Читать книгу Life in Mexico - Madame Calderón de la Barca - Страница 76

Let us triumph, my friends,

Let us triumph at length,

And let the country of the Cid

Breathe freely again.

The august Christina,

The ornament of Spain,

Imprinted the most tender kiss

On the cheek of Isabel.

And "Reign," she said to her,

"Not now over slaves,

But over brave Iberians, Over a faithful people!"

Let us triumph, my friends, etc.

Where is the perfidious

Army of Carlos?

A celestial thunderbolt

Has turned it to dust—

A thunderbolt which plunged

The wicked one into the abyss—

A thunderbolt which Liberty Launched against Carlism.

Let us triumph, my friends, etc.

Of the brave chief,

Of the good, the valiant,

Let us gird the forehead

With myrtle and laurel.

Thy brave right hand,

Heroic warrior,

Thy right hand, Espartero, Subdued the disloyal one.

Let us triumph, my friends, etc.

Our holy laws

Will be acknowledged,

And kings will tremble

At the power of Spain;

And should a tyrant grasp

The sceptre of opprobrium,

From his infamous hand

We shall cause it to fall.

Let us triumph, my friends, etc.

Health to Isabella, Health to Christina, Whom Heaven has destined To save the country; And may he freely crown The white forehead Of the innocent princess He swore to protect.

Let us triumph, my friends, etc.

And thou, messenger

Of peace and joy,

Hear the pure voice

Of our loyalty;

Hear the accents

Which we raise to Heaven;

Hear what we cry,

Country! Liberty!

Let us triumph, my friends, etc.

Thou, C—n, shalt be

The worthy symbol

Of grateful reunion,

Of eternal friendship,

Which already has changed,

In both worlds,

Insane discord

Into concord and fraternity.

Let us triumph, my friends, etc.

The air was rent with vivas! and bravos! as the Señorita de F—— concluded. Her voice was beautiful, and after the first moment of embarrassment, she sang with much spirit and enthusiasm. This was the finale of the serenade, and then the serenaders were invited in, and were in such numbers that the room would scarcely hold them all. More cigars, more punch, more giving of thanks. About three o'clock the crowd began to disperse, and at length, after those Spanish leave-takings, which are really no joke, had ended, Captain E——, C—n, and I, all three excessively cold and shivering, having passed the night at the open windows, consoled ourselves with hot chocolate and punch, and went to dream of sweet-sounding harmonies. Altogether, it was a scene which I would not have missed for a great deal.

The enthusiasm caused by the arrival of the first Minister from Spain seems gradually to increase. The actors are to give him a "función extraordinaria," in the theatre—the matadors a bull-fight extraordinary, with fireworks. … But in all this you must not suppose there is any personal compliment. It is merely intended as a mark of good will towards the first representative of the Spanish monarchy who brings from the mother-country the formal acknowledgment of Mexican independence.