Cervantes and Dickens 



Dickens's great work) as a free translation of Don Quixote 

 into the manners of modern England. Mr. Pickwick, in 

 the simple enthusiasm of his heart, resolves to be the 

 redresser of grievances. Sam Weller, the shrewd and 

 humorous valet, is the natural Sancho of British low life ; 

 always ready, like his prototype, with a quaint and homely 

 common-sense view, to contrast with the flighty visions of 

 his master. Jingle is Gines de Pasamonte, Wardle the 

 hospitable sylvan duke. I remember once asking Lord 

 Jeffrey about this likeness between Pickwick and Quixote, 

 and he said it had not struck him before, but he thought 

 there was some truth in it. 



Cervantes was older when he wrote Don Quixote, and 

 had seen a great deal more of the world. If Dickens had 

 lost his arm at Lepanto — been a captive at Algiers — and 

 seen twenty years of the very miscellaneous life of a soldier- 

 ing poet in those romantic days, I see no reason to think 

 he might not have written as good a book as Don Quixote. 

 As it is, the deficiencies of the models he worked from are 

 reflected in his work. But the singular and surpassing 

 genius he displayed, at once gave him a blaze of popularity, 

 too rapid for safety. Instead of going on improving his 

 taste, and struggling earnestly to produce some perfect 

 work, which should live for ever, and be a wonder to coming 

 times (as he might have done, if he had not succeeded so 

 rapidly), he fell to imitating himself profusely ; as if he 

 meant to out-Herod Herod, or, to use a more simple 

 expression, play the Dickens with himself. And he would 

 have done it before this, had not his exquisite genius 

 struggled with a much less exquisite taste ; for his mind 

 cannot help yielding gems, however little careful he is to 

 set them as they deserve. 



That is why the young men of the present day prefer 



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