THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 "A "N '8sn3DjX9 ^^
 
 ^
 
 RAMIREZ; 
 
 A POEM.
 
 Tonenos horror y miedo la memoria de tan graves males oomo padecimos. 
 Eutorpecese la pluma, y no se atreve ni acierta a dar principio al cuento de las 
 cosas que adelarite sucedieron. Embazame la muchas sangre que sin propcisito 
 se derramo por estos tiempos. Mariana. 
 
 W. POPLE, PRINTER, 67, CHANCERY LANE.
 
 RAMIREZ; 
 
 A POEM. 
 
 ALEXANDER R. C. DALLAS, Esq. 
 
 No se puede pensar genero de malconque Espana no fuese afligida. 
 
 Mariana. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, AND SOLD BY JAMES 
 CAWTHORN, 24, COCKSPUR STREET. 
 
 1817.
 
 
 The aspirers to public favour, like 
 the lovers of Atalanta, have in view an 
 alternative where the balance between 
 hope and fear must, to an indifferent 
 eye, appear so unpropitious to the for- 
 mer, so awfully preponderant on the 
 side of the latter, that no prudent man, 
 it should seem, would venture to start 
 on the course. Yet when the prize is 
 so great, some imprudence may be 
 forgiven : perhaps a stanza here and 
 
 9di?>0/1
 
 VI 
 
 there may at first draw criticism from 
 its straight Une, and, Hke the apples of 
 Hippomenes, gain time for reaching 
 the goal. 
 
 ** They were golden apples, Sir ; 
 give us sterling lines, and win the 
 race/' 
 
 It is an awful race. I own I trem- 
 ble to think that the first effort is to 
 decide the fate of my Muse, I am 
 aware that it is unavailing to supplicate 
 for such favour as this attempt evinces 
 the writer's ambition to obtain ; it 
 must be gained. I have then only to 
 hope, diffidently to hope, that some- 
 thing in the following Poem may be 
 found which may slacken the rigour pf 
 criticism, and obtain that encourage-
 
 Vll 
 
 ment which may lead to completer suc- 
 cess. 
 
 The Tale, merely as such, must 
 speak for itself. I drew the hint from 
 the horrors attending the war in the 
 Peninsula. The scenery is attempted 
 from nature, and may perhaps be re- 
 traced by those who have been in the 
 part of Spain where the action is laid.
 
 RAMIREZ. 
 
 I. 
 
 fewEET are thy gardens, Seville! sweet the breath 
 
 That blossomed bow'rs exhale around thy wall : 
 'Tis beauty all j and winter's gentlest death 
 
 Blows on thy flowers, and few the leaves that fall 
 To strew the paths ; a yellower tint is all 
 
 That to thy groves the chill Levante lends, 
 As if reflected from each golden ball 
 
 Of fragrant fruit that from the branches bends ; 
 And in a month 'tis o'er ^the little winter ends. 
 
 B 
 
 /
 
 RAMIREZ. 
 11. 
 
 It was a soft, a solemn night : 
 
 The stars scarce dared to shew their light. 
 
 The Moon's pale presence was so bright ; 
 
 'Twas like a mockery of day : 
 It was a calm, a pleasing sight, 
 
 The twinkling of each ray. 
 Were you to look at the bright blaze 
 Of Phoebus' unreflected rays 
 Thro' some thin veil of silvery hue, 
 'T would seem the gentle day that threw 
 On Seville's Alameda then 
 Its beams of mild repose to men. 
 
 III. 
 Full many a night the star of day 
 Has been reflected bright as now ;
 
 HAMIIIEZ. 
 
 As softly too the silver ray 
 Imaged in Guadalquivir's flow ; 
 And on its banks the ray, so soft, 
 Has lent its lovely light as oft. 
 To glad the gay gitano throng, (1) 
 To prompt the dance, excite the song. 
 To chase all care, all thought away. 
 All recollection of the day, 
 Of which the labours could excite 
 No wished-for sleep at coming night. 
 So the unwearied mind be moved 
 By sounds that from its birth it loved, 
 By spells the heart can ne'er forget ; 
 The spirit of the Castagnet, 
 From the Guitar the soul that flows, 
 Were to their toil a sweet repose.
 
 BAMIKEZ. 
 
 IV. 
 
 But now, though all as fair the moon 
 As ever at her nightly noon, 
 Tho' all as smooth the mirror tide 
 As ever it was wont to glide, 
 Tho' all as bright, as smiling all 
 Was Nature's midnight festival, 
 Now are no guests to grace the scene. 
 As whilom there had joyous been; 
 There was no tread of busy feet, 
 No twanged guitar, no castagnet : 
 There was a calm so still, so drear, 
 Such silence was the birth of fear : 
 And if by chance one footstep fell, 
 The echoing voice of earth would tell 
 That fearful calm produced how much 
 Of trembling in its timid touch.
 
 RAMIREZ. 
 
 V. 
 
 Yet on those nights of revelry. 
 That erst the moon was wont to see, 
 When Seville's sons beheld her wane, 
 And watched her early light again, 
 And called her hours the hours of joy, 
 That passed in mirth too rude to cloy, 
 Were fewer eyes forbid to close 
 With needed, but contenm'd repose ; 
 And fewer lids refused to bow 
 From pleasure then than sorrow now : 
 Usurping despots ruled the land 
 With icy heart and iron hand. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Far had gone forth a hellish train. 
 To fatten on the blood of Spain,
 
 6 RAMIREZ. 
 
 And, ruled but by the love of gain, 
 
 Revel in luxury of guilt ; 
 Spuming at laws by Nature given, 
 Laughing at those revealed of Heaven, 
 Their souls were bathed in human blood ; 
 And, hardened in that Stygian flood, 
 Invulnerable, they withstood 
 
 Each gentler feeling's sympathy ; 
 
 Their joy increase of misery. 
 
 Measured by blood-drops spilt, 
 
 VII. 
 
 Deadly and deep };ho' Julian's curse 
 On hapless Spain, this blast is worse.? 
 Not Julian's hate with Tarif's band (2) 
 Brought blacker horrors on the land ! 
 Seville ! thou then wert first to feel 
 TThe conquering edge of Moorish steely
 
 RAMIREZ. 
 
 What time thy mitred renegade 
 For Julian's pride a triumph made, 
 For seven long suns his power withheld, 
 And basely on the eighth rebelled. 
 Bearing the victory in his train, 
 Death to the Goth and bonds to Spain : (3) 
 Now thou'rt the latest, but the worst. 
 By this new scourge from Heaven accurst ! 
 For He th' Archfiend (4) thy Palace fills, 
 And owns no law but that he wills. 
 So prompt to torture black with sin- 
 Worthy his Miramamolin. (5) 
 Not fiercer he whose fury fell 
 Alike on Goth and Infidel, (6) 
 Nor he, who last thy mantle bore, 
 The royal robber, Alahor, (7) 
 Than he who now usurps thy halls. 
 Who fits the chain that deepest galls,
 
 RAMIREZ. 
 
 And fonns, instructed from below, 
 The engine that might furthest throw 
 The ministers of misery, 
 Hell's own artillery. (8) 
 
 VIII. 
 'Tis strange, but on the stilly air 
 
 A gentle sound salutes the ear ; 
 A sound as of the days that were. 
 
 Ere Seville's sons were dumb'd by fear. 
 It once was strange did aught controul 
 
 The mirth of man midst fellow men ; 
 But stranger still to find a soul 
 
 Of merriment in Seville then : 
 Yet 'tis a strain so wild and low, 
 It rather seems a sound of woe ; 
 A song of mirth, but sung by one 
 Whose hours of mirth are past and gone ;
 
 RAMIKEZ. 
 
