, was born in the environs of Seville in Spain, about the middle of
, was born in the environs of Seville in Spain, about the middle of the sixteenth century,
and for twenty years of his life had a place at court. Although we know little of his history or character, he deserves this short notice, as the author of a very popular novel,
or romance, entitled “Guzman d'Alfarache,
” which was
reprinted in Spain above thirty times, and has been translated into Italian, German, English, and into French by
Bremont and Le Sage. Le Sage abridged it considerably,
and Scarron was much indebted to it. The English is a
large folio, literally translated, and too tedious, and with
too frequent interruptions of moral discussion, to be much
relished in the present day. In 1609 Aleman was at Mexico, but on what errand is not known. About this time,
however, he produced his “Ortografia Castellan,
” 4to, a
very scarce work, and of some reputation; and in