University of Virginia Library

X.

“'Tis bravely done, my trusty boy!”
The chieftain spoke—unwonted joy,
Burst forth and kindled the dark eye,
That witness'd but his enemy,
With all a conqueror's exstacy!
“Oh! would ye seek your land, brave men?
Why, seek it on that whirlwind, then—
For by my sword, your journey back,
Will find as perilous a track—
There, in that bright, and eddying flame,
Your vessels went—not as they came;
That blaze will lead to victory won—
On! for the Cross and glory—on.”
Each eye was turned, where brightly rose
The cloud, that flash'd with sudden light,
While all the far horizon glows
With hues, tho' dark, yet strangely bright;
A hideous glare on all around,
The yet ascending columns flew;
And Mexico in that hour found
Full many an omen direly true;
While, thro' the Spanish host, there went,
The enthusiast-spirit's voice of heav'n,
And glad, as to a tournament,
The free bit to their steeds was given.
“Ho! for the rescue, men of Spain,
Ho! for the rescue, and regain
More than the brave can lose, and all
That still attends the warrior's fall,
Who proudly stems the opposing tide,
Your glory, and Hispania's pride!”
Thus o'er the field the signal ran,
And with the sight and sound began—
Each arm, and heart, and weapon true.
The glorious fray anew!
What can the savage chiefs oppose,
To battle of superior foes,
But rude, and ill-directed blows!
And Cortes' name—itself a host,
Regains the ground its owner lost—
His giant form, conspicuous towering
Flies o'er the field, like meteor lowering,
A light, whose brightest shapes, assume
A deeper fixedness of gloom!
What can arrest his path of blood,
Who, in his passion's fearful mood,
His very followers deem to be
Akin to the arch-enemy!