Approbation
By order and command of the lords of council, I have perused the second part of Don Quixote de La Mancha, written by Miguel de Cervantes; a book that contains nothing to the prejudice of our holy catholick faith, or sound morals; on the contrary, much honest recreation, and agreeable amusement, such as the ancients judged not only allowable, but convenient for the commonwealth: even the severe Lacedemonians erected a statue to the goddess of laughter; and the Thessalians instituted festivals to the same power, according to Pausanias, quoted by Vossius, lib. ii. De signis eccles. cap. 10. for exhilarating the melancholy, and raising the dejected spirits; as observed by Tully in his first book, De Legibus; and by the poet, who says, ‘Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis.’ Which maxim hath been the guide of this author, who has mingled fiction with truth, delight with instruction, and morals with pleasantry; disguising the hook of reproof with the bait of sprightly entertainment, and fulfilling the sequel of his well-executed scheme, to depreciate and expel the books of chivalry, from the mischievous contagion of which he hath purged these kingdoms, with admirable diligence and dexterity. In short, it is a work worthy of that great genius, which is the honour and ornament of our nation, and the envy and admiration of strangers. This is my opinion, with submission, &c.
Madrid, March 17, 1615. Joseph de Valdivielso.