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2. Which of the following is an activity of government that is not an activity of private firms?
5. How does government's power to coerce behavior tend to reduce private-sector risk?
A. by enforcing contracts and discouraging illegal behavior that threatens private property
B. by guaranteeing that the government will financially cover any losses by private-sector firms
C. by strictly regulating the allocation of most property resources in the economy
D. The coercive power of government only increases private-sector risk.
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AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-01 Describe how governments power to coerce can be economically beneficial and list some of the difficulties associated with managing and directing the government.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Governments Economic Role
7. The government of Southland wants to improve resource allocation in the country. Which of the following actions by the Southland government is most likely to accomplish this?
10. The many layers of the federal government in the United States
11. In what way, if any, does the invisible hand affect government resource allocation?
A. tends to be greater than in private firms, making government more efficient than private firms.
B. is not a problem because government bureaucrats are not affected by the self-interest that affects private sector individuals.
C. is easy to monitor because of the small size and scope of government.
D. tends to be lacking because of civil service protections and the complexity of government.
A. the goals of the corporate managers (the principals) may not match the goals of the corporate owners (the agents).
B. the goals of the corporate managers (the agents) may not match the goals of the corporate owners (the principals).
C. the federal government (the agent) taxes both corporate profits and the dividends paid to stockholders (the principals).
D. it is costly for the corporate owners (the principals) to obtain a corporate charter from government (the agent).
A. agents; principals
B. stockholders; bondholders
C. agents; employees
D. principals; agents
A. agents; principals
B. logrollers; principals
C. agents; employees
D. principals; agents
17. As it relates to owners and managers, the principal-agent problem results from the
18. As it relates to the political process, the principal-agent problem results from the
19. "Vote for my special local project and I will vote for yours." This political technique
20. Factors that impede the attainment of economic efficiency in the public sector are called
A. market failures.
B. externalities.
C. government failures.
D. voting irregularities.
21. The idea of government failure includes all of the following except
A. special-interest effect.
B. bureaucratic inefficiency.
C. pressure by special-interest groups.
D. extensive positive externalities from public and quasi-public goods.
22. Suppose American winemakers convince the federal government to issue a directive to serve only domestically produced wine at government functions. This would be an example of
A. moral hazard.
B. the principal-agent problem.
C. logrolling.
D. rent-seeking behavior.
24. The pursuit through government of a "transfer of wealth" at someone else's expense refers to
A. logrolling.
B. rent-seeking behavior.
C. the paradox of voting.
D. the median-voter model.
25. Economists call the pursuit of a transfer of wealth through government at someone else's expense
A. favor programs entailing immediate and clear-cut costs and vaguely defined or deferred benefits.
B. follow policies leading to an optimal allocation of resources between public and private sectors.
C. favor programs entailing immediate and clear-cut benefits and vaguely defined or deferred costs.
D. objectively weigh the costs and benefits of various government programs and vote accordingly.
27. Public choice economists contend public bureaucracies are inefficient primarily because
A. the value of public goods is more easily measured than is the value of private goods.
B. of the absence of competitive market pressures.
C. public sector workers are more security-conscious than are private sector workers.
D. relatively low pay in government attracts workers of lesser quality.
29. Professional sports teams will sometimes seek public subsidies for stadium financing projects that produce large benefits for a relatively small number of fans and impose small costs on a relatively large number of people. Sometimes these
efforts to secure public funding are successful even though the decision is not efficient. This is an example of
A. log-rolling.
B. pork-barrel politics.
C. the special-interest effect.
D. market failure.
30. Suppose the U.S. House of Representatives is debating a bill to fund construction and maintenance for the nation’s highway system. Representative Sandy Shady adds a provision to the bill that would fund a new public art museum in her
