The land was soon o’erspread by War’s alarms;

For Freedom’s fire once lit intensely charms!

But terrible at first in dire excess

Rude license many a timid patriot harms.

If perished tyrant-tools yet, ah, not less

Good men, too, slaughtered fell in butchery’s helplessness.

XIII.

“’Twas then the Asturian seniors crost the sea,

And I amongst the number, as ye know,

To Albion’s glorious Island of the free,