[572] La Huerta includes this play among the four Comedias Heroycas of his Theatro Hespañol, probably for the sake of its elegant language; for in other respects it would not have been difficult to have selected a better drama in the class to which it belongs.
[573] This comedy, which may be found in many collections, is also included in La Huerta’s Theatro Hespañol.
[574] This piece is also contained in the Theatro Hespañol.
[575] For example, the word Madamisela from the French Mademoiselle. In like manner Cervantes introduced the word Madama, but it is employed only in a comic sense.
[576] I have seen the third edition of the poetic writings of this lady. The following is the title:—Poemas de la unica poetisa Americana, Musa decima, Soror Juana Inez de la Cruz, &c. Sacolas a luz D. Juan Camacho Gayna, Cavallero del orden de Santiago, &c. Barcelona 1691, in quarto.—It certainly would not be fair to pass by unnoticed a book of this kind which went through three editions.
[577] The following is one of three sonnets, in which the authoress rings changes on the theme, “whether it is better to be beloved without loving, or to love without being beloved.”
Feliciano me adora, y le aborrezco;
Lisardo me aborrece, y le adoro;
por quien no me apetece ingrato, lloro;
y al que me llora tierno, no apetezco:
A quien mas me desdora, el alma ofrezco,
à quien me ofrece victimas, desdoro;
desprecio al que enrriqueze mi decoro;
y al que le haze desprecios, enrriquezco:
Si con mi ofensa al uno reconvengo,
me reconviene el otro à mi ofendido
y à padecer de todos modos vengo;
Pues ambos atormentan mi sentido;
aqueste con pedir lo que no tengo,
y aqueste con no tener lo que le pido.
[578] For example, the following, in which, however, the play of the Antitheses becomes at last frigid.
En persiguirme, Mundo, que interessas?
en que te ofendo? quando solo intento
poner bellezas en mi entendimiento,
y no mi entendimiento en las bellezas?
Yo no estimo thesoros, ni riquezas;
y assi, siempre me causa mas contento,
poner riquezas en mi entendimiento;
que no mi entendimiento en las riquezas.
Y no estimo hermosura, que vencida,
es despojo civil de las Edades;
ni riqueza me agrada fementida:
Teniendo por mejor en mis Verdades,
consumir vanidades de la Vida,
que consumir la Vida en vanidades.
[579] One of these lyric romances begins in the following manner:—