| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | May 16 | | Battle of Albuera | | By Lord Byron (1788–1824) |
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| A battle in the Peninsula War where on May 16, 1811, the Anglo-Spanish-Portuguese army under Beresford defeated the French under Soult. |
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O ALBUERA, glorious field of grief! | |
| As o’er thy plain the Pilgrim prick’d his steed, | |
| Who could foresee thee, in a space so brief, | |
| A scene where mingling foes should boast and bleed! | |
| Peace to the perish’d! may the warrior’s meed | 5 |
| And tears of triumph their reward prolong! | |
| Till others fall where other chieftains lead, | |
| Thy name shall circle round the gaping throng, | |
| And shine in worthless lays, the theme of transient song. | | | |
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