Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/257

233 lestina. I ROMANTIC FICTION AND TOETRY. 233 earliest theatrical attempts, after the religious dra- chapter XX mas and popular pantomimes already noticed ; but unfortunately they have not come down to us. The next production deserving attention is, a "Dia- logue between Love and an Old Man," imputed to Rodrigo Cota, a poet of whose history nothing seems to be known, and little conjectured, but that he flourished during the reigns of John the Second, and Henry the Fourth. The dialogue is written with much vivacity and grace, and with as much dramatic movement as is compatible with only two interlocutors. ^^ A much more memorable production is referred Tragicom- r edy of Ce- to the same author, the tragicomedy of " Celes- tina," or " Calisto and Melibea," as it is frequent- ly called. The first act, indeed, constituting near- ly one third of the piece, is all that is ascribed to Cota. The remaining twenty, which however should rather be denominated scenes, were contin- pre valence of so gross a blunder of human life, suggested by a sea- among the Spanish scholars, shows fight near Ponza, in 1435. It is how little the antiquities of their conducted without any attempt at theatre were studied before the dramatic action or character, or, time of Mora tin. indeed, dramatic developement of 35 This little piece has been any sort. The same remarks may published at length by Moratin, in be made of the political satire, the first volume of his works. " Mingo Rev ulgo," which appear- (See Origenes del Teatro Espafiol, ed in Henry IV. 's reign. Dia- Obras, torn. i. pp. 303- 314.) logue was selected by these au- The celebrated marquis of San- thors as a more popular and spirited tillana's poetical dialogue, " Co- medium than direct narrative for medieta da Ponza," has no preten- conveying their sentiments. The sions to rank as a dramatic com- " Comedieta da Ponza" has never position., notwithstanding its title, appeared in print ; the copy which which is indeed as little significant I have used is a transcript from the of its real character, as the term one in the royal library at Madrid, " Commedia "is of Dante's epic, and belongs to Mr. George Tick- It is a discourse on the vicissitudes nor. VOL. II. 30