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Translated by J. G. Lockhart
WITH three thousand men of Leon, from the city Bernard goes, | |
| To protect the soil Hispanian from the spear of Frankish foes; | |
| From the city which is planted in the midst between the seas, | |
| To preserve the name and glory of old Pelayo’s victories. | |
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| The peasant hears upon his field the trumpet of the knight, | 5 |
| He quits his team for spear and shield, and garniture of might; | |
| The shepherd hears it mid the mist,—he flingeth down his crook, | |
| And rushes from the mountain like a tempest-troubled brook. | |
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| The youth who shows a maiden’s chin, whose brows have ne’er been bound | |
| The helmet’s heavy ring within, gains manhood from the sound; | 10 |
| The hoary sire beside the fire forgets his feebleness, | |
| Once more to feel the cap of steel a warrior’s ringlets press. | |
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| As through the glen his spears did gleam, these soldiers from the hills, | |
| They swelled his host, as mountain-stream receives the roaring rills; | |
| They round his banner flocked, in scorn of haughty Charlemagne, | 15 |
| And thus upon their swords are sworn the faithful sons of Spain. | |
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| “Free were we born,” ’t is thus they cry, “though to our King we owe | |
| The homage and the fealty behind his crest to go; | |
| By God’s behest our aid he shares, but God did ne’er command | |
| That we should leave our children heirs of an enslaved land. | 20 |
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| “Our breasts are not so timorous, nor are our arms so weak, | |
| Nor are our veins so bloodless, that we our vow should break, | |
| To sell our freedom for the fear of Prince or Paladin,— | |
| At least we ’ll sell our birthright dear, no bloodless prize they ’ll win. | |
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| “At least King Charles, if God decrees he must be lord of Spain, | 25 |
| Shall witness that the Leonese were not aroused in vain; | |
| He shall bear witness that we died as lived our sires of old, | |
| Nor only of Numantium’s pride shall minstrel tales be told. | |
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| “The Lion that hath bathed his paws in seas of Lybian, gore, | |
| Shall he not battle for the laws and liberties of yore? | 30 |
| Anointed cravens may give gold to whom it likes them well, | |
| But steadfast heart and spirit bold Alphonso ne’er shall sell.” | |
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