Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Holland: Vols. XIV–XV. 1876–79.

Introductory to Spain

The Song of the Galley

By Spanish Ballad

Translated by J. G. Lockhart

YE mariners of Spain,

Bend strongly on your oars,

And bring my love again,

For he lies among the Moors.

Ye galleys fairly built,

Like castles on the sea,

O, great will be your guilt

If ye bring him not to me.”

The wind is blowing strong,

The breeze will aid your oars;

O, swiftly fly along,

For he lies among the Moors.

The sweet breeze of the sea

Cools every cheek but mine;

Hot is its breath to me,

As I gaze upon the brine.

Lift up, lift up your sail,

And bend upon your oars;

O, lose not the fair gale,

For he lies among the Moors.

It is a narrow strait,

I see the blue hills over;

Your coming I ’ll await,

And thank you for my lover.

To Mary I will pray,

While ye bend upon your oars;

’T will be a blessed day,

If ye fetch him from the Moors.