district. The authorization of expenditure for the museum would be an example of
A. an earmark.
B. an unfunded liability.
C. a collective action problem.
D. a principal-agent problem.
A. Voters consider a ballot measure that would increase taxes to better fund schools.
B. Students at a university lobby the administration to improve dorms and reduce class sizes without increasing tuition.
C. Consumers try to get flying cars produced by telling automakers they are willing to pay for them.
D. Senators vote for what their constituents want so they can get reelected.
32. The political tendency to favor spending priorities with immediate benefits but deferred costs results in
A. pork-barrel politics
B. earmarks
C. logrolling
D. all of these
A. result from the political bias toward immediate benefits and deferred costs.
B. result in more efficient policies in an attempt to satisfy these liabilities.
C. are caused primarily by market failures.
D. only occur in democratically elected governments.
A. Medicare.
B. national defense.
C. Social Security.
D. unemployment insurance.
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Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
36. Chronic budget deficits can be attributed to
A. unfunded liabilities.
B. voters wanting government programs but not wanting to pay taxes.
C. inappropriate monetary policy.
D. state budget laws.
37. Which of the following impacts would economists expect to result from chronic budget deficits?
A. greater economic efficiency resulting from the abundance of public goods produced
B. permanently high levels of output and continued economic growth
C. greater political control over monetary policy
D. government control of an inefficiently large share of the economy's resources
38. The estimated value of the U.S. government's unfunded liability to Social Security is
A. $4.6 trillion.
B. $4.8 trillion.
C. $15.6 trillion.
D. $20.5 trillion.
39. Government changes in interest rates to regulate the economy are part of
A. monetary policy.
B. fiscal policy.
C. debt policy.
D. liability policy.
A. interest rates
B. taxes and government spending
C. regulations on business
D. the amount of money in circulation
41. To curb the problem of voters wanting immediate benefits and deferred costs, many state governments in the United States have
42. A government using fiscal policy in an attempt to stimulate the economy would do which of the following?
A. raise taxes
B. raise interest rates
C. lower interest rates
D. raise government spending
43. To reduce politicization of policy making, many countries have given control of to politically independent central banks.
A. fiscal policy
B. monetary policy
C. unfunded liabilities
D. budget deficits
44. The U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of Japan, the Bank of England, and the European Central Bank are all in charge of what for the countries they represent?
A. debt management
B. unfunded liabilities
C. monetary policy
D. fiscal policy
46. When a nation is in a debt crisis, the government's level of debt is so high that
47. Economists (particularly public choice theorists) point out that the political process
A. differs from the marketplace in that voters and congressional representatives often face limited and bundled choices.
B. is less prone to failure than is the marketplace.
C. is a much fairer way to allocate society's scarce resources than is the impersonal marketplace, which is dominated by high-income consumers.
D. involves logrolling, which is always inefficient.
48. When congressional representatives vote on an appropriations bill, they must vote yea or nay, taking the bad with the good. This statement best reflects the
A. paradox of voting.
B. regulatory capture effect.
C. benefits-received principle.
D. concept of limited and bundled choices.
49. Suppose lawyers seek legislation to limit the use of computer software that enables people to use their personal computers to self-prepare their own wills, trusts, and other legal documents. This is an example of
A. logrolling.
B. the principal-agent problem.
C. rent-seeking behavior.
D. limited and bundled choices.
50. In a sporting goods store, you can buy the equipment you want and forgo the rest. But in an election you "buy" the entire range of the candidate's positions, including some you may not agree with. This difference
51. According to some economists, the private sector is more efficient than the public sector mainly because
A. the private sector has a clear test of performance: profit and loss.
B. wages, salaries, and fringe benefits are higher in the private sector.
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Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
C. worker turnover is higher in the public sector.
D. of extensive negative externalities in the public sector.
53. Narrow, specifically designated expenditures that are included in more comprehensive legislation are known as
A. earmarks.
B. logrolls.
C. benefits-received allocations.
D. progressive expenditures.
A. the additional votes that must be taken when a voting paradox occurs.
B. taxes that redistribute wealth or income from one income group to another.
C. authorized expenditures benefiting a narrow, specifically designated group that are included in more comprehensive spending legislation.
