Ah! Where Is Palafox? Nor Tongue Nor Pen

Composed 1810.--Published 1815

All the sonnets of 1810 were "dedicated to Liberty." In every edition this poem had for its title the date 1810.--ED.

Ah! where is Palafox? Nor tongue nor pen Reports of him, his dwelling or his grave! Does yet the unheard-of vessel ride the wave? Or is she swallowed up, remote from ken Of pitying human-nature? Once again Methinks that we shall hail thee, Champion brave, Redeemed to baffle that imperial Slave, And through all Europe cheer desponding men With new-born hope. Unbounded is the might Of martyrdom, and fortitude, and right. Hark, how thy Country triumphs!--Smilingly The Eternal looks upon her sword that gleams, Like his own lightning, over mountains high, On rampart, and the banks of all her streams.

See notes to sonnets (pp. 223 and 229).--ED.