[Page 324].—l. 1. This sonnet bears the date 6 de Enero de 1866. In his notes (8th ed. p. 328) the author says: “Escrita y publicada en circunstancias azarosas y difíciles, cuando el sentimiento revolucionario estaba más vivo en la opinión.” All the poems here printed are from the Gritos del combate.
l. 15. el monasterio: i.e., the Escurial.
l. 25. viento del Guadarrama: a chill wind which sweeps over Madrid.
[Page 326].—ll. 25-26. hijo ... rey devoto: Philip III. († 1621).
l. 29. Aquel, etc.: Philip IV. († 1665).
l. 33. el monarca enfermizo: Charles III. († 1700).
[MARCELINO MENÉNDEZ Y PELAYO]. One of the most illustrious literary critics of our age, a scholar of rare erudition, a poet whose verse is ever harmonious and graceful. Several of his critical works have been mentioned in these notes. His best poems may be found in the volume Odas, epístolas y tragedias, Madrid, 1883. The humanistic bent of the man prevails even in his lyrics. Cf. Blanco-García, II, 601 ff.
[Page 331].—l. 3. Clitumno: the Clitunno, an Umbrian river.
l. 22. Menandro: Menander, a Greek comic poet of the fourth century B.C.
[Page 332].—l. 4. Amador ... nada: Leopardi, cf. [note to p. 316, l. 11].