Page:Tirant lo Blanch; a study of its authorship, principal sources and historical setting (IA cu31924026512263).pdf/175

 the Portuguese, it seems to have been secondary, for their supreme aim was to rid themselves of a constantly menacing enemy. It is possible that the campaigns of the Portuguese against the African Moors attracted the attention of Martorell, and, seeing that a similar undertaking would provide an excellent field in which his hero might win additional laurels, he determined to write and plan an imaginary account of a conquest of that territory. But if this feature owes its origin to Portuguese history, would it not be natural to expect in that account traces and reminders of the military activities of the kingdom of Portugal? Did this field not offer a wonderful opportunity to glorify the deeds of Prince Ferdinand or, at least, of his people? But all efforts to connect Tirant's conquest with the campaigns of the Portuguese are in vain. Here, then, is another strong indication that what the author says in the dedicatory letter concerning the translation of an English original into Portuguese is pure invention, for we are certain that no English Tirant lo Blanch existed and that Martorell wrote an original work in which he created a hero according to his own good will and pleasure. The various qualities of this hero manifested themselves in certain spheres of operation which, as has already been pointed out in all other cases, were based on real historical conditions and events. We are told that Tirant lo Blanch was written at the request of a Portuguese prince, and yet Portuguese heroism and glory find no place in the work, although there are occasions exceedingly favorable for praises of Prince Ferdinand and his people. It seems almost an act of disloyalty to his patron for Martorell to have passed over in silence the opportunities of lauding Portuguese valor and honor. All this indicates that the Catalan author did not reside at the court of Portugal; that he did not write the book in the Portuguese language; and that probably he was