D. legislation focused on correcting negative externalities.
55. Regulatory capture is said to have occurred when which of the following is true?
A. Rules and enforcement in an industry are heavily influenced by the industry being regulated.
B. One firm controls an entire market, having captured customers away from other firms.
C. Government imposes excessive regulations in an industry, resulting in inefficiencies.
D. Consumers make all the rules for an industry, forcing firms into inefficient production methods.
56. Which of the following would be the best example of regulatory capture?
58. Which of the following is considered a potential solution to some regulatory capture?
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59. Proponents of deregulation point to all of the following industries as examples of successful deregulation except for
A. airlines.
B. pharmaceuticals.
C. railroads.
D. interstate trucking.
60. Which of the following would best explain why regulatory capture is a problem?
A. The regulations implemented tend to reduce the profitability of the regulated industry and reduce global competitiveness.
B. Regulatory capture unduly increases the size and power of government, increasing costs for taxpayers.
C. Individuals implementing the regulations lack expertise about the industry and therefore make poor regulatory choices.
D. The regulations implemented serve the private interests of the regulated industry, rather than addressing social interests such as consumer safety and environmental protection.
61. Deregulation
63. Under what circumstances would government loan guarantees be socially beneficial?
64. Which of the following will tend to socialize losses and privatize gains?
65. What is the main problem with government guarantees that socialize losses and privatize gains?
A. They encourage overly risky investments by insulating private investors from any losses.
B. The investments that do occur never generate production of goods underproduced by the private sector.
C. They discourage private investment in worthwhile projects.
D. They tend to benefit foreign companies at the expense of domestic firms.
66. The unlawful misdirection of governmental resources for personal gain is known as
A. political corruption.
B. logrolling.
C. adverse selection.
D. the special-interest effect.
67. The Road Runner Club contributes money to Senator Sly's reelection campaign fund, and Senator Sly helps pass legislation to add more jogging paths across the state. From this we can definitively conclude
70. (Consider This) From an economist's perspective, when is government too big?
A. why special-interest effects are often characterized by concentrated benefits and diffuse costs.
B. why special-interest effects are often characterized by concentrated costs and diffuse benefits.
C. that larger groups carry greater political weight than smaller groups.
D. the moral hazard problem.
72. (Consider This) Smaller groups are sometimes able to achieve political victories against larger groups. This is referred to as the
74. (Consider This) A 2015 study of hospitals, power plants, and water utilities found that
A. public companies violated health and safety laws more than private companies.
B. government employees are systematically less competent than those in the private sector.
5-10
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
C. private companies violated health and safety laws more than public companies.
D. there was no significant difference in the number of health and safety violations between public and private companies.
75. (Consider This) According to a 2015 study, health and safety violations are more prevalent in public companies because
76. (Last Word) In 2011, Congress funded a sanctuary for white squirrels, a giant roadside coffee pot, and an antique bicycle museum. These are examples of
77. (Last Word) From 2006-2010, the federal government paid $600 million in retirement benefits to deceased federal employees, with the checks being illegally cashed by relatives. This example illustrates
78. (Last Word) In 2004, Congress passed a corporate tax relief bill with 276 provisions for tax breaks to groups such as restaurant owners, Hollywood producers, and NASCAR track owners. This is an example of the
A. special-interest effect.
B. benefits-received principle.
C. paradox of voting.
D. principal-agent problem.
TRUE
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-01 Describe how governments power to coerce can be economically beneficial and list some of the difficulties associated with managing and directing the government.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Governments Economic Role
80. Government's ability to enforce laws and contracts increases private-sector economic risks.
FALSE
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-01 Describe how governments power to coerce can be economically beneficial and list some of the difficulties associated with managing and directing the government.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Governments Economic Role
81. The invisible hand guides government's economic activity just as it does with private economic activity.
FALSE
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-01 Describe how governments power to coerce can be economically beneficial and list some of the difficulties associated with managing and directing the government.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Governments Economic Role
82. Because of the force of law and bureaucratic structure, government accountability is less of a problem than in the private sector.
