Author: Arthur Conan Doyle

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    [The scene of this ancient fight, recorded by Froissart, is still called 'Altura de los Inglesos.' Five hundred years later Wellington's soldiers were fighting on the same ground.]

    'Say, what saw you on the hill,
    Campesino Garcia?'
    'I saw my brindled heifer there,
    A trail of bowmen, spent and bare,
    And a little man on a sorrel mare
    Riding slow before them.'

    'Say, what saw you in the vale,
    Campesino Garcia?'
    'There I saw my lambing ewe
    And an army riding through,
    Thick and brave the pennons flew
    From the lances o'er them.'

    'Then what saw you on the hill,
    Campesino Garcia?'
    'I saw beside the milking byre,
    White with want and black with mire,
    The little man with eyes afire
    Marshalling his bowmen.'

    'Then what saw you in the vale,
    Campesino Garcia?'
    'There I saw my bullocks twain,
    And amid my uncut grain
    All the hardy men of Spain
    Spurring for their foemen.'

    'Nay, but there is more to tell,
    Campesino Garcia!'
    'I could not bide the end to view;
    I had graver things to do
    Tending on the lambing ewe
    Down among the clover.'

    'Ah, but tell me what you heard,
    Campesino Garcia!'
    'Shouting from the mountain-side,
    Shouting until eventide;
    But it dwindled and it died
    Ere milking time was over.'

    'Nay, but saw you nothing more,
    Campesino Garcia?'
    'Yes, I saw them lying there,
    The little man and sorrel mare;
    And in their ranks the bowmen fair,
    With their staves before them.'

    'And the hardy men of Spain,
    Campesino Garcia?'
    'Hush! but we are Spanish too;
    More I may not say to you:
    May God's benison, like dew,
    Gently settle o'er them.'

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Type of Poem: Ballad

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem reflects on the themes of war, survival, and individual perspective, using a conversation between an unnamed questioner and a farmer, 'Campesino Garcia', as its central narrative device. The tone is both somber and detached, reflecting Garcia's detached observation of a battle that unfolds as he goes about his routine tasks, such as tending to his animals.

The structure is repetitive, using refrains to create a sense of continuity and progression. Each stanza begins with the questioner asking Garcia what he saw on the hill or in the vale, emphasizing the cyclical nature of his observations and the ongoing war. Meanwhile, Garcia's responses intertwine the mundane and the extraordinary, as the sight of his animals is juxtaposed against the image of armies clashing.

The use of the refrain, 'Campesino Garcia', adds to the sense of rhythm and continuity, and also stresses the importance of Garcia's perspective. He is not part of the war, yet he is deeply affected by it in his daily life. His final statement, a prayer for the Spanish soldiers, reveals a sense of patriotism and empathy, despite his earlier apparent detachment.

The poem also employs vivid and contrasting imagery to underscore the stark difference between the tranquility of rural life and the chaos of war. It also highlights the constant presence of war in Garcia's life, despite his efforts to maintain his routines. The line 'White with want and black with mire' is particularly poignant in this respect, reflecting the harsh realities of war. Overall, the poem offers a unique perspective on war, emphasizing its omnipresence and its impact on individuals who are not directly involved in the conflict.