Classic Poem

A MEXICAN LAMENT .

Air. — R ONCESVALLES .

I.

R IO BRAVO ! Rio Bravo! saw men ever such a sight
Since the field of Roncesvalles sealed the fate of many a knight.
Dark is Palo Alto's story — sad Resaca Palma's rout,
Ah me! upon those fields so gory how many a gallant life went out.
There our best and bravest lances shivered 'gainst the Northern steel,
Left the valiant hearts that couch'd them 'neath the Northern charger's heel.
Rio Bravo! Rio Bravo! brave hearts ne'er mourned such a sight,
Since the noblest lost their life-blood in the Roncesvalles fight.

II.

There Arista, best and bravest — there Raguena, tried and true,
On the fatal field thou lavest, nobly did all men could do;
Vainly there those heroes rally, Castile on Montezuma's shore,
Vainly there shone Aztec valor brightly as it shone of yore.
Rio Bravo! Rio Bravo! saw men ever such a sight,
Since the dews of Roncesvalles wept for Paladin and knight.

III.

Heard ye not the wounded coursers shrieking on yon trampled banks,
As the Northern wing'd artillery thundered on our shattered ranks?
On they came — those Northern horsemen — on like eagles toward the sun,
Followed then the Northern bayonet, and the field was lost and won.
Rio Bravo! Rio Bravo! minstrel ne'er sung such a fight,
Since the day of Roncesvalles sang the fame of martyred knight.

IV.

Rio Bravo! fatal river! saw ye not, while red with gore,
One cavalier all headless quiver, a nameless trunk upon thy shore?
Other champions not less noted sleep beneath thy sullen wave;
Sullen water, thou hast floated armies to an ocean grave.
Rio Bravo! Rio Bravo! lady ne'er wept such a sight,
Since the moon of Roncesvalles kiss'd in death her own loved knight.

V.

Weepest thou, lorn Lady Inez, for thy lover 'mid the slain?
Brave La Vega's trenchant sabre cleft his slayer to the brain —
Brave La Vega, who, all lonely, by a host of foes beset,
Yielded up his falchion only, when his equal there he met.
Oh, for Roland's horn to rally his Paladins by that sad shore!
Rio Bravo, Roncesvalles, ye are names linked evermore.

VI.

Sullen river! sullen river! vultures drink thy gory wave,
But they blur not those loved features, which not Love himself could save.
Rio Bravo, thou wilt name not that lone corse upon thy shore,
But in prayer sad Inez names him, names him praying evermore.
Rio Bravo! Rio Bravo! lady ne'er mourned such a knight,
Since the fondest hearts were broken by the Roncesvalles fight.