Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Holland: Vols. XIV–XV. 1876–79. | | | | Spain: Seville | | Garcia Perez de Vargas | | Spanish Ballad |
| | Translated by J. G. Lockhart
KING FERDINAND alone did stand one day upon the hill, | |
| Surveying all his leaguer, and the ramparts of Seville; | |
| The sight was grand, when Ferdinand by proud Seville was lying, | |
| O’er tower and tree far off to see the Christian banners flying. | |
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| Down chanced the king his eye to fling, where far the camp below | 5 |
| Two gentlemen along the glen were riding soft and slow; | |
| As void of fear each cavalier seemed to be riding there, | |
| As some strong hound may pace around the roebuck’s thicket lair. | |
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| It was Don Garcia Perez, and he would breathe the air, | |
| And he had ta’en a knight with him, that as lief had been elsewhere; | 10 |
| For soon this knight to Garcia said, “Ride, ride we, or we ’re lost! | |
| I see the glance of helm and lance,—it is the Moorish host.” * * * * * | |
| The Moors from forth the greenwood came riding one by one, | |
| A gallant troop with armor resplendent in the sun; | |
| Full haughty was their bearing, as o’er the sward they came, | 15 |
| While the calm Lord of Vargas his march was still the same. | |
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| They stood drawn up in order, while past them all rode he, | |
| For when upon his shield they saw the Red Cross and the Tree, | |
| And the wings of the Black Eagle, that o’er his crest were spread, | |
| They knew it was Garci Perez, and never a word they said. * * * * * | 20 | | | |
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