| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | August 21 | | Inscription for a Monument at Vimeiro | | By Robert Southey (1774–1843) |
| | | | A town in Portugal. Here, on August 21, 1808, the British, under Wellington, defeated the French under Junot. |
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THIS is Vimeiro; yonder stream, which flows | |
| Westward through heathery highlands to the sea, | |
| Is called Maceira, till of late a name, | |
| Save to the dwellers of this peaceful vale, | |
| Known only to the coasting mariner; | 5 |
| Now in the bloody page of war inscribed. | |
| When to the aid of injured Portugal | |
| Struggling against the intolerable yoke | |
| Of treacherous France, England her old ally, | |
| Long tried and always faithful found, went forth, | 10 |
| The embattled hosts, in equal strength arrayed | |
| And equal discipline, encountered here. | |
| Junot, the mock Abrantes, led the French, | |
| And confident of skill so oft approved, | |
| And vaunting many a victory, advanced | 15 |
| Against an untried foe. But when the ranks | |
| Met in the shock of battle, man to man, | |
| And bayonet to bayonet opposed, | |
| The flower of France, cut down along their line, | |
| Fell like ripe grass before the mower’s scythe; | 20 |
| For the strong arm and rightful cause prevailed. | |
| That day delivered Lisbon from the yoke, | |
| And babes were taught to bless Sir Arthur’s name. | | | |
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