injuries of their trampled country; and as the voices joined the music, “_Vencer ou morir_” was not sung without _meaning_. I have written English words to the air, and perhaps they may not be unacceptable here:-- PORTUGUESE NATIONAL SONG. I. The tyrant smote our country-- Arise! arise! revenge the blow: His ranks are there--prepare--prepare To meet the hated foe. Oh! blessed sun of Freedom, O’er the fight shine high, shine high! For we’ll conquer--we’ll conquer-- We’ll conquer--or we’ll die. II. Pure blood our fathers gave us, And pure still through our veins it runs; Far better lose the last drop here, Than taint it for our sons. Oh! spirits of our heroes, In the fight be nigh, be nigh! For we’ll conquer--we’ll conquer-- We’ll conquer--or we’ll die. III. The axe will strike the oak down, The lightning will the tower lay low; But nations smote by tyranny, Grow stronger every blow. Revenge, revenge in the battle, To the heart and sword be nigh!-- Oh! we’ll conquer--we’ll conquer-- We’ll conquer--or we’ll die. The power of music combined with poetry, seems more gigantic when applied to the struggles of a people for liberty--or in other words--to exalt the passion of patriotism, than any other emotion of the heart; perhaps, because the passion _itself_ is more susceptible of excitement than others. The songs of every nation speak more strongly the character of the particular people to which they belong, than any thing that can be written by the pen of the commentator or the historian. It was a great statesman who said “Give me but the power to write the songs of a nation, and I will govern them;” an observation in my mind, of no less strength than truth. The war-songs of every people are part of their arsenal; and by no means the least in power. The Scotch pipes have done nearly as much as the claymore. An instance of this occurred with the late gallant Colonel Cameron of the 42d. The piper was detached from the corps by the order of the General at an engagement in Holland--the men went into action without him;--they charged, and were repulsed. The General, on the evening of the same day, said to the Colonel, “Don’t boast of your 42d again.” To this censure Colonel Cameron replied, “General, _you_ are to blame--you took our arms from us.”--“How?”--“You took the pipes from us: let us have _them_, and we’ll prove the 42d worthy of the highest boast.” This was done; the regiment had an opportunity next day of charging with the pipes behind them, and they covered themselves with glory. The Irish too, at the storming of Badajos, carried the breach to the tune of “_Garryowen_,” played by their own band under the most destructive fire. The power of national song was so feared by Buonaparte, that he forbade the Swiss air “_Le Ranz des Vaches_” in his army, lest the natives of that country should desert.