| PAGE | ||
| ESSAY ON SPANISH POETRY | [1] | |
| LIFE OF GARCILASSO | [93] | |
| VERSES ON THE DEATH OF GACILASSO | [169] | |
| ECLOGUES. | ||
| I. | TO DON PEDRO DE TOLEDO, VICEROY OF NAPLES | [181] |
| II. | [196] | |
| III. | TO THE LADY MARIA DE LA CUEVA, COUNTESS OF UREÑA | [266] |
| ELEGIES. | ||
| I. | TO THE DUKE OF ALVA | [283] |
| II. | TO BOSCA'N | [293] |
| EPISTLE TO BOSCA'N | [300] | |
| ODES, &c. | ||
| I. | TO THE FLOWER OF GNIDO | [305] |
| II. | TO HIS LADY | [309] |
| III. | TO THE SAME | [312] |
| IV. | WRITTEN IN EXILE | [315] |
| V. | THE PROGRESS OF PASSION FOR HIS LADY | [319] |
| SONNETS. | ||
| I. | "WHEN I SIT DOWN TO CONTEMPLATE MY CASE." | [327] |
| II. | "AT LENGTH INTO THY HANDS I COME—TO DIE." | [328] |
| III. | "AWHILE MY HOPES WILL TOWER ALOFT IN AIR." | [329] |
| IV. | "LADY, THY FACE IS WRITTEN IN MY SOUL." | [330] |
| V. | "BY RUGGED WAYS I REACH TOWARDS A BOURN." | [331] |
| VI. | "HE WHO HAS LOST SO MUCH, STERN DEITY." | [332] |
| VII. | "FROM THAT ILLUMINED FACE, PURE, MILD, AND SWEET." | [333] |
| VIII. | "IF I LIVE ON, DEAR LADY, IN THE VOID." | [334] |
| IX. | "OH LOVELY GIFTS, BY ME TOO FATAL FOUND!" | [335] |
| X. | "IN ORDER TO RESTRAIN THIS MAD DESIRE." | [336] |
| XI. | "STRANGE ICY THROES THE ARMS OF DAPHNE BIND." | [337] |
| XII. | "AS A FOND MOTHER, WHOSE SICK INFANT LIES." | [338] |
| XIII. | "IF LAMENTATIONS AND COMPLAINTS COULD REIN." | [339] |
| XIV. | EPITAPH ON HIS BROTHER, D. FERNANDO DE GUZMAN. | [340] |
| XV. | "FATE! IN MY GRIEFS SOLE AGENT, HOW HAVE I." | [341] |
| XVI. | "THINKING THE PATH I JOURNEYED LED ME RIGHT." | [342] |
| XVII. | "IF I AM WAX TO THY SWEET WILL, AND HENCE." | [343] |
| XVIII. | TO JULIO CÆSAR CARACCIOLA | [344] |
| XIX. | "SO STRONGLY ARE THE CRUEL WINDS COMBINED." | [345] |
| XX. | TO D. ALONSO DE AVALO, MARQUIS DEL VASTO. | [346] |
| XXI. | "WITH KEEN DESIRE TO SEE WHAT THE FINE SWELL." | [347] |
| XXII. | "AS, LOVE, THE LILY AND PURPUREAL ROSE." | [348] |
| XXIII. | "PROSTRATE ON EARTH THE LOFTY COLUMN LIES." | [349] |
| XXIV. | FROM AUSIAS MARCH | [350] |
| XXV. | TO BOSCA'N | [351] |
| XXVI. | "WILD DOUBTS, THAT FLOATING IN MY BRAIN DELIGHT." | [352] |
| XXVII. | "WITHIN MY SPIRIT WAS CONCEIVED IN TRAIN." | [353] |
| XXVIII. | "I AM FOR EVER BATHED IN TEARS, I REND." | [354] |
| XXIX. | "PAST NOW THE COUNTRIES OF THE MIDLAND MAIN." | [355] |
| XXX. | TO BOSCA'N, FROM GOLETTA | [356] |
| XXXI. | "I THANK THEE, HEAVEN, THAT I HAVE SNAPT IN TWAIN." | [357] |
| XXXII. | TO MARIO GALEOTA | [358] |
| XXXIII. | "MY TONGUE GOES AS GRIEF GUIDES IT, AND I STRAY." | [359] |
| XXXIV. | "ENTERING A VALLEY IN A SANDY WASTE." | [360] |
| XXXV. | "LOUD BLEW THE WINDS IN ANGER AND DISDAIN." | [361] |
| XXXVI. | TO THE MARCHIONESS OF PADULA | [362] |
| XXXVII. | "FAIR NAIADS OF THE RIVER| THAT RESIDE." | [363] |
| TO HIS LADY, HAVING MARRIED ANOTHER | [364] | |
| TO THE SAME | [365] | |
| ON A DEPARTURE | [366] | |
| IMPROMPTU TO A LADY | [367] | |
| TRANSLATION FROM OVID | [368] | |
| COMMENT ON A TEXT | [369] | |
| TO FERNANDO DE ACUÑA | [370] | |
| APPENDIX | [371] | |
⁂ The Drawing of Garcilasso is by Mr. Louis Parez; the Designs and Engravings of the Wood-cuts by Mr. S. Williams.
ESSAY ON SPANISH POETRY.
CHAPTER I.
OF THE ORIGIN OF SPANISH POETRY, AND ITS PROGRESS TO JUAN DE MENA.
To poetry is given by general assent the first place amongst the imitative arts. Whether we regard the antiquity of its origin, the range of objects which it embraces, the duration and pleasure of its impressions, or the good it produces, we must be struck alike with its dignity and importance; and the history of its advances must ever go hand in hand with that of the other branches of human improvement. It is said that poetry and music civilized the nations; and this proposition, which, rigorously examined, is exaggerated, and even false, shows at least the influence that both have had in the formation of society. The lessons given by the first philosophers to men, the first laws, the most ancient systems, all were written in verse; whilst the fancy of the poets, the flattering pictures and pomp of rites, which they invented, interrupted, with a pleasing and necessary relaxation, the fatigue of rural labours.
It is true that poetry does not afterwards present itself with the dignity attendant upon the absolute and exclusive exercise of these various services; yet it preserves an influence so great in our instruction, in our moral perfection, and our pleasures, that we may consider it as a dispenser of the same benefits, though under different forms. It serves as an attraction to make truth amiable, or as a veil to screen her; it instructs infancy in the schools, awakens and directs the sensibilities of youth, ennobles the spirit with its maxims, sublimes it with its pictures, strews with flowers the path of virtue, and unbars to heroism the gates of glory. So many advantages, united with charms so fascinating, have excited in mankind an admiration and a gratitude eternal.
Its primary and essential business is to paint nature for our delight, as that of philosophy is to explain her phenomena for our instruction. Thus, whilst the philosopher, observing the stars, inquires into their proportions, their distances, and the laws of their motion, the poet contemplates and transfers to his verses the impression they make upon his fancy and feelings, the lustre with which they shine, the harmony that reigns amongst them, and the benefits which they dispense to the earth. The difficulty of fulfilling worthily and well the object of poetry is extreme, even though, considering the rapid progress which it sometimes makes, it might appear easy. From the vague maxim or insipid tale, rendered vigorous by the charm of an uncertain rhyme or rude measure, to the harmony and sustained elegance of the Iliad or Eneid; from the waggon and winelees of Thespis to the grand spectacle offered by the Iphigénie or Tancrède, the distance is immense, and can only be overcome by the greatest efforts of application and genius.