Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/171

BIRTH OF ISABELLA. 27 the counsels of the sovereign, or, to speak more chapter properly, was himself the sovereign of Castile. '- — His fate furnishes one of the most memorable lessons in history. It was not lost on his contem- poraries ; and the marquis of Santillana has made use of it to point the moral of perhaps the most pleasing of his didactic compositions. ^' John did ^y joC not long survive his favorite's death, w^hich he was seen afterwards to lament even with tears. Indeed during the whole of the trial he had exhibited the most pitiable agitation, having twice issued and recalled his orders countermanding the constable's execution ; and, had it not been for the superior constancy, or vindictive temper of the queen, he would probably have yielded to these impulses of returning affection. ^^ So far from deriving a wholesome warning from experience, John confided the entire direction of his kingdom to individuals not less interested, but possessed of far less enlarged capacities, than the former minister. Penetrated with remorse at the retrospect of his unprofitable life, and filled with 41 Entitled " Doctrinal de Priva- I give Longfellow's version, as dos." See the Cancionero Gene- spirited as it is literal, ral, fol. 37 et seq. — In the follow- « Spain's haughty Constable, — the great tag stanza, the constable is made to An<l gallant Master, — cruel fate moralize with good effect on the Brmrnot^aVhispeV of his pride, instability of worldly grandeur. He on the gloomy scaffold died, , ^ , . , , Ignoble fall ! « Que se hizo la moneda _ The countless treasures of his care, que guarde para mis dano3 Hamlets and villas green and fair, tantos tiempos tantos anos jjj, rni^hty power Plata joyas oro y seda What were they all but grief and shame, y de todo no me queda Tears and a broken heart, — when came Bino este cadahalso ; The parting hour ! " mundo male mundo falso Stanza 21 noayquiencontigopueda." 42 Cibdareal, Centon Epistola- Manrique has the same senti- rio, ep. 103. — Cronica de Aivaro ments in his exquisite "Coplas." de Luna, tit. 128.