In writing this passage Cervantes would seem to have had in his thoughts the extravagantly fantastic description of an enchanted palace, which occurs in a romance called La Genealogía de la Toledana discreta. Like the invisible abode of the Magician of Binche, this palace is represented as inaccessible. Its huge columns were of transparent crystal with capitals and bases of purest silver; and on the highest point of its towering arches was a lofty portal which none could enter save he who knew the secret.[96] The First Part of the Toledana Discreta was published in the year 1604, but prior to the appearance of Don Quixote. The Second Part was never published, and possibly never written; for the satire dealt out by Cervantes on books of chivalry might well have deterred the author from the completion of his task. Almost all the commentators on Don Quixote state that the last book of chivalry published in Spain, was La Crónica del Príncipe Don Policisne de Boecia. But this is a mistake; for the Genealogía de la Toledana discreta appeared in 1604. The name of its author is Eugenio Martínez, and it is one of the most extravagant of the Spanish libros caballerescos.
(Y).
“And will it be said that there are not other madmen in the world besides the ingenious Knight of La Mancha, when such as these find favour in the eyes of emperors and kings.” (Page 142).
A narrative of a visit made to the Netherlands, by Philip II., (when Infante) in company with his father, the Emperor Charles V., was written by Don Calvate de Estrella. This curious work contains an account of the festivities at Binche alluded to by Cervantes in El Buscapié. During those entertainments many of the jousts and tournaments described in books of chivalry were represented, and great attention was bestowed on the accuracy of the costumes, &c. The reader will find the title of Estrella’s curious work quoted, at length, in Note S, page 213.
THE END.
FOOTNOTES:
[66] The Spaniards were accustomed to call their South American possessions Indias Occidentales.
[67] This narrative was published in Madrid in the year 1763, by Father Henrique Florez, under the title of Viaje de Ambrosio Morales, por orden del Rey Don Felipe II., a los reinos de León y Galicia, y principado de Asturias, para reconocer las reliquias de santos &c.—(Journey made by Ambrosio Morales, by command of King Phillip II., to the Kingdoms of León and Galicia, and the Principality of Asturias, to discover the reliques of saints).
[68] “Spanish Medicine comprised in the common proverbs of our language.”
[69] Meaning persons who speak and understand the Castilian language, which was called the Romance.