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within me hope was dead； And wild Ambition's dreams were fled； Though
o'er my blighted heart； Despair Desponded； love still nestled there； Love！
how the pale…faced scorner's lip Would sneer； to hear me name that
name； Yet was it deep within my soul A secret but consuming flame；
Whose overruling mastership； Defied slow Reason's dull control！ And felt
for one of that vile race； To whom my tribe had given place； Was
nursed in silence and in shame！ Shame； for the weakness of a heart； Yet
bleeding from th' oppressor's blow； Which could bestow its better part
Upon the offspring of a foe！ They； the mean delvers of the soil； The
wielders of the felling axe； Because we will not stoop to toil； Nor to
its burdens bond our backs； Because we scorn Seduction's wiles； Her lying
words and forged smiles； They； the foul slaves of lust and gold； Say that
our blood and hearts are cold。（3） But ere the morrow's dawning light Has
climbed yon eastern craggy height； One； whose fierce eye and haughty
brow； Are lit with pride and pleasure now； Shall learn； at point of my true
steel； How much the Red man's heart may feel； How fearlessly he strikes
the foe； When love and vengeance prompt the blow！ Though scorned by
him； I know an art Could stop the beatings of his heart； Ere his own lips
could say； 'Be still！' A single arrow from my bow； Bathed in the
poisonous manchenille；（4） Would in an instant lay him low； So deadly
is the icy chill； With which the life…blood it congeals； The wounded
warrior scarcely feels Its fatal touch ere he expire： But； when Revenge
would glut his ire； He stops not with immediate death The current of his
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victim's breath； With gasp； and intervening pause； The lifeblood from its
source he draws； Marks； in the crimson stream that flows； How near life
verges to its close； And its last soul…exhaling groan； To him is music's
sweetest tone！ And he； whose fate it is to die； Ere Morning's banner flouts
the sky； The eye shall see； the arm shall know； That guides and deals th'
avenging blow； And ere his spirit goes to rest； Right well his scornful
heart shall learn； How fiercely； in a savage breast； The flames of love
and hate may burn。〃 He spake； and down the mountain's side； With quick；
impatient step； he hied； Threading the forest's lonely gloom； A ruthless
minister of doom。
VII。
'Twas midnight； calmly slept the Earth； And the mysterious eyes
above； Gazed down with chastened looks of love； Not； as when first
they hymned her birth； With ardent songs of holy mirth； But mournfully
serene and clear； As on some erring one we gaze； Whose feet have
strayed from wisdom's ways； But who； in error； still is dear。 Far o'er yon
swiftly flowing stream Fair fell the young moon's silver beam； And gazing
on its restless sheen； Stood one whose garb； and port； and mien； Bespoke
him of a foreign land； One born to win； and hold command； The master
mind； the leading one； Where deeds of manly might were done。 Yet； by the
hallowed glow； that came O'er lip and cheek； o'er eye and brow； He
who beheld； might guess that now His thoughts were not of wealth and
fame： Whence could that veiling radiance shine； Save from Affection's
holy shrine？ And this was he； who from afar； Had come to bear away
his bride； And love had been the guiding star； That lit him o'er the
trackless tide； 〃To…morrow； on its sunny wing； My bridal hour soon shall
bring； And those bright orbs which o'er me shed Such gentle radiance
from on high； Shall shine upon my nuptial bed； When next they walk
along the sky。 0！ what are all the pomps of earth； Of honour； glory；
greatness； worth； Beside the bliss which Love confers Upon his humblest
followers！〃 He said； and from the river turned； An eye； that with fierce
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hatred burned； Met his； and this reply was made： 〃Thou； haughty one；
shalt be a shade Ere dawns the coming morrow's sun。〃 Then； ere the point
he could evade； He felt the sharp steel pierce his breast； While he； who
the foul deed had done Stood calmly by； and saw him sink In death； beside
the water's brink； Saw； gush by gush； the crimson blood Pour out； and
mingle with the flood； Then drew his dagger from its rest； And gazing
on its fearful hue； Said； 〃Thou hast yet one task to do。 He who； death…
wounded； welters there； Came hither； o'er the deep to bear Far off from
her paternal nest； The white dove I have watched so long。 The falcon's
wing was bold and strong； Yet thou hast stayed him in his flight； Strike
one more blow； and thou to…night May'st rest；〃 then laid his bosom bare；
And buried deep the dagger there； And by his victim's lifeless trunk；
Without a sigh or groan he sunk。
Canto III。
I。
With plumes to which the dewdrops cling； Wide waves the morn her
golden wing； With countless variegated beams The empurpled orient
glows and gleams； A gorgeous mass of crimson clouds The mountain's
soaring summit shrouds； Along the wave the blue mist creeps； The
towering forest trees are stirred By the low wind that o'er them sweeps；
And with the matin song of bird； The hum of early bee is heard；
Hailing with his shrill； tiny horn； The coming of the bright…eyed morn；
And； with the day…beam's earliest dawn； Her couch the fair Mazelli
quits； And gaily； fleetly as a fawn； Along the wildwood paths she flits；
Hieing from leafy bower to bower； Culling from each its bud and flower；
Of brightest hue and sweetest breath； To weave them in her bridal wreath。
Now； pausing in her way； to hear The lay of some wild warbler near；
Repaying him； in mocking tone； With music sweeter than his own； Now；
o'er some crystal stream low bending； Her image in its waves to see；
With its sweet； gurgled music blending； A song of tenfold melody； Now；
chasing the gay butterfly； That o'er her pathway passed her by； With grace
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as careless； glee as wild； As though she were some thoughtless child； Now；
seated on some wayside stone； With time's green； messy veil o'ergrown； In
silent thoughtfulness； she seems To hold communion with her heart；
Beguiling fancy with the dreams That from its Pure recesses start。
II。
There is a silent power； that o'er Our bosoms wields a wizard might；
Restoring bygone years to light； With the same vivid glow they wore； Ere
time had o'er their features cast The shadowy shroud that veils the past：
To those who walk in wisdom's way； 'Tis welcome as an angel's smile；
But those who from her counsels stray； Whose hearts are full of craft
and guile； To them 'tis as a constant goad A weight that doubles Sorrow's
load； A silent searcher of the breast； Which will not let the guilty rest。 In
childhood's pleasant …season born； It haunts us in all after time； From
youth's serene and sunny morn To manhood's stern meridian prime。
From manhood； till the weight of years； And life's dull constant toil； and
tears； And passion's ever raging storm； Have dimmed the eye and bowed
the form。 True； youth； of hope and love possessed； By friendsyouth has
no foescaressed； Finds in the presenthappy boy！ Enough of gaiety
and joy； And man； whose visionary brain Begets that idle phantom train
Of shadowsPower； Wealth； and Fame； A scourgea bubbleand a
name So often and so vainly sought Has little time for peaceful thought；
And so they turn not back