Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Holland: Vols. XIV–XV. 1876–79.
Albuera
By Capel Lofft (1751–1824)On the Advanced Guard of Four Thousand Spaniards nearly Destroyed at the Battle of Albuera, May 16, 1811
X
Who drove his myriads, broke his tented pride,
And with Leonidas at Pylæ died,
With venerating awe his heart was quelled.
Philip, thy stern breast ’gainst itself rebelled
At Chæronea, as thy victor stride
Passed by the Theban band; who, side by side,
Like brothers fell, nor one his comrades knelled.
Does not the dread Napoleon think of these,
These “sons of glory, these sure heirs of fame,”
At Albuera who have left a name,
True Spaniards, which oblivion ne’er shall seize?
Glory to them eternity decrees:
Does not his inmost heart revere their hallowed flame?