Note 200 — Chapter XIII
Reading edition
There is a life of Lope de Vega, which was first published in a single volume, by the third Lord Holland, in 1806, and again, with the addition of a life of Guillen de Castro, in two volumes, 8vo, London, 1817. It is a pleasant book, and contains a good notice of both its subjects, and judicious criticisms on their works; but it is quite as interesting for the glimpses it gives of the fine accomplishments and generous spirit of its author, who spent some time in Spain when he was about thirty years old, and never afterwards ceased to take an interest in its affairs and literature. He was much connected with Jovellanos, Blanco White, and other distinguished Spaniards; not a few of whom, in the days of disaster that fell on their country during the French invasion, and the subsequent misgovernment of Ferdinand VII., enjoyed the princely hospitality of Holland House, where the benignant and frank kindliness of its noble master shed a charm and a grace over what was most intellectual and elevated in European society that could be given by nothing else.
Lope’s own account of his origin and birth, in a poetical epistle to a Peruvian lady, who addressed him in verse, under the name of “Amarylis,” is curious. The correspondence is found in the first volume of his Obras Sueltas, (Madrid, 1776-1779, 21 tom. 4to), Epístolas XV. and XVI.; and was first printed by Lope, if I mistake not, in 1624. It is now referred to for the following important lines:—
Tiene su silla en la bordada alfombra De Castilla el valor de la montaña, Que el valle de Carriedo España nombra. Allí otro tiempo se cifraba España; Allí tuve principio; mas que importa Nacer laurel y ser humilde caña? Falta dinero allí, la tierra es corta; Vino mi padre del solar de Vega: Assí á los pobres la nobleza exhorta; Siguióle hasta Madrid, de zelos ciega, Su amorosa muger, porque él queria Una Española Helena, entonces Griega. Hicieron amistades, y aquel dia Fué piedra en mi primero fundamento La paz de su zelosa fantasía, En fin por zelos soy; que nacimiento! Imaginalde vos que haver nacido De tan inquieta causa fué portento.
And then he goes on with a pleasant account of his making verses as soon as he could speak; of his early passion for Raymond Lulli, the metaphysical doctor then so much in fashion; of his subsequent studies, his family, etc. Lope loved to refer to his origin in the mountains. He speaks of it in his “Laurel de Apolo,” (Silva VIII.), and in two or three of his plays he makes his heroes boast that they came from that part of Spain to which he traced his own birth. Thus, in “La Venganza Venturosa,” (Comedias, 4to, Madrid, Tom. X., 1620, f. 33. b), Feliciano, a high-spirited old knight, says,—
El noble solar que heredo, No lo daré á rico infame, Porque nadie me lo llame En el valle de Carriedo.
And again, in the opening of the “Premio del Bien Hablar,” (4to, Madrid, Tom. XXI, 1635, f. 159), where he seems to describe his own case and character:—
Nací en Madrid, aunque son En Galicia los solares De mi nacimiento noble, De mis abuelos y padres. Para noble nacimiento Ay en España tres partes, Galicia, Vizcaya, Asturias, O ya montañas le llaman.
The valley of Carriedo is said to be very beautiful, and Miñano, in his “Diccionario Geográfico,” (Madrid, 8vo, Tom. II., 1826, p. 40), describes La Vega as occupying a fine position on the banks of the Sandoñana.