Testamento Poetico-Anachreontico

The collection gathered here is the poet’s own “testament,” a vivid chronicle of a life that moved from the battlefields of the Peninsular War to the quiet cloisters of an Aviz priory. Through brief biographical notes the listener learns how a young cadet, inspired by patriotism, exchanged his uniform for the habit of a priest, yet never abandoned the fierce imagination that coloured his verses. The poems, first published in an 1838 literary newspaper, were largely forgotten until this careful resurrection of a once‑celebrated yet now rare voice.

Rendered in clear, harmonious meter, the verses glide from pastoral scenes of blooming fields to heartfelt reflections on love, duty, and the fleeting light of youth. The poet’s language is rich with colourful images—harps weeping tears, moonlit fountains, and the rustle of shepherds—inviting the ear to linger on each lyric turn. Listeners will find a charming blend of historical texture and timeless emotion, a reminder that even a solitary, half‑blind cleric can still sing loudly across the centuries.