Francisco de Quevedo (1580-1645), a political moralist, is one of the most famous Spanish authors. He wrote comedies, satires, poetry and books. Various things Quevedo wrote were related to religion, probably because he studied theology. He also studied logic, metaphysics, and physics. A polyglot, the languages known by him were Greek, Latin, Hebrew, French, Italian, and English (aside from Spanish, of course).
Life
Francisco de Quevedo was born in Madrid, in September on the year 1580. His parents were Pedro Gomez de Quevedo (who died in 1586) and Maria de Santibañez (died in 1605). He goes under the tutership of Andres de Ozaeta, a writer, for two years in 1602. Eleven years later, he goes to work for the Duke of Osuna, the viceroy of Sicily. Two years after that, Quevedo arrives to Madrid with a donation from Sicily. Using various methods, including bribery, he is able to ensure that the Duke of Osuna becomes the Viceroy of Naples in 1616. Quevedo then returns to Madrid from Napoles to give another donation to insure the Duke's interests. The Duke is sent to prison in 1621 and Quevedo loses favor because of his ties with him. He continues writing for the rest of his life until his death the 8 of September in Villanueva de los Infantes.
Works
His works include, among others:
- Various 'Letrillas' which are poems. They include:
- Poderoso caballero es don Dinero
- Solamente un dar me agrada, que es el dar en no dar nada
- Vuela, pensamiento, y diles a los ojos que que mas quiero que hay dinero
- Yo he hecho lo que he podido; fortuna lo que ha querido
- La hora de todos y la Fortuna con seso
- Politica de Dios, gobierno de Cristo
- Marco Bruto
- Sueños y discursos
- And others...
Poetry
Poderoso caballero es don Dinero
Madre, yo al oro me humillo; El es mi amante y mi amado,
pues de puro enamorado,
De contino anda amarillo;
Que pues, doblon o sencillo,
Hace todo cuanto quiero,
Poderoso caballero
es don Dinero.
A una nariz
Erase un hombre a una nariz pegado Erase una nariz superlativa, Erase una nariz sayon y escriba, Erase un peje espada muy barbado, Era un reloj de sol mal encarado, Erase un elefante boca arriba, Era Ovidio Nason mas narizado. Erase un espolon de una galera, Erase una piramide de Egipto, Las doce tribus de narices era, Erase un naricisimo infinito,Muchisimo nariz, nariz tan fiera, Que en la cara de Anas fuera delito.
Epitaph to a sinner
Gusanos del a tierra Comen el cuerpo que este marmol cierra; Mas los de la conciencia en esta calma, Hartos del cuerpo ya, comen el alma.
References
Los Clasicos: Quevedo, Editorial Grolier, estudio preliminar por German Arciniegas.
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