As round some solitary tower, At setting of the sun, Fierce birds of prey are whirling seen, Revolving one by one, Thus with Don Pedro in their turn Have various thoughts a trace, Whose shadows darken as they pass The expression of his face. Now occupies his angry mind His brother’s power and state, Of those whose mother he had slain, And birth would criminate. Now of unquietnesses borne, Great scorn and insult shown, Or of his failing treasury, Nor means to fill it known. Now of the fair Aldonza’s charms, His fortune ’twas to gain, Or of the blood-stain’d forms of those He had unjustly slain. Now some projected enterprise, Some treaty to defeat, Faith-breaking with Granada’s Moor, Or treason or deceit. But as the birds the lonely tower, The broken heights between, Are all at length, as one by one, Retiring hiding seen; And constant only one remains, Revolving it infest, The fiercest, strongest on the wing, That will admit no rest; Thus all that multitude confused Of passions wild and strange, Of which Don Pedro for a while Was tangled in the range, At length from breast and head alike Fled finding a retreat, And living left distinct alone, With horror great replete, The image of Fadrique, His eldest brother famed, The pride of knights and Master those Of Santiago named. Now from Humillia’s conquer’d walls, With matchless courage won, In triumph had Fadrique come O’er vanquish’d Aragon. Where erst the bars, the castles now He floating left abroad, And to present the keys he brings His brother, king and lord. Well knows the king no rebel he, But friend and ally true, And more than Tello madly hates, And more than Henry too. ’Twas he Fadrique had the charge From France to bring the queen, The Lady Blanche, but he allow’d A year to intervene. With her in Narbonne he delay’d, And rumours thus of those, Which whether true or false alike Are poisonous, arose. And in Medina’s tower the price The Lady Blanche now pays, Of all the palace whisperings, And journey’s long delays. And on his shoulders yet untouch’d His head Fadrique wears, Because of his great wealth and power And honour’d name he bears. But, woe for him! the ladies all Him as their idol own, For his gay port and gallant mien, And manly courage known. And if he cause the throne no fear, In his fidelity, He gives what’s worse, though that were bad, The heart strong jealousy.