Some Poems by Sir Walter Scott Part 3

The billows foamed beneath a thousand oars, Fast as they land the red-cross ranks unite, Legions on legions bright'ning all the sh.o.r.es.

Then banners rise, and cannon-signal roars, Then peals the warlike thunder of the drum, Thrills the loud fife, the trumpet-flourish pours, And patriot hopes awake, and doubts are dumb, For, bold in Freedom's cause, the bands of Ocean come!

LVII.

A various host they came--whose ranks display Each mode in which the warrior meets the fight, The deep battalion locks its firm array, And meditates his aim the marksman light; Far glance the light of sabres flashing bright Where mounted squadrons shake the echoing mead, Lacks not artillery breathing flame and night, Nor the fleet ordnance whirled by rapid steed, That rivals lightning's flash in ruin and in speed.

LVIII.

A various host--from kindred realms they came, Brethren in arms, but rivals in renown - For yon fair bands shall merry England claim, And with their deeds of valour deck her crown.

Hers their bold port, and hers their martial frown, And hers their scorn of death in freedom's cause, Their eyes of azure, and their locks of brown, And the blunt speech that bursts without a pause, And free-born thoughts which league the Soldier with the Laws.

LIX.

And, oh! loved warriors of the Minstrel's land!

Yonder your bonnets nod, your tartans wave!

The rugged form may mark the mountain band, And harsher features, and a mien more grave; But ne'er in battlefield throbbed heart so brave As that which beats beneath the Scottish plaid; And when the pibroch bids the battle rave, And level for the charge your arms are laid, Where lives the desperate foe that for such onset stayed!

LX.

Hark! from yon stately ranks what laughter rings, Mingling wild mirth with war's stern minstrelsy, His jest while each blithe comrade round him flings, And moves to death with military glee: Boast, Erin, boast them! tameless, frank, and free, In kindness warm, and fierce in danger known, Rough Nature's children, humorous as she: And HE, yon Chieftain--strike the proudest tone Of thy bold harp, green Isle!--the Hero is thine own.

LXI.

Now on the scene Vimeira should be shown, On Talavera's fight should Roderick gaze, And hear Corunna wail her battle won, And see Busaco's crest with lightning blaze:- But shall fond fable mix with heroes' praise?

Hath Fiction's stage for Truth's long triumphs room?

And dare her wild flowers mingle with the bays That claim a long eternity to bloom Around the warrior's crest, and o'er the warrior's tomb!

LXII.

Or may I give adventurous Fancy scope, And stretch a bold hand to the awful veil That hides futurity from anxious hope, Bidding beyond it scenes of glory hail, And painting Europe rousing at the tale Of Spain's invaders from her confines hurled, While kindling nations buckle on their mail, And Fame, with clarion-blast and wings unfurled, To Freedom and Revenge awakes an injured World!

LXIII.

O vain, though anxious, is the glance I cast, Since Fate has marked futurity her own: Yet Fate resigns to worth the glorious past, The deeds recorded, and the laurels won.

Then, though the Vault of Destiny be gone, King, Prelate, all the phantasms of my brain, Melted away like mist-wreaths in the sun, Yet grant for faith, for valour, and for Spain, One note of pride and fire, a Patriot's parting strain!

CONCLUSION.

I.

"Who shall command Estrella's mountain-tide Back to the source, when tempest-chafed, to hie?

Who, when Gascogne's vexed gulf is raging wide, Shall hush it as a nurse her infant's cry?

His magic power let such vain boaster try, And when the torrent shall his voice obey, And Biscay's whirlwinds list his lullaby, Let him stand forth and bar mine eagles' way, And they shall heed his voice, and at his bidding stay.

II.

"Else ne'er to stoop, till high on Lisbon's towers They close their wings, the symbol of our yoke, And their own sea hath whelmed yon red-cross powers!"

Thus, on the summit of Alverca's rock To Marshal, Duke, and Peer, Gaul's Leader spoke.

While downward on the land his legions press, Before them it was rich with vine and flock, And smiled like Eden in her summer dress; - Behind their wasteful march a reeking wilderness.

III.

And shall the boastful Chief maintain his word, Though Heaven hath heard the wailings of the land, Though Lusitania whet her vengeful sword, Though Britons arm and WELLINGTON command!

No! grim Busaco's iron ridge shall stand An adamantine barrier to his force; And from its base shall wheel his shattered band, As from the unshaken rock the torrent hoa.r.s.e Bears off its broken waves, and seeks a devious course.

IV.

Yet not because Alcoba's mountain-hawk Hath on his best and bravest made her food, In numbers confident, yon Chief shall baulk His Lord's imperial thirst for spoil and blood: For full in view the promised conquest stood, And Lisbon's matrons from their walls might sum The myriads that had half the world subdued, And hear the distant thunders of the drum, That bids the bands of France to storm and havoc come.

