III

"One of the finest of the historic ballads is that which describes Bernardo's march to Roncesvalles. He sallies forth with three thousand Leonese and more,' to protect the glory and freedom of his native land. From all sides, the peasantry of the land flock to the hero's standard."

THE peasant leaves his plough afield,
The reaper leaves his hook,
And from his hand the shepherd-boy
Lets fall the pastoral crook.

The young set up a shout of joy,

The old forget their years,
The feeble man grows stout of heart,
No more the craven fears.

All rush to Bernard's standard,
And on liberty they call;
They cannot brook to wear the yoke,
When threatened by the Gaul.

10

Can bravely fight and fall,

30

Their faces were angelical, celestial forms had they,

And downward through the fields of air they urged their rapid way; They looked upon the Moorish host with fierce and angry look,

their naked sabres shook.

And when the heavenly knights drew near unto the battle-ground, They dashed among the Moors and dealt unerring blows around ; Such deadly havoc there they made the foremost ranks along, A panic terror spread unto the hindmost of the throng.

Together with these two good knights, the champions of the sky, The Christians rallied and began to smite full sore and high; The Moors raised up their voices and by the Koran swore

That in their lives such deadly fray they ne'er had seen before.

Down went the misbelievers,

fast

sped the bloody fight, Some ghastly and dismembered lay, and some half dead with fright: Full sorely they repented that to the field they came, 31 For they saw that from the battle they should retreat with shame.