 Grief strikes the chords of the guitar. 
 And silence spreads the sound afar 
 List, as it slowly steals along, 
 List to the spirit of the song ! 
 
 1. 
 Farewell, my native Se villa ! (9) 
 
 Farewell those joys that are gone ! 
 Forgive that a dauntless Guerilla 
 
 Weep for thy liberty flown 
 Every tear that I shed as we part, 
 
 Fast they flow. 
 Shall be numbered by drops from the heart 
 
 Of a foe. 
 Every tree on thy sweet Alameda 
 
 Shall tell 
 Of the death of a lawless invader. 
 
 Where he fell. 
 Ah farewell ! ah farewell !
 
 10 KA'MIREZ. 
 
 2. 
 
 Farewell ! from my Blanca I fly 
 
 Ah my Beloved, farewell ! 
 There breathes not in Spain, if I die, 
 
 One that could love thee so well. 
 My first tear 'twas my wronged Country's woes 
 
 . v:^i >.^ J That could move ; 
 But the fondest and fastest that flows 
 
 Is for love. 
 Should death part us for ever below. 
 For thy sake 
 My heart, ere it felt the dread blow, 
 : J Would break. 
 
 Ah farewell! ah farewell! 
 
 IX. 
 
 A soul doth to that voice belong 
 That breathes its spirit in the song
 
 RAMIREZ. 11 
 
 *Tis the same spirit that of old 
 Right gallant knights a wandering led, 
 Forsaking home, and board, and bed. 
 
 For days of hunger, nights of cold :-^ 
 Still had that spirit dormant lain. 
 That throbs in many a heart of Spain ; 
 Still had that fire that bums so strong 
 Remained a spark, inactive long ; 
 But it was roused from idle sleep 
 By injuries, and by insults deep ; 
 Was quickened to a brilliant flame 
 By Patriotism's sacred name ; 
 A flame that torrents could not quench, 
 Unless of life-blood purely French- 
 Blood which had flowed those hearts to warm 
 That held it happiness to harm.
 
 21 KAMlftlZ. 
 
 X. 
 
 It was thy song, Ramirez, then, 
 That broke the calm of other men ; 
 It was thy voice was raised to tell 
 Thou bidst thy home, thy love, farewell ; 
 It was thy heart that burst to leave 
 Thy place of birth, thy place of love. 
 Where every tree could pleasure give. 
 
 And each some fond remembrance move 
 Go ! fare thee well ! and may thy blade 
 
 Grow bright with glory and success, 
 Thy arm appease each wandering shade 
 
 Murdered in Gallic wantonness ! 
 
 XI. 
 
 Morena's hundred heads arise. 
 
 And strive to reach the cloudless skies ;
 
 RAMIREZ. 13 
 
 Her many summits clothed in gren, 
 
 Of olive, or of chesnut tint ; 
 And many a dark and low ravine 
 Wanders those hoary hills between, 
 
 Brest in the deepest green imprint ; 
 
 While upward as the forest goes, 
 
 Light and more light the verdure grows, 
 
 u 
 As mingled more with golden rays. 
 
 Where the warm day-beam oftener plays* 
 
 XII. 
 
 Embosomed in the sister train, 
 Themselves the highest of the chain. 
 Two giant hills their summits rear, 
 Fearfully high ^fearfully near ' 
 
 The traveller on his journey bent, 
 From far beholds each high ascent ;
 
 14 RAMIREZ. 
 
 So neighbour do their summits seem, 
 That, were he there, he well might deem, 
 'Twould ask but width of mortal pace 
 To franchise the dividing space. 
 There is a valley those hills between, 
 That ne'er the noon-day light hath seen ; 
 'Tis lower than the mother plain 
 The sun seeks out for it in vain, (10) 
 For ne'er his searching rays could tell. 
 Save but a few, to find the dell ; 
 They, broken from the summit, fell. 
 And seemed as tho' they 'd lost their way : 
 Their light was not the light of day 
 The trees within were thick and near ; 
 Each clung to each as if for fear. 
 And made the dreariness more drear. (11) 
 The signs of life were dull and few 
 That this forgotten valley knew :
 
 RAMIREZ. ))$ 
 
 A streamlet there its course began, 
 
 But swelling, soon a river ran ; 
 
 It seemed as if with power to feel 
 
 The influence of the spot around 
 
 For at its birth it sought to steal 
 
 Society with banished sound ; 
 
 Scared at the echo, loud and deep, 'j>. id \ 
 
 It 'gan with very fear to creeps* oiJB& as';'? 
 
 And slowly lulled itself to sleep, ipseo-. t ;i 
 
 And ran so level and so low, .:.^'3fl. "^ "" 
 
 The ear could never tell its flow : 
 
 And so it slept its little way, 
 
 Till, where the mountains opened wide, 
 A dam received its gathered tide, v r.'V 
 Which falling thence with rapid rush^ 
 Dashed on the rock it seemed to crash, 
 
 As if awakened by the light of day. 
 iiivio hbi:
 
 16 RAMIREZ. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 In such a deep and dismal dell 
 Jt fitted only beasts to dwell ; 
 And oft within its shades a howl 
 Announced the wolf at nightly prowl. 
 And many a feast of bloody fare 
 Was eat in savage shelter there. 
 But beasts of prey had left the den. 
 To shelter in the breasts of men ; 
 And wolves that human forms display 
 Had found a wider field for prey ; 
 Still craving for their native food. 
 They follow hard the scent of blood. 
 And many a victim hunted down, 
 From their destroying fangs had flown ; 
 So the deserted forest den 
 Becomes inhabited of men.
 
 RAMIREZ. If 
 
 XIV. 
 
 A band of such dislodged the few 
 Of savage kind this valley knew ; 
 A band of such, who suflPered not 
 That Spain was free should be forgot ; 
 And they were met with one accord 
 For vengeance on the Gallic horde. 
 All felt alike the general woe. 
 
 And with their bleeding country bled : 
 And each had many a single foe, 
 That bade their hatred deeper grow, 
 Their patriotism brighter glow. 
 
 The spirit wider spread. 
 
 XV. 
 Their chieftain was a man on whom 
 Full heavily had fallen his doom :
 
 18 RAMIREzr. 
 
 He was a man of noble blood. 
 Whose race for ages had withstood 
 Th' impetuous ever-flowing flood 
 
 Of all-destroying time : 
 Deep rooted, but ill fated tree ! 
 Year after year has rolled o'er thee, 
 And brought thy full maturity ; 
 
 Has seen thee in thy prime : 
 The last beheld the weapon fall 
 That lopped thy leaves, thy branches all. 
 And left thy trunk dismembered seen, 
 A monument of what had been. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Sanchez ! three lovely sons were thine. 
 The hope, the promise of thy line ; 
 The tender scions budded now-^ 
 But they are gone ere they could bloom i^*
 
 RAMIREZ. 19 
 
 Kind was the care that bade them grow ; 
 
 Bleak was the blast that brought their doom : 
 Two fell as Spanish men should fall, 
 
 Dipping in blood their virgin swords, 
 When spite of valour, justice all 
 
 The fight is lost to conq'ring crowds. 
 They fed the vultures gorged, I ween. 
 Upon the field of Medullin. (12) 
 
 XVII. 
 
 The third was but of tender age, 
 Unfit in battles to engage ; 
 But he had still an infant life 
 To offer to th' assassin's knife. 
 A troop of these had ta'en their way 
 To where the ancient Quinta lay. 
 With force of words or steel to claim 
 Allegiance to th' usurper's name.
 
