Classic Poem

As he came from the Cortes,
 Men whispered to Prim:
“Be wary, be wary,
 For life and for limb.”
Then answered the General:
 “Come blessing, come bane,
I live or I die
 In the service of Spain.”

In the Calle del Turco ,
 Where the starlight was dim,
Nine cowardly bullets
 Gave greeting to Prim.
The best of the Spaniards
 Lay smitten and slain,
And the new king he died for
 Came weeping to Spain.