GARCIA PEREZ DE VARGAS.

I.

KING Ferdinand alone did stand one day upon the hill,

Surveying

guer, and the ramparts of Seville;

The sight was grand, when Ferdinand

proud Seville was lying,

O'er tower and tree far off to see the Christian banners flying.

11.

Down chanced the King his eye to fling, where far the camp below Two gentlemen along the glen were riding soft and slow;

As void of fear each cavalier seem'd to be riding there,

As some strong hound may pace around the roebuck's thicket lair.

III.

It was Don Garcia Perez, and he would breathe the air,

And he had ta’en a knight with him, that as lief had been elsewhere ; For soon this knight to Garcia said, " Ride, ride we, or we're lost!

I see the glance of helm and lance-it is the Moorish Host."—

K

IV.

The Baron of Vargas turn'd him round, his trusty squire was near,
The helmet on his brow he bound, his gauntlet grasp'd his spear;
With that upon his saddle-tree he planted him right steady,

"Now come," quoth he, "whoe'er they be, I trow they'll find us ready.”—

V.

By this the knight who rode with him had turn'd his horse's head,

And up the glen in fearful trim unto the camp had fled.

"Ha! gone?" quoth Garci Perez ;-he smiled, and said no more,

But slowly with his esquire rode as he rode before.

VI.

It was the Count Lorenzo, just then it happen'd so,

He took his stand by Ferdinand, and with him gazed below;

My liege," quoth he, "seven Moors I see a-coming from the wood,

Now bring they all the blows they may, I trow they'll find as good ;
But it is Don Garcia Perez, if his cognizance they know,

I guess it will be little pain to give them blow for blow.”—

VII.

The Moors from forth the greenwood came riding one by one,
A gallant troop with armour resplendent in the sun;

Full haughty was their bearing, as o'er the sward they came,
While the calm Lord of Vargas his march was still the same.

VIII.

They stood drawn up in order, while past them all rode he,
For when upon his shield they saw the Red Cross and the Tree,
And the wings of the Black Eagle, that o'er his crest were spread,
They knew it was Garci Perez, and never a word they said

IX.

He took the casque from off his head, and gave it to the squire,

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My friend," quoth he, no need I see why I my brows should tire."But as he doff'd the helmet, he saw his scarf was gone,

“I've dropt it sure,” quoth Garci, " when I put my helmet on.”—

X.

He look'd around and saw the scarf, for still the Moors were near,
And they had pick'd it from the sward, and loop'd it on a spear;
These Moors," quoth Garci Perez, "uncourteous Moors they be—
Now, by my soul, the scarf they stole, yet durst not question me!

XI.

"Now, reach once more my helmet."-The esquire said him nay, "For a silken string why should ye fling perchance your life away?'—“ I had it from my lady," quoth Garci, “ long ago,

And never Moor that scarf, be sure, in proud Seville shall show."

XII.

But when the Moslem saw him, they stood in firm array,

-He rode among their armed throng, he rode right furiously;

-"Stand, stand, ye thieves and robbers, lay down my lady's pledge !"

He cried, and ever as he cried they felt his faulchion's edge.

XIII.

That day when the Lord of Vargas came to the camp alone,
The scarf, his lady's largess, around his breast was thrown;
Bare was his head, his sword was red, and, from his pommel strung,
Seven turbans green, sore hack'd I ween, before Garci Perez hung.

THE POUNDER.

A BALLAD concerning another doughty knight of the same family, and most probably, considering the date, a brother of Garci Perez de Vargas. Its story is thus alluded to in Don Quixote, in the chapter of The Windmills :—

However, the loss of his lance was no small affliction to him; and as he was making his complaint about it to his squire, I have read,' said he, friend Sancho, that a certain Spanish knight, whose name was Diego Perez de Vargas, having broken his sword in the heat of an engagement, pulled up by the roots a huge oak-tree, or at least tore down a massy branch, and did such wonderful execution, crushing and grinding so many Moors with it that day, that he won himself and his posterity the sirname of The Pounder, or Bruiser.* I tell this, because I intend to tear up the next oak, or holm-tree, we meet; with the trunk whereof I hope to perform such wondrous deeds, that thou wilt esteem thyself particularly happy in having had the honour to behold them, and been the ocular witness of achievements which posterity will scarce be able to believe.''Heaven grant you may,' cried Sancho: I believe it all, because your worship says it.''

* Machuca, from Machucar, to pound as in a mortar.

THE POUNDER.

I.

THE Christians have beleaguer'd the famous walls of Xeres,

Among them are Don Alvar and Don Diego Perez,
And many other gentlemen, who, day succeeding day,
Give challenge to the Saracen and all his chivalry.

II.

When rages the hot battle before the gates of Xeres,

By trace of gore ye may explore the dauntless path of Perez. No knight like Don Diego-no sword like his is found

In all the host, to hew the boast of Paynims to the ground.

III.

It fell one day when furiously they battled on the plain, Diego shiver'd both his lance and trusty blade in twain ; The Moors that saw it shouted, for esquire none was near, To serve Diego at his need with faulchion, mace, or spear.