Note 434 — Chapter XVIII

See the Dedication of the “Francesilla” to Juan Perez de Montalvan, in Comedias, Tom. XIII., Madrid, 1620, where we have the following words: “And note in passing that this is the first play in which was introduced the character of the jester, which has been so often repeated since. Rios, unique in all parts, played it, and is worthy of this record. I pray you to read it as a new thing; for when I wrote it, you were not born.” The gracioso was generally distinguished by his name on the Spanish stage, as he was afterwards on the French stage. Thus, Calderon often calls his gracioso Clarin, or Trumpet; as Molière called his Sganarelle. The simplé, who, as I have said, can be traced back to Enzina, and who was, no doubt, the same with the bobo, is mentioned as very successful, in 1596, by Lopez Pinciano, who, in his “Philosofía Antigua Poética,” (1596, p. 402), says, “They are characters that commonly amuse more than any other that appear in the plays.” The gracioso of Lope was, like the rest of his theatre, founded on what existed before his time; only the character itself was further developed, and received a new name. D. Quixote, Clemencin, Parte II. cap. 3, note.