FALSE
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
5-11
Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-01 Describe how governments power to coerce can be economically beneficial and list some of the difficulties associated with managing and directing the government.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Governments Economic Role
83. The size and scope of government inhibit the flow of information to decision makers, leading to inefficient outcomes.
TRUE
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-01 Describe how governments power to coerce can be economically beneficial and list some of the difficulties associated with managing and directing the government.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Governments Economic Role
84. The pursuit through government of a transfer of wealth at society's expense is called "rent seeking."
TRUE
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-02 Discuss government failure and explain why it happens.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Government Failure
85. The principal-agent problem is a problem for the private sector but does not apply to political decision making.
FALSE
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-02 Discuss government failure and explain why it happens.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Government Failure
FALSE
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-02 Discuss government failure and explain why it happens.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Government Failure
87. A debt crisis refers to how much government spending exceeds tax revenues in a given year.
FALSE
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-02 Discuss government failure and explain why it happens.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Government Failure
TRUE
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-02 Discuss government failure and explain why it happens.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Government Failure
FALSE
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-02 Discuss government failure and explain why it happens.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Government Failure
90. Monetary policy attempts to change the level of spending by altering interest rates.
TRUE
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-02 Discuss government failure and explain why it happens.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Government Failure
91. The problem of limited and bundled choices explains why many voters cannot fully express their political preferences.
TRUE
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-02 Discuss government failure and explain why it happens.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Government Failure
92. Regulatory capture occurs when government exerts excessive control over an industry.
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FALSE
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-02 Discuss government failure and explain why it happens.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Government Failure
93. The Securities and Exchange Commission's supervision of Wall Street financial firms is a possible example of regulatory capture.
TRUE
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-02 Discuss government failure and explain why it happens.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Government Failure
94. Economists widely support deregulation of industries that tend toward monopoly or generate substantial negative externalities.
FALSE
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-02 Discuss government failure and explain why it happens.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Government Failure
95. Deregulation is seen as a solution to regulatory capture because it eliminates the regulatory agency that can or has been captured.
TRUE
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-02 Discuss government failure and explain why it happens.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Government Failure
96. Government loan guarantees tend to socialize gains and privatize losses.
FALSE
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-02 Discuss government failure and explain why it happens.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Government Failure
97. Government guarantees that socialize losses and privatize gains tend to encourage risky and imprudent investment.
TRUE
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Blooms: Understand
Difficulty: 02 Medium
Learning Objective: 05-02 Discuss government failure and explain why it happens.
Test Bank: I
Topic: Government Failure
A. public finance.
B. public choice theory.
C. collective economics.
D. political economy.
100. Which one of the following topics would be of the most interest to a public choice economist?
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Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
101. An economic analysis of the relationship between proposed legislation affecting major employers in each state and the voting patterns of senators and representatives in Congress on that legislation would fit within the subcategory of
economics called
104. Because majority voting fails to incorporate the strength of the preferences of individual voters, it
105. Suppose that Katie and Kelly each expects to receive $500 worth of marginal benefits from a proposed new recreation center, whereas Kerry expects to receive only $100 worth. If the proposed tax levied on each for the center would be
$400, a majority vote will
106. Suppose that Steve and Susie each perceive $200 of marginal benefit from a proposed new park, whereas Elizabeth perceives $800. If the proposed tax levied on each for the park would be $300, a majority vote will
107.
Answer the question on the basis of this table showing the marginal benefit that a particular public project will provide to each of the three members of a community. No vote trading is allowed.
If the tax cost of this proposed project is $600 per person, a majority vote will
108.
