hirst; while the true knight-errant explores every quarter
of the habitable world, and is by night and day, on foot or
on horseback, exposed to all the vicissitudes of the
weather.

All are not affable and well-bred; on the contrary, some
there are extremely brutal and impolite. All those who call
themselves knights, are not entitled to that distinction;
some being of pure gold, and others of baser metal,
notwithstanding the denomination they assume. But these last
cannot stand the touch-stone of truth; there are mean
plebeians, who sweat and struggle to maintain the appearance
of gentlemen; and, on the other hand, there are gentlemen of
rank who seem industrious to appear mean and degenerate; the
one sort raise themselves either by ambition or virtue,
while the other abase themselves by viciousness or sloth; so
that we must avail ourselves of our understanding and
discernment in distinguishing those persons, who, though
they bear the same appellation, are yet so different in
point of character. All the genealogies in the world may be
reduced to four kinds. The first are those families who from
a low beginning have raised and extended themselves, until
they have reached the highest pinnacle of human greatness;
the second are those of high extraction, who have preserved
their original dignity; the third sort are those who, from a
great foundation, have gradually dwindled, until, like a
pyramid, they terminate in a small point. The last, which
are the most numerous class, are those who have begun and
continue low, and who must end the same.

Genealogies are involved in endless confusion, and those
only are illustrious and great who are distinguished by
their virtue and liberality, as well as their riches; for
the great man who is vicious is only a great sinner, and the
rich man who wants liberality is but a miserly pauper.

The gratification which wealth can bestow is not in mere
possession, nor in lavishing it with prodigality, but in the
wise application of it.

The poor knight can only manifest his rank by his virtues
and general conduct. He must be well-bred, courteous, kind,
and obliging; not proud nor arrogant; no murmurer. Above
all, he must be charitable, and by two maravedis given
cheerfully to the poor he shall display as much generosity
as the rich man who bestows large alms by sound of bell. Of
such a man no one would