'Don't you feel strong enough to attend to your duties ?' he asked me." "How did you answer him ?" "'Senor Alcalde,' I answered, 'the strength of a teniente-mayor, however insignificant it may be, is like all other authority it emanates from higher spheres.

The King himself receives his strength from the people and the people theirs from God.

That is exactly what I lack, Senor Alcalde.' But he did not care to listen to me, telling me that we would talk about it after the fiesta." "Then may God help you!" said the old man, starting away.
"Don't you want to see the show ?" "Thanks, no! For dreams and nonsense I am sufficient unto myself," the Sage answered with a sarcastic smile.

"But now I think of it, has your attention never been drawn to the character of our people?
Peaceful, yet fond of warlike shows and bloody fights; democratic, yet adoring emperors, kings, and princes; irreligious, yet impoverishing itself by costly religious pageants.

Our women have gentle natures yet go wild with joy when a princess flourishes a lance.