Thus our great Captain led his gallant Band, O’er the wide Plains of Leon’s fertile Land; Whilst all the Gallic Force, the Hostile Foe, Directed by Gazon, and great King Joe, Spread o’er the Country round, in varied Route, Bewilder’d in perplexity, and doubt: When t’wards the South their eager looks addrest, The Allied Troops surpriz’d them from the West; With all their Force array’d on Douro’s Bank, Our skilful Hero took them on the Flank; From Salamanca bravely chased them forth, And drove them in dismay towards the North. Burgos blown up, Pencorva forc’d to yield, Nor check’d their flight ’till reach’d Vittoria’s Field. Whilst o’er the Mountains, Bands of Spaniards[100] prowl, With little order, and with less controul; While desolation o’er their Country spread, The High-toned Blood, the Warlike soul was fled; Whate’er the Cause, the Motive, or the Reason, By Fraud, by Threats, by Artifice, or Treason, Whilst Hosts on Hosts did in succession grow, Judge from events, they merely were for Show; With other Troops they hold no sort of Rivalry, Cervantes quizz’d them out of all the Chivalry. Now all the Gallic force suspends its Flight, And at Vittoria Centre, and Unite; Joe, and Gazon had check’d its volitation, And in array the Army round it Station. Both Imbecile, and Vain, they treat with slight The Hero and his Troops who’d caus’d their Flight. Puff’d with conceit, they Espionage neglected, So got a visit, sooner than expected. Tho’ he in Leon had their minds astonish’d, Joe, and his Chum were not to be admonish’d. For Joe was heard amidst his Dames to say, ‘That our great Lord should Dine[101] with him that Day. ‘And when he had prepar’d Ragouts and Soups, ‘He’d take the noble Lord, and Route his Troops.’ Forgetting he’d to deal with one so arch, Who on the Vaunter neatly stole a March. Then reconnoitring how they were dispos’d, To all his Generals his mind disclos’d-- The one great object, anxious to obtain, ‘To drive the Rascals fairly out of Spain.’ On twenty-first of June, made Disposition To force the Enemy from their Position. Full Sixty thousand Men, arrang’d in Sight (But more inclin’d, I think, to run than Fight), Tho’ seeming bent his progress to dispute, Receiv’d his Visit with a grand Salute.