BOOK I

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FROM THE END OF THE THIRTEENTH TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

Probable period of the first romances 27

Poema del Cid 28

Poema de Alexandro Magno 30

Gonzalo Berceo 31

Alphonso X.; his literary merits.--Nicolas and Antonio de los romances, &c. 32

Alphonso XI. 35

Early cultivation of Castilian prose.--Don Juan Manuel; his Conde Lucanor; his romances 36

Satirical poem of Juan Ruyz, arch-priest of Hita 44

More precise account of the origin of the Spanish poetic romances and songs.--Probable rise of the romances of chivalry in prose.--Original relationship of the poetic and prose romances 47

The different kinds of poetic romance 53

Castilian poetry in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries 72

Poetical court of John II. 76

The Marquis of Villena 78

The Marquis of Santillana--his poetical works--his historical and critical letter 82

Juan de Mena 90

Perez de Guzman, Rodriguez de Padron, and other Spanish lyric poets of the age of John II. 100

Of the Cancionero General, and the different kinds of ancient Spanish songs 102

Of the Romancero General 121

First traces of the origin of Spanish dramatic poetry in the Mingo Rebulgo.--Juan del Enzina.--Calistus and Melibœa, a dramatic tale 128

Further account of Spanish prose.--Rise of the historical art.--Early progress of the epistolary style 137

Juan de la Enzina’s Art of Castilian poetry 145

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