One alone, one hero only
Gave us more and gave us better
Than Columbus—that one mean I
Who a God bestow’d upon us.
His old father’s name was Amram,
And his mother’s Jochebed,
And himself, his name was Moses,
And he is my greatest hero.
But, my Pegasus, thou’rt loitering
Far too long with this Columbus;
Know thou that our flight to-day is
With the lesser man,—with Cortez.
So extend thy colour’d pinions,
Wingèd steed! and carry me
To the new world’s beauteous country
That they Mexico entitle.
Carry me to yonder castle,
Which the monarch Montezuma
Kindly offer’d to his Spanish
Guests, to be their habitation.
Not mere food and shelter only
In extravagant profusion
Gave the prince these foreign strollers,—
Presents rich and precious also,
Valuable, wrought with cunning,
All of massive gold, and jewels,
Bear gay witness to the monarch’s
Generosity and favour.
This uncivilised, unlearned,
Superstitious, blinded heathen
Still believed in faith and honour,
And the sacredness of guest-right.
He accepted a proposal
To be present at a banquet
That the Spaniards in their castle
Wish’d to give, to do him honour.
And with all his court attendants
Came the inoffensive monarch
Kindly to the Spanish quarters,
Where by trumpets he was greeted.