nce asked him what advice he should give to a friend whose wife
had left him for another, and who was in great sorrow for her loss. "You
shall bid him thank God," replied Rodaja, "for the favour he has
obtained, in that his enemy is removed from his house."

"Then you would not have him go seek her?" inquired the other.

"Let him not even think of doing so," returned Rodaja, "for if he find
her, what will he have gained but the perpetual evidence of his
dishonour?"

"And what shall I do to keep peace with my own wife?" inquired the same
person.

"Give her all that she can need or rightfully claim," said the maniac,
"and let her be mistress of every person and thing thy house contains,
but take care that she be not mistress of thyself."

A boy one day said to him, "Senor Glasscase, I have a mind to run away
from my father, and leave my home for ever, because he beats me." "I
would have thee beware, boy," replied Rodaja; "the stripes given by a
father are no dishonour to the son, and may save him from those of the
hangman, which are indeed a disgrace."

Intelligence of his peculiar state, with a description of the replies he
gave, and the remarks he uttered, was much spread abroad, more
especially among those who had known him in different parts, and great
sorrow was expressed for the loss of a man who had given so fair a
promise of distinction. A person of high rank then at Court wrote to a
friend of his at Salamanca, begging that Rodaja might be sent to him at
Valladolid, and charging his friend to make all needful arrangements for
that purpose. The gentleman consequently accosted Vidriera the next time
he met him, and said, "Senor Glasscase, you are to know that a great
noble of the Court is anxious to have you go to Valladolid;" whereupon
Rodaja replied, "Your worship will excuse me to that nobleman, and say
that I am not fit to dwell at Court, nor in the Palace, because I have
some sense of shame left, and do not know how to flatter." He was
nevertheless persuaded to go, and the mode in which he travelled was as
follows: a large pannier of that kind in which glass is transported was
prepared, and in this Rodaja was placed, well defended by straw, which
was brought up to his neck, the opposite pannier being carefully
balanced by means of stones, among which appeared the necks of bottles,
since Rodaja desired it to be understood that he was sent as a vessel of
glass. In this fashion he journeyed to Valladolid, wh