D. FERNANDO ALVAREZ DE TOLEDO.
This gentleman would quite have lost
His credit in this curious case,
Had not the little Bird he crossed
So sweetly sang him into grace.
But if from this he turns away,
And shows at all discountenanced,
I'd wish to comfort him, and say,
As he says, that he only danced!
THE TREASURER OF ALCANTARA.
All were astonished that the king
So quickly freed you, but he freed
You, not to be in that bright ring
So very forward; no, indeed!
Right forward has he been, but yet
Why laugh with such extravagance?
He only maims a pirouette,
He only dislocates a dance.
D. LUIS OSORIO.
Know that the laws, to his disgrace,
Condemn Don Luis now to fall,
For (only think) he had the face
To dance in the king's palace-hall!
Dance with the Bird! oh fatal even!
And yet, as he seems circumstanced,
He ought perhaps to be forgiven,
Since, as he says, he only danced.
D. GARCIA DE TOLEDO.
The Emperor set you free, but not
Without a rigorous penance had,
Sentencing you upon the spot
To dance—it really was too bad!
All say it was a cruel thing,
Beyond all mortal sufferance,
For 'tis not just in any king
To' oblige his subjects so to dance!