Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Holland: Vols. XIV–XV. 1876–79. | | | | Portugal: Santarem | | At Santarem | | Robert Southey (1774–1843) |
| | | FOUR months Massena had his quarters here, | |
| When by those lines deterred where Wellington | |
| Defied the power of France, but loath to leave | |
| Rich Lisbon yet unsacked, he kept his ground, | |
| Till from impending famine, and the force | 5 |
| Arrayed in front, and that consuming war | |
| Which still the faithful nation, day and night | |
| And at all hours, was waging on his rear, | |
| He saw no safety save in swift retreat. | |
| Then, of his purpose frustrated, this child | 10 |
| Of Hell—so fitlier than of Victory called— | |
| Gave his own devilish nature scope, and let | |
| His devilish army loose. The mournful rolls | |
| That chronicle the guilt of human-kind | |
| Tell not of aught more hideous than the deeds | 15 |
| With which this monster and his kindred troops | |
| Tracked their inhuman way; all cruelties, | |
| All forms of horror, all deliberate crimes, | |
| Which tongue abhors to utter, ear to hear. | |
| Let this memorial bear Massena’s name | 20 |
| For everlasting infamy inscribed. | | | | |
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