Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Holland: Vols. XIV–XV. 1876–79. | | | | Introductory to Spain | | To Spain | | Capel Lofft (1751–1824) |
| | | O GENEROUS nation! to whose noble boast, | |
| Illustrious Spain, the providence of Heaven | |
| A radiant sky of vivid power hath given, | |
| A land of flowers, of fruits, profuse; an host | |
| Of ardent spirits; when deprest the most, | 5 |
| By great, enthusiastic impulse driven | |
| To deeds of highest daring! May no leaven | |
| (If wisdom, justice, fail thee, thou art lost), | |
| No treachery, no cruelty, disgrace, | |
| No desperate rashness hopelessly deface, | 10 |
| Thy dawn of freedom,—if a dawn it be. | |
| O, think of thy Cervantes! think that now | |
| No palm invites thee of false chivalry, | |
| But one his high-souled breast would hail with ardent vow. | | | | |
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