MOSSE IBN ZARZAL
(14th-15th century)
A doctor and poet born in Seville, a city where his father, also a doctor, had recently settled. His exact date of birth is unknown, but he lived between the 14th and 15th centuries. He achieved a great reputation as a doctor, and personally took care of the health of King Pedro I and, years later, of Enrique III.
From his role as a poet, a poem that he composed in 1405 on the occasion of the crown prince, the future Juan II, has been preserved. It forms part of the famous collection of poems known as the "Cancionero de Baena". It is preceded by a short introduction that says: Este dezir fizo Don Mossé çurgiano del Rey don Enrique quando nasçio el Rey nuestro señor en la çibdat de Toro (This saying was made by Don Mossé, surgeon to King Enrique, when our lord the King was born in the city of Toro). We include the complete poem here:
Page containing the poem by Mosse ibn Zarzal, whose first verse is Una estrella es nascida (A star is born). It is found on folio 74.v of the "Cancionero de Baena", the original of which is preserved in the National Library of France.
Una estrella es nascida
en Castilla reluciente:
con placer toda la gente
roguemos por la su vida.
De Dios fué mui venturoso
aquel dia sin dubdanza
en cobrar tal alegranza
deste rei tan poderoso:
por merced del pavoroso
este gran señor cobraste,
Castilla, que deseaste
noble rei é generoso.
De reyes de tal natura
cïerto en toda partida,
de realeza complida
non nasció tal criatura.
Con beldad é fermosura
non es visto en lo poblado,
nin tan bien aventurado.
¡Dios le dé buena ventura!
N’ Aragon i Catalueña
tenderá la su espada,
con la su real mesnada:
Navarra con la Gascueña
tremerá con gran vergüeña
el reino de Portugal
é Granada otro que tal
fasta allende la Cerdeña.
A star is born
in shining Castile:
with joy all the people
let us pray for its life.
God was very fortunate
that day without doubt
in gaining such joy
from this powerful king:
by the mercy of the fearful
this great lord you gained,
Castile, that you desired
a noble and generous king.
From kings of such nature
true in every game,
of complete royalty
such a creature was not born.
With beauty and splendor
he is not seen in the populated areas,
nor so fortunate.
May God give him good fortune!
In Aragon and Catalonia
he will stretch his sword,
with his royal men:
Navarre with Gascony
will tremble with great shame
the kingdom of Portugal
and Granada another than that
far beyond Sardinia.
