1

Ah, how forget when to my ravish'd sight

(That in the aisles at midnight haunt me still, The Cross shone forth in everlasting light! (31) Turning my lonely thoughts from good to ill)

'T was the mid hour, when He, whose accents dread • Were there no graves-none in our land, they cry,
Still wander'd through the regions of the dead, * That thou hast brought us on the deep to die?»
( Meriou, commission'd with his host to sweep

Silent with sorrow, long within his cloak
From age to age the melancholy deep)

His face he muffled-then the Hero spoke.
To elude the seraph-guard that watch'd for man, « Generous and brave! when God himself is here,
And mar, as erst, the Eternal's perfect plan,

Why shake at shadows in your mid career ?
Rose like the Condor, and, at towering height, He can suspend the laws himself design'd,
In pomp of plumage sail'd, deep'ning the shades of night. He walks the waters, and the winged wind;
Roc of the West ! to him all empire given! (32) Himself your guide! and yours the high behest,
Who bears Axalhua's dragon-folds to heaven ; (33) To lift your voice, and bid a world be blest!
His flight a whirlwind, and, when heard afar, And can you shrink? (42) to you, to you consign'd
Like thunder, or the distant din of war!

The glorious privilege to serve mankind !
Mountains and seas fled backward as he passid Oh had I perish’d, when my failing frame (43)
O'er the great globe, by not a cloud o'ercast

Clung to the shatter'd oar 'mid wrecks of flame! From the Antarctic, from the Land of Fire

- Was it for this I lingered life away, To where Alaska's wintry wilds retire ; (34)

The scorn of Folly, and of Fraud the prey ; (44) From mines of gold, (35) and giant-sons of earth, Bow'd down my mind, the gift His bounty gave, To grots of ice, and tribes of pigmy birth

At courts a suitor, and to slaves a slave? Who freeze alive, nor, dead, in dust repose,

-Yet in His name whom only we should fear High-hung in forests to the casing snows. (36)

("T is all, all I shall ask, or you shall hear), Now 'mid angelic multitudes he flies,

Grant but three days — He spoke not uninspired ; (45)
That hourly come with blessings from the skies ; And each in silence to his watch retired.
Wings the blue element, and, borne sublime,

At length among us came an unknown Voice!
Eyes the set sun, gilding each distant clime;

« Go, if ye will; and, if ye can, rejoice. Then, like a meteor, shooting to the main,

Go, with unbidden guests the banquet share; Melts into pure intelligence again.

In his own shape shall Death receive you there.» (46)

CANTO VII.

CANTO VIII.

A mutiny excited.

Land discovered.
What though Despondence reign'd, and wild Affright- Twice in the zenith blazed the orb of light;
Stretch'd in the midst, and, through that dismal night,(37) No shade, all sun, insufferably bright!
By his white plume reveal'd and buskins white, (38)

Then the long line found rest—in coral groves
Slept Roldan. When he closed his gay career,

Silent and dark, where the sea-lion roves :Hope fled for ever, and with Hope fled Fear.

And all on deck, kindling to life again, Blest with each gift indulgent Fortune sends,

Sent forth their anxious spirits o'er the main. Birth and its rights, wealth and its train of friends, • Oh whence, as wafted from Elysium, whence Star-like he shone! Now beggar'd and alone,

These perfumes, strangers to the raptured sense?
Danger he woo'd, and claim'd her for his own.

These boughs of gold, and fruits of heavenly hue,
O'er him a Vampire his dark wings display'd. (39) Tinging with vermeil light the billows bluc?
'T was Merion's self, covering with dreadful shade (40) And (thrice, thrice blessed is the eye that spied,
He came, and, couch'd on Roldan's ample breast, The hand that snatch'd it sparkling in the tide)
Each secret pore of breathing life possess'd,

Whose cunning carved this vegetable bowl,
Fanning the sleep that seem'd his final rest;

Symbol of social rites, and intercourse of soul?»
Then, inly gliding (41) like a subtle flame,

Such to their grateful ear the gush of springs,
Subdued the man, and from his thrilling frame Who course the ostrich, as away she wings;
Sent forth the voice ! « We live, we breathe no more! Sons of the desert! who delight to dwell
The fatal wind blows on the dreary shore!

