"In this manner did he invent names for a great many knights in either army, to all of whom also he gave arms, colours, mottos and devices, without the least hesitation, being incredibly inspired by the fumes of a distempered fancy"
— Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de (1547-1616); Smollett, Tobias (1721-1771)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for A. Millar
Date
1755
Metaphor
"In this manner did he invent names for a great many knights in either army, to all of whom also he gave arms, colours, mottos and devices, without the least hesitation, being incredibly inspired by the fumes of a distempered fancy"
Metaphor in Context
In this manner did he invent names for a great many knights in either army, to all of whom also he gave arms, colours, mottos and devices, without the least hesitation, being incredibly inspired by the fumes of a distempered fancy; nay, he proceeded without any pause, saying, "That squadron forming in our front, is composed of [end page 169] people of diverse nations: there be those who drink the delicious waters of the celebrated Xanthus, with the mountaineers who tread the Masilican plains; and those who sift the purest golden ore of Arabia felix: there also, may be seen the people who sport upon the cool and famous banks of the translucent Thermodonte; and those who conduct the yellow Pactolus in many a winding stream; the promise-breaking Numidians; the Persians for their archery renowned; the Parthians and the Medes who combat as they fly; the Arabians famed for shifting habitations; the Scythians cruel as they are fair; the thick-lipp'd race of AEthiopia, and an infinite variety of other nations, whose looks I know and can discern, tho' I cannot recollect their names. [...]
(I.iii.4, p. 169-70)
(I.iii.4, p. 169-70)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de. The History and Adventures of the Renowned Don Quixote, trans. Tobias Smollett (New York: Random House, 2001).
Date of Entry
09/12/2008
