Bless me! reader, gentle or simple, or whatever you be, how impatiently by this time must you expect this Preface, supposing it to be nothing but revengeful invectives against the author of the second Don Quixote. But I must beg your pardon; for I shall say no more of him than every body says, that Tordesillas is the place where he was begotten, and Tarragona the place where he was born; and though it be universally said, that even a worm, when trod upon, will turn again, yet I'm resolved for once to cross that proverb. You perhaps now would have me call him coxcomb, fool, and madman; but I'm of another mind; and so let his folly be its own punishment.

In this passage, Cervantes displays remarkable restraint in responding to the publication of a counterfeit sequel to his famous work Don Quixote. Rather than engaging in expected vitriol, he chooses to let the transgressor's actions speak for themselves, allowing "his folly be its own punishment." Invoking the proverb "even a worm, when trod upon, will turn again," Cervantes subverts expectation by refusing to retaliate, demonstrating wisdom and composure. This moment highlights the author's belief in the ultimate triumph of authentic art over imitation and underscores his confidence in the enduring value of his creation. Cervantes' response is a testament to his understanding that true worth requires no defense beyond the quality of the work itself.