling down those whom Iniquity had exalted. In this his marvellous Undertaking, what Buffettings, what Bruisings, what Tramplings of Ribs, what pounding of Packstaves did his Bones not endure? (Mine ached at the recital.) But, Toil was his Bed of Down, and the House of Pain was, to him, a Bower of Delight, while he considered himself as engaged in giving Ease, Advantage, and Happiness to others. If Events did not answer to the Enterprises of his Heart, it is not to be imputed to the Man but to his Malady; for, had his Power and Success been as extensive as his Benevolence, all Things awry, upon Earth, at the Risk of his Limbs and Life, would instantly have been set as streight as a Cedar.
But, let me turn, with Reverence, to kiss the Hem of the Robes of the most respectable of all Governors and Legislators,
Sancho Pansa.
What Judgments! what Institutions! how are
Minos,
and
Solon,
and the inspired of the Goddess
Aegeria
here eclipsed!
Sancho,
thou wast a Peasant, thou wast illiterate, thou wast a Dunce for a Man, but an Angel for a Governor; inasmuch as, contrary to the Custom of all
