JUAN MELENDEZ

VALDES (1754-1817)  , Spanish poet, was born at Ribera del Fresno, Badajoz, on the rith of March 1754 . Destined by his parents for the priesthood, he graduated in law at Salamanca, where he became indoctrinated with the ideas of the French philosophical school . In 178o with Batilo, a pastoral in the manner of Garcilaso de la Vega, he won a prize offered by the Spanish academy; next year he was introduced to Jovellanos, through whose influence he was appointed to a professorship at Salamanca in 1783 . The pastoral scenes in Las Bodes de Camacho (1784) do not compensate for its undramatic nature, but it gained a prize from the municipality of Madrid . A volume of verses, lyrical and pastoral, published in 1785, caused Melendez Valdes to be hailed as the first Spanish poet of his time . This success induced him to resign his chair at Salamanca, and try his fortune in politics . Once more the friendship of Jovellanos obtained for him in 1789 a judgeship at Saragossa, whence he was transferred two years later to a post in the chancery court at Valladolid . In 1797 he dedicated to Godoy an enlarged edition of his poems, the new matter consisting principally of unsuccessful imitations of Milton and Thomson; but the poet was rewarded by promotion to a high post in the treasury at Madrid . On the fall of Jovellanos in 1798 Melendez Valdes was dismissed and exiled from the capital; he returned in 18o8 and accepted office under Joseph Bonaparte . He had previously denounced the French usurper in his verses . He now outraged the feelings of his countrymen by the grossest flattery of his foreign master, and in 1813 he fled to Alais . Four years later he died in poverty at Montpellier .

His remains were removed to

Spain in 1900 . In natural talent and in acquired accomplishment Melendez Valdes was not surpassed by any contemporary Spaniard; he failed from want of character, and his profound insincerity affects his poems . Yet he has fine moments in various veins, and his imitation of Jean Second's Basia is notable .