FERNANDO DEL PULGAR.

Flourished about 1492.

When

Fernando del Pulgar, secretary, counsellor, and chronicler to their Catholic Majesties Ferdinand and Isabel, was a native of the kingdom of Toledo, the true place of his birth being supposed to be between Toledo and Pulgar, whence he derives his appellative. Though the city of his parents is unknown, it is presumed that his education was conducted at the court of John II. and Henry IV., where he became acquainted with many prelates and gentlemen whose lives he afterwards undertook to write. Henry IV. came to the throne, Pulgar was already a person of some consideration; and it is supposed that during the latter years of this reign he held the office of secretary of state, and in that capacity began to serve their Catholic Majesties immediately on their accession to the throne. By them he was intrusted with several important commissions, and among others with an embassy to the court of France. After his return to Castile, he resided at court for some time as a counsellor, and then retired from the disquietude of public life, hoping for rest and leisure in his country mansion. But he was recalled, by order of the queen, in 1482, to write the chronicle of the Moorish kings then reigning in Andalusia; and it may be considered certain that from that time Pulgar constantly followed her majesty in her various expeditions. He was thus enabled to record as an eye-witness most of the important events which took place in Spain till the conquest of Granada in the year 1492. The most highly-appreciated works of Pulgar, however, are the 'Claros Varones,' or 'Eminent Men of Castile,' and his Letters to the queen and other eminent persons. His style is animated, concise, and witty without piquancy. It is characterised by elevation without pomp, and elegance without affectation. His descriptions are rapid and graphic, but always so independent, that the good and the evil are impartially exhibited. He has no superfluous words or useless reflections; he paints with one stroke, and never retouches. We should say that, of all the Castilian writers of his age, he relates the gravest matters with the greatest delicacy, and the most important with the greatest elegance. He portrays his characters strongly, but without adulation on the one hand, or acrimony on the other; and the contrasts which he so opportunely introduces became, as it were, the chiaroscuro which gives brilliancy to his pictures.

In his letters he seems to enjoy more freedom, and interweaves

with them many salutary maxims, both moral and political, which thus give a practical value to the philosophy of his counsels. It has been observed that F. del Pulgar teaches more of the science of human nature than all the previous historians of Spain put together.*

...

Character of Henry IV. of Castile.

'Claros Varones.'

This prince lived in the city of Segovia, apart from his father, during the greater part of his minority, and indulged in pleasures which youth is apt to demand, but which prudence ought to deny. There was no restraint upon him, and he was too young to restrain himself. He was a pious man, and had no wish either to injure any one himself, or to see an injury done; and so humane was he, that it was difficult for him to order the execution of justice on criminals, or to enforce the penalties of civil law which were necessary to the government of his kingdom. Sometimes he was indolent, and there was difficulty in overcoming his disinclination for business, because appetite was mistress of reason. He never manifested the least haughtiness either in word or deed; or covetousness in obtaining large domains by base or dishonourable means. If at any time he was angry, it was but for a short time, and his wrath never lasted so long as to injure either himself or any one else. He was a

great musician, and had much taste in singing and playing, as well as gracefulness in speaking on general subjects; but in the execu tion of matters of important and necessary business, he was sometimes negligent; for his thoughts were occupied with his accustomed pleasures, and these hinder the exercise of judgment in any one that is carried away by them. And certainly we hear some men talk very well, praising virtue, and condemning vice, in a general manner; but when a particular case presses on themselves, then, overcome by interest or pleasure, they neither persist in the virtue which they praised, nor resist the vice which they condemned.'

Character of Don Iñigo Lopez de Mendoza, Marquis of Santillana.

'Claros Varones.'

.' He was an acute and ingenious man, and equally satisfied to be engaged in things great or small. In the control of his appetites and the rationality of his conversation he showed himself to be a man of native superiority of mind. He spoke well, and was never heard to utter a word which might not have been sent to press, or noted down either for instruction or amusement. He was courteous and

*The first edition of the 'Claros Varones' was published in Seville in 1500. The volume includes some of his letters; but a complete impression was made at Alcalá in 1528. We follow a still more correct edition of Madrid, 1775.

affable to all that approached him, and especially to men of learning. He was a powerful warrior: before an action, he was prudent and temperate, and having entered upon it, he was bold and daring. Nor was his daring without circumspection, nor his prudence mingled with cowardice. In like manner he governed with great judgment the men-at-arms under his command; and well understood how to be both their captain and companion. Nor was he either haughty on account of his exaltation, nor low in the choice of his company; for within himself he had a humility which made him a friend of God, and outwardly he preserved such authority as rendered him respected among men. And exhibiting in his countenance a gracious liberality, he was beloved by the soldiers, and yet, fearing to offend him, they strictly obeyed his orders in battle?

Letter to Pedro de Toledo, Canon of Seville.

(It is without date, but was probably written in 1478.)

