"I will prevent it," said the gentleman; and going over to Don Quixote, who was insisting upon the keeper's opening the cages, he said to him, "Sir knight, knights-errant should attempt adventures which encourage the hope of a successful issue, not those which entirely withhold it; for valour that trenches upon temerity savours rather of madness than of courage; moreover, these lions do not come to oppose you, nor do they dream of such a thing; they are going as presents to his Majesty, and it will not be right to stop them or delay their journey."
Y, llegándose a don Quijote, que estaba dando priesa al leonero que abriese las jaulas, le dijo: -Señor caballero, los caballeros andantes han de acometer las aventuras que prometen esperanza de salir bien dellas, y no aquellas que de en todo la quitan; porque la valentía que se entra en la juridición de la temeridad, más tiene de locura que de fortaleza. Cuanto más, que estos leones no vienen contra vuesa merced, ni lo sueñan: van presentados a Su Majestad, y no será bien detenerlos ni impedirles su viaje.