Lazarillo de Tormes

Yo por bien tengo que cosas tan señaladas, y por ventura nunca oídas ni vistas, vengan a noticia de muchos y no se entierren en la sepultura del olvido, pues podría ser que alguno que las lea halle algo que le agrade, y a los que no ahondaren tanto los deleite; y a este propósito dice Plinio que no hay libro, por malo que sea, que no tenga alguna cosa buena; mayormente que los gustos no son todos unos, mas lo que uno no come, otro se pierde por ello. Y así vemos cosas tenidas en poco de algunos, que de otros no lo son. Y esto, para ninguna cosa se debría romper ni echar a mal, si muy detestable no fuese, sino que a todos se comunicase, mayormente siendo sin perjuicio y pudiendo sacar della algún fruto; porque si así no fuese, muy pocos escribirían para uno solo, pues no se hace sin trabajo, y quieren, ya que lo pasan, ser recompensados, no con dineros, mas con que vean y lean sus obras, y si hay de qué, se las alaben; y a este propósito dice Tulio: "La honra cría las artes." ¿Quién piensa que el soldado que es primero del escala, tiene más aborrecido el vivir? No, por cierto; mas el deseo de alabanza le hace ponerse en peligro; y así, en las artes y letras es lo mesmo. Predica muy bien el presentado, y es hombre que desea mucho el provecho de las ánimas; mas pregunten a su merced si le pesa cuando le dicen: "¡Oh, qué maravillosamente lo ha hecho vuestra reverencia!" Justó muy ruinmente el señor don Fulano, y dio el sayete de armas al truhán, porque le loaba de haber llevado muy buenas lanzas. ¿Qué hiciera si fuera verdad?

Y todo va desta manera: que confesando yo no ser más santo que mis vecinos, desta nonada, que en este grosero estilo escribo, no me pesará que hayan parte y se huelguen con ello todos los que en ella algún gusto hallaren, y vean que vive un hombre con tantas fortunas, peligros y adversidades.

Suplico a vuestra M. reciba el pobre servicio de mano de quien lo hiciera más rico si su poder y deseo se conformaran. Y pues V.M. escribe se le escriba y relate el caso por muy extenso, parecióme no tomalle por el medio, sino por el principio, porque se tenga entera noticia de mi persona, y también porque consideren los que heredaron nobles estados cuán poco se les debe, pues Fortuna fue con ellos parcial, y cuánto más hicieron los que, siéndoles contraria, con fuerza y maña remando, salieron a buen puerto.

I consider it well that such remarkable things, and perhaps never before heard or seen, should come to the knowledge of many and not be buried in the sepulcher of oblivion, for it may be that someone who reads them will find something to his liking, and that those who do not dig so deep may take delight in them; and to this purpose Pliny says that there is no book, however bad, that does not contain something good; especially since tastes are not all alike, for what one will not eat, another covets. And so we see things held in little esteem by some that are not so by others. And for this reason, nothing should be torn up or cast aside, unless it be utterly detestable, but rather shared with all, the more so being without harm and able to yield some fruit from it; for if it were not so, very few would write for one alone, since it is not done without labor, and they wish, having endured it, to be recompensed, not with money, but with seeing and reading their works, and, if there be cause, being praised for them; and to this purpose Tully says: "Honor nurtures the arts." Who would think that the soldier who is first up the scaling ladder hates life more than others? Not so, certainly; rather the desire for praise makes him put himself in danger; and thus it is the same in arts and letters. The friar preaches very well, and he is a man who greatly desires the profit of souls; but let them ask his grace whether it grieves him when they say: "Oh, how marvelously your reverence has done it!" Lord Such-and-such jousted very poorly, and gave his padded doublet to the jester because he praised him for having carried off very fine lances. What would he have done had it been true?

And all goes in this manner: for, confessing myself to be no holier than my neighbors, of this trifle, which I write in this coarse style, I shall not be displeased that all who find any pleasure in it may have their share and enjoy it, and see that there lives a man amid so many fortunes, dangers, and adversities.

I beg Your Mercy to receive this poor service from the hand of one who would have made it richer had his power and his desire been in accord. And since Your Mercy writes asking that the case be written and related at full length, it seemed to me best not to begin in the middle, but at the beginning, so that full knowledge may be had of my person, and also so that those who have inherited noble estates may consider how little they are owed, since Fortune was partial to them, and how much more those achieved who, with Fortune against them, rowing with strength and skill, came safe to a good port.