And when so oft, for weal or woe, His life upon the fatal throw Had been cast down; When he had served, with patriot zeal, Beneath the banner of Castile, His sovereign's crown; And done such deeds of valor strong, That neither history nor song Can count them all; Then, on Ocana's castled rock, Death at his portal came to knock, With sudden call,— Saying, "Good Cavalier, prepare To leave this world of toil and care With joyful mien; Let thy strong heart of steel this day The closing scene. COPLAS DE MANRIQUE. "Since thou hast been, in battle-strife, So prodigal of health and life, For earthly fame, Let virtue nerve thy heart again; Loud on the last stern battle-plain They call thy name. 95 "Think not the struggle that draws near Too terrible for man,-nor fear To meet the foe; Nor let thy noble spirit grieve, Its life of glorious fame to leave A life of honor and of worth Has no eternity on earth, 'T is but a name; And yet its glory far exceeds That base and sensual life, which leads To want and shame. "The eternal life, beyond the sky, The soul in dalliance laid,-the spirit But the good monk, in cloistered cell, Shall gain it by his book and bell, His prayers and tears; And the brave knight, whose arm endures Fierce battle, and against the Moors His standard rears. And thou, brave knight, whose hand has poured The life-blood of the Pagan horde O'er all the land, In heaven shalt thou receive, at length, The guerdon of thine earthly strength COPLAS DE MANRIQUE. - Cheered onward by his promise sure. Strong in the faith entire and Thou dost profess, pure Depart, thy hope is certainty, The third-the better life on high O Death, no more, no more delay My spirit longs to flee away, And be at rest; The will of Heaven my will shall be I bow to the divine decree, To God's behest. 97 "My soul is ready to depart, No thought rebels, the obedient heart Breathes forth no sigh; The wish on earth to linger still Were vain, when 't is God's sovereign will That we shall die. $8 ...,་།།...། TRANSLATIONS. "O thou, that for our sins didst take A human form, and humbly make Thou, that to thy divinity A human nature didst ally By mortal birth, "And in that form didst suffer here Torment, and agony, and fear, So patiently; By thy redeeming grace alone, And not for merits of my own, O, pardon me!” As thus the dying warrior prayed, Without one gathering mist or shade Upon his mind ; Encircled by his family, Watched by affection's gentle eye So soft and kind: |