Canto the First

LXXXVI

Such be the sons of Spain, and strange her fate. They fight for freedom, who were never free: A kingless people for a nerveless state, Her vassals combat when their chieftains flee, 114


True to the veriest slaves of Treachery;

Fond of a land which gave them nought but life,

Pride points the path that leads to Liberty

Back to the struggle, baffled in the strife,

War, war is still the cry, "War even to the knife!"

Dover Castle

When his ship is far from Eng­land he sings "Good Might" to his Motherland. These stanzas ha­ve a different struc­ture, they are writ­ten more in form of a ballad.