 20 RAMIBEZ. 
 
 The sire away, the savage band 
 Proclaimed their threats of blade and brand 
 So they might know his sojourn land : 
 One grasped the boy, and swore to part 
 The life-blood from his throbbing heart 
 The secret trembled on her tongue, 
 
 The mother and the tender wife, 
 For on her lip the sentence hung, 
 
 Or of a son's or husband's life : 
 In anguish mute tho' raised the steel. 
 
 Pity, she thought, would stay the blow- 
 It was her woe^-her husband's weal 
 
 Little a Gallic breast to know. 
 The long-raised arm was urged at last. 
 
 And fell to give a double death ; 
 Rapid its fall but, as it passed. 
 
 Ceased had the hapless mother's breath.
 
 KAMIREZ. 9,1 
 
 She saw it fall she saw no more 
 
 Lived not to see her infant's gore, 
 
 Lived not to hear its parting cry, 
 
 The last of its mortality ; 
 
 And tho' the same destroying blade 
 
 Was after in her bosom laid, 
 
 A wanton waste of wound it made ; 
 
 Was seen no blood-stream heard no groan 
 
 The spirit with its kin had flowEu 
 
 xvin. 
 
 *Twas night the moon's refulgent beam 
 In that deep vale did little seem : 
 Its lofty walls, its thickening shade, 
 A barrier to her brightness made ; 
 Darkness was banished for a space 
 In the Guerillas' hiding place,
 
 22 BAMIREZ. 
 
 Where the huge bonfire's cheerful blaze 
 Forbade the wish for brighter rays. 
 Around its light were gathered then 
 Some thirty of Guerilla men : 
 They were a motley group to see. 
 Such varied physiognomy, 
 Such different character of dress-^ 
 Who saw them thus would scarcely guess 
 That they were all one brotherhood. 
 And marshalled for their country's good. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Within the valley echo gives 
 
 The voice of man " What ho ! Who lives?" (IS) 
 
 And quickly comes the answer then 
 
 " Spain, and her good Guerilla men ! " 
 
 " A friend's approach those sounds proclaim, 
 
 *' Ad in thy voice I mark thy name
 
 RAMIKEZ. 23 
 
 ** Is 't not Ramirez ?" " Aye, the same." 
 " Right gladly do I greet thee now : 
 " What of the helUsh Gallic foe ? 
 " Say, shall our troop have aught to do ? " 
 In such discourse the Watehman led 
 
 Ramirez on the narrow way, 
 That by the deep and even bed 
 
 Of the slow silent river lay ; 
 Till, onward as they moved along, 
 They heard the sounds of distant song ; 
 Such song as it were deatji to sing- 
 That told of Spain and of her King : 
 'Twas the Guerilla band that moved 
 The harmony their bosoms loved. 
 As they approached and heard the sound, 
 Although by distance almost drowned. 
 Involuntary in the chime 
 They joined with the accordant rhyme :
 
 24 RAMIREZ. 
 
 1. 
 
 From peaceful slumbers wildly waking, (14) 
 
 Arise, Iberia's sons, arise, 
 The arm upraised by vengeance shaking. 
 
 That when it falls the Tjrrant dies ; 
 As from the storm the sun retires, 
 
 Red lightning thro' the darkness darts. 
 So bursts the rage, so flash the fires. 
 That vengeance lights in Spanish hearts. 
 Arm, arm, who love Iberia's glory. 
 
 For Freedom, or an honoured grave ! 
 Or live by death in Patriot's story. 
 Or groan in life, Napoleon's slave. 
 2. 
 The Gallic fires its leaves consuming. 
 
 Withered behold the plant of peace ! 
 No after-sun shall see it blooming. 
 Till quenched by blood, those fires cease.
 
 RAMIREZ. 5 
 
 As from the rock the streamlet gushes. 
 
 And, swelling fast, a torrent flows. 
 The blood-stream deeply, broadly, rushes, 
 That takes its fount from patriot blows. 
 Arm, arm, who love Iberia's glory. 
 
 For Freedom, or an honoured grave ! 
 Or live by death in Patriot's story. 
 Or groan in life. Napoleon's slave. 
 3. 
 Thy mountains, Spain ! the blue arch bounding, 
 
 That echoed oft the jocund song ; 
 Now the harsh trump of war resounding 
 
 In hoarser murmurs, sweeps along. 
 The Patriot's voice that harsh trump blowing, 
 
 Shall make its echoes thunder far ; 
 The wintry blast of death bestowing 
 On all who wage the Tyrant's war.
 
 ) KAMIREZ. 
 
 Arm, arm, who love Iberia's glory, 
 For Freedom, or an honoured grave ! 
 
 Or live by death in Patriot's story. 
 Or groan in life, Napoleon's slave. 
 
 XX. 
 
 Ramirez, scarce wert thou among 
 The group, when greetings broke the song ; 
 And chiefly he who with his heart 
 Had in the chorus borne a part, 
 Tho' sorrow mingled with the smile 
 That mantled o'er his cheek the while ; 
 And thro' that smile it almost frowned, 
 And from his lip it scared the sound 
 That else had ready utterance found- 
 Sanchez, the woe-worn, injured Chief, 
 Gave salutation warm but brief: 
 " God and the Virgin now be praised.
 
 KAMIBEZ. 7 
 
 " In danger who have shielded thee ! 
 '' Saj) may our honest hopes be raised 
 " Of vengeance and of liberty ? 
 " What didst thou, friend, in Seville see ?'* 
 
 XXI. 
 
 " The glutted foe securely slumbers, 
 
 " And sees his safety in his numbers : 
 
 " Still do our peaceful brothers groan ; 
 
 " Their fate nor change nor hope has known ; 
 
 " The storm blows e'en as it has blown, 
 
 " The clouds as darkly lower ; 
 " Still wanton plunder holds the sway, 
 " And death or rapine marks each day, 
 " And life or treasure's ta'en away 
 
 ** By arbitrary power. 
 " But still a greater curse of late 
 " Has grown from love than grew from hate :
 
 28 KAMIREZ. 
 
 " For now do Seville's daughters glow 
 
 " With lawless passion for the foe ; (15) 
 
 " And many a one has left her home, 
 
 " With wanton hounds of hell to roam ; 
 
 " Forsaking e'en the female garb, 
 
 " Like those of old whom brought the Barb. (16) 
 
 " Who knows Arroyos !" " I," " I," " I," 
 
 **^ From each was still the answering cry. 
 
 " One of the crew, of high degree, 
 
 " That held o'er others mastery, 
 
 *^ Entered his home as 'twere his own 
 
 " But this is still their usage known (17) 
 
 " Through all the house his power he spread, 
 
 " Nor stopped he at the bridal bed 
 
 " Accursed demon ! Wife and all 
 
 " To one unhappy fate were given ! 
 " His gold was squandered in his hall, 
 
 " The master from his home was driven !
 
 RAMIREZ. i 
 
 " But his revenge was in his knife 
 
 " The villain paid him with his life ! 
 
 " And hid from the avenging hand, 
 
 " That hunts him still throughout the land, 
 
 " Arroyos seeks to join our band. 
 
 XXII. 
 " Yet came I not without a theme 
 " That to your ears shall sweeter seem 
 " Than tales of wrongs, if right I deem. 
 " I have a tale revenge shall breathe, 
 " Shall make each sword desert its sheath, 
 " Shall bid each bosom warmer glow 
 " With vengeance on th' insulting foe." 
 Ramirez paused from every eye 
 The fire reflected seemed to fly 
 As with a mirror's mockery :
 
 so BAttTIREZ. 
 
