[54] The reader will be pleased to guess the name of that insufferable insect which the Spaniards denominate Chinche, and with the English equivalent of which I am unwilling to offend his eyes.  Happy, indeed, if he cannot guess; but then he cannot have seen either Seville or Granada, and one might almost encounter an acquaintance with the animal called Chinche rather than renounce them.

[55] Such of our readers as have visited Rome, will remember that enormous mound which is seen rising on the right hand as you leave the city, by the Porta Salaria, and is said to have been formed by the numberless fragments of pottery cast on the spot from time immemorial.

The maniac Bodaja was one day passing through the Ropery at Salamanca, when a woman who was working there accosted him, and said, “By my soul, Senor Doctor, I am sorry for your misfortune, but what shall I do for you, since, try as I may, I cannot weep?” To which Rodaja, fixedly regarding her, gravely replied, “Filiae Jerusalem, plorate super vos et super filios vestros.”  The husband of the ropeworker was standing by, and comprehending the reply, he said to Rodaja, “Brother Glasscase, for so they tell me you are to be called, you have more of the rogue than the fool in you!” “You are not called on to give me an obolus,” rejoined Rodaja, “for I have not a grain of the fool about me!” One day that he was passing near a house well known as the resort of thieves and other disorderly persons, he saw several of the inhabitants assembled round the door, and called out, “See, here you have baggage belonging to the army of Satan, and it is lodged in the house of hell accordingly.”

A man once asked him what advice he should give to a friend whose wife had left him for another, and who was in great sorrow for her loss.  “You shall bid him thank God,” replied Rodaja, “for the favour he has obtained, in that his enemy is removed from his house.”

“Then you would not have him go seek her?” inquired the other.

“Let him not even think of doing so,” returned Rodaja, “for if he find her, what will he have gained but the perpetual evidence of his dishonour?”

“And what shall I do to keep peace with my own wife?” inquired the same person.

“Give her all that she can need or rightfully claim,” said the maniac, “and let her be mistress of every person and thing thy house contains, but take care that she be not mistress of thyself.”

A boy one day said to him, “Senor Glasscase, I have a mind to run away from my father, and leave my home for ever, because he beats me.”  “I would have thee beware, boy,” replied Rodaja; “the stripes given by a father are no dishonour to the son, and may save him from those of the hangman, which are indeed a disgrace.”