Don Juan Manuel, nephew of King Alfonso X, The Wise, knew well the appeal of exempla (moralized tales), which he believed should entertain if they were to provide ways and means for solving life's problems. His fourteenth-century book, known as El Conde lucanor, is considered by many to be the purest Spanish prose before the immortal Don Quixote of Cervantes written two centuries later. He found inspiration for his tales in classical and eastern literatures, Spanish history, and folklore. His stories are not translations, but are his retelling of some of the best stories in existence. The translation succeeds in making the author speak as clearly to the modern reader as to readers of his own time.
Don Juan Manuel, nephew of King Alfonso X, The Wise, knew well the appeal of exempla (moralized tales), which he believed should entertain if they were to provide ways and means for solving life's problems. His fourteenth-century book, known as El Conde lucanor, is considered by many to be the purest Spanish prose before the immortal Don Quixote of Cervantes written two centuries later. He found inspiration for his tales in classical and eastern literatures, Spanish history, and folklore. His stories are not translations, but are his retelling of some of the best stories in existence. The translation succeeds in making the author speak as clearly to the modern reader as to readers of his own time.
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 edition. Excerpt: ...he finds himself incapable of so doing." The Count, considering this to be very good advice, acted upon it, and found the results to answer well. And Don Juan, understanding that this was a good example, had it inscribed in this book, and composed the following verse: --The good occasion--use it, Lest, through delay, you lose it! NOTES. The above tale resembles not a little the facetious style generally adopted by the Archpriest of Hita, Juan Ruiz, famous for his satirical writings, and a contemporary of Don Juan Manuel, and by Rabelais. These two writers were particularly noted for their satirical allegories. The cardinal, in his refined satire, not only lanced a tacit condemnation against the indolence of the canons, but against also the arbitrary and unjust claim set up by them, in contesting with an inferior class that right to which industry and early rising clearly entitled them. CHAPTER XX. Of that which happened to a Falcon and a Heron and, more particularly, to a cunning Falcon, which belonged to the Infant Don Manuel. OUNT LUCANOR conversed one day with his counsellor, Patronio, in the manner following: --"Patronio," said he, "it has happened lately to me to have contentions with many men, and no sooner is one quarrel ended than I am by some one instigated to commence another; others again recommend me to rest and be at peace, while again, others wish me to renew the war with the Moors. Now, knowing that no one is better able than yourself to advise me, I pray that you will counsel me how best to act under these circumstances." "My lord," said Patronio, "in order that you may the better act with judgment, it would be well that you should know what happened to a cunning falcon, belonging to...
Excerpt from Count Lucanor: Or the Fifty Pleasant Stories of Patronio The young monarch, however, on reaching his majority, was dissatisfied with the state of things. Alfonso XI. Had many of the qualities which were most appreciated in that age - courage, vigour, ad dress, and activity. He was hardy, sober, simple in his habits, and skilled in all athletic sports. But all these gifts were neutralized and rendered una vailing by the evil counsels of those by whom he was surrounded. He chose his advisers among men whose ambition and turbulence had ravaged the country, but whose lawless deeds he attributed only to zeal for his cause. Accustomed from his earliest youth to regard them as his friends, while their sole thought was to captivate his favour and make it a stepping-stone for their ambition, he appointed them to the exclusion of Don Manuel, whose influence, though insufficient to check every abuse, had hitherto been a beneficial restraint. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
