Rest at the fated goal.  For from the birth
     Of mortal man, the sovereign Maker said,
     That not in humble nor in brief delight,
     Nor in the fading echoes of Renown,
     Power’s purple robes, nor Pleasure’s flowery lap,
     The soul should find enjoyment:  but from these
     Turning disdainful to an equal good,
     Through all the ascent of things enlarge her view,
     Till every bound at length should disappear,
     And infinite perfection close the scene.

ON A SERMON AGAINST GLORY

COME then, tell me, sage divine,
Is it an offense to own
That our bosoms e’er incline
Toward immortal Glory’s throne? 
For with me nor pomp nor pleasure,
Bourbon’s might, Braganza’s treasure,
So can Fancy’s dream rejoice,
So conciliate Reason’s choice,
As one approving word of her impartial voice.

If to spurn at noble praise
Be the passport to thy heaven,
Follow thou those gloomy ways: 
No such law to me was given,
Nor, I trust, shall I deplore me
Faring like my friends before me;
Nor an holier place desire
Than Timoleon’s arms acquire,
And Tully’s curule chair, and Milton’s golden lyre.

PEDRO ANTONIO DE ALARCON

(1833-1891)

This novelist, poet, and politician was born at Guadix, in Spain, near Granada, March 10th, 1833, and received his early training in the seminary of his native city.  His family destined him for the Church; but he was averse to that profession, subsequently studied law and modern languages at the University of Granada, and took pains to cultivate his natural love for literature and poetry.  In 1853 he established at Cadiz the literary review Eco del Occidente (Echo of the West).  Greatly interested in politics, he joined a democratic club with headquarters at Madrid.  During the revolution of 1854 he published El Latigo (The Whip), a pamphlet in which he satirized the government.  The spirit of adventure being always strong in him, he joined the African campaign under O’Donnell in 1859.

His next occupation was the editorship of the journals La Epoca and La Politica.  Condemned to a brief period of exile as one of the signers of a protest of Unionist deputies, he passed this time in Paris.  Shortly after his return he became involved in the revolution of 1868, but without incurring personal disaster.  After Alfonso XII. came to the throne in 1875, he was appointed Councilor of State.

It was in the domain of letters, however, and more especially as a novelist, that he won his most enduring laurels.  In 1855 he produced ’EL Final de Norma’ (The End of Norma), which was his first romance of importance.  Four years later he began to publish that series of notable novels which brought him fame, both at home and abroad.  The list includes ‘EL Sombrero de Tres Picos’ (The Three-Cornered Hat), a charming genre sketch famous for its