Page:Modern poets and poetry of Spain.djvu/209

Rh By smoke, Fame's trumpet shall their praises swell,

And bronze and marble for their names be won.

At length the moment comes, when Death extends

His pale and horrid hand, to signalize Great victims. Brave Alcedo to him bends,

And nobly Moyua, with Castanios, dies.

And Alcalà, Churruca, also ye!

Of Betis and Guipúzcoa the pride.

O! if Fate knew to spare, would it not be

Enough to soothe, upon your brows allied

Minerva's olive with Mars' laurels seen?

From your illustrious and inquiring mind

What could the world, or stars, their mysteries screen?

Of your great course the traces left behind

The Cyclades are full, nor less the seas

Of far America. How seeks to mourn,

New tears from her sad heart her grief to appease,

The widow'd land such heroes from her torn;

And still she sheds them o'er your cruel fate.

O! that ye two could live, and I in place

Of grief, of sorrowing song, to consecrate

To you the funeral accents that I raise,

Might have opposed my bosom to the stroke,

And thus my useless life my country give!

That I might thus your cruel lot revoke,

To bear the wounds, so that ye two might live!