TO THE READER

In the foreword to the Second Part of “The Life of Lazarillo of Tormes,” the author, J. de Luna, addresses the reader to clarify his motivations for continuing Lazarillo’s story. De Luna explains that a misleading and fantastical book about Lazarillo has come into his possession, one that preposterously claims Lazaro transformed into a tuna after falling into the sea, leading a life under the waves, including marrying another tuna, fathering fish children, and engaging in naval battles amongst tunas. De Luna criticizes this account for its absurdity, lacking any basis in truth, dismissing it as either a foolish fabrication or a nonsensical dream.

Compelled to correct these falsehoods, De Luna presents the Second Part drawn directly from notebooks found in the rogues’ archives in Toledo, promising adherence to the recorded facts without alteration. He also references childhood memories of family stories about Lazarillo, particularly debates over the plausibility of surviving underwater as mentioned in this Second Part. Highlighting a community divided on the matter, he recounts an anecdote of an elderly swimmer who confirmed such feats were possible, citing personal observation and a story of a man who navigated underwater caverns in the Tagus River, emerging unharmed after a night, much to the amazement of his mourning relatives.

This introduction sets the stage for a narrative grounded in authenticity, aiming to dispel the myths surrounding Lazarillo while inviting the reader into a tale enriched by communal folklore and substantiated by eyewitness accounts. Through this prologue, De Luna engages the reader’s curiosity, promising a story that melds the fantastical elements of folklore with the credence of personal and historical testimony.