ll. 32-34. Lena, etc.: places in Oviedo.
[JUAN MELÉNDEZ VALDÉS]. Appointed a Professor at the University of Salamanca by Jovellanos, Meléndez Valdés there became head of a school of writers—called the Salamancan school—who adopted French methods in the composition of Spanish lyric poetry. In politics, Meléndez was also a French sympathizer, and as such he was made a counsellor and Minister of Public Education under Joseph Bonaparte. With the fall of the Napoleonic power he had to leave Spain in 1813, and in 1817 he died in France. 378 Melody, lucidity and plasticity are the chief characteristics of his verse, which is somewhat marred, however, by an excess of Gallicisms. Cf. his Poesías, Madrid, 1785 (and 1820); vol. II of Poetas líricos del siglo XVIII in the Biblioteca de autores españoles, vol. 63; the Life by Quintana in the edition of the Poesías, Madrid, 1820, and in vol. 19 of the Biblioteca de autores españoles; E. Mérimée in the Revue hispanique, I, 217 ff.; Ticknor, III, 311 ff.
[Page 211].—l. 20. Cf. this ode in arte menor with Lamartine’s poem, Au rossignol; Lamartine’s lyric strongly resembles this.
[Page 214].—l. 19. Not infrequently, as here, Meléndez adhered to the native Spanish measures.
[FRAY DIEGO GONZÁLEZ]. An Augustinian monk, and a member of the Salamancan school headed by Meléndez. But his sympathies were divided between a respect for French methods and a fondness for the older Spanish manner, and to some degree he was a disciple of Luis de León, as may be seen by his translations of the Psalms. He was very successful in lighter verse, producing a genuine classic in his Murciélago alevoso. Cf. his Poesías, Madrid, 1812; Ticknor, III, 318 ff.
[Page 218].—l. 7. Note that suave is generally trisyllabic.
[JOSÉ IGLESIAS DE LA CASA]. A cleric and a member of the Salamancan school. His verse is now in the lighter vein, and again satirical after the manner of Quevedo. Cf. his Poesías, Paris, 1821; vol. I of the Líricos del siglo XVIII in the Biblioteca de autores españoles; Ticknor, III, 320.
[Page 222].—l. 28. Londra, i.e., alondra.
[NICASIO ÁLVAREZ DE CIENFUEGOS]. Among the members of the Salamancan coterie, the most important disciple of Meléndez. His poems show much real sentiment, but are not entirely free from affectation. He was a stout patriot and quite free from the French political sympathies of his master. Cf. his Obras poéticas, Madrid, 1816; vol. III of the Líricos del siglo XVIII; Ticknor, III, 320 f.
[Page 223].—l. 18. el favonio coro, the Zephyr chorus.