'Mid kneeling camels round the sacred well; On yonder cliffs beckoning their fellow-prey,

Who, ere the terrors of his pomp be past, The spectres stalk, and murmur at delay!

Fall to the demon in the redd'ning blast.” - Yet if thou canst (not for myself I plead!

The sails were furld : with many a melting close, Mine but to follow where 't is thine to lead)

Solemn and slow the evening-anthem rose, Oh turn and save! To thee, with streaming eyes,

Rose to the Virgin. (47) 'T was the hour of day,
To thee each widow kneels, each orphan cries !

When setting suns o'er summer-seas display
Who now, condemn'd the lingering hours to tell, A path of glory, opening in the west
Think and but think of those they loved so well!)

To golden climes, and islands of the blest ;
All melt in tears! but what can tears avail ?

And human voices, on the silent air, These climb the mast, and shift the swelling sail.

Went o'er the waves in songs of gladness there! These snatch the helm; and round me now I hear

Chosen of Men! (48) t' was thine, at noon of night, Smiting of hands, out-cries of grief and fear,

First from the prow to hail the glimmering light ; (49)

"Ex ligno lucido confectum, et arte mira laboratum. P. Martyr. 'Tierra del Fuego

;

.

(Emblem of Truth divine, whose secret ray Enters the soul, and makes the darkness day!)

CANTO X. • Pedro! Rodrigo! (50) there, methought it shone! There in the west' and now, alas, 't is gone!

Cora--luxuriant Vegetation-the Humming-bird--the Fountain of 'T was all a dream! we gaze and gaze in vain!

Youth
-But mark and speak not, there it comes again!
It moves! what form unseen, what being there

Taen Cora came, the youngest of her race,
With torch-like lustre fires the murky air?

And in her bands she hid her lovely face; His instincts, passions, say, how like our own?

Yet oft by stealth a timid glance she cast,
Oh! when will day reveal a world unknown ?.

And now with playful step the Mirror pass'd,
Each bright reflection brighter than the last!

And oft behind it flew, and oft before;
CANTO IX.

The more she search'd, pleased and perplex'd the more!
And look'd and laugli'd, and blush'd with quick sur-

prise;
The New World.

ller lips all mirth, all ecstasy her eyes! Long on the wave the morning-mists reposed,

But soon the telescope attracts her view; Then broke--and, melting into light, disclosed

And lo, her lover in his light canoe Half-circling hills, whose everlasting woods

Rocking, at noon-tide, on the silent sca, Sweep with their sable skirts the shadowy floods :

Before her lies! It cannot, cannot be. And say, when all, to holy transport given,

Late as he left the shore, she linger'd there, Embraced and wept as at the gates of licaven,

Till, less and less, he melted into air!When one and all of us, repentant, ran,

Sigh after sigh steals from her gentle frame, And, on our faces, bless'd the wondrous Man ;

And said that murmur-was it not his namc? Say, was I then deceived, or from the skies

She turns, and thinks; and, lost in wild amaze, Burst on my ear seraphic harmonies ?

Gazes again, and could for ever gaze! « Glory to God!» unnumbered voices sung,

Nor can thy tlute, Alonso, now excite, Glory to God!» the vales and mountains rung,

As in Valencia, when, with fond delight, Voices that hail'd Creation's primal morn,

Francisca, waking, to the lattice flew, And to the shepherds sung a Saviour born.

So soon to love and to be wretched too! Slowly, bare-beaded, through the surf we bore

Hers through a convent grate to send her last adieu. The sacred cross, (51) and, kneeling, kiss'd the shore.

