ich city he entered
by night, and was not unpacked until he had first been carefully
deposited in the house of the noble who had requested his presence.

By this gentleman he was received with much kindness, and the latter
said to him, "You are extremely welcome, Doctor Glasscase; I hope you
have had a pleasant journey." Rodaja replied, that no journey could be
called a bad one if it took you safe to your end, unless indeed it were
that which led to the gallows.

Being one day shown the Falconry, wherein were numerous falcons and
other birds of similar kind, he remarked that the sport pursued by means
of those birds was entirely suitable to great nobles, since the cost was
as two thousand to one of the profit.

When it pleased Rodaja to go forth into the city, the nobleman caused
him to be attended by a servant, whose office it was to protect him from
intrusion, and see that he was not molested by the boys of the place, by
whom he was at once remarked; indeed but few days had elapsed before he
became known to the whole city, since he never failed to find a reply
for all who questioned or consulted him.

Among those of the former class, there once came a student, who inquired
if he were a poet, to which Rodaja replied, that up to the moment they
had then arrived at, he had neither been so stupid nor so bold as to
become a poet. "I do not understand what you mean by so stupid or so
bold, Senor Glasscase," rejoined the student; to which Rodaja made
answer, "I am not so stupid as to be a bad poet, nor so bold as to think
myself capable of being a good one." The student then inquired in what
estimation he held poets, to which he answered that he held the poets
themselves in but little esteem; but as to their art, that he esteemed
greatly. His hearer inquiring further what he meant by that, Rodaja said
that among the innumerable poets, by courtesy so called, the number of
good ones was so small as scarcely to count at all, and that as the bad
were not true poets, he could not admire them: but that he admired and
even reverenced greatly the art of poetry, which does in fact comprise
every other in itself, since it avails itself of all things, and
purifies and beautifies all things, bringing its own marvellous
productions to light for the advantage, the delectation, and the wonder
of the world, which it fills with its benefits. He added further, "I
know thoroughly to what extent, and for what qualities, we ought to
estimate