 So bright it gleamed at Vengeance' name. 
 They might have thought who marked the flame, 
 That lighted from the soul it came, 
 Nor deemed that in each eye the rays 
 Were pictured from the faggot blaze ; 
 Each of the group all breathless stood, 
 Fixed in attention's attitude 
 At length Ramirez thus pursued : 
 
 XXIII. 
 " The Summer's sun in fevered flood 
 " Impels the course of Gallic blood, 
 " And the luxurious crew are bent 
 " On hours of wanton merriment. 
 " The Chiefs consider, as I ween, 
 " That Spain is in her daughters seen;
 
 RAMIREZ. Jl 
 
 " Her wrongs, her woes remembered not, 
 
 " Since by weak womankind forgot ; 
 
 " Each follows pleasure at his will, 
 
 *' Forgetting there are Patriots still. 
 
 " Some twenty such misjudging fools, 
 
 " Whom sovereign thirst for pleasure rules, 
 
 " Revel to-morrow's hours away, 
 
 " In one luxurious holiday. 
 
 " A splendid feast this crew prepare, 
 
 " With female renegades to share ; 
 
 " Two gaudy barges downward glide 
 
 " With Guadalquivir's gentle tide, 
 
 " To where thy castle, Gelbes ! stands, 
 
 " And all the expanse of flood commands. 
 
 " And in that lone deserted hall 
 
 " Their slaves arrange the festival : 
 
 " 'Tis at the earliest hour of eve 
 
 " Gelbes will first the horde receive :
 
 32 RAMIREZ. 
 
 " There will be dance, and wild delight, 
 " And sounds of mirth the live-long night- 
 " Comrades ! to spoil the pleasm-e there 
 " Of that day's joy shall be our share ! 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 A shout for Spain and Ferdinand 
 Broke from each warrior of the band 
 Viva ! for Vengeance is at hand ! 
 And many a Frenchman, had he heard. 
 Had dreamt of danger at the word ; 
 And many a tyrant would have found 
 His song of death in that wild sound. 
 For a brief space, delight impelled 
 The talk that each with other held. 
 Till Sanchez, with commanding tone. 
 Attention fixed on him alone
 
 RAMIREZ. 33 
 
 " 'Tis meet, my friends, we muster quick, 
 *' And that our ready ranks be thick. 
 " Thou, Barrios, to Gonzalez go, 
 " Tell him the slumber of the foe, 
 " And bid him meet us there below, 
 
 " Near to Besusa's walls : 
 " And further say, we fitting deem 
 " The band should peaceful peasants seem, 
 " Nor let the foe of danger dream ; 
 
 " The hour as even falls 
 " Go to our friends kind greetings say, 
 " And as thou speedest now thy way, 
 " May the Saints guard thee on the battle-day '" 
 
 XXV. 
 
 Still for a time the theme beloved 
 The subject sweet of converse proved, 
 
 D
 
 34 ItAMIREZ. 
 
 And many a Spaniard then was moved 
 
 With Patriotism's ire : 
 Each told the wrongs himself had felt, 
 Numbered the blows his sword had dealt, 
 To sever hearts that would not melt 
 
 Before compassion's fire ; 
 Till on each heavy eyelid sleep 
 With soft approach began to creep, 
 And each had wrapped him in his cloak. 
 
 And couched him round the embered earth ; 
 No voices now the silence broke. 
 
 No sounds of song or mirth. 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 And did all sleep ? Were all the band 
 Becharmed by the leaden wand ? 
 Was there no mind that held a guest 
 To scare the sweet restorer, Rest ?
 
 RAMIREZ. 35 
 
 Upon a tree which, lately felled, 
 The fate of half its trunk beheld, 
 And to the fire had been rolled down 
 There to anticipate itsown, 
 The Chieftain sat from either knee 
 
 A resting elbow claimed support, 
 And in his hands, unthinkingly, 
 He held a firebrand of the tree. 
 
 And with the embers seemed to sport : 
 But *twas no impulse of the soul 
 That did those wandering hands controul 
 There is a state of mental ill. 
 Of grief long struck and present still, 
 When the soul stiffly has withstood 
 Misfortune's first impetuous flood, 
 And, more impelled, exerted more. 
 Till the first raging rush is o'er,
 
 36 RAMIREZ. 
 
 Then 'tis the work of Memory 
 
 The waster of the mind to be : 
 
 The thoughts that in the bosom dwell 
 
 All other images repel, 
 
 And there is need of words of jftre 
 
 To wake the soul to new desire 
 
 So Sanchez ! thine thy mind unpalled 
 
 Held thoughts a thousand times recalled : 
 
 Phantoms a thousand times created 
 
 Feasted thy fancy yet unsated 
 
 Thy wife thy murdered boy and those 
 
 Who fell in dealing deadly blows 
 
 Revenge new tortures to invent 
 
 Horrors unheard for punishment 
 
 Thy injured country the dear spot 
 
 Thy fathers from the Goth had got 
 
 So writhed the workings of thy brain. 
 
 Linked in the same eternal chain :
 
 BAMIREZ. 37 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 A deep, a long, a heavy sigh. 
 That from the bosom seemed to fly 
 Of such a sorrower as he, 
 Awoke him from his reverie,; 
 And with a glance he caught a brow 
 Of grief " Ramirez ! sleepest thou ?" 
 ** Slumber,'* he answered, " cometh late 
 " On one so hardly pressed by fate." 
 " What is 't, Ramirez, goes not well ? 
 " Hast aught from Seville yet to tell ? 
 ** Unbosom, friend if deeper grief 
 *' To hear can give thy heart relief, 
 ** To know my fate is darker still 
 *' May reconcile thee to thy ill."
 
 38 RAMIEEZ. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 " Sanchez ! thou long hast been a friend ; 
 " Now to my tale of woes attend : 
 " To say those woes begin from love 
 " Is but their bitterness to prove : 
 " For Blanca my sad bosom glows, 
 " Source of my joy source of my woes ! 
 " Two daughters blest her happy sire 
 
 " Once not a happier breathed on earth 
 " Their mother joined the heavenly choir, 
 
 " And dying, gave to both their birth. 
 " Nature alike had gifted both ; 
 " They budded, blossomed, with one growth ; 
 " The same each form, the same each face 
 " Alike their smiles, their youthful grace, 
 " And scarcely to distinguish knew 
 " Suspended sight between the two :
 
 RAMIREZ. 39 
 
 " But time and circumstance have shown 
 " A difference till now unknown 
 ** A difference in mind, in soul 
 " Unlike in that which makes the whole. 
 " The fated father, weak and old, 
 " Has long been plundered of his gold ; 
 " Now one of deep Satanic art 
 *' Has stolen the treasiire of his heart, 
 " His favourite daughter, Paza she, 
 " My Blanca's twin-bom mimicry. 
 " T\^o demons hold the father's hall, 
 " Calling their own his little all ; 
 " One has corrupted Paza's soul, 
 " And placed it under Hell's controul : 
 " The other monster seeks to win 
 " To wantonness her sister twin 
 " Blanca my Blanca she to whom 
 ** My plighted vows of truth are given
 
 40 RAMIREZ. 
 
 " God and the Virgin ! let his doom 
 " Unerring by my arm be driven. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 " The hapless Blanca fain would fly 
 " From proffers of such infamy ; 
 " And nought restrains her ready will 
 ** But her dear Sire's increasing ill. 
 ** His sole support, his only care 
 *' Still is she firm his fate to share ! 
 " This bends her soft repugnant mind 
 
 " To dally with the fiend of Gaul, 
 ** New cause for co3mess still to find 
 
 " Still every art in aid to call. 
 Yet much she fears that he of France, 
 
 " Exampled by his fellow fiends, 
 " May o'er the bounds of Love advance, 
 
 " To force his sacrilegious ends.
 
