Información sobre el texto
Título del texto editado:
“The Translator to the Reader”
Autor del texto editado:
Bridges, Harry (1645-1730)
Título de la obra:
A Collection of Select Novels, Written Originally in Castillian, by Don Miguel Cervantes Saavedra, Author of the «History of Don Quixote de la Mancha»: In the Territory of the Imperial City of Toledo, in New Castile
Autor de la obra:
Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de (1547-1616)
Edición:
Bristol:
S. Farley,
1728
The Translator to the Reader
Those who know not who Miguel Cervantes Saavedra was, will be very willing I should say something of this incomparable author, whom the History of Don Quixote will render immortal.
Miguel Cervantes Saavedra (for that was his name,) was born at Seville, as ‘tis the ordinary sentiment; however, some Spaniards there are who maintain he was born in a village near the imperial city of Toledo. Whether he was, or was not, he was an ornament to Spain, but his fortune answer’d not his merit: he had been secretary to the Duke de Alva; after that he retir’d to Madrid, where he was treated with that coldness by the chief ministers of King Philip III, the Duke of Lerma, Uzeda and Cea, who affected not men of learning, that he betook himself to arms. He followed the wars many years, and was present in the famous battle of Lepanto, where he lost one of his hands. This was not the only bad adventure he had in his life; he was taken by the infidels, and, after a long captivity, returning into his own country, he died in so great poverty that he wanted necessaries. Behold th’ destiny of this great man!
The translator has inoculated some Castilian words into our language for decoration and his own pleasure in the doing.
As the Spaniards derive all their gallantries from the Moors, a Spanish novel must have an African relish; for, without that relish not to be adjusted to rules, it would be cold and insipid, and hardly read in Spain; there must be none but marvelous and surprising adventures in that country to deserve admiration.
The translator, from the University of Oxford, accompany’d the most accomplish’d Edward Montague, Earl of Sandwich and knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, in his extraordinary embassy to the court of Spain, in the year 1666, in the minority of Charles II, king of Spain, who concluded the peace after a long war between the crowns of Spain and Portugal.
GRUPO PASO (HUM-241)
FFI2014-54367-C2-1-R FFI2014-54367-C2-2-R
2018
M Luisa Díez, Paloma Centenera
