Iberia Won 26

Iberia Won 26

XXX.

 

And ’mid this jar confused of noises dire,

And shouts of living soldiers fierce and fell,

The piercing shrieks of wounded men rose higher

Through groans of dying strewn by shot and shell;

And of the fire balls from the citadel

Some lit amongst the helpless wounded, bringing

New pangs where agony too much doth dwell.

See crawling through the blaze, or nervous springing,

The maimed from where blue fire its lurid glare is flinging!

 

 

XXXI.

 

But faint before the valour of our men

Grew Gaulish daring, though they bravely fought;

And when they showed irresolute, ’twas then

Our Britons to the charge the bayonet brought.

With shout appalling in their souls they wrought

Such fear as aided well our glancing steel

And firm advance. In flight they safety sought,

Yet less in terror’s coil, than vain to feel

The assault that hath prepared with Britain’s sons to deal.

 

 

XXXII.

 

Now free once more our deep intrenchments stood,

Save of the heaps of slain and battle’s track,

And many a broken blade and pool of blood,

Which by to-morrow’s dawn shall find no lack

Of zeal to clear, and bring to smoothness back.

The dead shall find a soldier’s simple grave,

The wounded healing care though pain should rack,

With Fame’s requital; and where past the wave

Of War, each trench renewed again shall shield the brave.

 

 

XXXIII.

 

Within the town the lovely Isidor

Shuddered with fear at every cannon’s boom.

As fell upon her ear the horrid roar,

She deemed it sounded like the crack of doom,

And on her knees within her furthest room

Before an image of the Virgin prayed

That Heaven might turn their hearts, and Pity’s womb

Bring forth Pacification--sore afraid

To see man slaughter man in God’s own image made.

 

 

XXXIV.

 

But Blanca in the sound and sight rejoiced,

Which ever told of liberty to Spain,

And soon she hoped to see the standard hoist

Sublime on San Sebastian’s towers again--

The rampant lions spurning Gallic chain!

And as the shells arose, the fireballs flew,

She rowed along the bosom of the main

Beneath the wall, as danger she would woo,

Yet shuddered too at times--for Morton there she knew.

 

 

XXXV.

 

Oh, marvellous variety of minds!

Oh, Nature’s handiwork of subtile shades!

From the same breast the stream to life that binds

In foster-sisterhood drew both these maids.

Yet one with gentlest bosom shrinks and fades

Before the peril which doth rouse the other;

One sickens, one rejoys at clashing blades.

Ah, Blanca, Blanca, learn that joy to smother,

For steel doth smite e’en now who loves thee like a mother!

 

 

XXXVI.

 

Still darkness palled the earth, when round the home

Of Blanca’s father, near Zumaya’s green,

The French hussars who fled Guerníca from,

Arrayed in treacherous descent were seen;

For Jules thus thought to wreak his vengeful spleen

At once upon the maiden and her sire.

His comrades called him Jules _L’Enfer_--I ween,

Befitting name. More daring or more dire

In the French host was none, or rife with demon fire.

 

 

XXXVII.

 

The vine-clad porch, where Jules erewhile had seized

Fair Blanca while his comrade Ana prest,

Was entered soon--the stubborn door, well pleased,

They battered with their carbines piecemeal--blest

Effects of War, that turns the human breast

To tiger fierceness! Pablo leapt from bed,

Where soon disturbed his lonely widowed rest.

The hussars rushed in by pale light faintly shed

From dim night-taper, when thus Jules ferocious said:--

 

 

XXXVIII.

 

“Where be thy daughters--yield them to our arms,

“This instant yield them--buxom maids be they;

“Buxom and fierce--the soldier’s spiciest charms

“In woman. _L’Espingarda_ fires, I say,

“With aim that like a tirailleur’s can slay.

“’Twas with my carbine she my comrade smote.

“Now will I rifle her--she’ll now obey

“My wishes, while I grasp her soft, white throat.

“_Dame!_ a French bastard soon her tapering waist shall bloat!”

 

 

XXXIX.

 

Terrific Pablo’s triumph as he cried:--

“No, ruffians, no; thank Heaven, they are not your’s,

“My daughters! ’Tis God’s hand, to crush your pride,

“To San Sebastian hath removed the lures

“That brought ye hither, worse than Godless Moors!”

“Ha, say you so?” quoth Jules, “_pardieu_, ’tis he,

“The same who ’neath the oak, ’mongst Vascon boors,

“My bridle cut and made my steed to flee.

“Dog! with those eyes to do the like no more thou’lt see!”

 

 

XL.

 

Then on the bed he prest the old man down;

With sinewy knee upon his breast he lies,

His struggles stifling with terrific frown,

And with his sword-point blinded both his eyes!

Dire were the wounds he made, and crimson flies

The warm blood forth, yet save some groans of pain,

Which spoke poor Pablo’s natural agonies,

Nor shriek nor cry drew forth this deed of Cain,

For Blanca’s sire no weak faintheartedness could stain!

 

 

XLI.

 

Then bound the villain both his hands and feet,

And while its master helpless nought did say,

Ransacked the house for all of wine or meat,

Or forage that within its precincts lay,

And thus caroused till near the break of day,

When all with wine o’ercome the troopers flung

Their lengths upon the floor at dawning grey,

As weary Bacchants with whose orgies rung

Ismenian heights at morn reposed with lolling tongue.

 

 

XLII.

 

Long Pablo heard their movements with disgust,

Till silence broke but by repletion’s snore

Convinced the sightless man that Heaven is just,

And with excitement fierce his bonds he tore.

Trembling with rage, he stood upon the floor

An instant, then drew forth a dagger keen,

And groped his blind way through the chamber-door.

From sleeping form to form he passed, I ween

With preternatural touch as true as each were seen!

 

 

XLIII.

 

Jules he hath found! A scar upon his face

The trooper gives to his revenge at last.

With gentlest finger he the seam doth trace

Along his cheek, till doubt to surety past.

A ghastly smile then Pablo’s features cast,

All grim and gory ’neath his butchered eyes!

His finger’s point to where the heart beat fast

Unerring moved--supine the monster lies--

Beneath blind Pablo’s blade heart-pierced he instant dies!