Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 13.djvu/437

* MEXICAN LITERATURE. 401 MEXICAN LITERATURE. .Utxicu/iu (c. lOOUj is an admirable compan- ion volume to Friar Diego Duran's Histoiia de los liidios de Sueva Espana y istas rft Tiirra firme (loSl), up to that time the most complete chronicle of the ancient Jlexicans ; and Fernando de Alva-Ixtlilxochitl (15G8-1G4S), the original chronicler of the Texcuco royal line, whose wink, though not rigorously correct in chronology, in volume and importance surpasses all liis prede- cessors. It is to these two native writers that we owe the interpretation of the early Mexican hieroglyphs then in existence. The chroniclers who treated merely of the Con- quest did so from a European standpoint, and for this reason do not greatly concern us here. Anrtmg the Creole population of the sixteenth century, however, there were some poets of note. Prominent among these were Francisco de Ter- razas, who was eulogized by Cervantes, but whose works have been lost; and Saavedra Guzman^ whose most famous poem. El pereijrino indiano (159!)), adds rather to his reputation as chron- icler than as poet. Though the modest literary product of the seventeenth century may to some extent exem- plify the intellectual decadence of Xew Spain during that period, yet it illustrates in one phase the aptitude of the mestizo caste for music and for poetry — an aptitude which dis]jlayed itself in both Castilian and Latin verse. Easily the leader of this period stands the poetess Juana Ines de la Cruz ( lt)ol-1095), a leading personage at the vice-regal court, and later a nun, who dazzled her contemporaries by her learning, and whose subtle and suggestive verse gained for her the title 'the Tenth Jluse.' Another easy and cor- rect versifier of the period was the Pueblan JIatias Bocanegra, wliose popularity lasted well into the succeeding century. The making of verse at that time was simply a pastime, so a com- ]iaratively small output has survived until our own day. The man of letters /jar excellence of the century was the diligent and versatile Carlos de Sigiicnza y Gongora (1645-1700), whose writ- ings, poetical and prose, embraced a wide variety of literary and scientific subjects. He held the post of Cosmographer of Xew Spain, and for many years filled the chair of mathematics in the University of ilexieo. The most noted co- lonial dramatist of the century was Euscbio Vela, who, if not equal to the leaders of the Spanish stage, surpassed many of those of the second rank. .Juan Ruiz de Alarcon. the dramatist, was of Mexican birth and education, though his mature work was produced in Spain. The theological works of the time bore the names of many native Church fathers : likewise the best work on the early compiling of the Laws of the Indies was that of Eodrigo Aguiar y Acufia (died 12!M. In the realm of scientific litera- ture the work of Enrico Martinez. lieportario de los tiempos y historin niitural desia yiievn Es- paila (160G), and that of Friar Agnstin de Ve- tancourt, Teatro mexicano (1698), fittingly ojien and close the century. The eighteenth century in Xew Spain was marked by a more extensive if less notable literary culture. This was especially true of the reign of Carlos IV.. when public fimctions were the scenes of notable contests of poets and ora- tors, many of whose productions were f.'tvorably mentioned in Europe. The book trade with ^Madrid and other Spanish cities was very nour- ishing, and some especially tine editions of clas- sical authors were printed in the Creole capital. Large and well-selected private libraries were common, both here and in the provincial towns. It was the [wriod for the collection of archives and the writnig of local history — a work in which the names of eytia (1718-1779) and Morfi (died 1793) hold a prominent position. Si)anish-Amer- ican journalism is represented by the monthly gazette (1728-39) of Francisco Sahagun de Are- valo; by the Giicctas de Literulura (begun 1708) of Jose Antonio de .Mzate (1729-90), wliose ])eri- odical did much to stimulate intellectual ellort and develop a correct literary sentiment; b- the Mercurio Yolaiite (begun 1772) of .Jose Ignacio Bartolaehe, largely a medical journal ; by the Gaceta de Mexico, a fortnightly publication from 1784 to 1800, devoted to general news and literary and scientific discussions, and after that date a bi-weekly; and the Diario de Mejico (1805) and the Diario de Vera Cruz (1805), the former devoted to literary and statistical matters, and the latter a commercial sheet. Despite the strict censorship of all these periodicals, they exercised a most beneficial eft'ect upon public opinion at the close of the century. In the literary production of the nineteenth century the work of the Mexican historians easily leads at home, and occupies a prominent place in the world at large. An important work as col- lector of historical documents was done by Jose Fernandez Ramirez. Among historians of lesser note may be mentioned Mora and Zaniacois. Of un- usual excellence is the work of Bustamante (died 1848), whose volumes treat of the revolutionary period and of the beginnings of the American War. The leader of his age, and still easily the foremost Mexican historian, was Lucas Alainan (died 1853). whose work as statesman during a trying period has been eclipsed by his greater work as the historian of that period. His Diser- taciones sobre la Historia de Mejieo (3 vols., 1844-49) cover the vice-regal period, and these are supplemented by his Historia de Uejico (5 vols., 1849-52 ), continuing the narrative to the middle of the century. Among the raoi'e recent historians the greatest figure is that of Manuel Orozco y Berra (1810-81). who crowned a life of public service and valuable arclurological re- search bj' devoting his last twenty years to his Historia Antigua de Mexico. Closely allied with these is the work of Antonio Garcia Cubas, whose Diccionario geogriifico, hislorico, y hiografico de los Estados tlnidos Mexicanos (1889) is a model of its kind. In the realm of pure literature the physician- poet Manuel Carpio (1791-1800) was well known for his vigorous descriptive verse, of which the most important example is Lu cena dc Baltasar. His firmness and moderation in political life, and the erudition and charm of his pneius, easily render him the most popular Mexican poet of the century. Ignacio JIanuel .ltamirano (born 1834). a noted liberal orator, is famous both as a poet and as a novelist. His poems are less vig- orous in description than those of Carpio; the best known of his novels, Clemencia, is of con- siderable merit. To Rodriguez Galviin is given the credit of the first national drama, but his work has been surpassed by Fernando Calderon (1819-45). whose Rciiialdo'y Elena. Zadig. and others gave promise of much better work had he lived to complete it. In comedy the name of