And the I'm going to be. Welcome to this newscast, the podcast designed to help you fall asleep. On this

newscast we read excerpts from Public Domain Works as well as original stories.

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This episode is brought to you by the Association for Chubby Cheeked Hamsters.

Tonight I'll be reading a snoozy opening to Miguel de Servantes, Don Quixote.

Written in the early 1600s, Spain, Don Quixote is considered to be,

perhaps, the most influential work from Spanish history. It depicts a nobleman who reads so many romantic adventure novels that he decides to become a knight.

Don Quixote sees what he wants in the world,

and the word quixotic stems from this character,

meaning impractically idealistic.

Let's get cozy. Close your eyes. Relax your body into the softness of your bed. Now, take a few deep breaths. Volume 1, Chapter 1, which treats of the character and pursuits of the famous gentleman Don Quixote of Lamancia.

In a village of Lamancia, the name of which I have no desire to call to mind.

There lived not long since one of those gentlemen that keep a lance in the lance rack, an old buckler, a lean hack, and a greyhound for coursing,

an oya of rather more beef than mudden, a salad on most nights, scraps on Saturdays, lentils on Fridays,

and a pigeon or so extra on Sundays made away with three quarters of his income.

The rest of it went in a doublet of fine cloth and velvet breeches and shoes to match for holidays.

While on weekdays he made a brave figure

in his best homespun. He had in his house, home spun, he had in his house a housekeeper past 40, a niece under 20, and a lad

for the field and marketplace who used to saddle the hack as well as handle the bill hook.

The age of this gentleman of ours was bordering on 50. He was of a hearty habit, spare, gaunt featured,

...