Of the prose writers of this period one of the most noted is Pedro Avendafio, who was one of the first of a long line of illustrious priests to take up the cause of the eriollos (people of white blood born in Mexico). In' 1692 he preached several sermons in Mexico City in which he warmly expressed the feel ings of the oppressed criollos and criticized the pro-Spanish attitude and addresses from the pulpit of the archdeacon of the capital. For this and other similar acts he was ex pelled from the Jesuit order; but this only in creased his popularity with the masses to whom he continued to preach and over whom he ex ercised a strong influence. He possessed a withering sarcasm, powerful invective and great facility of expression. His keen reason ing powers and his command of imagery make his writings and sermons always vivid and effective.
The 18th Century continued to manifest the same strong interest in literature that distin guished the two preceding centuries, but cer tain changes had taken place that showed the old influences were passing away. Jose Abad (1727-79) • was the last of the great Latin scholars of Mexico who made a pastime of writing in the cultured tongue of the Cwsars. Francisco Ruis de Le6n goes back to the age of the Conquest for his inspiration in his 'La Hernandia,> a long poem containing many ex cellent passages and pictures of the various characters who play their several parts therein. Although falling below the level of a great epic, the 'Hernandia> is superior to all previ ous attempts made to evolve a great poem out of the events of the conquest.
Of the many religious writers of the period Jose Manuel Sartorio and Francisco Soria are the best. Sartorio, a priest, strongly in favor of the independence of Mexico, was one of the most noted orators of his time; and, like Avendafio, he wielded a powerful influence over all classes. He was a tireless and prolific writer and has left 23 volumes of miscellaneous and devotional works and sermons and seven volumes of sacred and profane poetry. His religious poems, which constitute his best work, are often animated, natural, easy in style and filled with fine imagery.
The most popular dramatist of the 18th century was Arriola, whose best play is 'There's nothing Worse than Jealousy' ; but Cayetano Cabrera Quintero was more prolific and possessed of more talent than Arriola. Among his comedies are 'A Disappointed Hope> and 'Iris of Salamanca.' 'A Study of the Coat of Arms of Mexico> is his most noted work. Manuel Soria disputed with Arriola the claim to be the most popular dramatist of the century. One of the best writers of the Cl der6n school he has left, among others, the following dramas: 'William Duke of Aqui taine,' 'Mexican Magic,' 'The Genoese' and 'Lose and Jealousy.' Though strongly Gon goristic, his dramatic situations are excellent, his verse free and natural, the development of his plots always interesting and he is never at a loss to express passion and sentiment in a pleasing and effective manner. Manuel Zumaya was the author of (Parten6pe,) a very success ful opera, and 'El Rodrigo,' a popular drama first produced in 1708. He translated into
Spanish a number of the most popular Italian operas of his time for the Spanish stage. An other translator of note was Jose Rafael Lar who was the first to turn the works of Virgil into excellent Spanish. This is faithful to the text and the spirit of the original.
The greatest poetical genius of the 17th cen turn in Mexico was Sister Juana Inez de la Cruz (1651-94), whose name is a household word in her native land, where every Mexican holds her up as the perfection of literary art. She plays upon all the passions of the human heart and she wanders into many bypaths of literature. Lyrical, amatory and descriptive poetry and the drama she manages with equal skill and facil ity. In her own day she was looked upon as a paragon of learning and was credited with such superior poetic genius that she was and is still called the 10th muse. Yet she had the defects of her age; and modern literary stand ards, while admitting her superior talent, find her guilty of Gongorism.
The next most important figure in the lit erary life of Mexico, after Sister Juana Inez de la Cruz, is Manuel Navarrete (1768-1809), who may be said to have restored lyric and de scriptive poetry to his native land. Natural ness and a keen appreciation of the beauties of nature distinguish his work, which is dominated by deep philosophic thought and pitched in an elevated style uncommon in his day. His verse is strong and sonorous and his subjects are presented in a masterly manner. The religious feeling of primitive peoples is strong in him. His god is the god of the storms and winds, the all-powerful, the maker and unmaker of men and nations, who wipes from the earth, when He wills, the mightiest of the works of men. He is the Divine Providence of the world, and all that He does is good because He does it. Through and behind Navarrete's undoubted Christian faith there appears the ever-present glory of his strong conception of ancient paganism. His god is the divinity of the ancient Greeks, Romans and Hebrews who rides upon the clouds and plants His footsteps on the storm. His faith is the simple faith of a primitive age; and his poetry, true to this at titude, creeps ever close to the heart of nature. His language is always simple, clear and cor rect, his lines harmonious, his taste good and his moderation in the use of poetical and ora torical adornment noticeable in his age. He rose above the prosiness and mediocrity of his time. Zorilla, the Spanish poet, has said of him: defects of his works are those of his age ; their beauty and excellence are his own." Navarrete was a close student and a great lover of Greek and Roman mythology; yet such was his natural genius that he was able to hold a steady midway course between the excesses of Gongorism and the barrenness of prosism in an age when both were rampant hi Spain and Mexico. His odes and religious poems are his best work. Of the latter his 'Divine is one of his most char acteristic compositions.