| Commentary: |
Snow 1977rn"Written primarily for the lay reader, this volume covers almost all phases of Alfonso's career and literary output. Ch. 5 deals with the CSM and ch. 6 with the secular poems. Topics treated briefly are Alfonso's personal involvement in the writing of the CSM, the reflection of daily living seen in selected texts and miniatures (cantiga 157 gets full treatment), versification schemes (modelled on the previous work of Clarke [1955]), and the music of the songs (based on Anglés's work of 1943 and 1958). Cantigas singled out for discussion are 74, 29, and 107. K. also offers translations for sections of Prol. B and cantigas 5, 11, 40, 144, and 169.rnThe pages devoted to the profane poems offer less total coverage. Alfonso composed 46 secular poems, in whole or in part (see Tavani [1967]), but K. states there are scarcely more than thirty (p. 96). There are English translations of CV 75 and CB (MS) 456 (in full) and of CV 64, 76 and 69 (in part). There are also partial translations for two works which are in the CSM, nos 40 (CBN 409) and 406 (the claim that the latter translation is a full one is in error [pp. 108 9]). Alfonso's only Castilian poem, the fragment of CBN 414, is also translated. K. is right to stress Alfonso's versatility as a poet." |
