THE TWO DOGS.

Translated for the New-England Magazine from the Castilian of MIGUEL DE CERVANTES. [IN the tale, from which the following dialogue is translated, a patient in the public hospital at Valladolid is supposed to overhear a conversation between two Dogs, stationed nightly at the gate of the building. By a singular coincidence, Burns selected precisely the same vehicle for a satire on the manners and customs of his countrymen; yet he could not have borrowed his idea from Cervantes, as the Spanish canine dialogue has never, to our knowledge, been before translated.]

Brutus. DEAR Scipio, let us leave the hospital gates, and look out for some private place, where we may enjoy the privilege of speech, which Heaven has conferred on us so unexpectedly.

Scipio. Brother Brutus, I can hardly believe that we can communicate our thoughts to each other, though I hear your words, and feel that I am speaking myself. I am afraid that this miracle is the portent of some great public calamity; for we have heard that such things are always announced by signs and prodigies.

Brutus. I look upon what I heard a citizen of Alcala say the other day as a much greater prodigy.

Scipio. And what was that?

Brutus. He said, that out of five thousand students in the college of Alcala, two thousand were studying medicine. Such a fact as this does, indeed, portend great calamities. But, without further troubling ourselves to account for our gift of speech, let us make use of it. I will relate my adventures to you, and do you do the same by me?

Scipio. Agreed-but I must make one condition. If you should grow tiresome, you must not be angry if I give you a hint of it.

Brutus. Be angry with my friend for letting me know my faults! you take me for a man, then. On the contrary, I shall feel much obliged to you. I give you fair warning that I feel very garrulously disposed, and that you will be obliged to check me from time to time.

I believe that I was born in Seville, in the shambles. The butcher, my master, began to teach me to bark at beggars, to worry my brethren, and to take bulls by the nose, as soon as I opened my eyes. These things did violence to my nature. I was loth to be set upon the poor; and, when I was commanded to hurry cattle to the slaughter, something within me always told me that I ought rather to bite the drivers. I soon left this scene of perpetual carnage, and followed my nose into the country, till I fell in with a flock of sheep.

I was in raptures at the prospect of dedicating my life to the defence of the weak against the strong, and therefore went up to one of the shepherds, wagging my tail. He patted me on the head, examined my teeth, and, seeing that I was young and of a good breed, took me into his service. He put a collar, armed with iron spikes, around my neck; and thus I became a shepherd's dog.

I was delighted with my change of condition; for I had heard pastoral stories read aloud by a Sevilian lass, with whom my former master was in love. After throat-cutting all day, he was fond of hearing his mistress read eclogues. My head was, therefore, full of fine tales about shepherds and shepherdesses, who wearied Echo with the sound of their pipes. I called Amphrisus to mind-he who was so fond of writing verses on beech-trees with the point of his knife. I thought

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of the diffident Elicio, the lover of Galatea, who sometimes left his own concerns at sixes and sevens, to attend to the affairs of others. I recollected the pangs of Syrena, and the repentance of Diana, and bethought me of a thousand more youths and maidens, who were wont to say tender things to each other, and who never parted without fainting. How happy, said I to myself, shall I be in the society of such faithful lovers! What pleasure to see them pass their lives in flowery fields and shady groves, dying all the while for mistresses as beautiful as the wild flowers with which they adorn their crooks, and as virtuous as beautiful!

Scipio. Dear friend, considering your proneness to prolixity, you must pray that your gift of speech may last a year, at least, if you are going to recite pastorals.

Brutus. Alas, Scipio, I have no pastorals to recite-very far from it. When I saw that real shepherds were nothing like imaginary ones, I thought I should die of grief. Would you believe it? There was not an Amaryllis, a Chloe, an Amoret, or an Alexis, among them all. Their names were Tony, Doll, and Hob. Instead of contests on the flute, my shepherds contended at fisticuffs. In short, they resembled the shepherds of old times in no one thing, unless, indeed, that the wolves sometimes destroyed their sheep.

However, I resolved to do my duty. I was constantly on the watch, and whenever I heard the cry of "a wolf!" I took the road my masters pointed out to me in a moment. I scoured hill and dale, through bush and brier, but not a hair of a wolf could I ever see. Nevertheless, when I got back to the flock, breathless and tired, my feet cut with flints and my skin torn with brambles, I was sure to find a lamb gone, or a grown sheep half eaten. When the owner of the flock came, the shepherd would show him the skin of the slain animal, and we, poor devils of dogs, were soundly beaten for negligence.

