"Look here, my good sir," said Sancho; "either I'm a numskull or else there is the same reason for this passenger dying as for his living and passing over the bridge; for if the truth saves him the falsehood equally condemns him; and that being the case it is my opinion you should say to the gentlemen who sent you to me that as the arguments for condemning him and for absolving him are exactly balanced, they should let him pass freely, as it is always more praiseworthy to do good than to do evil; this I would give signed with my name if I knew how to sign; and what I have said in this case is not out of my own head, but one of the many precepts my master Don Quixote gave me the night before I left to become governor of this island, that came into my mind, and it was this, that when there was any doubt about the justice of a case I should lean to mercy; and it is God's will that I should recollect it now, for it fits this case as if it was made for it."
-Venid acá, señor buen hombre -respondió Sancho-; este pasajero que decís, o yo soy un porro, o él tiene la misma razón para morir que para vivir y pasar la puente; porque si la verdad le salva, la mentira le condena igualmente; y, siendo esto así, como lo es, soy de parecer que digáis a esos señores que a mí os enviaron que, pues están en un fil las razones de condenarle o asolverle, que le dejen pasar libremente, pues siempre es alabado más el hacer bien que mal, y esto lo diera firmado de mi nombre, si supiera firmar; y yo en este caso no he hablado de mío, sino que se me vino a la memoria un precepto, entre otros muchos que me dio mi amo don Quijote la noche antes que viniese a ser gobernador desta ínsula: que fue que, cuando la justicia estuviese en duda, me decantase y acogiese a la misericordia; y ha querido Dios que agora se me acordase, por venir en este caso como de molde.