Letters of Edward FitzGerald, in Two Volumes. Vol. 2FitzGerald, Edward
General
Letters of Edward FitzGerald, in Two Volumes. Vol. 2
FitzGerald, Edward
Authors, English -- 19th century -- Correspondence; FitzGerald, Edward, 1809-1883 -- Correspondence
There is a Book rather worth reading called 'On Foot through Spain';
{273} meaning, as much of Spain as extends from St. Sebastian on the Bay
of Biscay to Barcelona on the Mediterranean; with a good deal of
Cervantesque Ventas, Carreteros, etc., in it. There is an account of the
Obsequies of PAU PI (Basque?) on the last Day of Carnival at Saragossa,
which reminded me of the 'Cortes de Muerte,' etc. Hawthorne (whose
admirable Italian Journal I brought with me here) says that originally
the Italian Carnival ended with somewhat of the same Burlesque
Ceremonial, but was thought to mimic too Graciosoly that of the Church. I
believe the Moccoli, etc., are a remainder of it.
'Eso alla se ha de entender, respondio Sancho, con los _que nacieron en
las malvas_' (II. c. 4), made my Master jump at once to Job XXX. 4.
I cannot but suppose that you are gradually gathering materials for some
Essay on Spanish Literature, and it is a rare Quality in these days to be
in no hurry about such work, but to wait till one can do it thoroughly;
as is the case with you. I suppose you know Lope: of whom I have read,
and now shall read, nothing: even Cowell, who has read some, is not much
interested in him. He delights in Calderon, of whom he has one thick
Volume here, and still finds many obscure passages to clear up. He was
telling me of one about Madrid, {274} which (as you are now there) I must
quote by way of filling up this Second Sheet of Letter. But, to do this,
I must wait till I have been with him for our morning's reading, so as I
may give it you Chapter and Verse.
P.S. Here is my Professor's MS. note for you, which I told him I wanted
to send. We have been reading Chapters 14-15 of Don Quixote, Second
Part. Do you know why Carrasco finds an _Algebrista_ for his hurts? Why
the Moorish _Aljebro_ = the setting of Fractions, etc. So said my dear
Pundit at once. Ah! you would like to be with us, for the sake of him,
rather than of yours sincerely E. F. G.
_To C. E. Norton_.
LOWESTOFT. _Sept._ 3/79.
MY DEAR NORTON,
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