Holy and inextinguishable war
Against the accursed nation that usurps Thy country's sacred soil!
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!
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!
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
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
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