Rinconete y Cortadillo
References and translations
Translation
The boys examined the furnishings in the house with care until Mr Monipodio came down; and seeing that he was a long time, Rincón ventured into one of the two small rooms which led off the courtyard. In it were two fencing swords and two cork shields, hanging from four nails, and a big chest, without a lid or any kind of cover, and three more rush mats spread out on the floor. There was one of those badly-printed images of Our Lady stuck on the wall opposite, lower down a little palm basket and, fixed to the wall, a white bowl, from which Rincón concluded that the basket served as an alms box, and the bowl to hold holy water, as was in fact the case.
At this point, two youths of about twenty and dressed as students came into the house and, shortly afterwards, two basket-boys and a blind man. Without saying a word, they began to walk up and down in the courtyard. Soon after, two old men dressed in thick flannel came in, each wearing spectacles, which made them look venerable and respectable, and each with a rosary of jingling beads in his hand. After them entered an old woman with a long full skirt, and, without saying a word, she went into the room and, having taken holy water, knelt down very devoutly in front of the image. After some time, she kissed the ground and raised her arms and eyes to heaven three times. Then she got up, threw her offering into the basket, and went out with the rest into the patio. Within a short time there were about fourteen persons assembled in the patio in different dress and belonging to different professions. Among the last to arrive were two fine swaggering young fellows, with big moustaches, broad-brimmed hats, Walloon collars, coloured stockings, fancy garters, outsize swords, a pocket pistol each instead of a dagger, and with their bucklers hanging from their belts. As soon as they came in, these two cast suspicious glances at Rincón and Cortado, as if surprised to see them and not knowing who they were. And going up to them, they asked them if they belonged to the brotherhood. Rincón answered 'yes', and that they were at their service.
At last the moment arrived when Mr Monipodio came down, all the
more welcome for having been awaited so long by that virtuous
company. He looked about forty-five or forty-six years old, tall,
dark, beetle-browed, and with a very thick black beard and deep-set
eyes. He was in his shirt-sleeves, and through the opening in front
you could see a veritable wood, so thick was the hair on his chest.
He wore a thick flannel cloak reaching almost to his feet, on which
he wore a pair of shoes which he had left unfastened. His legs were
covered by ill-fitting drill breeches, which were baggy and reached
to his ankles. His hat was one of those worn by the gentry of the
underworld, with a broad brim and a crown shaped like a bell, and he
wore a shoulder-belt, from which hung a short sword with the 'little
dug' mark. His hands were short and hairy, and his fingers fat, with
fingernails splayed out and bent under. His legs were not visible,
but his feet were enormously broad with bunions on them. In fact, he
looked the most clumsy and hideous rutfian you've ever seen. The
boys' guide came in with him and, seizing them by the hands,
presented them to Monipodio, saying to him, These are the two
good lads I told you about, Mr Monipodio. 'Samine them, and you'll
see how worthy they are to enter our fraternity.
I'll be very glad to do that,
answered Monipodio.