The introduction of the secondary plot, affording the excuse for the prominent place given to the gracioso, is a device which Lope, like his great English contemporary, often uses as in this case with good effect.

He knew of the elegant conceits of linguistic expression and used them sparingly in his plays, but usually his language was, like the ideas which he expressed, the speech of the public which he sought to please, not slighting the grandiloquent phraseology to which the Spanish language is so well adapted.

Like some mountain stream his measures flow, sometimes in idle prattle over pebbly beds, soon to change into the majestic cascade, then to the whirling rapids, only to tarry soon in the quiet pool to muse in long soliloquy, to rush on again, sullen, quarrelsome, vehemently protesting in hoarse and discordant murmurings, then to roll out into the bright sunshine and there to sing in lyric accents of love and beauty.

So the style like the action never settles in dull monotony, which, be it ever so beautiful, ends by wearying the audience.

=61.= The verb to like meaning to be fond of (persons) is generally translated =querer=, but sometimes =gustar= is used.

To like (things) is =gustar=. We don't like our new neighbors very well.

To like (things) is =gustar=. We don't like our new neighbors very well.

=No queremos mucho a nuestros nuevos vecinos.= I don't like this house as well as I did the other.

=No me gusta esta casa tanto como me gustó la otra.= He will like these.

(a) Like used as a preposition of manner is translated =como= or =cual=. The girl is charming, like her mother.

(a) Like used as a preposition of manner is translated =como= or =cual=. The girl is charming, like her mother.

This boy sings like a bird.

=Este muchacho canta como un pájaro.= (b) To feel like in the sense of to want, desire, is translated =tener ganas de= with the infinitive.

I don't feel like going to-day.

like is translated =¿qué tal ...?= What's the new professor like?

like is translated =¿qué tal ...?= What's the new professor like?

Well, what do I look like to you?

I don't like this song, I'm not going to learn it.

This time I'm sure you will like what I have brought you.

I asked him what the new play was like and he said it was very interesting.

She had on a big hat that was like a bee-hive.

Every time I see him he talks like that (in that way).

Well, I don't like your new dress.

It looks like (=parecer=) an old lady's dress.

I do like that penknife, but I don't need one.