V.

Four moons have heard these thunders idly rolled, Have seen these wistful myriads eye their prey, As famished wolves survey a guarded fold - But in the middle path a Lion lay!

At length they move--but not to battle-fray, Nor blaze yon fires where meets the manly fight; Beacons of infamy, they light the way Where cowardice and cruelty unite To d.a.m.n with double shame their ignominious flight.

VI.

O triumph for the Fiends of l.u.s.t and Wrath!

Ne'er to be told, yet ne'er to be forgot, What wanton horrors marked their wreckful path!

The peasant butchered in his ruined cot, The h.o.a.ry priest even at the altar shot, Childhood and age given o'er to sword and flame, Woman to infamy;--no crime forgot, By which inventive demons might proclaim Immortal hate to man, and scorn of G.o.d's great name!

VII.

The rudest sentinel, in Britain born, With horror paused to view the havoc done, Gave his poor crust to feed some wretch forlorn, Wiped his stern eye, then fiercer grasped his gun.

Nor with less zeal shall Britain's peaceful son Exult the debt of sympathy to pay; Riches nor poverty the tax shall shun, Nor prince nor peer, the wealthy nor the gay, Nor the poor peasant's mite, nor bard's more worthless lay.

VIII.

But thou--unfoughten wilt thou yield to Fate, Minion of Fortune, now miscalled in vain!

Can vantage-ground no confidence create, Marcella's pa.s.s, nor Guarda's mountain-chain?

Vainglorious fugitive! yet turn again!

Behold, where, named by some prophetic Seer, Flows Honour's Fountain, {2} as foredoomed the stain From thy dishonoured name and arms to clear - Fallen Child of Fortune, turn, redeem her favour here!

IX.

Yet, ere thou turn'st, collect each distant aid; Those chief that never heard the lion roar!

Within whose souls lives not a trace portrayed Of Talavera or Mondego's sh.o.r.e!

Marshal each band thou hast, and summon more; Of war's fell stratagems exhaust the whole; Rank upon rank, squadron on squadron pour, Legion on legion on thy foeman roll, And weary out his arm--thou canst not quell his soul.

X.

O vainly gleams with steel Agueda's sh.o.r.e, Vainly thy squadrons hide a.s.suava's plain, And front the flying thunders as they roar, With frantic charge and tenfold odds, in vain!

And what avails thee that, for CAMERON slain, Wild from his plaided ranks the yell was given - Vengeance and grief gave mountain-range the rein, And, at the b.l.o.o.d.y spear-point headlong driven, Thy Despot's giant guards fled like the rack of heaven.

XI.

Go, baffled boaster! teach thy haughty mood To plead at thine imperious master's throne, Say, thou hast left his legions in their blood, Deceived his hopes, and frustrated thine own; Say, that thine utmost skill and valour shown, By British skill and valour were outvied; Last say, thy conqueror was WELLINGTON!

And if he chafe, be his own fortune tried - G.o.d and our cause to friend, the venture we'll abide.

XII.

But you, ye heroes of that well-fought day, How shall a bard, unknowing and unknown, His meed to each victorious leader pay, Or bind on every brow the laurels won?

Yet fain my harp would wake its boldest tone, O'er the wide sea to hail CADOGAN brave; And he, perchance, the minstrel-note might own, Mindful of meeting brief that Fortune gave 'Mid yon far western isles that hear the Atlantic rave.

XIII.

Yes! hard the task, when Britons wield the sword, To give each Chief and every field its fame: Hark! Albuera thunders BERESFORD, And Red Barosa shouts for dauntless GRAEME!

O for a verse of tumult and of flame, Bold as the bursting of their cannon sound, To bid the world re-echo to their fame!

For never, upon gory battle-ground, With conquest's well-bought wreath were braver victors crowned!

XIV.

O who shall grudge him Albuera's bays, Who brought a race regenerate to the field, Roused them to emulate their fathers' praise, Tempered their headlong rage, their courage steeled, And raised fair Lusitania's fallen shield, And gave new edge to Lusitania's sword, And taught her sons forgotten arms to wield - Shivered my harp, and burst its every chord, If it forget thy worth, victorious BERESFORD!

XV.

Not on that b.l.o.o.d.y field of battle won, Though Gaul's proud legions rolled like mist away, Was half his self-devoted valour shown, - He gaged but life on that ill.u.s.trious day; But when he toiled those squadrons to array, Who fought like Britons in the b.l.o.o.d.y game, Sharper than Polish pike or a.s.sagay, He braved the shafts of censure and of shame, And, dearer far than life, he pledged a soldier's fame.

XVI.

Nor be his praise o'erpast who strove to hide Beneath the warrior's vest affection's wound, Whose wish Heaven for his country's weal denied; Danger and fate he sought, but glory found.