ABSTRACT
Spaniards may look back with pride to this epoch, so fertile in genius, so prolific of the talent and high character that germinates in the Spanish soul, and which it required unexampled despotism and cruelty to crush and efface. Among the men who, last of the Spaniards of renown, flourished at that epoch, Quevedo deserves particular mention. Quevedo was an invaluable acquisition to such a man. The name of the Bedmar conspiracy against Venice is familiar to the reader through Otway’s play. Osuna continued viceroy of Naples, and it began to be suspected that he intended to arrogate power independent of the king his master. Quevedo was enveloped in his ruin. He had been a zealous and laborious servant to Osuna and to his government. The commencement of the “Alguazil possessed” is equally spirited. As a specimen of Quevedo’s poetry, Quintana quotes a sonnet, which Wiffen has translated, and which has the merit of force and truth.
