Favores de las Musas

Favores de las Musas (English: Favors of the Muses) is a remarkable Spanish Golden Age miscellany by Sebastián Francisco de Medrano, first published in Milan in 1631 by Juan Bautista Malatesta. This work, celebrated for its literary and theatrical contributions, is dedicated to His Excellency Theodoro Trivulzio, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, Prince of Musocco. As indicated on the title page, the collection includes "various rhymes and comedies" composed by Medrano during his presidency at the prestigious Medrano Academy, with contributions compiled by his close friend, Alonso de Castillo Solórzano. The volume is structured into five books, each inspired by a Muse from classical mythology—Calliope, Clio, Melpomene, Erato, and Thalia—and features a range of poetic and dramatic works. Among its notable contents are the tragedy El Lucero Eclipsado, San Juan Bautista, the mythological comedy Las Venganzas de Amor, and the play Lealtad, Amor y Amistad. These works, dedicated to prominent figures of the time, showcase Medrano’s mastery of classical and preceptivist forms, blending poetic elegance with moral and religious themes.

Despite its literary acclaim, only the first volume of Favors of the Muses was widely circulated, as the second volume was tragically lost in a shipwreck on its way to Spain. The publication received the approval of the Holy Inquisition.