ROMANCE.

"Moro Alcayde, Moro Alcayde."

"MOORISH warden, Moorish warden,
Grisly-bearded captain; thou-

The king has ordered thee to prison,
Thou hast lost Alhama now."
"If thou hast the kingly order,
Unresisting will I go-

'Twas not I who lost Alhama,

"Twas not I who lost it-No!

At my cousin's wedding feast, And I left it safely guarded,

Guarded by the noblest-best.

If the king have lost the city,
I have lost far more-far more,-
I have lost my wife and children,
All I loved-and now deplore."

Guerras de Granada.

ROMANCE.

"Paseaba el Rey Moro."

THE Moorish king was in Granada,
Revelling in careless thought;
Then of the taking of Alhama,

Mournful news to him was brought.
He threw in the fire the letters wildly,
Scimitar'd the messenger,

He tore his beard in furious madness-
Tore his beard-and tore his hair.
From his mule he then dismounted,
On his noblest steed he sprung ;
He bid the trump of war be sounded,
With silver timbrels the city rung.
Valiant Moors around him gather:

How they rush the streets along!
All to the summons of the battle,

Crowd on crowd, and throng on throng. "Why this summons, Moorish monarch, Why are we summon'd hither, now?” Said Granada's ancient warden; Snowy locks were on his brow.

"Ye are summon'd,” said the monarch,
"Of Alhama's loss to hear."-

Now, O king! thy senseless passions,
Now indeed have cost thee dear,

Thou didst kill the Bencerrages-
They who were Granada's joy:
Give the faithless Jews protection-
Didst in Cordoba destroy,

Spite of laws and spite of honour,
That resplendent Cavalier :
Many friends did then desert thee,
Many foes thou fosteredst there."

Spare me now-will none attend me?
Ours shall be Alhama yet!"
"Monarch! dreaming of Alhama,
Thou Granada dost forget.
Let it not be unprotected,
If thou to Alhama go:
Thou must have a valiant army,

For thou hast a valiant foe.

He who gain'd it will maintain it."
"Say, what valiant knight is this?"-
"He is Roderic of Leon,

Marquis he of Cadiz is.

Martin de Galindo second,

He who first the turrets scaled:"

Now they march'd upon Alhama,

But their marches nought avail'd—
Bold the attack,-but the defenders
Were as resolute as they :
So the king towards Granada
Turn'd his disappointed way.

Guerras de Granada.

ROMANCE.

"Sale la estrella de Venus."

Now appears the star of Venus,

See

Sol's last

ray the mountain gilds,
While the night, in dusky mantle,
Travels o'er the darkening fields.
yon Moorish warrior flying
From Sidonia's open gate,
Near the sunny banks of Xerez,
Fierce and proud—but desolate.
By the stream of Guadalete,

To that port of splendid fame,
Honour'd by far-distant ages
With our Lady's blessed name.'
He is born of lineage noble,

All his sires of high degree, But his once-loved maid has left him, Taunting him with poverty. Faithless fair one! and this evening She has pledged her recreant hand To proud Seville's base alcalde, Dignified with high command. To the careless winds of heaven, To the rocks and woods he cries;

• Port Saint Mary's.

Nought but pitying Echo hears him—
Pitying Echo still replies.
"Zayde !-Zayde !-far more cruel
Than the wreck-absorbing wave;
Harder than the hardest mountain,
Whose old feet the waters lave;
Tell me, cruel maiden! tell me,

Shall the charms that once were mine

Be devoted to another?

Wilt thou call another thine?

Wilt thou twine thy youthful tendrils
Round a proud and rugged tree;
Leaving mine all stripp'd and blasted;
Flowerless-fruitless, left by thee?

He, thy choice, is poor though wealthy-
Him whom thou fleest rich though poor:
Hast thou learnt than wealth of spirit
Wealth of clay to value more?

Wilt thou then Gazul abandon,

Six sweet years of love now flown,
For this treacherous Albenzayde,
For this stranger all unknown?

O! may Alla, in his justice,

Give thee for thy love, his hate,While, in dark communion near thee, Jealousy and fury wait!

Let no slumbers soothe thy pillow,

Tired and restless night and day; Grief and sorrows thicken round thee; Peace, and hope, and joy decay.