Page:Tales and Historic Scenes.pdf/51

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Where long their dust hath blended with the soil Won by their swords, made fertile by their toil?

"O ye sierras of eternal snow! Ye streams that by the tombs of heroes flow, Woods, fountains, rocks, of Spain! ye saw their might In many a fierce and unforgotten fight! Shall ye behold their lost, degenerate race, Dwell 'midst your scenes in fetters and disgrace? With each memorial of the past around, Each mighty monument of days renown'd? May this indignant heart ere then be cold, This frame be gather'd to its kindred mould! And the last life-drop circling through my veins Have tinged a soil untainted yet by chains!

"And yet one struggle ere our doom is seal'd, One mighty effort, one deciding field! If vain each hope, we still have choice to be, In life the fetter'd, or in death the free!"

Still while he speaks, each gallant heart beats high, And ardor flashes from each kindling eye;