El que me llama fiera y basilisco déjeme como cosa perjudicial y mala; el que me llama ingrata no me sirva; el que desconocida, no me conozca; quien … - Miguel de Cervantes

To withdraw is not to run away, and to stay is no wise action when there is more reason to fear than to hope. 'Tis the part of a wise man to keep himself today for tomorrow, and not venture all his eggs in one basket. And though I am but a clown, or a bumpkin, as you may say, yet I would have you to know I know what is what, and have always taken care of the main chance...

This is my friend Durandarte, flower and mirror of the true lovers and valiant knights of his time. He is held enchanted here, as I myself and many others are, by that French enchanter Merlin, who, they say, was the devil's son; but my belief is, not that he was the devil's son, but that he knew, as the saying is, a point more than the devil.

Woman is made of fragile glass;
but do not put her to the test
to see if she will break,
for that might come to pass.
She is too apt to shatter,
and wisdom is surely ended
if what can ne'er be mended
is put in the way of danger.
What I say to you is true,
and let us all agree :
wherever Danae may be,
showers of gold are there, too.