 RAMIREZ. 41 
 
 " Ah Heaven forfend ! and if but free 
 ** To-morrow from his tyranny, 
 " Leave her revenge, ye Saints ! to me 
 *' For her tormentor is of those 
 
 " Who this gay festival prepare ; 
 " And the devoted maiden goes 
 
 " Reluctantly a victim there ; 
 " While Paza, plunged in deepest vice, 
 " Is led a willing sacrifice. 
 " The wretched Blanca could not chuse 
 " It had been madness to refuse, 
 " For, urged too far, her trembling fate 
 ** Hangs 'twixt extremes of love and hate ; 
 " A breath might bring the ready blow, 
 " That could nor cure nor succour know. 
 " Awake to all her danger, she 
 " Imparted all her fears to me :
 
 42 , RAMIREZ. 
 
 " *Tis from her mind the plan has sprang 
 " That now was uttered by my tongue : 
 " To-morrow, every foe that dies 
 " Bleeds for my Blanca's injuries." 
 
 ########## 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Fair Guadalquivir glides her way 
 
 With silver feet o'er sands of gold, 
 And many a gently-rounded bay 
 
 Her wide and varying banks unfold : 
 Upborne upon the steady stream 
 
 Two gallant barges slowly more ; 
 Their gaudy glitterings rather seem 
 The fancies of a fairy dream, 
 
 The images of idle love : 
 Each slender mast that almost bends 
 
 The silken ensign scarce supports ;
 
 BAMIBEZ. 48 
 
 The breezy air that evening sends 
 The falling flag but half extends, 
 
 Varying as in playful sports ; 
 And on the decks what gay attire ! 
 
 What golden equipage of dress ! 
 What gentle music to inspire 
 
 The soul to cheerful happiness ! 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 Ye sages who the secrets tell 
 Which inward in each bosom dwell, 
 Fix on that crew your eager gaze ; 
 Say what each cheerful smile betrays 
 Are they all happy ? and is this 
 The princely pageantry of bliss ? 
 I know not if the libertine 
 Be happy in excess of sin ;
 
 44 RAMIREZ. 
 
 I know not if the wanton's soul 
 
 Can burst from Conscience' fixed controul ; 
 
 But, might I read the gentle mind 
 
 Of one who mirthful mingles there, 
 I could not aught of pleasure find 
 
 In the false smile her features wear : 
 There is a something in her glance 
 That marks not love for fiends of France 
 A forced exertion in her smile 
 That tells of misery the while : 
 And on her lip the timid tremble 
 Her low mock laugh can scarce dissemble 
 Maiden ! amidst that revelry 
 The soul of Blanca dwells in thee ! 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 Now have they passed the watery way, 
 And moored within the little bay
 
 BAMIREZ. 45 
 
 Where Gelbes' hamlet meets the view, 
 And rises Gelbes' turret too. 
 All leave the barges a brief space 
 Leads to their destined festive place ; 
 A briefer space of time, I ween. 
 Leads to their place of reckoning- 
 Could they but know it could we all 
 Know at what hour the blow would fall 
 That takes us from this bustling ball. 
 How many a feast would pass away. 
 And pleasure yield to wild dismay ! 
 
 XXXIIL 
 
 'Twas a fair even, and the sun 
 O'^ all his ardent arch had run ; 
 His splendid course was past and done : 
 Not yet the brilliant moon had ta'en 
 Her station in the deep-blue plain,
 
 46 RAMIREZ. 
 
 But still a light obscurity 
 
 Sprang from the harmony of beams, 
 As in the all-bespangled sky 
 
 Mingled the million glittering gleams. 
 'Twas such a night as might encrease 
 
 The power of beauty and of love. 
 When glowing souls and minds at peace 
 
 Their softer influence might prove : 
 'Twas such a night as those what time 
 
 Ramirez to his Blanca sung 
 Such strains as early love would chime. 
 
 When strains like these might pass his tongue. 
 
 " Bright tho' beam the star of day. 
 Sweet his life-bestowing ray. 
 Yet the gleam is sweeter far 
 That sparkles from the evening star.
 
 RAMIREZ. 47 
 
 That issuing from the realms above 
 Of Venus breathes inspires of love. 
 Diamond of the zone divine ! 
 Ever on thy votary shine ! 
 Grant him, in thy soothing hour. 
 Shaded midst the orange bower. 
 Of my Blanca fair and kind, 
 Soft to steal the gentle mind, 
 And to soothe her into bliss, 
 Press the half-forbidden kiss, 
 Sealing her lips that would deny 
 The affirmation of her eye. 
 See, my love, oh ! then I'd say, 
 Venus sends the approving ray : 
 Mark her presence own her power- 
 Love is sovereign in this bowei ; 
 His playful scorn resides in thee. 
 But, ah ! his shafts are made for me
 
 48 RAMIREZ. 
 
 Then in her ear Fd sweetly breathe 
 
 Such strains as Sappho's soul could wreathe. 
 
 Such numbers as the Tean sung, 
 
 Such song as from the Thracian sprung 
 
 From thee, from thee they drew their fire. 
 
 Thine Sappho's harp, thine Orpheus' lyre ! 
 
 Since were such strains inspired by thee. 
 
 Oh breathe them o'er again in me ! 
 
 For never can descend thy charm 
 
 On soul so fond, on soul so warm." 
 
 Had he sung now, far other sound 
 A hoarser utterance had found ; 
 For now his song was in his sword. 
 His music was the rallying word, 
 " The cause of Spain and Ferdinand 
 " Vengeance on all the Gallic band !"
 
 RAMIREZ. 40 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 These were the sounds that stunned the ear 
 
 Of such as by the barges stayed ; 
 
 An armed host that less for fear 
 
 Than pageantry were there arrayed : 
 
 By the Guerillas these surrounded. 
 
 To each the cry his death-note sounded, 
 
 And quick the blow that followed then, 
 
 And sure 'twas giv'n by Spanish men. 
 
 Despair nerved every Gallic arm. 
 
 Each voice was raised to give alarm ; 
 
 But ere the voice had echo spread. 
 
 The cry was ceased the crier dead. 
 
 Brief moment had dispatched the few 
 
 Defenders of the wanton crew ; 
 
 Nor stayed the band to sully then 
 
 The stream with bodies of such men ;
 
 50 RAMIREZ. 
 
 The victims on the shore were spread, 
 Alike the dying and the dead ; 
 They, the destroyers, swiftly go 
 To strike the greater, heavier blow. 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 Yet hold for midst that heap of slain. 
 And those who cry for death from pain. 
 Are there no friendly groaners too ? 
 Has the Gaul's arm not once been true ? 
 Alas ! Ramirez, thou canst tell 
 One blow was struck canst say how well- 
 Still does the hostile falchion hide 
 Its brightness in thy bleeding side ; 
 Yet 'twas not death that shook thy mind ; 
 It was thy Blanca, left behind, 
 And left unrescued from the foe 
 Oh that was torture" Sanchez, ho !
 
 RAMIREZ,, 51 
 
 " One single word before you go 
 
 " My Blanca I implore thee, swear 
 
 " To save her from that hell-hound there, 
 
 " And bring her here perchance my life 
 
 *' May hold me yet she is my wife 
 
 " Secret a priest has joined our hands 
 
 *' In firm irrevocable bands. 
 
 " For her destroyer well I know 
 
 " Thy willing arm will strike the blow : 
 
 " But take my blade death's in the thought 
 
 " That other weapon vengeance brought. 
 
 " God prosper thee yet act with haste 
 
 " E'en now I feel my life-blood waste." 
 
 The proffered blade the chieftain took. 
 
 And felt as if his heart was broke. 
 
 Yet not a word his anguish spoke ; ' 
 
 And rapid as the lightning then 
 
 He joined his vengeance- working men.
 