Answer the question on the basis of this table showing the marginal benefit that a particular public project will provide to each of the three members of a community. No vote trading is allowed.
If the tax cost of this proposed project is $300 per person, a majority vote will
109.
Answer the question on the basis of this table showing the marginal benefit a particular public project will provide to each of the three members of a community. No vote trading is allowed.
If the tax cost of this proposed project is $600 per person, a majority vote will
111. The trading of votes by elected officials to secure favorable outcomes is called
112. Senator A agrees to vote for Senator K's state project in exchange for Senator K voting for Senator A's state project. This is an example of
A. logrolling.
B. the paradox of voting.
C. the principal-agent problem.
D. the median voter model.
113. A situation in which society may not be able to rank its preferences consistently through paired-choice majority voting refers to
5-15
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[124] «Argumento. Glauco cavallero de Athenas recibio por
adoptiva esposa a Philenia Cēturiona, y por el grande celo que
della tenia la acusó por adultera ante el juez, y por intercession y
astucia de Hipolito su amigo fué libre, y Glauco su marido
condenado a muerte».
Parte primera del honesto y agradable entretenimiento de Damas
y Galanes... Pamplona, 1612, p. 146 vta. Es la traducción de
Francisco Truchado.
[125] Vid. Gamba (Bartolommeo), Delle Novelle italiane in prosa.
Bibliografía. Florencia, 1835. PP. 132-133.
[126] Sobre las diferencias de estas primitivas ediciones, véase el
precioso estudio de Alejandro de Ancona, Del Novellino e delle
sue fonti (Studi di Critica e Storia Letteraria, Bolonia, 1880),
páginas 219-359.
[127] Gesta Romanorum, ed. Oesterley, p. 300, y una rica serie
de referencias en la p. 749.
[128] Cantiga 78. Parece haber venido de Provenza. El conde de
Tolosa es quien manda quemar á su privado.
[129] Publicada por Morel-Fatio en la Romania, t. V, con una
noticia muy interesante de Gastón París.
[130] Opina Gastón París que los cuentos occidentales de la
primera serie (lepra, mal aliento) proceden de una de las dos
versiones árabes, y los de la segunda serie (adulterio) de la otra,
por intermedio de un texto bizantino.
[131] «Messer Bernabò signore di Melano comanda a uno Abate,
che lo chiarisca di quattro cosa impossibili, di che uno mugnajo,
vestitosi de' panni dello Abate, per lui le chiarisce in forma che
rimane Abate, e l'Abate rimane mugnajo».
Novelle di Franco Sacchetti... T. I, pp. 7-10.
[132] En sus Cuentos Populares.
[133] Saldrá reimpreso muy pronto por la Sociedad de Bibliófilos
de Valencia con las demás piezas dramáticas de Timoneda.
[134] La patraña sexta tiene seguramente origen italiano, como
casi todas; pero no puede ser la novela cuarta de Sercambi de
Luca, citado á este propósito por Liebrecht, porque los cuentos
de este autor del siglo xv estuvieron inéditos hasta 1816, en que
imprimió Gamba algunos de ellos. Más bien puede pensarse en
la novela nona de la primera década de los Hecatommithi de
Giraldi Chinthio: «Filargiro perde una borsa con molti scudi,
promette, per publico bando, a chi gliela dà buon guiderdone; poi
che l' ha ritrovata, cerca di non servar la promessa, et egli perde i
ritrovati denari in castigo della sua frode».
Hecatommithi ovvero Novele di M. Giovanbattista Giraldi Cinthio
nobile ferrarese... Di nuovo rivedute, corrette, et riformate in
questa terza impressione In Vinegia appresso Enea de Alaris
1574. PP. 84-85.
Es curiosa esta patraña de Timoneda, porque de ella pudo tomar
Cervantes el chiste del asno desrabado del aguador, para
trasplantarle á La ilustre fregona, como ya indicó Gallardo
(Ensayo, III, 738). Por cierto que de este asno no hay rastro en la
novela de Giraldi, que sólo tiene una semejanza genérica con la
de Timoneda, y tampoco me parece su fuente directa.
