The rumor came to Frei Egidio In cloistered Santa Cruz, that out of Spain King Philips secret courier had fared With orders under seal suspending all The statutes of Coimbra that controlled The contests for the prefessorial chairs, And ordering the Faculty to grant Padre Francisco Suarez primacy Among the masters theological. And Frei Egidio, whose ancient name Fonseca was relinquished when at court It shone its brightest, who had ceaseless toiled His score of years in cloister and in schools, Unravelling knotty texts, disputing long With monk and doctor of the Carmelites, Dominicans and Trinitarians, Consulting with the students, visiting, Fawning and banqueting--himself and all His faction in the University-- Now in the iron mandate from Madrid Saw failure blight his hopes, and Santa Cruz Eclipsed, through imposition unforeseen Of Suarez de Toledo--only half A monk!--a fledgling doctor in the Schools!-- And Frei Egidio unsleeping schemed To check the rising of this Spanish star Within Coimbra,--and his henchmen went Stealthy and sure to sow malignant seed To choke the Hapsburg’s new autocracy. Stately was Frei Egidio, robust, Swarthy and smooth his cheek; his raven locks Piling about his tonsure in a crown. Dark flashed his eye whene’er he rose to cast His syllogistic spear across the lists, Where many a mighty crest Minerva-crowned Was forced to yield, or learnt the rapier thrust Of his _distinguo_ and _non-sequiter_. Still more he shone when in procession moved The doctors, masters, and licentiates, With tufted caps, and rainbow gowns, and stoles, And ring, and book across the steeps and squares, While gallant youths pressed round on horse or foot Holding his robe or stirrup through the town-- The _Catedratico da Vespera_. But now this little shrivelled man sent out From Salamanca,--Philip’s paragon!-- To rule Coimbra in theology!-- One of Loyola’s strange and restless band In the Collegio de Jesus,--reproach To every gorgeous doctor in the halls. ’Twas true he hid away within his house, Came seldom to the festival or Acts, Nor oft asserted his high presidence O’er Frei Egidio--in craft or scorn, It mattered not--for Frei Egidio Would pluck him forth; no signet of the King Could serve him here; the doctors of the Schools Should learn how he, Fonseca, had been wronged. With formal placards soon they smeared the walls Of shrine and college, telling day and hour And place, where Doutor Frei Egidio Da Presentacao, of the Eremites Of Sao Agostinho, titular _Da Vespera_, would his conclusions hold “_De Voluntario et Involuntario_” Against all-comers, and imprimis there, The Doutor Padre Suarez, titular _Da Prima_ of Coimbra, theologue Of the _Collegia_ and _Compania