Cantiga 44 of the Cantigas de Santa Maria of Alfonso X

The Knight whose Goshawk was Returned by Santa Maria de Salas

   A nobleman from Aragón lost his goshawk while hunting.
   The bird was large, handsome and skilled at catching birds, both large and small.
   The nobleman was distressed and sent a proclamation throughout the land.
   Then he took a wax model of the bird to Salas. He asked the Virgin to return his bird and vowed to serve her and to tell of her pre-eminence among the saints.
   He attended mass, but before he departed, the Virgin made the goshawk alight on his hand.
   With tears in his eyes, he praised the Virgin.
Click for a larger image of panel 1Click for a larger image of panel 2




Source: Carleton College, Student Labels HIST 204


List of illustrations from the Cantigas de Santa Maria
Cantigas de Santa Maria Main Page









Free Web Hosting