La Galatea - Second Part

Second Part

The original title published with the work now simply known as the Galatea was La primera parte de la Galatea (The First Part of the Galatea). Cervantes indicated on numerous occasions during his life he planned to publish a second part, even in the ending of the first part:

El fin deste amoroso cuento y historia con otras cosas sucedidas a los pastores hasta aquí nombrados, en la segunda parte desta historia se prometen, la cual, si con apacibles voluntades esta primera viene rescibida, tendrá atrevimiento a salir con brevedad a ser vista de los ojos y entendimiento de las gentes (The end of this amorous story and history with other things succeeded to the pastors named here, in the second part of this story promise in such, if with apace will this first comes received, to boldly come out in brevity to be seen by the eyes and understanding of the people.)

In Cervantes' later novel, Don Quixote, La Galatea appears in the book burning scene. Its worth is measured as satisfactory in itself, but both the Barber and Curate agree the plot matters little without a Second Part. The Galatea enjoyed moderate success, but any work that Cervantes may have begun on a conclusion was lost to history following his death.