three days since he bespoke a Testament, but not being able to raise the money, he has not redeemed it until the present moment.He has just brought thirty farthings; as I survey the silvery hair which overshadows his sunburnt countenance, the words of the song occurred to me, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation."I experienced much grave kindness and simple hospitality from the good people of Villa Seca during my sojourn amongst them.I had at this time so won their hearts by the "formality" of my behaviour and language, that I firmly believe they would have resisted to the knife any attempt which might have been made to arrest or otherwise maltreat me.He who wishes to become acquainted with the genuine Spaniard, must seek him not in sea-ports and large towns, but in lone and remote villages, like those of the Sagra.There he will find all that gravity of deportment and chivalry of disposition which Cervantes is said to have sneered away; and there he will hear, in everyday conversation, those grandiose expressions, which, when met with in the romances of chivalry, are scoffed at as ridiculous exaggerations.
I had one enemy in the village - it was the curate.
"The fellow is a heretic and a scoundrel," said he one day in the conclave."He never enters the church, and is poisoning the minds of the people with his Lutheran books.Let him be bound and sent to Toledo, or turned out of the village at least.""I will have nothing of the kind," said the alcalde, who was said to be a Carlist."If he has his opinions, I have mine too.He has conducted himself with politeness.Why should Iinterfere with him? He has been courteous to my daughter, and has presented her with a volume.Que viva! and with respect to his being a Lutheran, I have heard say that amongst the Lutherans there are sons of as good fathers as here.He appears to me a caballero.He speaks well.""There is no denying it," said the surgeon.
"Who speaks SO well?" shouted the herrador."And, who has more formality? Vaya! did he not praise my horse, `The Flower of Spain'? Did he not say that in the whole of Ingalaterra there was not a better? Did he not assure me, moreover, that if he were to remain in Spain he would purchase it, giving me my own price? Turn him out, indeed! Is he not of my own blood, is he not fair-complexioned? Who shall turn him out when I, `the one-eyed,' say no?"In connection with the circulation of the Scriptures Iwill now relate an anecdote not altogether divested of singularity.I have already spoken of the water-mill by the bridge of Azeca.I had formed acquaintance with the tenant of this mill, who was known in the neighbourhood by the name of Don Antero.One day, taking me into a retired place, he asked me, to my great astonishment, whether I would sell him a thousand Testaments at the price at which I was disposing of them to the peasantry; saying, if I would consent he would pay me immediately.In fact, he put his hand into his pocket, and pulled it out filled with gold ounces.I asked him what was his reason for wishing to make so considerable a purchase.
Whereupon he informed me that he had a relation in Toledo whom he wished to establish, and that he was of opinion that his best plan would be to hire him a shop there and furnish it with Testaments.I told him that he must think of nothing of the kind, as probably the books would be seized on the first attempt to introduce them into Toledo, as the priests and canons were much averse to their distribution.
He was not disconcerted, however, and said his relation could travel, as I myself was doing, and dispose of them to the peasants with profit to himself.I confess I was inclined at first to accept his offer, but at length declined it, as I did not wish to expose a poor man to the risk of losing money, goods, and perhaps liberty and life.I was likewise averse to the books being offered to the peasantry at an advanced price, being aware that they could not afford it, and the books, by such an attempt, would lose a considerable part of that influence which they then enjoyed; for their cheapness struck the minds of the people, and they considered it almost as much in the light of a miracle as the Jews the manna which dropped from heaven at the time they were famishing, or the spring which suddenly gushed from the flinty rocks to assuage their thirst in the wilderness.
At this time a peasant was continually passing and repassing between Villa Seca and Madrid, bringing us cargoes of Testaments on a burrico.We continued our labours until the greater part of the villages of the Sagra were well supplied with books, more especially those of Vargas, Coveja, Mocejon, Villaluenga, Villa Seca, and Yungler.Hearing at last that our proceedings were known at Toledo, and were causing considerable alarm, we returned to Madrid.
