XXI. And here and there, as up the crags you spring, These are memorials frail of murderous wrath: Pour'd forth his blood beneath the assassin's knife, XXII. On sloping mounds, or in the vale beneath, Are domes where whilome kings did make repair; When wanton Wealth her mightiest deeds hath done, XXIII. Here didst thou dwell, here schemes of pleasure plan, Swept into wrecks anon by Time's ungentle tide! XXI Behold the hall where chiefs were late convened! * Oh! dome displeasing unto British eye! With diadem hight foolscap, lo! a fiend, A little fiend that scoffs incessantly, There sits in parchment robe array'd, and by His side is hung a seal and sable scroll, Where blazon'd glare names known to chivalry, And sundry signatures adorn the roll, Whereat the urchin points, and laughs with all his soul. XXV. Convention is the dwarfish demon styled That foil'd the knights in Marialva's dome: The convention of Cintra was signed in the palace of the Marchese Marialva. The late exploits of Lord Wellington have effaced the follies of Cintra. He has, indeed, done wonders. He has perhaps changed the character of a nation, reconciled rival superstitions, and baffled an enemy who never retreated before his predeces 8.-B. Here Folly dash'd to earth the victor's plume, XXVI. And ever since that martial synod met, And fain would blush, if blush they could, for shame. Will not our own and fellow-nations sneer, To view these champions cheated of their fame, By foes in fight o'erthrown, yet victors here, Where Scorn her finger points through many a coming year? XXVII. So deem'd the Childe, as o'er the mountains he Did take his way in solitary guise: Sweet was the scene, yet soon he thought to flee, But as he gazed on truth his aching eyes grew dim. XXVIII. To horse to horse! he quits, for ever quits A scene of peace, though soothing to his soul: But seeks not now the harlot and the bowl. And o'er him many changing scenes must roll Or he shall calm his breast, or learn experience sage. XXIX. Yet Mafra shall one moment claim delay, Where dwelt of yore the Lusians' luckless queen ;* A dome, where flaunts she in such glorious sheen, And bow the knee to Pomp that loves to varnish guilt. The Queen of Portugal, who removed with the royal family to the Brazils. The extent of Mafra is prodigious; it contains a palace, convent, and most superb church. The six organs are the most beautiful I ever beheld, in point of decoration we did not hear them, but were told that their tones were correspondent to their splendour. Mafra is termed the Escurial of Portugal.-B. XXX. O'er vales that teem with fruits, romantic hills, And life, that bloated Ease can never hope to share. XXXI. More bleak to view the hills at length recede, Spain's realms appear whereon her shepherds tend For Spain is compass'd by unyielding foes, And all must shield their all, or share subjection's woes. XXXII. Where Lusitania and her sister meet, Deem ye what bounds the rival realms divide ? Ne horrid crags, nor mountains dark and tall, Rise like the rocks that part Hispania's land from Gaul: XXXIII. But these between a silver streamlet glides, XXXIV. But ere the mingling bounds have far been pass'd, In sullen billows, murmuring and vast, So noted ancient roundelays among. Whilome upon his banks did legions throng Of Moor and knight in mailed splendour drest: Here ceased the swift their race, here sunk the strong; The Paynim turban and the Christian crest Mix'd on the bleeding stream, by floating hosts oppress'd. As I found the Portuguese, so I have characterized them. That they are since Improved, at least in courage, is evident.-B. |