To Captain J. C. Fremont

From the Spanish of Don Hernando Fuero
Los Angeles, Feb 1847
Brave Foe! whose conquering sword is wreathed
      With olive, never stained by wrong; 
Whose spirit, in thy warriors breathed,
      Imparts thy courage high and strong, 
I crown thee generous as brave,
      Proud peer of all the great and free, 
And bless defeat itself which gave
      Our land, our laws, our all to thee!

From thee, as midnight from the sun, 
      Shrank Castro, anarchy, and chains!
Thy crimeless victories, bravely won, 
      Gave freedom to our scourged domains.
Law followed in thy glorious track, 
      And Mercy flew by Valor's side ;
Ah, Jesu! that this land should lack 
      What rights a noble Foe supplied !

A Foe no more! with proffered hand,
      And grateful heart, we hail thee Friend! 
Magnanimous to a fallen Land,
      Whose old Castilian pride may bend 
To a great Heart, but sooner dies
      Than blanch at death — I crown thee Great, 
In action strong, in council wise.
      True savior of a tottering State!

I see the ancient fire renewed
      In this last age of coward me ; 
TEXEDA’s dauntless heart, endued
      With stubborn virtue, lives again; 
MANAYA’s fiery will in war.
      Puts lightning in thy every blow; 
The Western World's young CAMPEDOR,
      Thy very presence quells the foe !

No other hand could guide so well
      Your sunrise Eagle on our hills:
Our jealous hate might ne'er repel,
      But would have stung, with clinging ills. 
The victor, who in triumph's flush
      Knew not so grandly to forbear — F
or the Guerilla's steel can blush.
      But not his cheek, at deeds we dare!

Tracked by the glare of burning homes,
      By childhood's curse and woman's wail, 
'Tis thus the heartless conqueror comes,
      Whose path is one red murder-trail! 
But white hands down thy swift career
      The dark-eyed signoritas wave, 
And matrons join the deepening cheer
      That hails thee Merciful as Brave !