Tirant lo Blanch; a study of its authorship, principal sources and historical settingVaeth, Joseph Anthony
History
Tirant lo Blanch; a study of its authorship, principal sources and historical setting
Vaeth, Joseph Anthony
Martorell, Joanot, -1468. Tirant lo Blanch
But if we conclude that de Galba neither translated nor wrote a
considerable part of the work, what did he do that would give him any
right to claim part of the honor in the production? Perhaps Givanel
Mas is right when he hints that de Galba’s rôle was limited to the
preparation of the manuscript for publication. We are rather inclined
to accept that suggestion. We are, however, disposed to add that
probably de Galba did contribute something to the story. Perhaps he
wrote the very last chapter, which consists of about three hundred
words. We suggest this probability, because the reading of that chapter
leaves the impression that the ending of the story is overdone. It may
be that he wrote it for no other reason than to be able to say that he
“translated” the fourth part, “la fi del libre.” In this chapter we
are told that under the rule of Hypolite the empire was prosperous and
extended its limits. After the death of the empress, according to the
same chapter, he married a daughter of the King of England, who bore
him three sons and two daughters. The eldest of these sons was named
after his father and performed great deeds of prowess. The emperor and
the empress reached a very advanced age, and they died on the same day.
Their rule was so excellent, and their lives were so good and virtuous,
that we may feel assured that they are now enjoying the glory of heaven.
We have not been able to find anything in the style and language of
this last chapter that would indicate that it was written by any other
than Martorell, and we confess that our suggestion is based almost
exclusively upon the fact that it might very well have been omitted.
In the chapters immediately preceding this one, Tirant and Carmesina
are placed in their tomb, Hypolite marries the empress, rewards his
friends, and marries them to ladies of the imperial court. The closing
words of the next to the last chapter are:
“Apres dona a tots aquells qui se eren casats ab les criades de la
Emperadriu e de la Princessa bones heretats, quen podien molt be viure
a lur honor, e cascu segons son grau, que tots nestauen molt contents.
E apres per temps casa totes les altres axi com de bon senyor se
pertanyia.”[31]
[31] Afterwards, to all those who had married the maids of the
empress and of the princess, he gave generous gifts, so that they
could live well and in honor, and each one according to his rank.
As a result all were very happy. And in time, as a worthy lord
ought, he gave all the others maids in marriage.
The passage just quoted seems to have been intended for the conclusion
of _Tirant lo Blanch_. This indication, together with the fact that the
last chapter seems unnecessary and superfluous, surely justifies the
suggestion that probably de Galba wrote “la fi del libre,” but not the
fourth part, unless he called these last few lines “la quarta part.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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