lyrics have the merit of sincerity;
pessimism is the prevailing tone and there is much
invective. His _Profecias de Guatimoc_ is considered the
masterpiece of Mexican romanticism (_Obras_, 2 vols.,
Mex., 1851; Paris, 1883). Another well-known romantic
lyricist and dramatist is Fernando Calderon (1809-1845),
who was more correct in form than Rodriguez Galvan
(_Poesias_, Mex., 1844 and 1849; Paris, 1883; Mex., 1902).

The revival of letters in Mexico is generally attributed
to the conservative poets Pesado and Carpio, both of whom
sought to be classic, although they were not altogether so
in practise. Probably the best known Mexican poet, though
certainly not the most inspired, is Jose Joaquin Pesado
(1801-1861). He translated much from Latin, French and
Italian, and in some cases failed to acknowledge his
indebtedness (cf. Pimentel, p. 694). His best translations
are of the Psalms. The _Aztecas_, which were published
as a translation of, or an adaptation from, indigenous
legends, are mostly original with Pesado in all
probability. He is an unusually even writer, and some of
his verses are good (cf. certain sonnets: _Mi amada en la
misa del alba_, which reminds one of Melendez Valdes in
_Rosana en los fuegos_; _Elegia al angel de la guardia de
Elisa_; and parts of _La revelacion_ in _octavas reales_).
Montes de Oca and Menendez y Pelayo consider Pesado the
greatest of Mexican poets; but Pimentel does not (p. 694).
Cf. _Poesias originales y traducciones_, Mex., 1839-40
(most complete), 1886 (introduction of Montes de Oca);
_Biografia de Pesado_, by Jose Maria Roa Barcena, Mex.,
1878. Manuel Carpio (1791-1860) began to write verses
after he had reached the age of forty years, and there is,
consequently, a certain ripeness of thought and also a
lack of feeling in his poetry. His verses are chiefly
narrative or descriptive and generally treat of biblical
subjects. His language is usually correct, but often
prosaic (_Poesias_, Mex., 1849).
page 312
Minor poets of this period are: Alejandro Arango
(1821-1883), an imitator of Leon (_Versos_, 1879; _Ensayo
historico sobre Fr. Luis de Leon_, Mex., 1866); Ignacio
Ramirez (1818-1879), of Indian race, who was a free lance
in religion and politics, and largely responsible for the
separation of Church and State in Mexico (_Poesias_, Mex.,
1889, and _Lecciones de literatura_, Mex., 1884);
and Ignacio M. Altamarino (1