Note 221 — Chapter VII
Reading edition
In the humorous ballad, “Tanta Zayda y Adalifa,” (first printed, Flor de Romances, Quinta Parte, Burgos, 1594, 18mo, f. 158,) we have the following:—
Renegaron de su ley Los Romancistas de España, Y ofrecieronle a Mahoma Las primicias de sus galas. Dexaron los graves hechos De su vencedora patria, Y mendigan de la agena Invenciones y patrañas.
Like renegades to Christian faith, These ballad-mongers vain Have given to Mahound himself The offerings due to Spain; And left the record of brave deeds Done by their sires of old, To beg abroad, in heathen lands, For fictions poor and cold.
Góngora, too, attacked them in an amusing ballad,—“A mis Señores poetas,”—and they were defended in another, beginning “Porque, Señores poetas.”