The faithful maiden not more wistfully
Looks for the day that brings her lover home; .. Scarce more impatiently the horse endures
The rein, when loud and shrill the hunter's horn Rings in his joyous ears, than at their post The Mountaineers await their certain prey. Yet mindful of their Prince's order, oft And solemnly enforced, with eagerness Subdued by minds well-mastered, they expect The appointed signal.
Hand must not be raised,
Foot stirred, nor voice be uttered, said the Chief, Till the word pass: impatience would mar all. God hath delivered over to your hands
His enemies and ours, so we but use
The occasion wisely. Not till the word pass From man to man transmitted, "In the name "Of God, for Spain and vengeance," let a hand Be lifted; on obedience all depends.
Their march below with noise of horse and foot, And haply with the clang of instruments, Might drown all other signal; this is sure. But wait it calmly; it will not be given
Till the whole line hath entered in the toils. Comrades, be patient, so shall none escape Who once set foot within these straits of death. Thus had Pelayo on the Mountaineers
With frequent and impressive charge enforced The needful exhortation. This alone
He doubted, that the Musslemen might see The perils of the vale, and warily
Forbear to enter. But they thought to find, As Guisla told, the main Asturian force Seeking concealment there, no other aid Soliciting from these their native hills;
And that the babes and women having fallen In thraldom, they would lay their weapons down, And supplicate forgiveness for their sake.
Nor did the Moors perceive in what a strait
They entered; for the morn had risen o'ercast, And when the Sun had reached the height of heaven, Dimly his pale and beamless orb was seen
Moving through mist. A soft and gentle rain, Scarce heavier than the summer's evening dew, Descended,.. through so still an atmosphere,
leaf upon the moveless trees
Was studded o'er with rain-drops, bright and full, None falling till from its own weight o'erswoln
Low on the mountain side
The fleecy vapour hung, and in its veil With all their dreadful preparations wrapt The Mountaineers:
in breathless hope they lay,
Some blessing God in silence for the power This day vouchsafed; others with fervency Of prayer and vow invoked the Mother-Maid, Beseeching her that in this favouring hour She would be strongly with them. From below Meantime distinct they heard the passing tramp Of horse and foot, continuous as the sound
Of Deva's stream, and barbarous tongues commixt With laughter, and with frequent shouts, . . for all Exultant came, expecting sure success;
Blind wretches, over whom the ruin hung!
They say, quoth one, that though the Prophet's soul Doth with the black-eyed Houris bathe in bliss, Life hath not left his body, which bears up By its miraculous power the holy tomb,
And holds it at Medina in the air
Buoyant between the temple's floor and roof: And there the Angels fly to him with news From East, West, North, and South, of what befalls His faithful people. If when he shall hear The tale of this day's work, he should for joy Forget that he is dead, and walk abroad,.. It were as good a miracle as when
He sliced the moon! Sir Angel hear me now, Whoe'er thou be'st who art about to speed From Spain to Araby! when thou hast got The Prophet's ear, be sure thou tellëst him How bravely Ghauleb did his part to-day, And with what special reverence he alone Desired thee to commend him to his grace!.. Fie on thee, scoffer that thou art! replied His comrade; thou wilt never leave these gibes Till some commissioned arrow through the teeth Shall nail the offending tongue. Hast thou not heard How when our clay is leavened first with life, The ministering Angel brings it from that spot Whereon 'tis written in the eternal book
That soul and body must their parting take,
And earth to earth return? How knowest thou
But that the spirit who compounded thee, To distant Syria from this very vale
Bore thy component dust, and Azrael here Awaits thee at this hour?.. Little thought he Who spake, that in that valley at that hour One death awaited both!
Toward the cave their inauspicious way. Weak childhood there and ineffective age In the chambers of the rock were placed secure ; But of the women, all whom with the babes Maternal care detained not, were aloft To aid in the destruction; by the side Of fathers, brethren, husbands, stationed there They watch and pray. Pelayo in the cave With the venerable primate took his post. Ranged on the rising cliffs on either hand, Vigilant sentinels with eye intent
Observe his movements, when to take the word And pass it forward. He in arms complete Stands in the portal: a stern majesty
Reigned in his countenance severe that hour,
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