While to the starry sphere thy name shall rise, On the two last leaves, and written in another hand, are some stanzas in the romance or ballad measure of the Spaniards. The subject is an adventure soon related. THY lonely watch-tower, Larenille, And loud and long from hill to hill When Hernan, rising on his oar, They ascended by steps hewn out in the rock; and, having asked for admittance, were lodged there. Brothers in arms the Guests appeared; * The Convent of La Rábida. And, ever sparkling on his breast, The Eldest had a rougher aspect, and there was craft in his eye. He stood a little behind in a long black mantle, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword; and his white hat and white shoes glittered in the moon-shine.† "Not here unwelcome, tho' unknown. When other sounds had died away, They entered, tho' unused to pray, * See Bernal Diaz, c. 203; and also a well-known portrait of Cortes, ascribed to Titian. Cortes was now in the 43rd, Pizarro in the 50th year of his age. † Augustin Zaratè, lib. iv. c. 9. Where God was worshipped, night and day, "Now stand we where COLUMBUS stood!" "PEREZ,* thou good old man," they cried, "And art thou in thy place of rest ?Tho' in the western world His grave, † That other world, the gift He gave,‡ Would ye were sleeping side by side! Of all his friends He loved thee best." The supper in the chamber done, Much of a Southern Sea they spake, And of that glorious citys won Near the setting of the Sun, Throned in a silver lake; * Late Superior of the House. † In the chancel of the cathedral of St. Domingo. The words of the epitaph. "A Castilia y a Leon nuevo Mundo dio § Mexico. Colon." |