The housekeeper said the same, so eager were they both for the slaughter of those innocents, but the curate would not agree to it without first reading at any rate the titles.
The first that Master Nicholas put into his hand was The Four Books of Amadís of Gaul . “This seems a mysterious thing,” said the curate, “for, as I have heard say, this was the first book of chivalry printed in Spain, and from this all the others derive their birth and origin; so it seems to me that we ought inexorably to condemn it to the flames as the founder of so vile a sect.”
“Nay, sir,” said the barber, “I too, have heard say that this is the best of all the books of this kind that have been written, and so, as something singular in its line, it ought to be pardoned.”
“True,” said the curate; “and for that reason let its life be spared for the present. Let us see that other which is next to it.”
“It is,” said the barber, “the Sergas de Esplandián , the lawful son of Amadís of Gaul.”
“Then verily,” said the curate, “the merit of the father must not be put down to the account of the son. Take it, mistress housekeeper; open the window and fling it into the yard and lay the foundation of the pile for the bonfire we are to make.”
The housekeeper obeyed with great satisfaction, and the worthy Esplandián went flying into the yard to await with all patience the fire that was in store for him.
“Proceed,” said the curate.
“This that comes next,” said the barber, “is Amadís of Greece , and, indeed, I believe all those on this side are of the same Amadís lineage.”