Que el prudente es obediente
Todavia
A moral filosofía
Y sirviente.
A few of the hundred proverbs have a prose commentary by the Marquis himself; but neither have these the good fortune to escape the learned discussions of the Toledan Doctor. The whole collection is spoken of slightingly by the wise author of the “Diálogo de las Lenguas.” Mayans y Siscar, Orígenes, Tom. II. p. 13.
The same Pero Diaz, who burdened the Proverbs of the Marquis of Santillana with a commentary, prepared, at the request of John II., a collection of proverbs from Seneca, which were first printed in 1482, and afterwards went through several editions. (Mendez, Typog., pp. 266 and 197.) I have one of Seville, 1500 (fol., 66 leaves). They are about one hundred and fifty in number, and the prose gloss with which each is accompanied seems in better taste and more becoming its position than it does in the case of the rhymed proverbs of the Marquis.
[637] In the Preface to the “Coronacion,” Obras, Alcalá, 1566, 12mo, f. 260.
[638] This important letter—which, from the notice of it by Argote de Molina, (Nobleza, 1588, f. 335,) was a sort of acknowledged introduction to the Cancionero of the Marquis—is found, with learned notes to it, in the first volume of Sanchez. The Constable of Portugal, to whom it was addressed, died in 1466.
[639] I do not account him learned, because he had not the accomplishment common to all learned men of his time,—that of speaking Latin. This appears from the very quaint and rare treatise of the “Vita Beata,” by Juan de Lucena, his contemporary and friend, where (ed. 1483, fol., f. ii. b) the Marquis is made to say, “Me veo defetuoso de letras Latinas,” and adds, that the Bishop of Burgos and Juan de Mena would have carried on in Latin the discussion recorded in that treatise, instead of carrying it on in Spanish, if he had been able to join them in that learned language. That the Marquis could read Latin, however, is probable from his works, which are full of allusions to Latin authors, and sometimes contain imitations of them.
[640] The chief materials for the life of Juan de Mena are to be found in some poor verses by Francisco Romero, in his “Epicedio en la Muerte del Maestro Hernan Nuñez,” (Salamanca, 1578, 12mo, pp. 485, etc.,) at the end of the “Refranes de Hernan Nuñez.” Concerning the place of his birth there is no doubt. He alludes to it himself (Trescientas, Copla 124) in a way that does him honor.