Heroic brotherhood! Mark o’er all her soil Where Spain’s Partidas like Cadmean seed Spring armed and terrible to make War’s toil Ubiquitous, the foe unceasing bleed; Till, like bull gored and vanquished, he recede, While Mina and the Empecinado hang Upon his flanks, and give the Invader’s meed In death from every crag--where Tell-like sprang The Guerrillero forth, whose loud trabúco rang. XXX. The carcase of a rotten State may fall Corrupt asunder, life-blood e’en diseased; Head, body, members vile contagion’s thrall, By gore-stained hands Religion’s emblems seized-- But Nations ne’er yet died when Tyrants pleased! Yea, lives for aye the spirit and the soul Invincible, howe’er by despots teased; And let Injustice sting, Invasion roll, The sudden counter-shock will shake the distant Pole! XXXI. And quakes the stern invading Tyrant now, Whose legions to the frontier back are driven; For even Pyrene’s rocky margins bow Before the giant march, with fetters riven, Of Freedom’s phalanx marshalled on by Heaven! Rey, on thine arm an Empire’s fate depends. To San Sebastian haply now is given The fortress key their swelling strength that bends. France jealous eyes thee! Rey his post full well defends. XXXII. From Guetaría see where vulture-eyed That scowling band of Franks perforce retires, And turns their chief in demon triumph joyed To mark the scene where, Gaul, thy pride expires. Sudden explode terrific blasting fires, And swift the fortress-ruins blot the skies With matrons, virgins, babes, and aged sires, Rent by the train the ruffian, as he flies, Hath left alight--to fierce Revenge a sacrifice. XXXIII. Shudder, thou worm that point’st thy petty sting; A breath may quench both thee and all thy line! Fly, passion, hate, ’neath Mercy’s sheltering wing-- Hath not the Lord declared: “Revenge is mine?” Reptile, dost _Him_ defy? Not thus will shine Thy courage when, at dissolution’s hour, The more thou scornest now the more thou’lt whine, And feel no weed that deems itself a flower So mean as man who dares to brave the Almighty’s power! XXXIV. From Haya’s crest of rough and broken crag A darkling thunder-storm came grandly down. From peak to peak, while gathering rain-drops lag, The fiery demon leaps, from chasm to crown-- Terrific dance!--then hides ’neath blackest frown, Whose pall o’erspreads the sky; low growls at times, Then volleying roars while floods the welkin drown. Andaye took up the song of mountain-climes, And Jaizquibél gave back the sound with thunder-chimes! XXXV.