Page:Poems, now first collected, Stedman, 1897.djvu/207

CAPTAIN FRANCISCA Wild heart of France, in pride

And ruin bred!

Against a heart he died,

As brave, as free.

Sternly she bade his men

First sink the prize, and then

Name one that in his stead

Their chief should be.

Each red-shirt laid his hand

Upon the Cross,

Swearing, at her command,

Vengeance to wreak;

To scour the blue sea there

And seek the Spaniards' lair,

From Gracias à Dios

To Porto Rique.

His corse the deep she gave,

Her life to hate;

Upon the land and wave

Brought sudden fear:

No bearded Capitan,

Since first their woes began

(The orphaned niñas prate),

Cost them so dear!

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