Fifth Of May

By Manuel Acuna

There were three, plus England
He jumped back into the waves,
And the Spanish ships
They headed for their land;
Only France cried: “War!”
Dreaming oh homeland! in defeating you,
And of infamy and luck
Using yourself to your advantage
He rose erecting in law
The right of the strongest.

II

Without seeing that in such a bloody fight
Your arm was smaller
The fight embodied in its endeavor
The redemption of your affront,
sprouted in yellowish light
The flame of their cannons,
And the world saw your legions
Entering the rude combat,
Carrying by shield only
Your shield of hearts.

II

And then it was when the scream
Launched by your courage,
France trembled with fear
Understanding his crime.
When to your infinite breath
The word was heard,
And when seeing the fight
terrible and desperate
The sword was raised in your hand
And in your conscience the idea.

IV.

Since it burned in the east
The light of that eternal sun
Whose pure and tender ray
He comes to kiss you on the forehead,
your independent flag
I was already floating in the mountains,
While the strange hosts
They raised theirs gracefully,
that waved proudly
From the brilliance of his exploits.

V

And the time came, and the sky
cloudy and obscured
disappeared hidden
As in the folds of a veil.
Death took its flight
on the terrified earth,
And among the French who are terrified
And the angry Mexican
He rose shaking the world
Your immense war cry.

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