The writing of this book would have been impossible without the good will and assistance of numerous scholars, beloved friends, forbearing children, and other indulgent family members. Not all can be named, but I should like to record special thanks to the staff of the Alderman Library at the University of Viginia for unfailing aid in procuring obscurely published books and other materials, and to the Patrimonio Nacional for permission to include the accompanying illustrations from its famous codex of Alfonso X's Cantigas de Santa María in the Real Biblioteca de El Escorial. I am much obliged to John E. Keller who first helped me to explore these pictures, and to the Samuel H. Kress Foundation whose magnanimity permitted inclusion of the reproductions and helped defray the expenses of preparing the typescript. My deep and affectionate appreciation goes to J. B. Ross whose amiability and enthusiasm lent encouragement to the entire undertaking. She read the manuscript, impaled sundry quirks, and advanced learned and sparkling criticism. For these and innumerable other courtesies I sincerely thank Charles Julian Bishko to whom I am indebted most of all. He prepared me for the labours with his notoriously exacting rigour, guided the original stage of the research with his renowned and invincible humour, and continued steadfastly to build my confidence in the value of the task. Above all, I wish to express to him my infinite gratitude for the privilege of having been allowed to tax, over a long trail, his prudence, wisdom, and superabundant generosity of mind. I have tried to do justice to his scrupulous standards of scholarship and to his surpassing knowledge of medieval Iberia, but all errors, omissions, and obtuse judgments should be rounded up as strays and branded as mine.

New York, NY
September 1983