At present there are no news that I can write you; for in the time of good kings justice is administered; and justice produces fear, and fear prevents excesses; and where no excesses are, there is tranquillity; and where there is tranquillity, there are no outbreaks, which give rise to war, and occasion calamities. Hence my unexpectedly good news; though the evil spirit of Spain, restless and unquiet, seems to desire, if possible, to conjure appearances in the air which might produce war at home, since there is none from without. He knew what he was saying who described the Spaniards as daring in war, and in peace idle and turbulent. We give thanks to God that we have a king and queen, of whom you need only be told that they have no favourite; the having which has been the plea, and indeed the cause of discontent and disobedience in the kingdom. Know, then, that the favourite of the king is the queen, and the favourite of the queen is the king; and these hear, and judge, and will what is right, which hinders and destroys discord.... Do you ask how you should address me now? Know that they call me Fernando, and shall call me Fernando, and should they confer on me the grandmastership of Santiago-still Fernando; for by that title and honour do I wish to pass through life,* because no one can deprive me of it, and also because I believe that no title can confer virtue on him who has it not of his own.'

* Literally-to drive my mule.'

DIDACTIC AND EPISTOLARY PROSE.

ALPHONSO MARTINEZ DE TOLEDO.

1385?-1449.

It is presumed, though not certain, that this writer was born at Toledo, as it is well known that it was customary for the graduates of any faculty to receive as an honour the name of their birthplace as a second appellative. Neither is the year of his birth known; but if it be taken into account that he himself published, in the year 1432, his book 'Against the Common Report and Opinion that is falsely entertained concerning the Fates, Fortune, Signs and Planets,' we cannot be far wrong in presuming that he was born about the year 1385, or somewhat later. Of this work we cannot offer any extracts, as no copy is within our reach. The learned Perez Bayer refers to two editions of it-one of Legrono, 1529, in folio, and another of Seville, 1547, in octavo.

Of the same dates, both as to time and place, are the rare editions of the 'Corvacho,' or 'Book of Artful Women,' which are quoted by Don Nicolas Antonio. The full title of the 'Corvacho' is Libro de los Vicios de las Malas Mugeres é Complexiones de los ombres, Segun Algunos llamado Corvacho,' and the author tells us in the introduction that he was a chaplain of King John II., which is all that is known of his biography.*

'Corvacho.'

Chap. xviii., Part I.

'Another reason still do I urge why you should not indulge in the passion of love. Learning and its advantages are lost so soon as the man of letters abandons himself to inordinate affection. But it is very much to be doubted whether the learned man who thus indulges himself be at all wise, since he esteems it luxury, and

* Besides these editions of the 'Corvacho,' Mendez in his Tipografía Española' mentions other two of Toledo in 1499 and 1518, but the first of these is supposed to be the same as the one which belongs to the valuable and curious library of M. Enrique Ternaux-Campans, from which the accompanying extract is taken by Ochoa. Don Nicolas Antonio attributes also to this author the Atalaya de las Cronicas; and others ascribe to him the Invencionario,' but both were most probably written by Alphonso de Toledo.

cannot refrain from its enjoyments. But most especially do I wish to impress upon your mind that those most devoted to the pursuit of knowledge become more foolish and less able to extricate themselves when once involved than the simple and ignorant. Who ever heard of any man in the world so distinguished as Solomon, without equal in learning and knowledge, yet committing the most extraordinary acts of idolatry through the influence of his concubines? Look at Aristotle also, one of the learned sages of the world, suffering a bridle to be put into his mouth, and a saddle upon his back like a brutish ass, and his mistress to mount upon it, and give him ample allowance of the lash on the antipodes of the seat of knowledge! Who, then, that is wise ought not to avoid love as the plague, knowing that it made the sagest king an idolater, a slave, and a madman; and brought the most learned philosopher to prostrate himself on all-fours for the purpose of amusing a foolish woman? Let those who are smitten with this sudden passion only note this, and learn what I would have them avoid. Again-who has not heard of Virgil, a man of so much penetration and knowledge that never was there such another known, and you may verily read and know that in Rome he was suspended at the window of a tower, in sight of all the people, in order to indicate that his knowledge was so great that no woman on earth could deceive him. And she who did deceive him resolved to do so on account of this vain presumption; and as she determined, so certainly did she deceive him, for wickedness has no deed on earth too difficult for a woman to compass! But herein I would guard men against supposing that they must be deceived, and I wish to show that if a man will, he may avoid deception, though St Augustine doubts it. A man having perfect confidence in himself, may at times appear to put confidence in a woman, allowing her to imagine that she is deceiving and conquering him, in order to gratify her. In this the fault is rather his want of firmness than his want of knowledge. In consequence of such indulgences, women would sometimes try to please, and glory in the wickedness. But we cannot mention all the tricks which they have learned, do learn, and will daily learn, through being too fondly loved. Afterwards the aforesaid Virgil did not leave his mistress without repentance; for in one hour he extinguished all the fires in Rome by his magic art; so that all had to come to her to light their fire; and as the fire that one lighted did not kindle that of another, so every one had to come to light his own in her dwelling of shame; and all this was done in revenge for the disgrace she had brought on the celebrated sage.'.