breaking it all to pieces, putting that of his own king in its place. Thus our Cid was scarcely a "Cid" in his demeanor then; but, in those days,

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"might" often made "right," and honor was in outward power and authority.

We have dwelt so long upon the story of the "Cid Campeador," that there is scarcely room to tell any thing more about old Spain; but there is one tale so curious and droll, that we will relate a little of it in the next chapter.

IN the days of our childhood, there were on the book-shelves of our father's library numerous volumes of a work in Spanish, with which he often entertained himself in reading; and he would frequently read aloud some droll passages which had made him laugh irresistibly. The books were full, too, of comical pictures, which greatly amused the children; and thus "Don Quixote, the Knight of La Mancha," became, as it were, a household word, or rather a household story. From those days until now, the work had never been otherwise perused; for who, in these days of a thousand books, can go back and read up the voluminous history of a halfcrazy personage of ages past, whose adventures were

nearly as many, maybe, as were those of the thousand and one Arabian Nights? Nevertheless, who does not feel a little acquainted with this erratic gentleman? or who would not like to know something about him, who has made such a mark in the world, that almost every one at least knows his name? Why, "Don Quixote " has become such a proverb, that now, if any thing is done in a whimsical, visionary, out-of-the-way manner, we call it Quixotic. Thus his name has become a part of our very language; and as perhaps but a few persons, now and then, read the story, we propose, after a little introductory sketch, to turn over again those leaves, to look at the pictures, and explain them as we go along.

This wonderful gentleman, Don Quixote, had read so many books about "chivalry" and "knighterrantry," that his poor head was quite turned, and he could think of nothing but of knights wandering round to do some good deed; of rescuing unfortunate damsels, beautiful, but unhappy; or of helping some poor man in distress. In fact,

he felt that he, too, must become a knight-errant, and do those brave deeds which would be living highly useful in the world, and would make his name become famous and great. He had only a housekeeper, and a niece who lived with him; so he could well be spared from home: and he resolved to accoutre himself immediately as a knight, and go forth to seek adventures. So he brought out some old rusty armor that had belonged to his great-grandfather, this is the first picture in the books, — cleansing and polishing it up, and putting it together as well as he could. But the helmet, he found, had no front-piece. That would never do; and he made a front-piece, a visor, of pasteboard: but brandishing his sword to try it, to see how it would answer, he split it, at once, quite in two! Then he contrived another; and, in order to make this more strong, he put some little bars of iron underneath; and, when he put it on to his head to wear, he fastened it with strings of green ribbon! These were tied so tight, that when he came to go to bed at night, after his

first day of adventures, neither he nor any one else could untie them for him; and so he had to sleep all night with his helmet on! When his armor was all prepared, the next thing to do was to look after a horse.

He had an old drudge-horse, that was far more lean than fat; and he had become so rusty in his work, that he could scarcely go out of a slow jogtrot: but the master was as fond of him as any hero had ever been of a more stately charger; and, by giving him a high-sounding name, he thought it would make amends for all deficiencies; so he called him "Rosinante.” His own name he had transformed into "Don Quixote," - Quixote being the name, and Don the title; and, as the name of the country in which he lived was La Mancha, he styled himself" Don Quixote de La Mancha." One other thing was wanting, a lady-love; to whom, or for

whom, he might make his vows; and to whom he should be faithful through all perils and chances; and for whom he might even die, were it necessary. For this he fixed upon a country-maid, whom he