Tired of such unmerited severity, and of seeing my care, vigilance and courage of no avail, I resolved, in order to find the wolf, not to seek him. On the next occasion, therefore, while my comrades were gone in pursuit of the robber, I hid myself near the sheepfold. It was not long before I saw two of the shepherds seize one of the finest sheep, of which they carried away half, leaving the rest so mangled that you would have sworn it had been the work of a wolf. The next day the villains brought their master to look at the remains. I wished I could speak! how indignant I was at their effrontery! What will become of the world, said I to myself, if the defenders become persecutors! if the shepherds become wolves!

O how

Scipio. The things which actually come to pass must needs surprise those who have read nothing but eclogues.

Brutus. I left my cruel masters, without a moment's hesitation, and returned to Seville, where I became the servant of a rich merchant. My new master had two sons, one twelve and the other fourteen years old. They studied Latin at the Jesuits college. They were always attended to school by several lackeys, who carried their books. In fair weather they rode on horseback; in foul, in a carriage. This extravagance surprised me the more, because their father appeared daily on 'change, mounted on a sorry mule, and followed by one negro only.

Scipio. Such is the practice of rich merchants. They affect modesty in their own persons, but their vanity breaks out in their children. They buy titles for them and breed them up as if they were to be noblemen. In a word, they lavish their wealth in making their offspring ridiculous, and in teaching them to despise their fathers.

Brutus. One day, my master's children dropped one of their satchels, as they were starting for school. I had been taught to fetch and carry; and I picked up the satchel, and carried it after them to the college, in spite of a varlet who tried to take it from me. Without losing my hold, I gravely entered the hall, wholly unmindful of the laughter of the scholars. I dropped it at the feet of the elder of my young masters, and then seated myself at the door, whence I looked at the lecturer for the rest of the morning, with the air of one who profited by what he heard.

My young masters were greatly diverted with my love of learning, and it became my duty to carry the satchel to school every day. I was caressed at all hands; as soon as I arrived, away went caps and hats, that I might pick them up. One gave me to eat ; another brought me water; the smaller boys rode on my back. They bought every thing that they thought might please me, and, as I had shown a preference for milk-biscuits, all the college grammars and dictionaries were pawned or sold to the pastry-cook.

This happy life did not last long. Authority interfered with my enjoyments. The college officers observed that the scholars paid more attention to me than to their studies, and forbade my young masters to bring me with them. I returned, then, to my function,-that of porter; and, as misfortunes never come single, I was compelled to resume the chain from which the boys had delivered me. Ah, dear Scipio, how hard it is to retrograde! Evil to which we are accustomed is nothing; habit makes it light; but there are few who have the fortitude to bear misfortune after having tasted of happiness.

Scipio. You never let slip an opportunity to moralize.

Brutus. You, at least, are lucky that I did not stay longer at college, seeing how pedantic and talkative I am, even as it is. But to return to my story-I found it impossible to bear my captivity. I fell sick, and, as soon as they unchained me, to let me take the air, I left the house, without saying, By your leave. I was not long without a

master..

Scipio. Pray tell me how you manage to get places so easily. I have always found it hard to find any body who would accept my life and liberty.

us.

Brutus. My way was sure and easy-my secret may be told in two words patience and long-suffering. With these virtues, all obstacles may be overcome. They make even our worst enemies love When I intended to take up my abode in a house, I posted myself at the door, and, when the master came, I looked at him affectionately, and wagged my tail. I licked the dust off his feet; and, if he beat me, I bore it without complaining, and renewed my caresses as soon as he had done. Nobody ever twice beats him who kisses the rod. I was always admitted; I served zealously, and before long I was beloved by the whole household. Thus it was that I found no difficulty in getting into service. But to return.

After leaving my bondage, in one of the hottest days in July, I set out on the Seville road, and, passing a solitary inn, I saw too youths sitting on the stone step at the door. They were about fourteen or fifteen years old, ill clad, ragged, and with scarcely what might pass for shoes on their feet. The skin of their calves served them for stockings; one of them wore an old cap of green cloth, and the other a felt hat without a crown. The shoulders of both were adorned with the relics of what had once been doublets, through the holes of which I could perceive that their shirts were of a piece with the rest of their apparel, and at their sides they wore broken swords, sustained by belts of twine.

Notwithstanding this outward misery, I could not help remarking the pretty faces, the lively, spirited and agreeable features of these young blackguards. I stopped to look at them. They had come in different directions, and were now sitting down to rest, facing each other. After saluting me with much grace and politeness, one of them opened the conversation.

