History of Spanish Literature, vol. 3 (of 3)Ticknor, George
History
History of Spanish Literature, vol. 3 (of 3)
Ticknor, George
Spanish literature -- History and criticism
To these writers of the end of the sixteenth and the first half of the
seventeenth century a few more might be added, of less consequence.
Juan de Guzman, in 1589, published a formal treatise on Rhetoric, in
the seventh dialogue of which he makes an ingenious application of
the rules of the Greek and Roman masters to the demands of modern
sermonizing in Spain.[251] Gracian Dantisco, one of the secretaries of
Philip the Second, published in 1599 a small discourse on the minor
morals of life, which he called the “Galateo,” in imitation of Giovanni
della Casa, whose classical Italian treatise bearing the same name
was already translated into Spanish.[252] In the same year appeared a
curious work by Pedro de Andrada, on “The Art of Horsemanship,” well
written and learned, with amusing anecdotes of horses; and this was
followed, in 1605, by a similar treatise of Simon de Villalobos, but
one which, from its more military character, and from the exaggerated
importance it gives to its subject, might well have been made a part
of Don Quixote’s library.[253] Both of them bear marks of the state of
society at the time they were written.
[251] “Primera Parte de la Rhetórica, etc., por Juan de Guzman,”
Alcalá, 1590, 12mo, 291 leaves. It is divided affectedly into
fourteen “Combites,” or Invitations to Feasts. Its author was a
pupil of the famous Sanctius, “El Brocense.”
[252] The “Galateo” was several times reprinted. It is a small
book, containing, in the edition of Madrid, 1664, only 126 leaves
in 18mo. Antonio, Bib. Nov., Tom. II. p. 17.
[253] “Libro de la Gineta de España, por Pedro Fernandez de
Andrada,” Sevilla, 1599, 4to, 182 leaves.--“Modo de pelear á la
Gineta, por Simon de Villalobos,” Valladolid, 1605, 18mo, 70
leaves.
Paton, the author of several works of little value, published, in
1604, a crude treatise on “The Art of Spanish Eloquence,” founded on
the rules of the ancients;[254] and, in Mexico, Aleman, while living
there, printed, in 1609, a treatise on “Castilian Orthography,” which,
besides what is appropriate to the title, contains pleasant discussions
on other topics connected with the language, over which he has himself
shown a great mastery in his “Guzman de Alfarache.”[255] A series of
conversations on miscellaneous subjects, divided into seven nights,
which their author, Faria y Sousa, intended to have called simply
“Moral Dialogues,” but which his bookseller, without his knowledge,
published in 1624 with the title of “Brilliant Nights,” are dull and
pedantic, like nearly every thing this learned Portuguese wrote; and
the second part, which he offered to the public, was never called
for.[256] And, finally, another Portuguese, Francisco de Portugal, who
died in 1632,[257] wrote a pleasant treatise on “The Art of Gallantry,”
with anecdotes showing the state of fashionable, or rather courtly,
society at the time; but it was not printed till long after its
author’s death.[258]
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