 52 RAMIREZ. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 And then, Ramirez ! didst thou strain 
 
 Thine ear to catch the coming sound, 
 In listening lost the sense of pain, 
 
 The consciousness of wound. 
 And what confused sounds were there ! 
 *Twas female shrieks that rent the air. 
 And then arose a piercing yell. 
 And sounds of swords that clashing fell. 
 The loud report of whizzing ball. 
 And voices that for mercy call. 
 And shouts for Spain above them all, 
 
 In right Castillian tone : 
 Then did Ramirez' bosom glow; 
 He raised him on a fallen foe, 
 
 And to that about he joined his own.
 
 RAMIHEZ. hS 
 
 " The cause of Spain and Ferdinand 
 " Vengeance on all the Gallic band \" 
 
 XXXVII. 
 And still that horrid sound arose, 
 Confusion fell, of shrieks and blows ; 
 Oh ! for an age it still has lasted 
 
 Unvarying to Ramirez' ear^ 
 And now his little strength is wasted. 
 
 And now his sense forgets to hear. 
 But he was wakened once again 
 From faintness, and from thought of pain ; 
 For lo ! a footstep cometh now 
 A voice " Ramirez ! livest thou i" 
 " My life is in thy words is*t she 
 " That in thine arms I faintly see ?" 
 " Aye, by the cause ! thy Blanca 'tis 
 " She lives, but in Death's image is :
 
 54 BAMIREZ. 
 
 " Tis fear has chased her powers of life 
 
 " Come, cheer thee now thou hast thy wife. 
 
 " The wretch that sought her I have slain ; 
 
 " Thy salbre gave but little pain, 
 
 " But it has drunk the monster's gore, 
 
 " Till all the blade was covered o'er, 
 
 " And after thirsted still for more : 
 
 " And more it had it gave the blow 
 
 " That laid the shameless sister low ; 
 
 " That stain upon thy Blanca's race : 
 
 " I left her wrapped in Death's embrace, 
 
 *' And saw the lids close o'er those eyes, 
 
 " Never again in life to rise. 
 
 " How fares thy wound ? God succour thee ! 
 
 " I go the finished work to see 
 
 " A death without me must not be ! "
 
 BAMIRE2U 65 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 Ramirez ! hard thy bosom strove 
 To struggle with its iron guest ; 
 
 But now thou ownest force from love 
 
 Thy weakened body ne'er possessed-r- 
 
 Thou callest ever on thy bride, 
 
 t 
 
 And cling'st the fainting form beside, 
 And with a kiss, affection's sweetest. 
 Gently her name thou oft repeatest : 
 " Blanca, my loved, my tender wife ! 
 " Look up once more, and give me life : 
 " The stream of mine is flowing fast 
 " Haste, or this look may be my last ; 
 " Hasten to beam those closed eyes 
 *' Haste, or thy love,, thy husband dies!" 
 Not long he prays her life is nigh- 
 Its forerunner a heavy sigh :
 
 56 RAMIREZ. 
 
 And now she breathes she opes her eye- 
 But her first word was as a spell 
 That black enchanters breathe from Hell ! 
 The name she named was one accursed 
 'Twas of a Gaul, and of the worst : 
 The voice was one too surely known ; 
 Without a touch of Blanca's tone : 
 More mischief did that little word 
 Than had before the entering sword. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 Life's feeble functions all stood still 
 
 When first Ramirez caught that sound ; 
 
 The blood that sought his veins to fill 
 In curdled knots no passage f ound : 
 
 But all again went slowly on 
 
 The lingering spark was not quite gone
 
 RAMIREZ. 57 
 
 And with one feeble eflfort more 
 
 Her name he twice repeated o'er : 
 
 ** Who art thou ? Tell that wrong I guess 
 
 " ArtPaza? say!" 
 And to her lips a trembling " Yes " 
 
 Found its reluctant way. 
 One effort more he made to speak 
 'Twas but a low convulsive shriek : 
 And seizing then the broken blade 
 
 That in his breast had found a bed, 
 A deeper, surer wound he made 
 His spirit fled ! , ""
 
 NOTES.
 
 NOTES. 
 
 Note 1. 
 To glad the gay gitano song. P. 3. 
 Gitano is the Spanish for a gipsy. The gipsies of 
 Spain are a most extraordinary set of people, and pre- 
 serve the originality of their character more than those 
 of any other nation. They are a very merry race, 
 and pass a great part of each night in singing and 
 dancing. An immense number of them are settled in 
 Seville, and these, though they have forsaken their 
 wandering life, invariably adhere to all their customs, 
 and hardly an instance is known of their marrying 
 out of their tribe. One of the most amusing of Cer- 
 vantes' Nffoelas, " La Gitanella," or " the little gipsey," 
 gives a most entertaining account of their manners.
 
 62 NOTES. 
 
 Note 2. 
 Deadly and deep as Julian's curse 
 On hapless Spain, this blast is worse- 
 Not Julian's hate with Tarif's band.- P. 6. 
 It is well known that the Moors were first brought 
 over to Spain by Count Julian, in revenge for the in- 
 jury which Ids daughter Florinda, or as some call her. 
 Cava, had received from king Rodrigo. Tarif was 
 the general who commanded the first Moorish army 
 in Spain. The account given by Carrillo of their 
 descent with Count Julian upon Andalusia with only 
 a hundred horse and four hundred foot, is a singular 
 fact in history. It is extracted in his own words for 
 the amusement of such as may be acquainted with the 
 Spanish language. 
 
 " El Conde don Julian despues de aver tratado con 
 los conjurados su traycion, y comuaicadolo con Muza, 
 el Governador de Africa, con cuyo favor avia de 
 hazer la entrada en Espana, encareciendole la facili- 
 dad de la empressa, por estar Espana sin armas y de- 
 fensa: paraciole al barbaro buena ocasion esta, para 
 engrandecer su nombre, y ampliar su govierno, solo 
 dudava de la fidelidad del Conde. Comunicolo con eJ 
 Miramamolin ; y salio acordado, que con poca gente
 
 NOTES. 6S 
 
 se hiziesse primero praeva de las fiier^as de Espana; 
 y de la seguridad, en lo qae el Conde prometia : em- 
 bio solos ciento de acavallo, y quatrocientos de apie. 
 Con esta poca gente, mas ladrones, que soldados, aco- 
 metieron las islas maritimas ; saquearon y robaron quan- 
 to quisieron, sin hallar resistencia, en los naturales; 
 antes muchos Espanoles, se les Uegaron, y se hizieron 
 d la parte con ellos. Sabide esto por Muza, embio 
 luego an capitan suyo Uamado Tarif, valiente, aunqae 
 tuerto de un ojo, y con el doze mil soldados : vinieron 
 con grande secreto y dissimulacion, passando en naves 
 de mercaderes : assi dissimnlados ; Ilegados a Espana, 
 se apoderaron luego del monte Calpe, y de la ciadad 
 de Heraclea, que estava en el, 4 los quales las moros 
 ilamaron Gibraltar, de Gebal, que en Arabigo qniere 
 dezir monte, y de Tarif el General, de cuyo nombre 
 tambien, como muchos piensan, otra ciudad alli cerca 
 llamada en lo antiguo Tarteso, tomo el nombre de 
 Tarif: Alli se fortalecieron y asseguraron, para ver en 
 que paravan las promessas del Conde Don Julian. 
 Assi lo cuentan los autores antiguos y modemos, prin- 
 cipalmente Ambrosio de Morales, Mariana, Vasee 
 Bleda y los ya referidos, y Garibay." 
 
