POETRY. 543 



Bear witness tliose Old Towers, where many a day 

 Waiting with foresight calm the fitting hour. 

 The Wellesley, gaining strength from wise delay, 



Defied the Tyrant's undivided power. 

 Swore not the boastful Frenchman in his might. 

 Into the sea to drive his Island-foe? 

 Tagus and Zezere, in night 

 Ye saw the baffled ruffian take his flight ! 

 Onoro's Springs, ye saw his overthrow ! 



VII. 



Patient of loss, profuse of life. 

 Meantime had Spain endur'd the strife; 

 And tho' she saw her cities yield, 

 Her armies scatter'd in the field. 



Her strongest bulwarks fall. 

 The danger undismay'd she view'd^ 

 Knowing that nought could e'er appal 



The Spaniards' fortitude. 

 What tho' the Tyrant, drunk with power, 

 Might vaunt himself, in impious hour. 

 Lord and Disposer of this earthly ball? 

 Her cause is just, and Heaven is over all. 



VIII. 



Therefore, no thought of fear debased 

 Her judgment, nor her acts disgraced. 

 . To every ill, but not to shame resign'd. 

 All sufferings, all calamities she bore, 

 She bade the people call to mind 

 Their heroes of the days of yore, 

 Pelayo and the Campeador, 

 With all who once in battle strong. 

 Lived still in story and in song. 

 Against the Moor, age after age. 

 Their stubborn warfare did they wage; 

 Age after age, from sire to son. 

 The hallowed sword was handed down ; 

 Nor did they from that warfare cease, 

 And sheathe that hallowed sword in peace, 

 Until the work was done. 



IX. 



Thus in the famous days of yore. 

 Their fathers triumph'd o'er the Moor : 

 They gloried in bis overthrow. 

 But touch'd not with reproach his gallant name ; 



