[71] After the discovery of America the Spanish dollar was marked with the pillars of Hercules and the legend “PLUS ULTRA.”

“Say no more, for heaven’s sake, grandmother,” said Preciosa; “do not string together so many arguments for keeping the money, but keep it, and much good may it do you.  I wish to God you would bury it in a grave out of which it may never return to the light, and that there may never be any need of it.  We must, however, give some of it to these companions of ours, who must be tired of waiting so long for us.”

“They shall see one coin out of this purse as soon as they will see the Grand Turk,” the old woman replied.  “The good senor will try if he has any silver coin or a few coppers remaining, to divide amongst them, for they will be content with a little.”

“Yes, I have,” he said, and he took from his pocket three pieces of eight which he divided among the gitanas, with which they were more delighted than the manager of a theatre when he is placarded as victor in a contest with a rival.  Finally it was settled that the party should meet there again in a week, as before mentioned, and that the young man’s gipsy name should be Andrew Caballero, for that was a surname not unknown among the gipsies.  Andrew (as we shall henceforth call him) could not find courage to embrace Preciosa, but darting his very soul into her with a glance, he went away without it, so to speak, and returned to Madrid.  The gipsies followed soon after; and Preciosa, who already felt a certain interest in the handsome and amiable Andrew, was anxious to learn if he was really what he said.

They had not gone far before they met the page of the verses and the gold crown.  “Welcome, Preciosa,” he said, coming up to her.  “Have you read the lines I gave you the other day?”

“Before I answer you a word,” said she, “you must, by all you love best, tell me one thing truly.”

“Upon that adjuration,” he replied, “I could not refuse an answer to any question, though it should cost me my head.”

“Well, then, what I want to know is this:  are you, perchance, a poet?”

“If I were one, it would certainly be perchance,” said the page; “but you must know, Preciosa, that the name of poet is one which very few deserve.  Thus I am not a poet, but only a lover of poetry; yet for my own use I do not borrow of others.  The verses I gave you were mine, as are these also which I give you now; but I am not a poet for all that—­God forbid.”

“Is it such a bad thing to be a poet?” Preciosa asked.

“It is not a bad thing,” he answered; “but to be a poet and nothing else I do not hold to be very good.  We should use poetry like a rich jewel, the owner of which does not wear it every day, or show it to all people, but displays it only at suitable times.  Poetry is a beautiful maiden, chaste, honest, discreet, reserved, and never overstepping the limits of perfect refinement.  She is fond of solitude; she finds pleasure and recreation among fountains, meadows, trees, and flowers; and she delights and instructs all who are conversant with her.”