 " El rey don Rodrigo tuvo aviso de las trazas y 
 iutentos del Conde Don Julian, quando ya los moros
 
 64 NOTES. 
 
 egtavan en EspaSa, con fuerfas bastantes, para Iiazer 
 grandes danos. Despacho de presto 4 un primo suyo 
 llamado Saucho con los soldados que pudo hallar : este 
 con la gente que Uevano poco diestra, y exercitada, 
 sin fuer9as en los cuerpos, ni valor en los animos, mas 
 dados al regalo, que d las armas, assentaron su real 
 cerca de Tarifa, de donde tuvieron diversos encuen> 
 tros y refriegas, y en todo malos sucessos los Godos, 
 hasta que el capitan Sancho fue muerto, y su gente 
 del todo desbaratada. Con esta victoria cobraron ani- 
 mo los moros, tenieudo en poco a los que en otros 
 tiempos avian sido tan temidos, y alcanpado tantas 
 victorias. Los regalos y vicios tenia enflaquezidas las 
 fuer9as de los EspaSoles, y el descuydo en el exercito 
 de las armas, les avia quitado el valor y esftier^o con 
 que solian antes pelear y veneer." Amies de CarriUo. 
 
 Note 3. 
 fVkat time thy mitred renegade 
 For Julian's pride a triumph made. 
 For seven long suns his power withheldy 
 And basely on the eighth rebelled^ 
 Bearing the victory in his train. 
 Death to the Goth and bonds to Spain. P. 7. 
 The battle by which the Moors gained possession of
 
 NOtiES. 65 
 
 Spain was fought near Xerez, and lasted for eighl 
 days, during which time no advantage was gained on 
 either side, until, on the eighth day, Oppas, Bishop of 
 Seville, who commanded part of the army of King 
 Rodrigo, went over with his forces and joined Count 
 Julian and the Moors. His desertion decided the bat- 
 tle and the fate of Spain. Carrillo relates this circum- 
 stance in the following words : 
 
 " Con las victorias pasadas, los caudillos y princi- 
 pales endmigos, que fueron el Conde Don Julian, y el 
 capitan Moro Tarif, bolviei'on con presteza d Africa d 
 pedir y traer nueva gente, para llevar 4 delante lo 
 comen^ado. Con esto vino maj'or numero de gente a 
 esta conquista, en la qual, se dize comunmente, y se 
 tiene por cierto, que vinieron de la parte de Levante 
 treynta mil hombres ; por capitau desta gente un 
 valeroso Griego llamado Hiza. El rey de Tunez por 
 otra parte con un hijo suyo llamado Mahometo Gilabir, 
 embio olro tercio de treynta mil hombres. Con esta 
 gente, y la que ya estava en Espana, los amigos y pa- 
 rientes del Conde Don Julian, y otros confederados, 
 assi Moros, como Christianos, se comen96 la conquista. 
 El rey Don Rodrigo que conocio el grande peligro, en 
 que estava, junto toda la gente que pndo mandando 
 que veniessen i la guerra todos los que fuessen para 
 F
 
 66 NOTES. 
 
 tomar armas. Juntose a este Uamamiento gran nu- 
 mero de gente ; los que menos cuentan dizen fueron 
 mas de cien mil de combatientes. (El Ar^obispo Don 
 Rodrigo les llama ninos de dos aSos, para dar a enten- 
 der su poco valor, como luego dire) mal armados, sin 
 esfuer90, y aun sin fuer9as para sufrir los trabajos i 
 incomodidades de la guerra. Con este exercito ca- 
 mino el rey la buelta de la Andaluzia, y llego por sus 
 jornadas cerca de Xerez,. donde el enemigo estava 
 alojado. Los unos y los otros deseavan venir 4 las 
 manos; los Moros como victoriosos, y bien puestos 
 para pelear : los Godos como ignorantes en los peligros 
 de la guerra, auimados con la multitud, aunque la 
 mayor parte (segun escriven nuestros autores) sentian 
 entre si una tristeza extraordinaria ; y el rey molesta- 
 do de cuydados, de dia con tristezas, y de noche con 
 pesados y tristes suenos. Estando asi los campos, 
 y, animados por sus capitanes, se comenpo la pelea, 
 que duro ocho dias, sin senalarse la victoria por una, 
 ni otra parte, hasta que el postrero de ellos, que fue a 
 onze de Noviembre de este ano, y se puso el ultimo 
 esfuer^o en la pelea, y estando ya los moros para 
 huyr, porque yvan de vencida el Obispo Don Oppas, 
 capitail del exercito del rey, (que hasta este pun to' 
 llevo engauado al rey Don Rodrigo, y dissimulando la
 
 NOTES. 67 
 
 frayclon que tenia concertada) se paso con sa gente al 
 campo de los enemigos, y se junt6 con el Conde Don 
 Julian; y rebolviendo; dieron de nuevo sobre los 
 Christianos, que de vencedores con esta traycion, que- 
 daron vencidos, no obstante que el rey con las mas 
 esforpados peleava, no solo como buen Capitan, sine 
 como valiente soldado : pero d lo ultimo, quitada la 
 esperanfa de veneer, se salio de la batalla, sin saber 
 que se hizo del, qn&.m vivo, ni muerto, parecio mas." 
 .; ,tiSuK Andes de Carrillo, 
 
 ,, : , ., Note 4. 
 
 For He th' Archfiend. T. 7. . 
 Soult, who commanded the French army of the 
 South, had his head quarters at Seville for a consider* 
 able time. Dreadful as were the cruelties committed 
 by the army of Massena, in its retreat from the lines 
 before Lisbon, I much doubt whether the inhabitants 
 of Seville, and indeed of all Andalusia, could not re- 
 late instances of cruelty practised by the followers of 
 this Marshal, which would equal, if not outdo them in 
 horror.
 
 68 NOTES. 
 
 Kote 5. 
 Worthy his Miramamolin.-^'P. 7. 
 Miramamolin was the title given to the reigning 
 monarch of the Moors in Africa. 
 
 Note 6. ' 
 
 Notjiercer he whose fury fell 
 Alike on Goth and infideL ^. 7. 
 
 Abdalasis, the son of Muza, a Moorish General, 
 who having married Eginpla, the apostate widow of 
 Ling Roderick, took upon himself the insignia and 
 titles of Royalty, and established his court at Seville. 
 He is described as a most depraved and cruel man. 
 Carrillo gives his character thus : 
 
 " El rey Abdalasis despues que governo en Se villa, 
 poco menos de tres auos, incurrio en odio de los natu- 
 rales de su nacion, ^ causa de que fue muy deshonesto 
 y luxurioso; for^o mucbas donzellas y casadas, hijas y 
 mugeres de hombrcs principales, y por esto le mataron 
 en Sevilla, estando haziendo oracion 4 la usan^a de 
 Moros." Analcs de Carrillo.
 
 NOTE^. 69 
 
 Note 7. 
 Nor he, who last thy mantle Lore, 
 The royal robber, Alahor. P. 7 
 Alahor was one of the successors of Abdalasis, and 
 the last Moorish king of Seville, from which place he 
 removed the court to Cordova, assuming that title. 
 He is reported by Mariana to have been a cruel 
 prince, who seized on the property of his subjects 
 without mercy. 
 
 Note 8. 
 The engine that might furthest throw 
 The ministers of misery, 
 
 Hell's ou^n artillery. P. 8. 
 
 The enormous mortars, by which the French were 
 enabled to throw shells from upwards of six thousand 
 yards distance into Cadiz, were invented by an en- 
 gineer-officer under Soult, and executed in the cele- 
 brated cannon-foundry at Seville. 
 
