Elsewhere in the piece, Don John is represented to have fought bravely in the disastrous battle of Toro, and to have voluntarily restored the throne to his father, who had once abdicated in his favor and had afterwards reclaimed the supreme power. Personal courage and strict justice, however, are the attributes most relied on to exhibit him as a perfect prince. Of the former he gives proof by killing a man in self-defence, and entering into a bull-fight under the most perilous circumstances. Of the latter--his love of justice--many instances are brought on the stage, and, among the rest, his protection of Columbus, after the return of that great navigator from America, though aware how much his discoveries had redounded to the honor of a rival country, and how great had been his own error in not obtaining the benefit of them for Portugal. But the most prominent of these instances of justice relates to a private and personal history, and forms the main subject of the drama. It is as follows. Don Juan de Sosa, the king’s favorite, is twice sent by him to Spain on embassies of consequence, and, while residing there, lives in the family of a gentleman connected with him by blood, to whose daughter, Leonora, he makes love and wins her affections. Each time, when Don Juan returns to Portugal, he forgets his plighted faith and leaves the lady to languish. At last, she comes with her father to Lisbon in the train of the Spanish princess, Isabella, now married to the king’s son. But even there the false knight refuses to recognize his obligations. In her despair, she presents herself to the king, and explains her position in the following conversation, which is a favorable specimen of the easy narrative in which resides so much of the charm of Lope’s drama. As Leonora enters, she exclaims:-- Prince, whom in peace and war men perfect call, Listen a woman’s cry! _King._ Begin;--I hear. _Leonora._ Fadrique--he of ancient Lara’s house, And governor of Seville--is my sire. _King._ Pause there, and pardon first the courtesy That owes a debt to thy name and to his, Which ignorance alone could fail to pay. _Leonora._ Such condescending gentleness, my lord, Is worthy of the wisdom and the wit Which through the world are blazoned and admired.-- But to my tale. Twice came there to Castile A knight from this thy land, whose name I hide Till all his frauds are manifest. For thou, My lord, dost love him in such wise, that, wert Thou other than thou art, my true complaints Would fear to seek a justice they in vain Would strive to find. Each time within our house He dwelt a guest, and from the very first He sought my love.