Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Holland: Vols. XIV–XV. 1876–79. | | | | Portugal: Lisbon (Lisboa) | | The Departure of King Sebastian | | Spanish Ballad |
| | Translated by J. G. Lockhart
IT was a Lusitanian Lady, and she was lofty in degree, | |
| Was fairer none, nor nobler, in all the realm than she; | |
| I saw her that her eyes were red, as, from her balcony, | |
| They wandered o’er the crowded shore and the resplendent sea, | |
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| Gorgeous and gay, in Lisbon’s Bay, with streamers flaunting wide, | 5 |
| Upon the gleaming waters Sebastian’s galleys ride, | |
| His valorous armada (was never nobler sight) | |
| Hath young Sebastian marshalled against the Moorish might. | |
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| The breeze comes forth from the clear north, a gallant breeze there blows; | |
| Their sails they lift, then out they drift, and first Sebastian goes. | 10 |
| “May none withstand Sebastian’s hand,—God shield my King!” she said; | |
| Yet pale was that fair Lady’s cheek, her weeping eyes were red. | |
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| She looks on all the parting host, in all its pomp arrayed, | |
| Each pennon on the wind is tost, each cognizance displayed; | |
| Each lordly galley flings abroad, above its armed prow, | 15 |
| The banner of the Cross of God, upon the breeze to flow. | |
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| But one there is, whose banner, above the Cross divine, | |
| A scarf upholds, with azure folds, of love and faith the sign: | |
| Upon that galley’s stern ye see a peerless warrior stand, | |
| Though first he goes, still back he throws his eye upon the land. | 20 |
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| Albeit through tears she looks, yet well may she that form descry, | |
| Was never seen a vassal mien so noble and so high; | |
| Albeit the Lady’s cheek was pale, albeit her eyes were red, | |
| “May none withstand my true-love’s hand! God bless my Knight!” she said. | |
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| There are a thousand Barons, all harnessed cap-a-pee, | 25 |
| With helm and spear that glitter clear above the dark-green sea;— | |
| No lack of gold or silver, to stamp each proud device | |
| On shield or surcoat,—nor of chains and jewelry of price. | |
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| The seamen’s cheers the Lady hears, and mingling voices come, | |
| From every deck, of glad rebeck, of trumpet, and of drum; | 30 |
| “Who dare withstand Sebastian’s hand? what Moor his gage may fling | |
| At young Sebastian’s feet?” she said. “The Lord hath blessed my King.” | | | | |
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