[135] «Selvagia Comedia ad Celestinæ imitationem olim
confecerat, quam tamen supprimere maxime voluit curavitque
jam major annis, totusque studio pietatis deditus». (Bibl. Hisp.
Nov., I, p. 55.)
[136] Trata extensamente de ambas colecciones, inéditas aún, D.
Antonio Martín Gamero en las eruditas Cartas literarias que
preceden al Cancionero de Sebastián de Horozco publicado por
la Sociedad de Bibliófilos Andaluces (Sevilla, 1874).
Compuso Horozco otros opúsculos de curiosidad y donaire, entre
ellos unos coloquios (en prosa) de varios personajes con el Eco.
Dos de los interlocutores son un fraile contento y una monja
descontenta (Vid. apéndice al Cancionero, p. 268 y ss.).
Hijo de este ingenioso escritor y heredero suyo en la tendencia
humorística y en la afición á los proverbios fué el famoso
lexicógrafo D. Sebastián de Cobarrubias y Horozco, de cuyo
Tesoro de la lengua castellana (Madrid, 1600), que para tantas
cosas es brava mina, pueden extraerse picantes anécdotas y
chistosos rasgos de costumbres.
También en el Vocabulario de refranes del Maestro Gonzalo
Correas, recientemente dado á luz por el P. Mir, se encuentran
datos útiles para la novelística. Sirva de ejemplo el cuento
siguiente, que corresponde al exemplo 43 de El Conde Lucanor
(«del cuerdo y del loco»), pero que no está tomado de aquel libro,
sino de la tradición vulgar:
«En Chinchilla, lugar cerca de Cuenca, había un loco que,
persuadido de holgazanes, llevaba un palo debajo de la falda, y
en viniendo algún forastero, se llegaba á él con disimulación,
preguntándole de dónde era y á qué venía, le daba tres ó cuatro
palos, con lo que los otros se reían, y luego los apaciguaban con
la excusa de ser loco. Llegó un manchego, y tuvo noticia en la
posada de lo que hacía el loco, y prevínose de un palo,
acomodado debajo de su capa, y fuese á la plaza á lo que había
menester. Llegósele el loco, y adelantóse el manchego y dióle
muy buenos palos, con que le hizo ir huyendo, dando voces y
diciendo: ¡Gente, cuidado, que otro loco hay en Chinchilla!».
Otros cuentos están tomados de la Floresta de Santa Cruz.
[137] Sales españolas ó agudezas del ingenio nacional recogidas
por A. Paz y Melia. Madrid, 1890. (En la Colección de Escritores
Castellanos, pp. 253-317.)
[138] «En las Cortes de Toledo fuisteis de parecer que pechasen
los hijodalgo; alli os acuchillasteis con un alguacil, y habeis
casado vuestra hija con Sancho de Paz: no trateis de honra, que
el rey tiene harta». (Carta al Duque del Infantado.) (Cf. Pinedo, p.
272.)
[139] En el mismo tomo de las Sales (p. 331) puede verse una
carta burlesca del portugués Thomé Ravelo á su mujer, fecha en
el cerco de Badajoz de 1658, y una colección de epitafios y
dichos portugueses (p. 391). En cambio, un códice del siglo xvii
que poseo está lleno de epitafios y versos soeces contra los
castellanos.
[140] «Seguiré como texto el proceso y propias palabras que el
predicador llevó, y los puntos que encareció, y esto en lengua
portuguesa; y en lo castellano entretejeré como glosa interlineal ó
comento la declaración que me pareciere; aunque en estas
lenguas temo cometer malos acentos, porque siendo italiano de
nación, mal podré guardar rigor de elocuencia ajena, dado que
en lo castellano seré menos dificultoso, por ser gente muy tratada
en Roma, que es nuestra comun patria, y en Lisboa no estuve
año entero».
