Page:The Fall of the Alamo.djvu/81

 Santa Anna's tent in the Mexican Camp before the Alamo. Santa Anna seated in an arm-chair, while before him stand the Generals Cos and Castrillon and the Colonels Bradburn., Duque and Almonte. [Rising.] The auspices of fate, my Generals, Were not propitious to our first exploit On Texan soil, still I regret it not. In every enterprise I have been wont To sacrifice a share of mine to Fate By reckless venture and impetuous force; And I have found my work to turn out well, As oft as Fate received my offering. Why it is so, I self can hardly tell; Maybe, that, flattered by my reverence, (Akin to that of Grecian banquet-hosts Who to the gods poured out their goblet's prime), The fatal god grows reconciled to me; Maybe, that like a savage animal He feeds upon the booty thrown to him, While free from his restraint and fickleness Man's innate talent can work out its way— Enough, to-day's discomfiture proclaims