The Court of Philip IV.: Spain in DecadenceHume, Martin A. S. (Martin Andrew Sharp)
Philosophy
The Court of Philip IV.: Spain in Decadence
Hume, Martin A. S. (Martin Andrew Sharp)
Philip IV, King of Spain, 1605-1665; Spain -- Court and courtiers; Spain -- History -- Philip IV, 1621-1665
[32] Don Juan was acknowledged in 1642, and the occasion was taken for
a great series of festivities to celebrate the event, though the state
of public affairs at the time was more deplorable than ever. The
Nuncio Panzuolo took a prominent part in the affair, and gave the
Pope's blessing to the young Prince; but it was noted that the Queen,
usually so hearty and debonnaire, was cold and haughty when Don Juan
was led up to kiss her hand and that of Prince Baltasar Carlos. It was
noticed that the latter, prompted apparently by his mother, addressed
his half-brother as _Vos_, You, which was the manner usually adopted
towards nobles, but not to royal personages. An interesting
unpublished paper in Italian in the British Museum gives many curious
particulars of Don Juan's youth, and the details of his legitimation.
Add MSS. 8703. "Ritratto della nascitá qualitá costumi ed accioni de
Don Juan d'Austria."
[33] A most amusing account of this family council is given by Novoa,
who hits off the respective characters of the three sisters--the
Marchiones of Carpio, Marchioness of Monterey, and Countess of
Alcañizes--very neatly.
[34] The terrible Memorial, written by Quevedo, exposing in burning
words the state of the country, and calling upon the King to arouse
himself, should be read by anyone who desires confirmation of the
pictures I have tried to trace in this book. The paper was slipped
under the King's napkin at dinner, and was accompanied by a parody
paternoster, beginning as follows--
Filipo, que el mundo aclama
Rey del infiel tan temido,
Despierta, que por dormido
Nadie te teme, ni te ama;
Despierta, rey, que la fama
Por todo el orbe pregona
Que es de leon tu corona
Y tu dormir de liròn,
Mira que la adulacion
Te llama con fin siniestro
"Padre Nuestro."
Hail, Philip, King whom all acclaim,
In fear the infidel to keep,
Awake! for in thy slumber deep
No one doth love or fear thy name.
Awake! oh King, the worlds proclaim
Thy crown on lion's brow to sit,
Thy slumber's but for dormouse fit.
Listen! 'tis flattery's artful wile
That sunk in sloth thy days beguile,
And calls thee, its base ends to foster,
"Pater Noster."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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