Saturday Rave: Cantilena by Don Esteban Manuel de Villegas

 Esteban Manuel de Villegas, 1589 - 1689, was a curious character. He was born into a rich family but struggled all his life with debt. He was prosecuted by the Spanish Inquisition for being a bighead (believing himself in possession of absolute truth) and tried to defend himself by declaring that at least he knew a lot more than the Church Fathers. 

Later, the Inquisition found that, although he dressed in fine clothes he lived a simple life - and at that threw up their hands and decided he was nuts, and therefore not their problem.

Here he is:

It seems to have been true that Don Esteban was a bighead, but he left us some good verse.

This (free) translation was made in the 1800s by H.K.

"What whim is this, Don Stephen,"

Our merry wenches cry;

"That all your strains are songs of love

And none of Chivalry!"

Dear girls, such shapes as Nature

First gives us, we must wear;

Hence all we men are ugly

And all you women fair!

The lute's not formed to echo

The trumpet's loud alarm;

Beside one scarce could thrum it

With clumsy shield on arm.

The laurel's leaves are green enough, - 

Ye faith! - 'tis little boot

To shake a tree whose branches

Drop never wholesome fruit.

Who think a hero's glory

In wound and scar to find,

May patch his mangled carcass

With plasters to his mind.

Who for mere mercenary greed

Would drench a field in gore;

Heaven send him thence - or thence he 'scape - 

A beggar evermore!

To treat of broils and bloodshed

My peaceful Muse were stupid:

I sing but of the wars I wage.

And they're the wars of Cupid.

And so, my merry maidens,

Enough of reasons why

Don Stephen's songs are all of Love,

And none of Chivalry.

***

A beggar evermore...

...some things, sadly, don't change.

Word To Use Today: chivalry. This word is basically the same as chevalier. The Latin caballārius means horseman.