 Note 9. 
 Farewell, my native Sevilla ! P. 9. 
 This song is adapted to a wild and extraordinary 
 national air, called EL CaballUo, of which the Andalu-
 
 70 NOTES. 
 
 sians are very fond. The double / is liquified in the 
 Spanish language : the last word of this line is conse- 
 quently pronounced as if spelt Sevilia, and its cor- 
 responding rhyme in the third line of the song as if 
 spelt Gwrn/ia. 
 
 Note 10. 
 The sun seeks out for it in vain. P. 14. 
 Entre dos montes soberbios 
 Esta tan guardado un valle. 
 Que por el pregunta el sol 
 Y donde vive no sabe. 
 
 El Principe de Esquilache. 
 
 Note 11. 
 The trees within were thick and near ; 
 Each clung to each as if for /ear, 
 And made the dreariness more drear,^-P. 14. 
 De los arboles sombrios 
 1 valle y los montes hacen 
 Que para mas confusion, 
 liOs verdes ramas se abracen. 
 
 El Principe de Esquilache,
 
 NOTES. 71 
 
 Note 12. 
 Upon the field of Medellin.V, 19. 
 The battle gained at Medellin, by the army under 
 Marshal Victor over that commanded by General 
 Cuesta, was one of the most bloody and decisive that 
 was fought during the Peninsular contest. 
 
 Note 13. 
 " What ho ! Who Ikesr-^V. 22. 
 The military challenge used in Spain is similar to 
 the qui vive of France. The stranger is first asked, 
 ** Quien vive f to which he replies, " Espanal" The 
 second question is, " Que gentef -or to what class of 
 people do you belong ? the reply to which is by stat- 
 ing the regiment in which you serve, or as it may be. 
 
 Note 14. 
 From peaceful slumbers xvildlj/ waking P. 24. 
 These couplets are adapted to the air of one of 
 those beautiful and inspiring patriotic songs so uni- 
 versally sung in Spain during the contest for its li- 
 berty, the effect of which can only be justly appre- 
 ciated by those who have heard them in harmony from 
 a multitude of voices, animated by the patriotic feel-
 
 7^ NOTES. 
 
 ings which the words express. I attempted a trans- 
 lation of the original Spanish ; but finding myself un- 
 able to succeed, I have subjoined it here. The music 
 of it was composed by Don Pablo Bonrostro. 
 
 Ya desperto de su letargo 
 De las Espaiias el Leon, 
 Y con rugidos espantosos 
 Cubre la tierra de pavor. 
 
 En busca vd brotando horrores 
 Del infernal Napoleon, 
 Para vengar su tirania, 
 Su iniquidad y su traycion, 
 
 COKO. 
 
 Alarma, alarma, Ciudadanos, 
 Triunfa gloriosa la N acion, 
 
 Y antes morir que ser esclavos 
 
 Del infernal Napoleon. 
 
 Garras y dientes centellea 
 Lanzando fiiego abrasador, 
 Por rescatar al rey Fernando, 
 Que con perfidia le quito. 
 
 JIasta lograr tan alta empresa
 
 NOTES. 73 
 
 No cecler4 de su furor ; 
 
 Y si por fin no lo consigue, 
 Triste de ti Napoleon. i 
 
 CORO. 
 
 De los horrores de la guerra 
 No temas, no, Pueblo Espanol 
 Porque deflendes jnsta causa 
 
 Y la protege el mismo Dios. 
 Serds en choques y reencuentros 
 
 De los franceses el terror ; 
 O diganlo con ignominia 
 Moncey, Bessieres y Dupont 
 
 CORO. 
 
 Tiembla, tirano de la Europa, 
 Tiembla, cruel Napoleon, 
 De haber d Espana provocado 
 Con tal descaro y sin razon. 
 Ella va i ser el exterminio 
 De tu despotica ambicion, 
 Porque en su amparo el mismo Marte 
 Arma su brazo de valor. 
 CORO.
 
 74 KOTES. 
 
 Si con enganos y perfidias 
 Vastos Imperios sujelo. 
 En vano exige igual partido 
 Del fraternal Pueblo Espanol. 
 
 Pues por su Rey Fernando amado, 
 Indepeudencia y Religion 
 Sabr4 morir con heroismo 
 Siempre en el campo del honor. 
 
 CORO. 
 
 Toda la Europa, el mundo entero 
 Se Ilenara de admiracion, 
 Al contemplar del Pueblo Hispano 
 El entusiasmo y gran valor. 
 
 Y las edades veoideras 
 Entre el asombro y confusion 
 Respetaran siempre sumisas 
 1 nombre augusto de Espaiiol. 
 CoRO. 
 
 No haces, Espana, no, la guerra 
 A un Pueblo culto 6 gran nacion, 
 Y si a unos vandalos iniquos 
 Que no conocen Religion 
 
 Robos, trayciones y perfidias
 
 NOTEd. fS 
 
 Cometen todos sin rubar, 
 
 Y donde quiera que se albergan ' 
 
 s su divisa el deshonor. .sniJoio 
 
 CoRO. *-'' 
 
 De vuestra Patria etiire las ruinas 
 Perced todos con honor. 
 Antes que ser esclavos viles 
 Del monstruo infiel Napoleon. 
 
 Almas gloriosas y esforzadas. 
 Que descansais en la mansion, 
 Vuestras ceuizas resuciten, 
 Y al Pueblo Hispano den yalor. 
 CoRO. 
 
 Note 15. 
 For now do Seville's daughters glow 
 With lawless passion for the foe, P. 28. 
 The Andalusian women in the time of Pliny were 
 celebrated for their grace of person, their wantonness 
 and inconstancy ; and during the late events in Spain 
 they have given reason to suppose that they continne 
 to merit that character. During the residence of thd 
 French at Seville, a period of nearly three years, mors 
 than four thousand of its female inhabitants deserted
 
 76 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 their homes, in company with the invaders and des- 
 troyers of their country, generally drest in men's 
 clothes. Their number was ascertained by returns 
 made to the Xefe Politko, or chief magistrate, after 
 the expulsion of the French from Andalusia. The 
 Xefe Politico would have found it difiicult to procure 
 returns of those with whom the French intrigued, but 
 left behind. 
 
 Note 16. 
 Like those of old whom brought the Barb. P. 28. 
 
 The Miramamolin of Africa forbade the soldiers of 
 the armies that he sent to Spain to take any women 
 with them. They however found means to take over 
 a great number disguised in men's attire, which dress 
 they afterwards continued to wear ; and even the 
 Spanish women who subsequently mixed with them 
 assumed the male Moorish garb. This fact is stated 
 by Carrillo: 
 
 ** Mando el Miramamolin, que d Espana no pasase 
 con el exercito de los moros mugeres algunas, devio 
 de parecerlft, que en Espana las hallarian, lo que yo 
 teugo por cierto fue que lo hizo, porque los soldados 
 con el vicio de mugeres, no se debilitasen, ni enterpe- 
 ciesen, pero no obstante esto, algunos moros aficion-
 
 NOTES. 77 
 
 ados d ellas pasaron donzellas en babito de varones, 
 cuyos traxes usaron (en tiempo del Arcipreste Juliano 
 cuya es esta memoria,) las mugeres Andaluzes, que 
 yivian con los moros, que eran mantos y almalafas." 
 
 Anales de Carrillo, 
 
 Note 17. 
 But this is still their mage knofwn.^. 28. 
 The French officers and soldiers were accustomed 
 to estabUsh themselves in their quarters throughout all 
 Spain in the most unceremonious way ; occupying what 
 part of the house they chose, applying to their own us 
 such articles as they found convenient, and not unfre- 
 quently turning the master and his family out of doors. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 W. POPLK, pniNTER, 67, CBANCCRT IXHK,
 
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