Page:The Siege of Valencia.pdf/139

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Thus pour'd for faith and freedom, hath a tone Which, from the night of ages, from the gulf Of death, shall burst, and make its high appeal Sound unto earth and heaven! Aye, let the land, Whose sons, through centuries of woe, have striven, And perish'd by her temples, sink awhile, Borne down in conflict!—But immortal seed Deep, by heroic suffering, hath been sown On all her ancient hills; and generous hope Knows that the soil, in its good time, shall yet Bring forth a glorious harvest!—Earth receives Not one red drop, from faithful hearts, in vain.

Then it must be!—And ye will make those lives, Those young bright lives, an offering—to retard Our doom one day!

The mantle of that day May wrap the fate of Spain!

What led me here? Why did I turn to thee in my despair? Love hath no ties upon thee; what had I To hope from thee, thou lone and childless man!