19 August 1891

Madrid

Greatness is in direct proportion to the number of enemies – The pin has not been lost – Apacible will return also and wants to be Rizal’s fellow passenger – Filipinos who are leaving Madrid – He is recuperating from an illness – Excited to read Rizal’s new book.

* * *

Madrid, 19 August 1891

Hortaleza 14 and 16, 2nd

MR. JOSE RIZAL

Ghent

DEAR COUSIN,

I received your letter of the 12th instant which for its pessimistic content I cannot call pleasant, as I wish, following the rules of Letter Styles that my teacher used to make me copy when I was a child to answer the letters from my family.

I do not know if you refer to what occurred to you in your last days in this crowned Villa when you speak of numerous friends and admirers that you have had or to another matter that I do not know. If it is for that —– [1] I believe that you are practical enough to forget it and not to mind some who . . . , as you yourself would qualify, have provoked that incident and this will not soil in the least your fame among sensible people. On the contrary, it increases further your importance for the reason that greatness is in direct proportion to the number of enemies . . . so much control have passions over humankind.

On the engagement of eleven years,[2] I do not dare comment, because in passing judgment on a feeling, that personality of the judge influences much and . . . I do not know where I will end should I judge what has happened to you, for surely with your especial talent, and this should not lengthen your nose more than one vara, you see much better than I do. Pardon me then if I have gone beyond the limit in something. You may attribute to my great esteem of you my regret for what is happening to you.

The pin has not been lost; yesterday Father Chanco redeemed it. He requests me to write you so. Morad told me that when he receives money, he will get it from Father Chanco in order to send it to you. Needless to tell you that if I get money ahead of Morada, I will do that.

I am also going back soon to the Philippines. In the last letters I have received from my family, my mother tells me that she will send me money within two or three months for my return. She is sickly as a result of the influenza. I will write you before I leave. Write me also about the date of your departure for I shall be very glad to be your fellow passenger.

I hardly leave the house these days, because for almost a week I had conatus of indigestion accompanied by frequent and copious nose bleeding; so that the sun hurt me, summer in Madrid being much warmer than that in the Philippines.

When will your new work be published? Already I wish to read it.

Though it is almost six months that I have not received letters from Trozo, I know, through my family’s letters, that they are all well and in good health.

Regards to Alejandrino and Edilberto.

Your cousin,

Kanoy

Ask Alejandrino for me if he is competent to build roads good for the paragus[3] of my . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

03-642 [Reformists]