- Yet who now comes uncall'd; and round and round, But what a scene was there? (52) Nymphs of romance, (53) And near and nearer flutters to its sound; Youths graceful as the Faun, with eager glance,

Then stirs not, breathes not-on enchanted ground? Spring from the glades, and down the alleys peep,

Who now lets fall the flowers she cullid to wear Then licad-long rush, bounding from stecp to steep,

When he, who promised, should al cve be there; And clap their hands, exclaiming as they run,

And faintly smiles, and hangs her head aside • Come and behold the Children of the Sun!,

The tear that glistens on her cheek to hide! When hark, a signal-sliot! The voice, it came

Ah, who but Cora ?- till inspired, possess'd, Over the sea in darkness and in flame!

At once she springs, and clasps it to her breast! They saw, they heard ; and up the highest hill,

Soon from the bay the mingling crowd ascends, As in a picture, all at once were still!

Kindred first met! by sacred instinct Friends! Creatures so fair, in garments strangely wrought,

Through citron-groves, and fields of yellow maize (57), From citadels, with Heaven's own thunder fraught,

Throu;la plantain-walks where not a sun-beam plays. Check'd their light footsteps-statue-like they stood,

Here blue savannas fade into the sky, As worshipp'd forms, the Genii of the Wood!

There forests frown in midnight majesty; Ar length the spell dissolves! The warrior's lance

Ceiba, (58) and Indian fig, and plane sublime, Rings on the tortoise with wild dissonance!

Nature's first-born, and reverenced by Time! the regal plumes, the couch of state! (54) There sits the bird that speaks! (59) there, quivering Still, where it moves, the wise in council wait!

rise See now borne forth the monstrous mask of gold,

Wings that reflect the glow of evening skies ! And ebon chair' of many a serpent-fold ;

Dalf bird, half fly, (60) the fairy king of flowers (61) Thiese now exchanged for gifts that thrice surpass

Reigns there, and revels (62) through the fragrant hours; The wond'rous ring, and lamp, and horse of br.iss. (55) Gem full of life, and joy, and song divine, What long-drawn tube (56) transports the gazer home, Soon in the virgin's graceful ear to shine. (63) Kindling with stars at noon the ethereal dome?

'T was he that

sung

if ancient fame speaks trutlı, 'T is here: and here circles of solid light?

• Come! follow, follow to the Fount of Youth! Charm with another self the cheated sight;

I quaff the ambrosial mists that round it rise, As man to man another self disclose,

Dissolved and lost in dreams of Paradise!, That now with terror starts, with triumph glows! For there called forth, to bless a happier hour,

It met the sun in many a rainbow-shower! 'F. Columbus, c. 28. apil 34. :F. Columbus, c. 69.

Murmuring delight, its living waters rolla
Mid branching palms and amaranths of gold! (64)

And see,

That night, transported, with a sigh I said
CANTO XI.

'T is all a dream!»--Now, like a dream, 't is fled;
And many and many a year has pass'd away,

And I alonc remain to watch and pray!
Evening-a banquet-ibe ghost of Cazziva.

Yet oft in darkness, on my bed of straw,
Tre tamarind closed her leaves; the marmoset

Oft I awake and think on what I saw!
Dream'd on his bough, and play'd the mimic yet. The groves, the birds, the youths, the nymphs recall, .
Fresh from the lake the breeze of twilight blew, And Cora, loveliest, sweetest of them all.
And vast and deep the mountain-shadows grew;
When many a fire-fly, shooting through the glade,
Spangled the locks of many a lovely maid,

CANTO XII.
Who now danced forth to strew our path with flowers,
And hymn our welcome to celestial bowers.'
There odorous lamps adorn'd the festal ritc,

A Vision.
And guavas blusli'd as in the vales of light. (65) Still would I speak of Him before I went,
There silent sat many an unbidden Guest, (66)

Who among us a life of sorrow spent, (72)
Whose steadfast looks a secret dread impress'd; And, dying, left a world his monument;
Not there forgot the sacred fruit that fed

Still, if the time allow'd! My hour draws near;
At nightly feasts the Spirits of the Dead,

