was the darling passion of the Spanish Goths; and Alfonso was obliged to change his policy by the opposition of his nobles, at the head of whom was Bernardo del Carpio. When Don Alfonso ceased to speak, Some say: The liberty of Spain ! 'Has been the slave to false Mahound; 'Unless, by righteous heaven's decree, 'To bear for aye the stranger's yoke.' Others maintain : ''Tis no affront, With that, confused and hurried sounds And troops of armed men are seen 'Viva España !-loud they shout:- 'He stands for Leon and her laws! 'Viva, who joins our rallying cry!— • Viva the brave Bernardo here, 'The champion of our Spain, "Whose hand his native land defends, And rends the oppressor's chain !'-- Bernardo in the front appears ;— He stills their noisy cries; and then, He enters where Alfonso sat, And thus he speaks :- If craven fear 'Inspires you with submissive thoughts, 'Shameful alike to prince and peer, 'Freezing the noble blood you claim,— 'If such indeed can e'er be said To be the blood of generous Goths, 'Who filled of yore the world with dread : 'And if you truckle to the Frank, 'How shall the sounding trump of fame, 'Your deeds, the deeds of recreant men,'In camp or palace hall proclaim ?— 'Let angry heaven pour down its fires ་ 'Rather than bend your freeborn necks 'To be the slaves of Charlemagne. 'Never, no never :-in this cause 'All powers of earth I here defy : Who counsels yielding to the Frank, 'The wretch by this right hand shall die. 'And many more to this great stake 'Are sworn in solemn league with me: Therewith he left the council hall, The King, who might not choose but yield, Joined in the bold Bernardo's cry: Whereby, in spite of Gallic foes, Spain held and holds her liberty. These lines exhibit, in striking colors, the characteristic aversion of the Spanish people for the yoke of France. They also illustrate, in a very curious manner, the frank and independent proceedings of the Gothic nobles, who yielded a precarious allegiance to their sovereigns, and possessed many valuable rights, until Charles the First and his successors broke down the power of the aristocracy, and gradually suppressed the franchises of the people. But, in former times, the Spaniards promised obedience to their kings with a very significant IF; and as in the present ballad, were accustomed to cry, Viva el casto Rey Alfonso, CON TAL que esta voz no estorbe : Which, in spirit, is not unlike the famous oath of the Aragonese. Alfonso, then, however reluctantly, is compelled to arm against the Emperor, and the command of his forces is, of course, entrusted to Bernardo del Carpio. Con tres mil y mas Leoneses. Followed by gallant Leonese, Three thousand men and more, And gave it back again to Christ;— The shepherd flings his crook away; The old reanimate their fire; Rush to their arms the young; The slothful rouse themselves, the sick The Frank, perchance, by force of arms Has conquered these our native glades? 'Counts he on bloodless victory? 'No, while our hands can grasp our blades. Say, for ye may, the Leonese 'Fighting in serried files are slain, If, battling on for fourteen years, 'Shall we, the lions of whose realm 'Have bathed so oft their crimson flanks 'In Libyan gore,-shall we subject 'Our Leon to the invading Franks ?— 'The King may squander lands and gold;— With that Bernardo forms his files, The squadrons of España's boast,— And cavaliers and billmen bold |