READ At the Grand Annual of the Philhistorian Society. Santa Clara College Cal. April 27th. 1881. I^EDRO DE ALVARADO. Pedro de Alvarado pricked with pride His master, Cortez, spreading sail for Spain- Plucked at the Conqueror's mantle! As he stood Fretful and frowning by the torrid shore He saw the galleon, lessening on the sea, Lost in the lonesome waters. Then he turned, Ploughed through the heart of Mexico and sought The tranquil, the Pacific, where the gales Spiced with the balms of Asia and the breath Of many an isle of luscious fruit and flower Fanned in his breast a spark of hopeto flame! The palm boughs writhing in the vexing wind Made joyous music; and the tides made moan; And the bold breakers climbed the thundering coast Snow white with foam and fury. Here he paused Searching with lustful eye the watery \vaste, The sea of Cortez, the vermillion sea. Bitter his heart, bitter his speech, as one Consumed with envy; for the malcontent Hungered for battle, storm and victory! To wrest dominion from the savage tribes; To plant his standard on the uttermost peaks And bind his brows with laurel. Well he schemed! Armed with imperial edict and with gold, Herding his slaves by forest, shore and stream, Under the lash they wrought, and, ere the moon Had withered to a shred in the pale dawn, The banners of his fleet rose on the wind- Twelve ships, a galley and the lesser craft, Freighted with men and beasts and food and arms. New lands, new seas, new peoples conquering, And to conquer and blazon his name above Cortez!- So, young ambition lured him on Perchance to drag from out his golden house Another Montezuma. In the hour When the fair ships were chafing at their chains, And fresh winds fluttering his slackened sails The murmur of the restless retinue Rose as the ceaseless hum of hiving bees- Pedro de Alvarado came to shore To say his last farewell. Ill fare, ill fate Was his who ground his heel upon the meek! Within the hour that was to crown his hopes One of his vengeful vassals sprang upon The heartless chief and dashed him to his death! Like the cloud towers that crumble in the air; Like the ice palace that dissolves away; Like the live coal that cools and falls an ash - His splendid hopes there fell and came to naught And all his dreams passed with him to the grave! In the long years that followed, day by day, The forked flames of the meridian sun Sapped the wide seams of the dismantling hulks; Shrunk the huge timbers, warped the decks, and [snapped Strand after strand among the ropes that hung Like tattered spider webs; until the masts Tottered and trembled when the sea fowl perched Upon the mouldering spars. And night by night The mellow moon rose on the dew fringed sails Fluttered to ribbons, silvered in her light; Or fitful stars, that fell like golden rain, Slid down the spangled sky, and noiselessy Burned in the ebon waters, and illumed The phantom shadows of those ghastly ships Till, one by one, they yielded, and at last, With a great shudder, settled to their doom. How oft, methinks, does thoughtless youth set forth With argosies to sweep enchanted seas; How oft the student leave the mother house Armed to achieve the conquest of a world; Yet for a cause, what cause O! who shall say? Fast by the shore they wreck their hopes, and leave Their freighted fleets to rot upon the wave! t r ,? A /