CANTO X. Cora-luxuriant Vegetation-the Humming-bird-the Fountain THEN CORA came, the youngest of her race, The more she searched, pleased and perplexed the more! But soon the telescope attracts her view; She turns, and thinks; and, lost in wild amaze, Nor can thy flute, ALONSO, now excite, Then stirs not, breathes not-on enchanted ground? There forests frown in midnight majesty; Ceiba, and Indian fig, and plane sublime, Nature's first-born, and reverenced by Time! There sits the bird that speaks! there, quivering, rise Reigns there, and revels thro' the fragrant hours; Gem full of life, and joy, and song divine, 'Twas he that sung, if ancient Fame speaks truth, "Come! follow, follow to the Fount of Youth! I quaff the ambrosial mists that round it rise, Dissolved and lost in dreams of Paradise!" For there called forth, to bless a happier hour, It met the sun in many a rainbow-shower! Murmuring delight, its living waters rolled 'Mid branching palms and amaranths of gold! Evening a banquet-the ghost of Cazziva. THE tamarind closed her leaves; the marmoset LL Who now danced forth to strew our path with flowers, There odorous lamps adorned the festal rite, But whence that sigh? 'Twas from a heart that broke! Whose lips have moved in prayer from age to age; The gathering signs of a long night of woe; *P. Martyr. dec. i. 5. |