Pablo de Segovia, the Spanish Sharper quotes

Giving an account of who he is and whence he sprung.

I sir, was born at Segovia, my father’s name was Clemente Pablo, a native of the same town; may God keep him in heaven.

I need not speak of his virtues, for those are unknown, but by trade he was a barber, though so high minded, that he took it for an affront to be called by any name but that of a cheek-shearer and beard-tailor.

I sir, was born at Segovia, my father’s name was Clemente Pablo, a native of the same town; may God keep him in heaven.

I need not speak of his virtues, for those are unknown, but by trade he was a barber, though so high minded, that he took it for an affront to be called by any name but that of a cheek-shearer and beard-tailor.

They say he came of a good stock, and his actions showed it. He was married to Aldonza Saturno de Rebollo, daughter to Octavio de Rebollo Codillo, and grandchild to Lepido Ziuraconte.

My parents had much bickering about me, each of them contending to have me brought up to his or her trade; but I, who from my infancy had more gentleman like thoughts, applied myself to neither.

My father used to say to me: “My child, this trade of stealing is no mechanic trade, but a liberal art.”

Then pausing and fetching a sigh, he went on: “There is no living in this world without stealing. Why do you think the constables and other officers hate us as they do?

My mother fell to stringing her dead men’s teeth, and my father went away, as he said, to trim one—I know not whether he meant his beard or his purse.

I was left alone, praising God that he had given me such clever parents, and so zealous for my welfare.

near at hand it looked somewhat black, and at a distance bluish. He wore no girdle, cuffs, nor band; so that his long hair and scanty short cassock made him look like the messenger of death. Each shoe might have served for a Philistine’s coffin.

As for his chamber, there was not so much as a cobweb in it, the spiders being all starved to death.

He put spells upon the mice, for fear they should gnaw some scraps of bread he kept. His bed was on the floor, and he always lay upon one side, for fear of wearing out the sheets; in short, he was the Arch-pauper and Proto-miser.

but I was worse scared, when I observed that all those who were before us in the house looked like so many pictures of death. Master Cabra said grace, and sat down, and they ate a meal, which had neither beginning nor end.

They brought the broth in wooden dishes, but it was so clear, that Narcissus going to drink of it would be in worse danger than at the fountain.

I observed how eagerly they all dived down after a poor single pea that was in every dish. Every sip he gave, Cabra cried, “By my troth there is no dainty like the olla, or boiled meat and broth.

Eat heartily, for I love to see you eat.” He gave everyone such a wretched bit of meat, that I believe it all stuck to their nails, and between their teeth, so that no part of it ever went into their bellies.

Cabra looked on, and said, “Eat away, for it is a pleasure to me to see what good stomachs you have.”

Think what a comfort this was for them that were pining with hunger!

Of the wicked old housekeeper, and the first knavish pranks I played at Alcalá.

Do as you see them do, says the proverb; and it is well said.

I took it so seriously into consideration, that I fully resolved to play the knave among knaves, and to outdo them all if possible. I know not whether I succeeded as I designed, but I am sure I used all my endeavours.

He dismissed them, and said to me, “I shall make above three hundred reals of the blind men, and therefore, with your leave, sir, I’ll withdraw for awhile now, to compose some lines, and after dinner we will hear the proclamation read, if you please.”

Wretched life! for none are more miserable than those madmen that get their bread by such as are as mad as themselves.

for behind, as far as was covered with the cloak, the hinder parts had no other fence against the eyes and the air. He, being sensible of the discovery I had made, very discreetly prevented what reflection I might make by saying,

“All is not gold that glitters, sir Licentiate,”

giving me that title on account of my long scholar’s robe; “no doubt but when you saw my fine starched band, and the show I made, you fancied I was the Lord knows who.

I have sold all to my very burial-place, that nothing may be called mine when I am dead, for my father Toribio Rodriguez Vallejo Gomez de Ampuero y Jordan lost all he had in the world by being bound for others.

I have nothing now left to sell but the title of Don, and I am so unfortunate, that I can find nobody that has occasion for it, because there is scarce a scoundrel now but usurps it.

” Though the poor gentleman’s misfortunes were intermixed with something that was comical, I could not but pity him, asked his name, whither he was going, and what to do?

and as in some places they observe set times for prayer, so do we for mending and botching. It is wonderful to see what variety of rubbish we lay up, and produce upon occasion.

We look upon the sun as our mortal enemy, because he discovers our darns, stitches, and patches;

and yet are forced to be beholden to him, standing up with our legs wide open in the morning where he shines in, to discover by the shadows on the ground what shreds or rags hang between our legs, and then with a pair of …

As I was steering towards one, it pleased God that I met with a friend of mine, called the licentiate Flechilla, who came swinging his cassock down the street, his face all flushed and his long robes full of daglocks.

As soon as he spied me, he ran to embrace me, and yet I wonder he should know me in that condition.

I returned his embrace. He asked how I did? and I answered, “I have plenty of stories to tell you, Mr. Licentiate; all that troubles me is, that I must be gone tonight.”

and when I called to mind the pretended picklocks he had found in my pocket, and how many leaves he had writ of my process,

I perceived there is nothing in nature increases so fast as a crime, when a notary has the handling of it.

I spent the night in hatching schemes; sometimes I resolved to beg him for Jesus Christ’s sake; but then reflecting how He was used, when upon earth, by men of that kidney, I put off doing so.

and the blind men were my best friends, for they never allowed less than eighty reals, and I always took care they should be bombastic, and stuffed with cramp words, which neither they nor I understood.

I brought up many new fashions in verse, as tailors do in clothes

, and was the first that concluded my songs like sermons, praying for grace in this world and glory in the next.

neither snow nor rain can drive us away; and all this is only to see a woman through a grate and a glass, like some holy relic, or curious piece of workmanship, for that is all we can ever expect.

It is just like falling in love with a blackbird in a cage, if ever she talks; or with a fine picture, if she does not.

The greatest favour ever to be attained is to touch the ends of the fingers. They lean their heads against the double grates, and shoot volleys of fine conceits through those loopholes.