quaketh in terror, and the dales reply;
shiver the lances; thundereth around
the frequent crash of fellèd armoury;
foes on the little force redoubling fall
of Nuno fierce, who makes great numbers small.
32
“See! there his brethren meet him in the fray:
(Fierce chance and cruel case!) But dreads he nought;
right little were it brother-foe to slay,
who against King and Country trait’orous fought:
Amid these ren’egades not a few that day
war in the foremost squadrons fury-fraught
against their brethren and their kin (sad Fate!)
as in great Julius’ warfare with the Great.93
33
“O thou, Sertorius! O great Coriolane!
Catiline! all ye hosts of bygone age,
who ’gainst your Fatherland with hearts profane
ragèd with rav’ening parricidal rage;
if where Sumánus holds his dismal reign
most dreadful torments must your sin assuage,
tell him, that e’en our Portugal sometimes
suckled some traitors guilty of your crimes.
34
“Here doth the foremost of our lines give way,
so many foemen have its force opprest:
There standeth Nuno, brave as Ly’on at bay,
where Africk Ceita rears her hilly crest;
who sees the ’circling troop of cavalry,
over the Tetu’an plain to chase addrest;
and raging as they couch the deadly spear
seems somewhat stirred, but hides all craven fear:
35
“With sidelong glance he sights them, but his spleen
ferine forbids the King of Beasts to show
a craven back; nay, rather on the screen
of plumping lances leaps he as they grow.
So stands our Knight, who stains and soils the green
with alien gore-streams: On that field lie low
some of his own; howe’er with valour dowerèd
hearts lose their virtue by such odds o’erpowerèd.
36
“John felt the danger and the dure affront
of Nuno; straight like Captain wise and ware,
he rushed afield, viewed all, and in the brunt
with words and works taught men fresh deeds to dare.
As nursing Ly’oness, fere and fierce of front,
who, left for chase her whelps secure in lair,
findeth while for’aging for their wonted food
Massylian94 hind hath dared to rob her brood:
37
“Runs, frantick raging, while her roar and moan
make the Seven-Brother Mountains95 shake and rave.
So John with other chosen troop hath flown
foeward his dexter wing t’ enforce and save:
‘Oh strong Companions! Souls of high renown!
Cavaliers braver than what men hold brave,
strike for your country! now all earthly chance,
all hope of Liberty is on your lance!’
38
“ ‘Behold me here, your Comrade and your King,
who ’mid the spear and harness, bolt and bow,
foremost I charge and first myself I fling;
smite, ye true Portughuese, deal yet one blow!’
Thus spake that great-soul’d Warrior, brandishing
four times his lance before the final throw;
and, thrusting forceful, by that single thrust
lanceth such wounds that many bite the dust.
39
“For, see, his soldiers brent with ardour new,
honoured repentance, honourable fire,
who shall display most courage staid and true,
and dare the dangers dealt by Mars his ire
contend: The steel that catcheth flamey hue,
aims first at plate, then at the breast aims higher;
thus, wounds they give and wounds they take again;
and, dealing Death, in Death they feel no pain.
40
“Many are sent to sight the Stygian wave,
into whose bodies entered iron Death:
Here dieth Sanct’ Iágo’s Master brave,
who fought with fiercest sprite till latest breath;
another Master dire of Calatrave,
horrid in cruel havock, perisheth:
Eke the Pereiras foully renegate
die God denying and denouncing Fate.
41
“Of the vile, nameless Vulgar many bleed;
flitting with Gentles to the Gulf profound;
where hungers, rav’ening with eternal greed,
for passing human Shades the three-head Hound:
And humbling more that haughty, arr’ogant breed,
and better taming enemies furibund,
Castilia’s Gonfanon sublime must fall
beneath the forceful foot of Portugall.
42
“Here96 wildest Battle hath its cruel’est will,
with deaths and shouts, and slash and gory shower;
the multitud’inous Braves, who’re killed and kill,
rob of their proper hues the bloom and flower:
At length they fly! they die! now waxeth still
War’s note, while lance and spear have lost their power:
Castilia’s King the fate of pride must own,
seeing his purpose changed, his host o’erthrown.
43
“The field he leaveth to the Conqueror,
too glad his life had not been left in fight:
Follow him all who can; and panick sore
lends them not feet, but feather’d wings for flight:
Their breasts are fillèd with a wild doloùr,
for Deaths, for Treasure waste in wanton plight;
for woe, disgust, and foul dishonour’s soil
to see the Victor rev’elling in their spoil.
44
“Some fly with furious curses, and blaspheme
him who the World with Warfare made accurst;
others that cov’etous breast all culp’able deem
for Greed enquicken’d by his selfish thirst.
That, alien wealth to win, with sore extreme
he plunged his hapless folk in woes the worst;
leaving so many wives and mothers, lorn
of sons and spouses, evermore to mourn.
45
“Campèd our conqu’ering John the ’customed days
on foughten field, in glory of the brave;
then with vowed pilgrimage, gift, pray’er, and praise,
he gave Him graces who such vict’ory gave.
But Nuno, willing not by peaceful ways
on human memory his name to ’grave,
but by his sovran feats of war, commands
his men pass over to Transtágan lands.
46
“His gallant project favoureth Destiny,
making effect commensurate with cause;
the Lands that bordered by the Vandals lie
yielding their treasures bow before his laws:
Now Baetic banners which Seville o’erfly,
and flags of various princes, without pause,
all trail foot-trampled; naught their force availeth
whate’er the forceful Portingall assaileth.97
47
“By these and other Victories opprest,
Castilia’s lieges long deplored their woes;
when Peace by all desired and gentle Rest,
to grant their vanquisht fone the Victors chose;
then seemed it good to His almighty hest
that the contending Sovrans should espouse
two royal Damsels born of English race,
Princesses famed for honour, form, and grace.
48
“Nills the brave bosom, used to bloody broil,
the lack of foeman who his force shall dree;
and thus, Earth holding none to slay and spoil,
he carries conquest