(Sales Españolas, I, p. 108.)
[141] «Este es un sermón que un reverendo Padre, portugués de
nación, y profesión augustino, predicó en Lisboa en Nuestra
Señora de Gracia, vigilia de su Assumpcion... y vuelto á mi
posada, formé escrúpulo si dejaba de escribir lo que en el púlpito
oí predicar... Viniéndome luego la vía de Castilla, posé en Evora,
do a la sazon estaba el Rey en la posada y casa del embajador
de Castilla, Lope Hurtado de Mendoza». (Sales Españolas, I,
104-107.) De aqui vendría probablemente la confusión del Lope
con D. Diego.
[142] «Lo cual bien experimentó un francés españolado viniendo
á Portugal, y fué que partiendo de Narbona para Lisboa, le dijo
un amigo suyo: Pues entrais en España, sed curioso en conocer
las gentes della, porque en Aragon, por donde primero habeis de
pasar, vereis que la gente es muy prima, y en Castilla nobles y
bien criados»... (suprimo lo relativo á Portugal, que es de una
groseria intolerable).
«Pues comenzando su camino, que venia de priesa, rogó á su
huesped aragonés que le llamase cuando quisiese amanecer. El
cual lo hizo así, poniendo al par de sí una caja con ciertas joyas
de su mujer; y como estuviese el cielo escuro, dijo el francés:
¿En qué conoceis que quiere amanecer, señor huesped? Y él
dixo: Presto será de dia, y véolo en el aljófar y perlas de mi mujer,
que están frias con la frescura del alba. El francés confesó hasta
allí no haber sabido aquel primor.
«Entrando en Castilla, y llegando á Toledo en casa de un
ciudadano, que de su voluntad le llevó á su posada, rogóle
también le despertase antes que amaneciese. Acostados, pues,
el uno cerca del otro en una pieza grande, cuando queria
amanecer, un papagayo que alli estaba hizo ruido con las alas. Y
como el huésped toledano sintiese que el francés estaba
despierto, dixo, casi hablando entre sí: Mucho ruido hace este
papagayo. El frances, que lo oyó, preguntó qué hora era. El
toledano respondió que presto amaneceria. Pues ¿por qué no me
lo habeis dicho? dijo el frances. El castellano dixo: Pues me
compeleis, yo os lo diré. Pareciome caso de menos valer,
recibiendo yo en mi casa un huésped de mi voluntad, tal cual
vuestra merced es, decirle se partiese della; y porque anoche me
rogastes os despertase, sintiendo que estábades despierto, dije
que el papagayo hacia ruido para que si quisiésedes partiros
entendiésedes que el pájaro se alteraba con la venida de la
mañana, y si quisiésedes reposar, lo hiciésedes, viendo que no
aceleraba yo vuestra partida. Dixo el frances entonces: Agora
veo y conozco la buena cortesia y nobleza que de Castilla
siempre me han dicho». (Sales, I, 171-172.)
[143] Publicado por el Sr. Paz y Melia en el tomo II de las Sales
Españolas (pp. 35-69).
[144] Libro primero de los cien tratados. Recopilado por Melchior
de Sancta Cruz de Dueñas. De notables sentencias, assi morales
como naturales, y singulares avisos para todos estados. En
tercetos castellanos.—Libro segundo de los cien tratados, etc.
Ambas partes, impresas en Toledo, por Diego de Ayala, 1576,
son de gran rareza.
[145] Opúsculo gótico, sin lugar ni año, dedicado al Duque de
Calabria. Salvá, que poseía un ejemplar, le supone impreso en
Valencia, hacia 1535. Los que Sanz y Santa Cruz llaman tercetos
y mejor se dirían ternarios para distinguirlos de los tercetos
endecasílabos, están dispuestos en esta forma, bastante
frecuente en nuestra poesía gnómica: