Bits and bobs

(I am going to post this entry both in English and in Spanish)

A Spanish Joke (5 September, 1808) is a cartoon by British famous caricaturist George Cruikshank. It is based on Chapter XVII of Don Quixote in which he leaves the Inn without paying for his bill and without looking to see if his squire Sancho was following him.

“The innkeeper when he saw him go without paying him ran to get payment of Sancho, who said that as his master would not pay neither would he, because, being as he was squire to a knight-errant, the same rule and reason held good for him as for his master with regard to not paying anything in inns and hostelries. At this the innkeeper waxed very wroth, and threatened if he did not pay to compel him in a way that he would not like. To which Sancho made answer that by the law of chivalry his master had received he would not pay a rap, though it cost him his life; for the excellent and ancient usage of knights-errant was not going to be violated by him, nor should the squires of such as were yet to come into the world ever complain of him or reproach him with breaking so just a privilege.
The ill-luck of the unfortunate Sancho so ordered it that among the company in the inn there were four woolcarders from Segovia, three needle-makers from the Colt of Cordova, and two lodgers from the Fair of Seville, lively fellows, tender-hearted, fond of a joke, and playful, who, almost as if instigated and moved by a common impulse, made up to Sancho and dismounted him from his ass, while one of them went in for the blanket of the host's bed; but on flinging him into it they looked up, and seeing that the ceiling was somewhat lower what they required for their work, they decided upon going out into the yard, which was bounded by the sky, and there, putting Sancho in the middle of the blanket, they began to raise him high, making sport with him as they would with a dog at Shrovetide.
The cries of the poor blanketed wretch were so loud that they reached the ears of his master, who, halting to listen attentively, was persuaded that some new adventure was coming, until he clearly perceived that it was his squire who uttered them. Wheeling about he came up to the inn with a laborious gallop, and finding it shut went round it to see if he could find some way of getting in; but as soon as he came to the wall of the yard, which was not very high, he discovered the game that was being played with his squire. He saw him rising and falling in the air with such grace and nimbleness that, had his rage allowed him, it is my belief he would have laughed. He tried to climb from his horse on to the top of the wall, but he was so bruised and battered that he could not even dismount; and so from the back of his horse he began to utter such maledictions and objurgations against those who were blanketing Sancho as it would be impossible to write down accurately: they, however, did not stay their laughter or their work for this, nor did the flying Sancho cease his lamentations, mingled now with threats, now with entreaties but all to little purpose, or none at all, until from pure weariness they left off. They then brought him his ass, and mounting him on top of it they put his jacket round him…”George Cruikshank uses this Chapter and shows Napoleon on his horse on the other side of the wall (a clear reference to The Pyrenees ). He sees his brother Joseph Bonaparte rising and falling in the air the same as Sancho Panza and he threatens those blanketing him just as Don Quixote did.

Joseph loses his crown and begs them to stop. John Bull is depicted as the Inn Keeper, he is showing a piece of paper titled “Surrender Juno” while he is cheering the Spaniards.

On The left corner Sancho’s sack full of silver and gold makes reference to Sancho’s alforjas that he left behind in the Inn as he hurried out. This way the Inn Keeper got his payment of what was owing to him.

Translation based in the blog "As Invasoes Francesas"

A Spanish Joke, (5 de Sptiembre, 1808) es una caricatura del famoso caricaturista británico George Cruikshank.  Se basa en el capítulo XVII de Don Quijote cuando sale de la posada después de discutir con el posadero, sin pagar su estancia y sin mirar siquiera si Sancho le seguía.

“El ventero, que le vio ir, y que no le pagaba, acudió a cobrar de Sancho Panza, el cual dijo, que pues su señor no había querido pagar, que tampoco él pagaría, porque siendo él escudero de caballero andante como era, la misma regla y razón corría por él como por su amo en no pagar cosa alguna en los mesones y ventas. Amohinóse mucho desto el ventero, y amenazóle que si no le pagaba, lo cobraría de modo que le pesase. A lo cual Sancho respondió, que por la ley de caballería que su amo había recibido, no pagaría un solo cornado aunque le costase la vida, porque no había de perder por él la buena y antigua usanza de los caballeros andantes, ni se habían de quejar de los escuderos de los tales que estaban por venir al mundo, reprochándole el quebrantamiento de tan justo fuero.

Quiso la mala suerte del desdichado Sancho, que entre la gente que estaba en la venta se hallasen cuatro perailes de Segovia, tres agujeros del potro de Córdoba, y dos vecinos de la heria de Sevilla, gente alegre, bien intencionada, maleante y juguetona; los cuales casi como instigados y movidos de un mismo espíritu, se llegaron a Sancho, y apeándole del asno, uno dellos entró por la manta de la cama del huésped, y echándole en ella alzaron los ojos y vieron que el techo era algo más bajo de lo que habían menester para su obra y determinaron salirse al corral, que tenía por límite el cielo, y allí puesto Sancho en mitad de la manta, comenzaron a levantarla en alto y a holgarse con él como un perro por carnastolendas. Las voces que el mísero manteado daba fueron tantas, que llegaron a los oídos de su amo, el cual, deteniéndose a escuchar atentamente, creyó que alguna nueva aventura le venía, hasta que claramente conoció que el que gritaba era su escudero, y volviendo las riendas, con un penado golpe llegó a la venta, y hallándola cerrada, la rodeó por ver si hallaba por donde entrar; pero no hubo entrado a las paredes del corral, que no eran muy altas, cuando vió el mal juego que se le hacía a su escudero.

Vióle bajar y subir por el aire con tanta gracia y presteza, que si la cólera le dejara, tengo para mí que se riera. Probó a subir desde el caballo a las bardas; pero estaba tan molido y quebrantado, que aún apearse no pudo, y así desde encima del caballo comenzó a decir tantos denuestos y baldones a los que a Sancho manteaban, que no es posible acertar a escribillos; mas no por esto cesaban ellos de su risa y de su obra, ni el volador Sancho dejaba sus quejas, mezcladas ya con amenazas, ya con ruegos; mas todo aprovechaba poco, ni aprovechó hasta que de puro cansados le dejaron. Trajéronle allí su asno, y subiéronle encima, le arroparon con su gabán…”

George Cruikshank se sirve de este episodio y representa a Napoleón a caballo a la otra parte del  muro (una clara alusión a los Pireneos). Ve a su hermano, José Bonaparte siendo lanzado en el aire lo mismo que Sancho Panza y amenaza e injuria a los españoles que lo están manteando igual que hizo Don Quijote. (“Viles cobardes,¿ cómo osáis tratar a mi escudero de ese modo tan descortes? Sabed que si yo saltara la pared… y seguro que lo haré…)

Uno de los españoles se gira para Napoleón y le replica: “No nos importa nada ni vos ni semejantes villanos”  Otro declara: “Esto es por robar a la posada y huir sin pagar la cuenta”. Al otro lado una monja exclama: “Un manteo por nuestro Fernando”

En pleno aire José I pierde su corona e implora que se acabe con el manteo. “Ah, misericordia para el rey Jo, este es un mal momento para mantear al rey Jo.

John Bull, o mejor, Don Bull se representa como al posadero, exhibe un papel con el título “Rendición de Juno” y anima a los españoles con el manteo: “Esa es vuestra clase, muchachos! Arriba con él mis amigos, Hurra!  Aquí hay mas barcos, colonias y comercio pero no para el hermano de Napoleón”