[106] Philip IV. is usually described as a man of artistic tastes, but the evidence does not altogether support this view. For instance, on February 18, 1637, at a poetical improvisation in the Buen Retiro, Philip set Calderón and Vélez de Guevara the following subjects:—(1) ‘Why is Jupiter always painted with a fair beard?’ (2) ‘Why are the waiting-women at Court called _mondongas_, though they do not sell _mondongo_ (black-pudding)?’ Time did not improve Philip. Some twenty years later, according to Barrionuevo, Philip arranged that women only should attend a certain performance at the theatre, and gave instructions that they should leave off their _guardain-fantes_ on this occasion. His idea was to be present with the Queen, and (from a spot where he could see without being observed) watch the effect when a hundred mice were suddenly let out of mice-traps in the _casuela_ and _patio_—‘which, if it takes place, will be worth seeing, and a diversion for Their Majesties.’ Owing (apparently) to remonstrances which reached him, Philip was compelled to abandon the project, but his intention gives the measure of his refinement. See an instructive article, entitled _Los Jardines del Buen Retiro_, by Sr. D. Rodrigo Amador de los Rios in _La España Moderna_ (January 1905); and the _Arisos de D. Jerónimo to de Barrionuevo_ (1654-1658) edited by Sr. D. Antonio Paz y Mélia (Madrid, 892-93), vol. ii, p. 308. [107] It may be worth noting that the date of Pereda’s birth is wrongly given in all the books of reference, and he himself was mistaken on the point. He was born on February 6, 1833, and not—as he thought—on February 7, 1834. INDEX Abad de los Romances (Domingo), 53-54. Abarbanel (Judas), 147. Abbatini (Antonio Maria), 191. _Abindarraez y Jarifa, Historia de_, 111. Abentarique (Abulcacim Tarif), 88. Achilles Tatius, 162. Accursius, 44. Acquaviva (Giulio), 123. Æsop, 35. Águila (Suero del), 60. Aguilar (Alonso de), 105, 106. —— (Gaspar de), 211. Alarcón (Juan Ruiz de). _See_ Ruiz de Alarcón. —— (Pedro Antonio de), 235-236. Alas (Leopoldo), 246. Albornoz (Gil de), 28, 29, 43. Alcalá Galiano (Antonio Maria de), 2. Alemán (Mateo), 149. Alfonso V. (of Aragón), 76, 82, 104. —— V. (of León), 93. —— VI. (of Castile), 4, 5, 6, 7. —— X. [the Learned], (of Castile), 21. —— XI. (of Castile), 49. _Alixandre, Libro de_, 25, 49. Al-Kadir. _See_ Yahya Al-Kadir. Almanzor, 93. _Almería, Rhymed Latin Chronicle of_, 4. Al-muktadir, 6. Al-mustain, 6, 7. Al-mutamen, 6. Alton (Johann), 85 _n_. Álvarez de Villasandino (Alfonso), 57. _Amore, De._ _See_ Pamphilus Maurilianus. Andrade y Rivadeneyra (Jerónimo de), 225. _Anséis de Carthage_, 85. _Apolonio, Libro de_, 25, 47. Argote de Molina (Gonzalo), 53, 62, 71, 107. —— y Góngora (Luis). _See_ Góngora y Argote (Luis). _Athenæum, The_, 208.