BOOK I.

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

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Rise of Portuguese poetry 1

Gonzalo Hermiguez and Egaz Moniz, poets of the twelfth century 5

Early essay in epic poetry 8

King Diniz of Portugal, a poet of the thirteenth century 9

Poets of the royal family in the fourteenth century 10

Oldest specimens of Portuguese prose 14

Intimate connection of the Portuguese and Galician poetry.--The Galician poet Macias 15

The Cancioneiros Geraes 17

Deficiency with regard to historical romances--little influence of the cultivation of Latin verse on Portuguese lyric poetry 20

Early cultivation of historical prose in Portuguese literature 21

Increase of Portuguese power, followed by the rapid developement of the national poetry, at the commencement of the sixteenth century 23

Bernardim Ribeyro 24

His eclogues 25

His cantigas 30

His romance of Menina e Moça 33

Christovaõ Falcaõ 39

Other ancient lyric poems 44