"Senor gentleman," said he, "would it be too presumptuous in me to ask you if you belong to these parts? or if you are only a traveler here?"

"Senor cavalier," replied the other, "it would be hard for me to say what country I belong to. A traveler like myself looks on himself as a citizen of the world. I consider that my country where I am most at my ease." "It seems to me," rejoined the first, "that the place in which I have the honor to meet your worship, is not such as will induce you to tarry long." "I might say the same of you, worthy cavalier," said the other; "but you know that when one travels in pursuit of knowledge, he must see every thing, despise nothing, and sometimes refresh himself at less than superlative inns. I will not complain of this tavern, since I have the pleasure of meeting a gentleman like yourself in it; and, if you are willing to join company, I will acknowledge that it is indifferent to me what road I take." "So it is to me," said the first, "and I shall be delighted to be in such worshipful company. My name is Pedro del Rincon; my friends call me Rinconet. An affair of honor has obliged me to leave Madrid, where my father, pious man, amuses himself by distributing dispensations for fast days. The faithful give him two marvedies a piece in return. I considered it a religious duty to assist my father in his office. I carried the box of dispensations, while he carried the box of money. I unhappily mistook the box one day, and, getting lost in the streets, my father could hardly find me. He did find me, however, and introduced me to the corregidor, who, I imagine, had already mentioned my affair to the king. The king is a severe ruler, as you know; he banished me from court. Since that time I have been a traveler." "As for me, your worship," replied the gentleman, my name is Don Fernand Fustian; my friends call me Fusty, for shortness. My father was a man of singular tastes and habits. He used to carry about long, narrow slips of paper, in his pockets, which he would very carefully apply to the limbs of his visiters. Then he would buy stuff, and amuse himself by cutting and sewing it according to the marks he had made on the aforesaid slips of paper. This filled up his leisure, and amused him at the same time. I also amused myself in sewing

the pockets, and, by dint of playing thus with pockets from my tenderest years, the habit became so strong that I could not see a pocket in the streets, especially in crowds, without examining it, in order to see if it were well sewed. This made some noise, so that the corregidor desired to be acquainted with me. As a general rule, I do not affect the company of the great; and, to avoid troublesome civilities, and the ceremony of giving and receiving visits, I concluded to leave the city. I intended to go to Seville, where I have been told a gentleman may preserve his incognito, and live in the manner that best pleases him."

Well," cried Rinconet; "then let us go to Seville. I shall be pleased with any place, provided you are in it."

They then embraced cordially, and took the road to Seville.
Scipio. I hope you did not follow them!

Brutus. Excuse me if I say I did. I was amused by their conversation and pleased with their physiognomies, and so determined to join company with them. They received my advances very graciously, and we entered Seville together.

Their first measure, on arriving, was to post themselves in the market place, where they ran on errands and carried home marketing for whoever would employ them. They earned a few shillings honestly; but when they began to exercise their talents, their profits increased greatly. One morning, as Rinconet was entering the market, rather later than usual, Fustian accosted him in great haste, and put into his hands a well filled purse. "I have just taken it," said he, " from a young ecclesiastic, who took me to some shops with him, to carry home his purchases." Rinconet had scarcely hid the purse in his bosom, when the sufferer came up, pale, and out of breath. He asked the trusty Fustian if he had seen any thing of such and such a purse, which contained, he said, fifteen pieces of gold, three reals, and eight marvedies. "I must have lost it," said he, "while I was buying the things you carried home for me." Fustian answered, without changing countenance in the least:

"Perhaps your purse is not lost, Senor Licentiate. You may have put it in some unsafe place” "That is clear enough," the clergyman broke in ; "I must have put it in an unsafe place, or I should not have lost it." "" Perhaps you have lost it, then," returned the other, "and I am willing to believe that such is the fact; for the word of an honest man, like your reverence, is not to be doubted. But there is a great difference between the simple loss and the theft of a purse. If it has been stolen, perhaps the thief will repent and restore it to you, with a thousand apologies." "Pish!" cried the licentiate, "I will dispense with his apologies, if he will only make haste." "Patience, patience," said Fustian; petulance does not become a man of your cloth. I should expect you would give more time to consideration before speaking. To some, worldly goods are given, and from others they are taken away; such is the lot of those who dwell in this dark vale of tears. After all, we are as nothing in the sight of God. The best I can do for you is to exhort you to patience and resignation. Patience never harms any one, and sometimes it does a great deal of good; but for all that, I would not be in the place of the man who

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