“This is La Mancha,” answered Sheridan.
“The country of Don Quixote,” added the doctor.
“I saw a statue of Cervantes at Madrid, and I heard one of the fellows say he was the author of ‘Don Juan,’” laughed Murray.
“Cervantes wrote the first part at Valladolid, and it produced a tremendous sensation. I suppose you have read it.”
“I never did,” replied Bill Stout, who counted himself in as one of the party. “Is it a good story?”
“It is so considered by those who are competent judges.”
“I read it years ago,” added Sheridan.
“It is said to be a take-off on the knights of Spain,” said Murray. “Is that so?”
“I don’t think that was his sole idea in writing the book; or, if it was, he enlarged upon his plan. He was a literary man, with some reputation, before he wrote Don Quixote; and he probably selected the most popular subject he could find, and it grew upon him as he proceeded. Sancho Panza is a representative of homely common-sense, unaided by any imagination, while his master is full of it. He is used, in the first part of the story, to act as a contrast to the extravagant Don; and in this part of the work he does not use any of the proverbs which is the staple of the typical Spaniard’s talk. The introduction of this feature of Sancho’s talk was a new idea to the author.”
“I suppose Cervantes was born and lived in La Mancha,” said Murray.