As they had been as soft as wax, he pierced the targets through
With javelins of the hollow cane that in the vega grew;
Not one could stand before the Moor; the tilters turned and fled,
For by his exploits was revealed the warrior’s name of dread.
The lists were in confusion, but calm was on his brow,
As, lifting up his eyes to heaven, he breathed a desperate vow;
“Would God the malediction of Celinda had come true!
And the spears of my assailant had pierced my bosom through!
And that the dames who pitied me had cursed me where I stand!
And bravely falling I became a hero of the land!
That never succor came to me, for that were rapture high
To her the angry lioness who prays that I may die!”
He spoke, he spurred his courser fleet, and started for the plain,
And swore within Celinda’s sight he’d ne’er return again.
THE BULL-FIGHT
The zambra was but ended, and now Granada’s
King
Abdeli called his court to sit on Vivarrambla’s
ring;
Of noble line the bride and groom whose
nuptials bade prepare,
The struggle between valiant knights and
bulls within the square.
And, when on the arena the mighty bull
was freed,
Straight to the deadly conflict one warrior
spurred his steed;
His mantle was of emerald of texture damascene,
And hope was in his folded hood as in
his mantle green;
Six squires went with him to the ring
beside their lord to stand;
Their livery was brilliant green, so did
their lord command.
Hope was the augury of his love; hope’s
livery he wore;
Yet at his side each squire of his a trenchant
rapier bore.
Each rapier true was black in hue and
sheathed in silver ore;
At once the people knew the knight from
his audacious mien—
Gazul the brave was recognized as soon
as he was seen!
With graceful dignity he took his station
on the sand,
And like a second Mars he seized his rapier
in his hand;
With courage strong he eyed the bull,
who pawed the ground till high
The dust of the arena was mingled with
the sky.
All at the sight were terrified, and now
with deadly speed,
His horns as keen as points of steel,
he rushes at the steed.
The brave Gazul was on the watch, to ward
the threatened blow,
And save his steed, and with one stroke
to lay the assailant low.
The valiant bull, with lowered head advancing
to the strife,
Felt from skilled hand the tempered brand
pierce to his very life.
Deep wounded to the gory ground, where
he had stoutly stood,
The horned warrior sank at last, bathed
in his own heart’s blood.
Still, on his ruddy couch he lay, his
courage quenched at last.
At this exploit the plaudits of the assembly
filled the blast;
They hailed the knight whose bravery and
skill had done the deed,
And slain the hero of the ring, and saved
his goodly steed,
And done such pleasure to the King, and
to Celinda fair,
To the Queen of Spain and all her train
who sat assembled there.