'Dares he defy me on my throne ? 'Seize him,' still shouts the furious King: But none in all that presence stand, Who dare Bernardo's rage to brave.Folding his cloak around his hand, He half unsheathed his falchion's blade, And shouted: 'Touch me ye who dare; 'I am Bernardo, and to none 'Homage or fealty do I bear. 'My sword is mine: its point obeys Whereat Bernardo's chosen men, Promptly to bold Bernardo's side, A blast upon his bugle horn Summons their fellows to the fray. They seize upon the alcazar gates; His taunting speech and hašty threats With smothered rage he smiles, and says, 'Ye take my merry jests for true.' Scornfully turning on his heel, Bernardo quick and short replied, 'I give you jest for jest, Lord King, 'And sharper ones may yet betide.' Poetry is true to the character of Bernardo to the last; for having thus boldly proclaimed his purpose to Alfonso, he forsakes the land, which is ruled by so fell a tyrant, and takes service, as some say, with the Saracens, or as others affirm, with the Navarrese ; and we only hear of him afterwards as an independent knight, scouring the banks of the Arlanza, at the head of his vassals, in execution of his purpose of vengeance against the murderer of the Count of Saldaña. FRANCISCO DE TOLEDO, THE KING KILLER. It is the curse of kings, to be attended And, on the winking of authority, To understand a law; to know the meaning Of dangerous majesty, when, perchance, it frowns SHAKSPEARE'S KING JOHN Con estas imaginaciones de tan grandes méritos entró á besar la mano al rey Don Felipe II. La catolica magestad, que tenia larga y general relacion y noticia de todo lo sucedido en aquel imperio, y en particular de la muerte que dieron al principe Tupac Amaru, y del destierro en que condenaron á sus parientes mas cercanos, donde perecieron todos, recibió al visorey, no con el aplauso que él esperaba, sino muy en contra, y en breves palabras le dixo, que se fuese á su casa, que S. M. no le habia enviado al Perú para que matase reyes, sino que sirviese á reyes.. Con esto se salió de la presencia real, y se fue á su posada, bien desconsolado del disfavor que no imaginaba. Al qual se anadió otro no menor, y fue que *** los del Consejo de ella mandaron embargar todo el oro y plata que Don Francisco de Toledo traia del Perú, hasta que se averiguase y sacase en claro lo que pertenecia á la real hacienda. Don Francisco de Toledo, viendo el segundo disfavor que igualaba con el primero, cayó en tanta tristeza y melancolía que murió en pocos dias, GARCILASO DE LA VEGA, HISTORIA DEL PERU, |