They talk of principles, but notions prize, And all to one lov'd folly sacrifice. 265 Once on a time, La Mancha's Knight, they say, A certain bard encount'ring on the way, Discours'd in terms as just, with looks as sage, As e'er could Dennis, of the Grecian stage; Concluding all were desp'rate sots and fools, Who durst depart from Aristotle's rules. Our author, happy in a judge so nice, 270 Produc'd his play, and begg'd the Knight's advice; Made him observe the subject and the plot, 275 The manners, passions, unities; what not? All which, exact to rule, were brought about, Were but a combat in the lists left out. "What! leave the combat out?" exclaims the Knight, "Yes, or we must renounce the Stagirite." 280 Tem so noções, mas fallao de principios E á mania que tem, tudo submetem. Consta, que hum dia o Paladin da Mancha No caminho, encontrou certo Poeta, Com o qual discorreu com tanto acerto, 320 325 O nosso author feliz com tal censura 330 Com juis tao perito; ao cavalheiro Fas que o entreixo, e que o assumpto observe, As maneiras, paixões as unidades Tudo, n'huma palavra e mais se houvera Mas, faltava hua justa nesta peça; Que escuto! exclamà em furia o cavalheiro, Por que suprime a justa? . . . Sim suprimo · 335 "Not so, by Heav'n!" he answers in a rage; "Knights, squires, and steeds, must enter on the stage." "So vast a throng the stage can ne'er contain." "Then build a new, or act it in a plain.” Thus critics of less judgment than caprice, 285 Curious not knowing, not exact but nice, Form short ideas; and offend in arts (As most in manners) by a love to parts. Some to Conceit alone their taste confine, And glitt'ring thoughts struck out at ev'ry line; 290 Pleas'd with a work where nothing's just or fit, One glaring chaos and wild heap of wit. Poets like painters, thus, unskill'd to trace The naked nature, and the living grace, Ou renuncio as leys do stagerita. Enraivecido gritta D. Quixote. "Nao deve ser assim; os ceos atesto. - “Os cavalheiros, pagens, urcos, lanças 340 345 Curiosos e ignaros, pouco exactos Mas melindrosos, simples dilectantes 350 Formao curtas ideas, a arte offendem Tanto em maneiras, que em paixao por partes. Quantos ha, que s'esmerao nos conceitos Em cada verso marchetado, estalao, Lustrosos pensamentos; aprezentaõ Nas obras em que nada he proprio he justo, Hum cahós bello, e de juizo, aos montes, Poetas quais pintores, pouco destros Em debuxar correctamente, e affoitos 355 With gold and jewels cover ev'ry part, And hide with ornaments their want of art. True wit is Nature to advantage dress'd, 295 What oft' was thought, but ne'er so well express'd; Something, whose truth convinc'd at sight we find, That gives us back the image of our mind. As shades more sweetly recommend the light, So modest plainness sets off sprightly wit. 300 For works may have more wit than does 'em good, As bodies perish thro' excess of blood. Others for Language all their care express, And value books, as women men, for dress: Their praise is still, the style is excellent; The sense they humbly take upon content. 305 Words are like leaves; and where they most abound, Much fruit of sense beneath is rarely found: 310 |