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1809.5
First Siege of Saragossa [1]
Anon
The Morning Chronicle (April 27, 1809)
While prostrate slaves, to virtue dead,
Kiss the foul track where tyrant's tread,
Still Freedom lifts her dauntless head
In
sacred Saragossa.
The practis'd tools of grasping power
Around her walls in legions lour,
Walls little fit in trying hour
To
profit Saragossa.
But native valour, noble pride,
Arrange her heroes side by side,
A rampart that defies the tide,
Which
threatens Saragossa.
Each house a fortress to defend,
Father and Son refuse to bend,
And sights are seen which hearts might rend,
In
struggling Saragossa.
Not so with thee, thou pride of Spain!
Carnage and ruin spread in vain;
Still Sons of Arragon[2]
remain
To
fight for Saragossa.
In house by house, in street by street,
The Franks a brave resistance meet;
Hopeless and baffled they retreat—
Huzza! for Saragossa.
Second
Siege.[3]
Again returns NAPOLEON'S horde
With all the horrors of the sword,
The Thunder-cloud, with havoc stor'd,
Hangs
over Saragossa.
Arragonese! so brave, so true,
If ever branch of laurel grew,
That branch should form a wreath for you,
Who
fought in Saragossa.
Again to vast exertion call'd,
By shot, shell, and explosion gall'd,
Firm stood thy Sons and unappall'd,
Unequall'd
Saragossa!
Though wasting flames around thee curl'd,
Thou bursting mines to ruin hurled,
Defiance still her flag unfurled,
In
gallant Saragossa.
O'erwhelm'd by numbers and o'ercome,
No hand to parley beat the drum,
Still true at heart, sullen and dumb,
Fell,
glorious, Saragossa.
Banks of Lugar.
See Vaughan's Account of the Siege of Saragossa, where a picture of devoted patriotism is exhibited which must make every heart beat quicker that is not base or torpid.