In his epic poem about Mallorca, on his way through Alaró, Guillem Colom incorporates the martyrdom of Cabrit and Bassa.
And, who has sent you with these orders?
'An angry Cabrit responded.
'Anfós, of Aragon and Mallorca, sworn as King and heir!'
'We know of no other king
In the Kingdom than King James!
In Majorca, and please forgive me,
Anfós is a fish, eaten with alloli all over the island...' 'Strike me down, what great wickedness
It is to suffer your words!
Who dares with such breath to insult the King of Aragon?'
shouts Anfós to those in the square.
'Two loyal men: Cabrit and Bassa.'
'Cabrit, you say? But a cabrit is a kid goat!'
So, like goats I swear I'll roast you for your treachery!'
El comte Mal (The Evil Count), 1958
Translated by Richard Mansell.
(Sóller, 1890 – Palma, 1979). Guillem Colom was born in Sóller on December 24th 1890. He studied humanities and worked as a writer and translator. Colom is an example of a Mallorcan intellectual educated in Barcelona, where he came into contact with the Noucentista movement, who aspired to introduce its ideas to Mallorca in an effort to modernize the island and break away from the prevailing model. In 1918, his first book was published, Iuvenília, a collection of poems written in his youth which reflect his enthusiasm for life. Subsequently he moved toward a more personal, emotional style of poetry. In Ofrena mística (Mystic Offering) (1949), he explores the anguish of war and death. In the 1970s, his last books were published, including the memoirs Entre el caliu i la cendra (Amid Ash and Embers) (1972). Despite difficulties during the early post-war years, Guillem Colom remained true to the Catalan language and culture and he organized secret literary get-togethers at his house, attended by Carles Riba, Clementina Arderiu and Josep M. López-Picó. He died in Palma in 1979.
El comte Mal (The Evil Count) is a long narrative poem divided into twelve sections. It combines history with literature and folklore. As well as recounting the legend of Count Arnau, the Evil Count, Colom aspired to write an epic poem about Mallorca able to reflect its very soul. Not only does it contain details of legends, folk tales and popular festivities, but it also tells of historic events like the martyrdom of knights Cabrit and Bassa.
The historical figures of Cabrit and Bassa place us in the magical location of the castle of Alaró, which has marked the history of the town of the same name. The existence of Guillem Cabrit and Guillem Bassa and above all their history are surrounded by doubts that place them somewhere between fact and fiction, history and myth. The legend of Cabrit and Bassa is well rooted in Majorcan minds, and it tells of how the two Guillems defended the castle to the death in name of their King Jaume II, in the face of the attacks from the troops of King Alfons of Aragon. In 1285 Majorca was conquered by the Catalans. The island offered little resistance, except for the fortress at the castle of Alaró, where the valiant defenders Guillem Cabrit and Guillem Bassa resisted until they were captured. As a punishment, they were burned alive in the town of Alaró.
The theme of the martyrdom of Cabrit and Bassa has been taken up in literature. Bartomeu Guasp, also from Alaró, in his Cançó dels alaroners dedicated a few lines to the history of these martyrs, who were made saints in the 18th century as martyrs for an unjust war.
