LA BALLENA DEL MANZANARES
Antonio de Trueba y Quintana: see note, page 8.
79.—[[79-1]] El Manzanares is the river that flows through Madrid. Generally it carries little water, but after heavy rains it sometimes becomes a raging torrent. In the Appendix to Cuentos populares, Trueba says that the people of Madrid are twitted for having once believed that there was a whale in the Manzanares river, when it was only a floating pack-saddle.
[[79-8]] Dar el primero, 'to be the first to give.'
[[79-10]] Ver Alvar..., y salir..., todo era uno, 'it was all one for Alvar to see..., and for him to go out...'='as soon as Alvar saw..., he would go out....'
[[79-13]] el gusto de que acudiesen, 'the pleasure of their coming.'
[[79-15]] antes que nadie, 'before any one else.'
[[79-20]] San Isidro, 'Saint Isidor,' the patron saint of Madrid. He lived in the twelfth century. It is related of him that he was one day at prayer in his fields, when angels descended from heaven and drove the plow, finishing his plowing for him. He is also called the Labrador de Madrid.
[[79-21]] sobre si: see under si, in Vocab.
80.—[[80-5]] á más no poder: see under poder, in Vocab.