" -- 'Vida y Purgatorio de S.
Patricio', per el Doctor Juan Perez de Montalvan. Madrid, 1628, and
Madrid, 1664.
[The visit to St. Germain in France is then described: his residence
with St. Martin of Tours, the journey to Rome, and all the other
events follow in detail, which Montalvan collected from Messingham,
Messingham's chief authority being the Life of St. Patrick, by
Jocelin. These are all briefly epitomised in the address of the
Angel Victor, as given by Calderon at the end of the first act.]
SCENE II., p. 262.
The story of Luis Enius, as given by Calderon in this long address,
seems to be entirely the invention of Montalvan. It is told in the
sixth chapter of his "Vida y Purgatorio de San Patricio", and in the
edition of 1628 fills over forty pages. Calderon follows the
narrative very closely, but in one noticeable incident he greatly
improves upon his predecessor. This is in the celebrated skeleton
scene of the third act. The corresponding scene in Montalvan's story
is puerile enough. In Montalvan Luis Enius has no interview with the
skeleton, so powerfully described by Calderon. His conversion is
effected by a floating piece of paper which had eluded his grasp for
two nights, but which he seized on the third, and examined by a
mysterious light at the foot of a cross. On the paper he perceived
the representation of a skull, under which is written, "I am Luis
Enius".
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