Page:Omniana 2.djvu/309

 Luys d'Escobar hyzo esta Letanya, T. 1, ff. 135.

This is so extraordinary and whimsical a work, that having once looked into it, I was led through the whole of the poetry, between 40 and 50,000 verses. "Social verses" of modern times are of all compositions the least interesting to those who are not concerned in them; but these "Diversions of Valladolid," such as Valladolid was nearly three centuries ago, give a most amusing picture of the Admiral and his circle of friends. They conceived the Friar to be a sort of living oracle, capable of resolving all questions, and every thing which came into their heads was propounded to him. Fray Luys complains in his Preface, or Argumento, as he calls it, that many of the questions came to him so badly versified, that it was more trouble to mend them than to reply to them, and they were not fit to appear till they were turned into a good