As none of the commentators of Garcilasso offer a word in explanation of these verses, it was difficult to conceive exactly either to what they alluded, or what had given rise to them. I find, however, in Boscán who has written on the same text, a complete elucidation. They were sported on Don Luis de la Cueva, for dancing in the palace with a lady who was called La Páxara—the bird, probably from the elegance with which she flew down the dance;[AW] it would appear that D. Luis fell whilst attempting a difficult step, and that in reply to the universal banter of the assembly, he had unfortunately said, it was after all no great crime in him to dance. This seems to have excited great amusement, and to have set a number of gentlemen, and some titled heads to work, to write bad verses to prove the contrary. As, however, these verses show some wit, and at the same time best serve to clear up the obscurity of my author, I subjoin translations.
THE DUKE OF ALVA.
Why, what a terrible affair
Is this! you were too bad by half;
You've really made it, I declare,
Your business to make people laugh.
I'm one who feels it! to see you,
Of all men, to the Bird advance!
I counsel you, whate'er you do,
You take no farther care to dance.
GARCILASSO.
Count they then this a great offence, &c.
THE PRIOR OF SANTISTÉVAN.
It might not be a first-rate sin,
But all who dance like this good knight,
Must pay for it most surely in
The laugh of even the most polite.
Let those who wish to dance, not take
Him for an omen! He advanced,
And practised—but, for mercy's sake,
Let not the gallant say he danced!
BOSCÁN.
He touched forbidden fruit—the debt
Must thus be paid—he danced! and now
'Tis clear he'll live but by the sweat,
Henceforth, of his laborious brow.
Himself he cruelly deceived,
And well he might, when, countenanced
By such assurance, he conceived
We laughed, because he merely danced.