[290] He thus expresses himself relative to the changes which the drama has undergone:-- Este mudanza fue de _hombres prudentes_ Aplicando a las nuevas condiciones Nuevas cosas, que son las convenientes. [291] Mas _la invencion, la gracia y traza es propia A la ingeniousa fabula de España_, No qual dicen sus emulos impropia. Scenas y actos suple la _maraña_ Tan intricada, y la soltera de ella, _Inimitable de ningun estraña_. [292] A mi me culpan ... Que el un acto de cinco le he quitado, _Que reduci los actos en jornadas_, Qual vemos que _es en nuestro tiempo usado_. [293] See the preface of Blas Nasarre, the latest editor of the plays of Cervantes. [294] This at least is stated by Nasarre. [295] See the account prefixed to the sixth vol. of the Parnaso Español, and Dieze’s Remarks on Velasquez, p. 200. [296] _Primeras tragedias Españoles, de Antonio de Silva_, is the title of the edition which I have now before me, published at Madrid, in 1577, in 8vo. [297] This piece of silly adulation, is entitled _Hesperodia_; that is to say, evening song or morning song. The former, however, appears to be the more appropriate title, since the author doubtless wrote it in his old age. It has been drawn from the obscurity in which it ought to have remained, and printed in the eighth vol. of the Parnaso Español. Bermudez, in an affected strain of language, and with true Dominican fanaticism, extols the monstrous barbarity with which the great Duke of Alba persecuted the heretics of the Netherlands, and made “the cold northern waters flow the more fiercely from the infusion of warm blood.” [298] Under these titles they are reprinted in the _Parnaso Español_, vol. vi. [299] It commences in the following manner:-- Otro cielo, otro sol, me parece este, del que gozava yo sereno, y claro, alla de donde vengo, ay triste cielo, como en ti veo el tranze de mis hados. Ay que donde no veo aquellos ojos, que alumbran estos mios, quanto veo me pone horror, y grima, y se me antoja. Mas triste que la noche, y mas escuro, alla (ay dolor) los dexo alla en Coymbra tierra donde parò la hedad dorada, ò que no es tierra aquella, parayso la llamo de deleytes y frescuras. Alli tan claro es todo que aun la noche mas dia me parescè que de dia, alli es esmalte del florido suelo, mas que estrellado cielo representa; alli el concento de las avezillas, es un reclame dulze de las almas. [300] A few lines of this scene will serve to shew how Bermudez has imitated the dialogic antitheses of the Greek tragedy. _In._ Adonde huyre porque me dexen? _Se._ Huyr auras de ti por tu remedio. _In._ Ya no me vale hazer lo que no puedo. _Se._ Tu mismo te pusiste en tal flaqueza. _In._ No puedo, ni querria arrepentirme. _Se._ Con essa voluntad el yerro cresce. _In._ Si es yerro como dizes, otros uvo.