"For, howcouldyouexpectmenottofeeluneasyaboutwhatthatancientlawgivertheycallthePublicwillsaywhenitseesme, afterslumberingsomanyyearsinthesilenceofoblivion, comingoutnowwithallmyyearsuponmyback, andwithabookasdryasarush, devoidofinvention, meagreinstyle, poorinthoughts, whollywantinginlearningandwisdom, withoutquotationsinthemarginorannotationsattheend, afterthefashionofotherbooksIsee, which, thoughallfablesandprofanity, aresofullofmaximsfromAristotle, andPlato, andthewholeherdofphilosophers, thattheyfillthereaderswithamazementandconvincethemthattheauthorsaremenoflearning, erudition, , whentheyquotetheHolyScriptures!—, , forIhavenothingtoquoteinthemarginortonoteattheend, andstilllessdoIknowwhatauthorsIfollowinit, toplacethematthebeginning, asalldo, underthelettersA, B, C, beginningwithAristotleandendingwithXenophon, orZoilus, orZeuxis, , atleastsonnetswhoseauthorsaredukes, marquises, counts, bishops, ladies, , Iknowtheywouldgivemethem, andsuchastheproductionsofthosethathavethehighestreputationinourSpaincouldnotequal.
"Inshort, myfriend," Icontinued, "IamdeterminedthatSenorDonQuixoteshallremainburiedinthearchivesofhisownLaManchauntilHeavenprovidesomeonetogarnishhimwithallthosethingshestandsinneedof; becauseIfindmyself, throughmyshallownessandwantoflearning, unequaltosupplyingthem, , andreasonenough, whatyouhaveheardfromme."
