The plagues of 1675 and of 1813 in contemporary poetry

Abstract

Of the 3 major outbreaks of plague that struck the Maltese Islands since the end of the 16th century - 1592, 1675 and 1813 - those of 1675 and of 1813 have inspired two authors to compose verses about them. The 1675 epidemic is dealt with by Don Melchiore Giacinto Calarco from Alicata in "Sicily who wrote an allegoral poem entitled Melpomene idillio nella peste di Malta. It is dedicated to 'My Most Illustrious Lord and Master Fra Don Ernaldo Mox of whom Calarco professes to be 'not only his servant but his chained slave. Mox was a "Spanish Knight of the 'Sacred and Most Illustrious Religious (Order) of J erusalem, Commander of the Command of Spluga Calva and Valfagona, First Chamberlain of the Most Eminent Prince Fra D. NicolaoCotoner, Grand Master of the aforesaid Religion and Prince of Malta and Gozo'