RUIZ, JUAN (c. 1283–C. 135o), Spanish poet, became arch priest of Hita. It may be inferred from his writings that he was not an exemplary priest, and one of the manuscript copies of his poems states that he was imprisoned by order of Gil Albornoz, archbishop of Toledo. It is not known whether he was sentenced for his irregularities of conduct, or on account of his satirical re flections on his ecclesiastical superiors. What seems established is that he finished his Libro de buen amor in 1343, while in gaol, and that he was no longer arch-priest of Hita in Jan. 1351; it is assumed that he died shortly before the latter date.
Ruiz is by far the most eminent poet of mediaeval Spain. His natural gifts were supplemented by his varied culture ; he clearly had a considerable knowledge of colloquial (and perhaps of lit erary) Arabic ; his classical reading was apparently not extensive, but he knew by heart the Disticha of Dionysius Cato, and admits his indebtedness to Ovid and to the De Amore ascribed to Pam philus; his references to Blanchefleur, to Tristan and to Yseult, indicate an acquaintance with French literature, and he utilizes the fabliaux with remarkable deftness ; lastly, he adapts fables and apologues from Aesop, from Pedro Alfonso's Disciplina cleri calis, and from mediaeval bestiaries. All these heterogeneous ma
terials are fused in the substance of his versified autobiography, into which he intercalates devout songs, parodies of epic or foren sic formulae, and lyrical digressions on every aspect of life. Ruiz, in fact, offers a complete picture of picaresque society in Spain during the early 14th century. From his Don FurOn is derived the hungry gentleman in Lazarillo de Tormes, in Don Melon and Dona Endrina he anticipates Calisto and Melibea in the Celestina, and Celestina herself is developed from Ruiz' Trotaconventos. Moreover, Ruiz was justly proud of his metrical innovations. The Libro de been amor is mainly written in the cuaderna via mod elled on the French alexandrine, but he imparts to the measure a variety and rapidity previously unknown in Spanish.
See J. Puyol y Alonso, El Arcipreste de Hita (1906). (J. F.-K.)