But fe will prompt me when I faint with fear,
Mingling in scenes that mirth to mortals give,

- Alas, He hears me not! He cannot liear!
But by their sadness known from those that live.
There met, as erst, within the wonted grove,

Twice the Moon fill'd her silver urn with light,
Unmarried girls and youths that died for love! Then from the Throne an Angel winga his flight;
Sons now beheld their ancient sires again;

He, who unfix'd the compass, and assigu'd
And sires, alas, their sons in battle slain! (67)

O'er the wild waves a pathway to the wind;
But whence that sigh? 'T was from a heart that broke! Who, while approach'd by none but Spirits pure,
And whence that voice? As from the grave it spoke! Wrought, in his progress through the dread obscurc,
And who, as unresolved the feast to share,

Signs like the ethereal bow-that shall endure!(73)
Sits half-withdrawn in faded splendour there!

As he descended through the upper air,
"T is he of yore, the warrior and the sage,

Day broke on day as God himself were there!
Whose lips have moved in prayer from age to age; Before the great Discoverer, laid to rest,
Whose eyes,
that wander'd as in search before,

He stood, and thus his secret soul address'd :(74)
Now on Columbus fix'd-to search no more!

* The wind recalls thee; its still voice obey,
Cazziva, (68) gifted in his day to know

Millions await thy coming; hence, away.
The gathering signs of a long night of woe;

To thee blest tidings of great joy consign'd,
Gifted by those who give but to enslave;

Another Nature, and a new Mankind!
No rest in death! no refuge in the grave !

The vain to dream, the wise to doubt shall cease;
-With sudden spring as at the shout of war,

Young men be glad, and old depart in peace!!
He flies! and, turning in his flight, from far

Hence! though assembling in the fields of air,
Glares through the gloom like some portentous star! Now, in a night of clouds, thy Foes prepare
Unseen, unheard !-Hence, Minister of Ill! (69) To rock the globe with elemental wars,
Hence, 't is not yet the hour! though come it will! And dash the floods of ocean to the stars; (75)
They that foretold- too soon shall they fulfil; (30) To bid the meek repine, the valiant weep,
When forth they rush as with the torrent's sweep, (71) And Thee restore thy Secret to the Deep!(76)
And deeds are done that make the Angels weep!

Not then to leave Thee! to their vengeance cast,
Hark, o'er the busy mcad the shell 2 proclaims Thy heart their aliment, their dire repast! 2
Triumphs, and masques, and high heroic games.
And now the old sit round; and now the

young

To other eyes shall Mexico unfold
Climb the green boughs, the murmuring doves among. Her feather'd tapestries, and roofs of gold.
Who claims the prize, when winged feet contend; To other eyes, from distant cliff descried, 67)
When twanging bows the flaming arrows 3 send? Shall the l'acific roll bis ample tide;
Who stands self-centred in the field of fame,

There destined soon rich argosies to ride.
And, grappling, flings to earth a giant's frame? Chains thy reward! beyond the Atlantic wave
Whilst all, with anxious hearts and eager eyes,

Hung in thy chamber, buried in thy grave! (78)
Bend as he bends, and, as he rises, rise!

Thy reverend form, (79) to time and grief a prey, And Cora's self, in pride of beauty here,

A phantom wandering in the light of day! Trembles with grief and joy, and hope and fear!

• What though thy grey hairs to the dust descend, (She who, the fairest, ever flew the first,

Their scent shall track thee, track thee to the end ; *
With cup of balm to quench his burning thirst; Thy sons reproach'd with their great father's fame,
Knelt at his head, her fan-leaf in her hand,

And on his world inscribed another's name!
And humm'd the air that pleased bim, while she fann'd), That world a prison-house, full of sights of woe,
How blest his Jot!- though, by the Muse unsung Where groans burst forth, and tears in torrents flow!
His name shall perish, when his knell is rung.

" P. Martyr, Epist. 133, 153.

See the Eumenides of Æschylus, v. 305, etc. " P. Martyr, dee. i, 5.