Song to the Madonna in sixteenth-century portuguese literature

Abstract

This article studies the imitation of Petrarca’s song to the Virgin in sixteenth-century Portuguese literature and aims to show how it led to a rich vein in itself. The first to cultivate it was Francisco de Sá de Miranda, author of a song that uses the metric scheme of Vergine bella, che di sol vestita (366) and another dedicated À festa da Anunciação de Nossa Senhora, which uses the metric scheme of Chiare, fresche et dolci acque (126). Both will be considered according to various historical-literary factors. The roads that were opened by Miranda will later be followed by Diogo Bernardes, Manuel de Campos, Pedro da Costa Prerestelo and Agostinho da Cruz or Martim de Castro do Rio. Finally, a comparison with Spanish literature will be lead.