These heroines were by no means singular in their courage and constancy, at that eventful era. Blanca is, I trust, no inaccurate type of that multitude of heroic women who sprang up in all parts of Spain during the Peninsular War, who rose superior to the weakness of their sex in the face of invasion and its attendant horrors, and who resembled more the Antigones than the Ismenes of ancient history. It was theirs to falsify the familiar reproach: ----γυνὴ γὰρ τἄλλα μὲν φόβου πλέα, Κακή τ’ ἐς ἀλκὴν, καὶ σίδηρον εἰσορᾷν. Eurip. _Med._ 266. “For Woman is full of fear, and weak for the combat and at sight of steel.” The heroic plebeian Maid of Zaragoza, and the not less heroic patrician, Burita, were not of Ismene’s way of thinking, which is nevertheless expressed with beautiful feminine propriety (for common occasions):-- Ἀλλ’ ἐννοεῖν χρὴ τοῦτο μὲν, γυναῖχ’ ὅτι Ἔφυμεν, ὡς πρὸς ἄνδρας οὐ μαχουμένα. Soph. _Antig._ 61. “But it is meet we think on this--that we are women, and unequal to contend with men.” They rather said with Antigone:-- ----σοὶ δ’ εἰ δοκεῖ, Τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμ’ ἀτιμάσασ’ ἔχε. * * Ἀλλ’ ἔα με, καὶ τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ δυσβουλίαν. _Ib._ 95. “Do thou, if so to thee seem fit, despise that which the Gods deem holiest. * * But suffer me and my rashness!” XXVIII. “And cloistered sisters the cartouche to mould.” O! decus, o! sacrâ fœmina digna domo! Ovid. _Fast._ vi. 810. “Though History rend each page, this, this shall be enrolled!” See Wordsworth’s “Convention of Cintra.” XXIX. “See the furious charge Of France’s chivalry, like Aias’ car, Mow thousands down.” Αἴας δὲ Τρώεσσιν ἐπάλμενος εἷλε Δόρυκλον κ. τ. λ. Ὣς ἔφεπε κλονέων πεδίον τότε φαίδιμος Αἴας Δαΐζων ἵππους τε καὶ ἀνέρας. Hom. _Il._ xi. 489. XXXVI. “Upon thy beauteous banks, Mondego, where,” &c. As filhas do Mondego a morte escura Longo tempo chorando memoraram; E por memoria eterna, em fonte pura As lagrimas choradas transformaram: O nome lhe pozeram, que ainda dura, Dos amores de Ignez, que alli passaram. Vede que fresca fonte rega as flores, Que lagrimas são a agua, e o nome amores. Camóens, _Lus._ iii. 135. XXXVIII. “But sad the victory gained where Moore heroic died.” See the clear and affecting account of Sir John Moore’s last moments, by the present Lord Hardinge, annexed to Mr. Moore’s _Narrative_. XL. “The pillow tended by the loving wife,” &c. See the beautiful speech of Andromache over the body of Hector:-- Οὐ γάρ μοι θνήσκων λεχέων ἐκ χεῖρας ὄρεξας· Οὐδέ τί μοι εἶπες πυκινὸν ἔπος, οὗτέ κεν αἰεὶ Μεμνήμην νύκτας τε καὶ ἤματα δακρυχέουσα. Hom. _Il._ xxiv. 743.