it is important as the first pastoral novel published in spain; as the starting-point of a widespread literary fashion; and as the indirect source, through the translation included in googe's "eglogs, epytaphes and sonnets" (1563), of an episode in "the two gentlemen of verona". though portuguese was montemor's native language, he only used it for two songs and a short prose passage in the sixth book of the "diana". his mastery of spanish is amazing, and even cervantes, who judges the verses in the "diana" with unaccustomed severity, recognizes the remarkable merit of montemor's prose style. that he pleased his own generation is proved by the seventeen editions and two continuations of the "diana" published in the 16th century, by parodies, imitations and renderings in french and english.