Former glory.

Prov'd the proud theme of Gaul's exulting Bard” ?

Or that Alphonso ?, he to whom you gave
Imperial title? Ximines 3, thy ward
Was Spain ! and thou-her pride-her glory's guard !

XLIV.

Didst thou not force the infidels 4 to flee ?

'Tis true, like us, thou'st lost a western state ;

1 Corneille.

2 Alphonso VI. King of Castile, who, for the generous assistance he af. forded the states of Arragon and Navarre against the Moors, received from the first the city of Saragossa, and from the latter the homage of the King of Navarre. He obtained many victories at different times over the infidels, and finally took the title of Emperor of Spain, 1134.-Rod. Toled. de Rebus Hisp.

3 Ximines (Cardinal), Archbishop of Toledo, an individual equally illustrious for virtue, sagacity, and prudence. He had been judiciously appointed by Ferdinand the Catholic, as sole regent of Castile, till the arrival of his grandson Charles V., and conducted himself in the high office with a courage, power, and dignity, which gained him a fame which can never die (1517), and which merited a better fate, he having been brought to an untimely grave, by the ungenerous behaviour of a monarch, whom he had ever most faithfully and honourably served.

4 Several severe blows had been previously struck against the Moors in Spain, but it was in the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, in 1492, that the empire of the Arabs was totally subverted, when Granada was taken from Abdali after a gallant defence.

a

What then ?-thou still hast left an ample sea,

And lack’st but skilful tars to navigate.

Who aw'd the nations ? Who could moderate

The haughty tone of a presumptive foe?

'Twas Alberoni', well yclep'd the Great. So much did France then dread his threatening blow, She leagu’d, intrigu’d, and wrought his overthrow.

A war minister.

XLV.

Uncomfortable recollections.

Hast thou no shame to ponder o'er those days,

Yet breathe, and feel so sunk in Europe's eye ? Has Ferdinand no wish but to debase,

And be the scorn of all posterity

Faithful alone to vile hypocrisy ?
The world had hop'd the lesson he'd been taught

An exile by the Corsican's decree

Cardinal Alberoni. This extraordinary man (to whom Elizabeth of Parma owed her elevation, on becoming the second wife of Philip V. King of Spain), in the course of two years, while prime minister, restored the navy, and rendered his country formidable to every nation in Europe. So much were his extraordinary talents and genius dreaded by France and England, that they entered into a league against him, which obliged Elizabeth to dismiss him from his situation. He died at Placentia in 1752.

Might have restor’d him to his country, fraught
With somewhat better feelings—dearly bought.

XLVI

El Condé.

Patriots.

Nor faultering fear, nor conscience, can awake

That Bourbon from the course he would pursue. El Condè! from those tyrant trammels break,

No more in brethren’s blood thy hands imbrue.

Mina, it is to you, and Valdez too,
The world must look for liberty to Spain ;

Yours are the souls to quicken and renew
The flickering flame of all that doth remain
Of what once grac'd a camp, or plough'd the main !

XLVII.

Behold her land of life, if not of light,

Beyond the billowy, vast Atlantic main,
South Ame. There thousands sigh for freedom from the might-

The tyrant might—of an inglorious reign :
A freedom better given, than roughly ta’en.

rica.

By sons to manhood grown, in sense and size

How many gallant youths, alas ! were slain !
How many mothers mourn’d the obsequies,
Ere this sad truth was brought to our blind eyes !

XLVIII.

Still there's a season left for fair Reform.

A genial sun may drive those clouds away Ere can commence that unrelenting storm,

Which hastens every lingering hope away.

What’er thy rule—and 'tis a Despot's sway-
Thy private conduct, Ferdinand, is good,
Wouldst thou, then, make thy people friends, I pray

I
Let them be free ; amend thy regal' mood,
And think-oh! think-of him of Holyrood !!

A last request.

XLIX.

Ha! Whence that strange, unearthly, lurid streak,

Which shoots across the murky midnight sky ? It is reflected from the burning cheek

Of Lusitania ! Whence the rending sigh?

A broken constitution.

a

ܪ .

The blush of Or may it be a blush for fallen fame?
shame.

So let us hope ; still mindful of that John,
Who, like a healing angel, glorious came,
And from a monster's grasp, redeem'd a throne.

a .
Miguel ! if not the veriest stock or stone,
If yet untainted but one drop remains

Of that great monarch's blood that might atone,

a

1 It was during the reign of Philip IV. of Spain that Portugal threw off the Spanish yoke, when the Duke of Braganza was unanimously proclaimed king, under the title of John IV. in 1640. However much the Portuguese had complained of their situation under Philip II. of Spain, who had deprived the Duke of Braganza's brother of his right to the throne of Portugal, they found his reign a golden age, compared with those of his successors Philip III. and IV.; so that, worn out by oppression, they were ready for revolt, and, after a restraint of sixty years, the nation was, roused to an indignant sense of its situation, and resumed its energies under John IV., who proved a wise and beneficent prince.