Holy and inextinguishable war

Against the accursed nation that usurps
Thy country's sacred soil!

So speak of me

Now and for ever, O my countrymen !
Replied Pelayo; and so deal with me
Here and hereafter, thou, Almighty God,
In whom I put my trust!

Lord God of Hosts,

Urban pursued, of Angels and of Men
Creator and Disposer, King of Kings,

Ruler of Earth and Heaven,.. look down this day,
And multiply thy blessings on the head
Of this thy servant, chosen in thy sight!
Be thou his counsellor, his comforter,

His hope, his joy, his refuge, and his strength!
Crown him with justice, and with fortitude!
Defend him with thy all-sufficient shield!

Surround him every where with the right hand
Of thine all-present power! and with the might
Of thine omnipotence, send in his aid
Thy unseen angels forth, that potently
And royally against all enemies

He may endure and triumph! Bless the land
O'er which he is appointed; bless it with
The waters of the firmament, the springs
Of the low-lying deep, the fruits which sun
And moon mature for man, the precious stores
Of the eternal hills, and all the gifts

Of earth, its wealth and fulness!

Then he took

Pelayo's hand, and on his finger placed

The mystic circlet... With this ring, O Prince,
To our dear Spain, who like a widow now
Mourneth in desolation, I thee wed:

For weal or woe thou takest her, till death
Dispart the union: Be it blest to her,

To thee, and to thy seed!

Thus when he ceased,

He gave the awaited signal. Roderick brought
The buckler: Eight for strength and stature chosen
Came to their honoured office: Round the shield
Standing, they lower it for the Chieftain's feet,
Then slowly raised upon their shoulders lift
The steady weight. Erect Pelayo stands,
And thrice he brandishes the shining sword,

While Urban to the assembled people cries,
Spaniards, behold your King! The multitude
Then sent forth all their voice with glad acclaim,
Raising the loud Real; thrice did the word
Ring through the air, and echo from the walls
Of Cangas. Far and wide the thundering shout,
Rolling among reduplicating rocks,

Pealed o'er the hills, and up the mountain vales.
The wild ass starting in the forest glade
Ran to the covert; the affrighted wolf
Skulked through the thicket, to a closer brake ;
The sluggish bear, awakened in his den,
Roused up, and answered with a sullen growl,
Low-breathed and long; and at the uproar scared,
The brooding eagle from her nest took wing.

Heroes and Chiefs of old! and ye who bore
Firm to the last your part in that dread strife,
When Julian and Witiza's viler race
Betrayed their country, hear ye from yon heaven
The joyful acclamation which proclaims
That Spain is born again! O ye who died
In that disastrous field, and ye who fell

Embracing with a martyr's love your death
Amid the flames of Auria; and all ye
Victims innumerable, whose cries unheard

On earth, but heard in heaven, from all the land
Went up for vengeance; not in vain ye cry
Before the eternal throne ! Rest innocent blood!
Vengeance is due, and vengeance will be given!
Rest innocent blood! The appointed age is come!
The star that harbingers a glorious day
Hath risen! Lo there the avenger stands! Lo there
He brandishes the avenging sword! Lo there
The avenging banner spreads its argent field
Refulgent with auspicious light!.. Rejoice,
O Leon, for thy banner is displayed,

Rejoice with all thy mountains, and thy vales

And streams! And thou, O Spain, through all thy

realms,

For thy deliverance cometh! Even now,

As from all sides the miscreant hosts move on; . From southern Betis; from the western lands Where through redundant vales smooth Minho flows, And Douro pours through vine-clad hills the wealth Of Leon's gathered waters; from the plains Burgensian, in old time Vardulia called,

But in their castellated strength ere long
To be designed Castille, a deathless name;
From midland regions where Toledo reigns
Proud city on her royal eminence,

And Tagus bends his sickle round the scene
Of Roderick's fall; from rich Rioja's fields;
Dark Ebro's shores; the walls of Salduba,
Seat of the Sedetanians old, by Rome
Cæsarian and August denominate,
Now Zaragoza, in his later time

Above all cities of the earth renowned

For duty perfectly performed;.. East, West
And South, where'er their gathered multitudes
Urged by the speed of vigorous tyranny,
With more than with commeasurable strength
Haste to prevent the danger, crush the hopes
Of rising Spain, and rivet round her neck

The eternal yoke,... the ravenous fowls of heaven Flock there presentient of their food obscene, Following the accursed armies, whom too well They know their purveyors long. Pursue their march, Ominous attendants! Ere the moon hath filled