PANIAGUADO,
academician of Argamasilla,
in LAUDEM DULCINEAE del Toboso
She, whose full features may be here descried,
High-bosomed, with a bearing of disdain,
Is Dulcinea, she for whom in vain
The great Don Quixote of La Mancha sighed.
For her, Toboso’s queen, from side to side
He traversed the grim sierra, the champaign
Of Aranjuez, and Montiel’s famous
plain:
On Rocinante oft a weary ride.
Malignant planets, cruel destiny,
Pursued them both, the fair Manchegan
dame,
And the unconquered star of chivalry.
Nor youth nor beauty saved her from the
claim
Of death; he paid love’s bitter penalty,
And left the marble to preserve his name.
CAPRICHOSO, A most acute academician
of Argamasilla, in praise of
Rocinante,
steed of Don Quixote of la
Mancha
On that proud throne of diamantine sheen,
Which the blood-reeking feet of Mars degrade,
The mad Manchegan’s banner now hath been
By him in all its bravery displayed.
There hath he hung his arms and trenchant
blade
Wherewith, achieving deeds till now unseen,
He slays, lays low, cleaves, hews; but
art hath made
A novel style for our new paladin.
If Amadis be the proud boast of Gaul,
If by his progeny the fame of Greece
Through all the regions of
the earth be spread,
Great Quixote crowned in grim Bellona’s hall
To-day exalts La Mancha over these,
And above Greece or Gaul she
holds her head.
Nor ends his glory here, for his good steed
Doth Brillador and Bayard far exceed;
As mettled steeds compared with Rocinante,
The reputation they have won is scanty.
BURLADOR, academician of Argamasilla,
on Sancho Panza
The worthy Sancho Panza here you see;
A great soul once was in that
body small,
Nor was there squire upon
this earthly ball
So plain and simple, or of guile so free.
Within an ace of being Count was he,
And would have been but for
the spite and gall
Of this vile age, mean and
illiberal,
That cannot even let a donkey be.
For mounted on an ass (excuse the word),
By Rocinante’s side
this gentle squire
Was wont his wandering
master to attend.
Delusive hopes that lure the common herd
With promises of ease, the
heart’s desire,
In shadows, dreams,
and smoke ye always end.
CACHIDIABLO,
academician of Argamasilla,
on the tomb of Don Quixote
epitaph
