The Poems of J. J. Callanan A New Edition, with Biographical Introduction and Notes |
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SPANISH WAR-SONG. |
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 | The Poems of J. J. Callanan |  |
SPANISH WAR-SONG.
Ye sons of old Iberia, brave Spaniards up, arise,
Along your hills, like distant rills the voice of battle flies;
Once more, with threats of tyranny, come on the host of France;
Ye men of Spain awake again, to Freedom's fight advance.
Along your hills, like distant rills the voice of battle flies;
Once more, with threats of tyranny, come on the host of France;
Ye men of Spain awake again, to Freedom's fight advance.
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Like snow upon your mountains, they gather from afar,
To launch upon your olive fields the avalanche of war;
Above the dark'ning Pyrenees their cloud of battle flies,
To burst in thunder on your plains;—brave Spaniards up, arise.
To launch upon your olive fields the avalanche of war;
Above the dark'ning Pyrenees their cloud of battle flies,
To burst in thunder on your plains;—brave Spaniards up, arise.
O sons of Viriatus, Hispania's boast and pride,
Who long withstood, in fields of blood, the Roman's battle tide;
Arise again to match his deeds and kindle at his name,
And let its light thro' Freedom's fight, still guide you on to fame.
Who long withstood, in fields of blood, the Roman's battle tide;
Arise again to match his deeds and kindle at his name,
And let its light thro' Freedom's fight, still guide you on to fame.
Descendants of those heroes, in Roman song renown'd,
Whose glorious strife for Liberty with deathless name was crown'd,
Come down again unconquer'd men, like Biscay's ocean roar,
And show yourselves the Cantabers your fathers were of yore.
Whose glorious strife for Liberty with deathless name was crown'd,
Come down again unconquer'd men, like Biscay's ocean roar,
And show yourselves the Cantabers your fathers were of yore.
Saguntum's tale of wonder shines bright upon your page,
And old Numantia's story shall live thro' every age;
Her children sung their farewell song, their own lov'd homes they fir'd,
And in the blaze, 'mid Freedom's rays, all gloriously expired.
And old Numantia's story shall live thro' every age;
Her children sung their farewell song, their own lov'd homes they fir'd,
And in the blaze, 'mid Freedom's rays, all gloriously expired.
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TWO VERSES OF THE SPANISH WAR-SONG, NOT IN THE PRINTED COPY.
Long, long each Spanish father his kindling boys shall tell,
How gallantly Gerona fought, how Saragoza fell,
Long, long, above the waves of time those deathless names shall be
A beacon light to all who fight for home or liberty.
How gallantly Gerona fought, how Saragoza fell,
Long, long, above the waves of time those deathless names shall be
A beacon light to all who fight for home or liberty.
Oh, offspring of that hero by Spanish hearts adored,
Who on the proud Morescoe bands his mountain vengeance poured,
Once more to waste your lovely fields come on the hordes of France;
Descendants of Pelayo to Freedom's fight advance.
Who on the proud Morescoe bands his mountain vengeance poured,
Once more to waste your lovely fields come on the hordes of France;
Descendants of Pelayo to Freedom's fight advance.
| The Poems of J. J. Callanan | |