properum lacrymis non prosequeretur, neminem in oppido fuisse. Frater illius tum superstes eandem, quâ mater, sororque extinctæ sunt, invaletudinem sensit, sed, quia robustior, superavit. Quin et ex morbillis, qui multas in oppido edebant strages, subinde convaluit adeo, ut confirmata penitus valetudine nihil illi porro metuendum esse videretur. Hilari erat animo, statis horis sacram adivit ædem, Christiana dogmata condidicit perdiligenter, morigerum, placidumque se præbuit omnibus, ac frugis optimæ indicia passim dedit. Ad periclitandam tamen illius in oppido perseverantiam tantisper differendum ejus baptismum existimavi. Hæc inter adest forte Indus Christianus, qui hunc catechumenum me jubente suis dudum habebat in ædibus, vir palatum faciunt. Verum dum oblectare se, ornareque oppido fatum. Paucis ab adventu suo hebdomadibus putant, se onerant, opprimuntque. Dum delicias mul-gravedine, rheumateque totum corpus pervadente tentiplicant suas, opes, viresque imminuunt quotidie, for- tabantur omnes. His oculorum, auriumque dolor, ac mæ venustatem labefactant, morbos adsciscunt sibi, haud multo post surditas successit. Morore animi, mortemque accelerant eo infeliciores, quo fuerint deli- cibique omnis fastidium vires absumpsit adeo, ut excatiores. trema demum macies, tabesque nullis remediis profi« Tres mei sylvicolæ, de quibus sermo, rituum Quara- cientibus consequeretur. Aliquot mensibus languescens niis barbaris propriorum vel immemores, vel contemp- mater senicula, Christianæ disciplinæ rudimentis rite tores fuerunt. Crinibus passis sine ulla incisione, vel imbuta, sacroque tincta latice prima occubuit, animo ligamine incedebant. Juveni nec labium pertusum, tam sereno, Divinisque voluntatibus acquiescente, ut nec vertex psittacorum plumis coronatus. Matri, filiæ. illam ad superos transisse nil dubitaverim. Puella, quæ que inaures nullæ, quamvis illa collo circumdederit mo- plena vigoris, venustatisque oppidum ingrediebatur, nilis loco funiculum, è quo frustilla ligni pyramidati, viribus exhausta, sui omnino jam dissimilis, floris instar sat multi ponderis pendebant; è mutuo illorum collisu paulatim marcescens vix ossibus hæsit, ac denique maad quemvis gressum strepitus edebatur. Primo con- trem ad tumulum secuta est, et nisi vehementissime spectu interrogavi vetulam: num ad terrendos culices fallor, ad Cælum. Quid si cum regum sapientissimo strepitans hoc monile è collo suspenderit! moxque glo- dicamus: illam post sacrum, quo expiata est, baptisma bulorum vitreorum exquisiti coloris fascem ligneis his consummatum in brevi explevisse tempora multa: plaponderibus substitui. Mater, filiusque corpore erant citam Deo fuisse animam illius: raptam esse, ne malitia procero, forma honesta; filia vultu tam candido, tamque mutaret intellectum ejus. Illud certissimum: qui ineleganti, ut à Poctis Driadas inter Nymphas, Hama-nocentissimæ puellæ integritatem laudibus, funus prædriadasque numerari, ab Europeo quovis pulchra dici tutò posset. Hilaritatem decoram affabilitati conjunctam præ se ferebat. Nostro adventu repentino minime terreri, recreari potius videbatur. Quaranica lingua loquentes nos liberales inter cachinnos risit, nos illam eadem respondentem. Cum enim extra aliorum Indorum societatem fratri, matrique duntaxat colloqueretur, verbis Quaranicis retentis quidem, ridicula quædam dialectus irrepsit. Sic quaraçi sol: yaçi luna: cheraçi ægroto dicimus reliqui, et illud c cum subjecta notula veluti s pronunciamus, quarassi, yassi, cherassi; illi quaratschi, yatschi, cheratschi dicebant. Juvenis præter matrem, sororemque nullam unquam vidit fœminam; neque præter patrem suum virum aliquem. Puella matrem duntaxat novit, nullam præterea fœminam. Vi-probus, et agri dives. Hic: mi Pater, ajebat, sylvicola rum præter fratrem suum ne eminus quidem conspexit, dum enim utero à matre gestabatur, pater ejus à tigride fuerat discerptus. Ad fructus seu humi, seu in arboribus natos conquirendos, ad ligna, foco necessaria, colligenda sylvam dumetis, arundinibus, spinisque horrentem solers puella peragravit quotidie, quibus pedes misere pertusos habebat. Ne incomitata esset, psittacum exilem humero, simiolum brachio insidentem circumtulit plerumque, nullo tigridum metu, queis omnis illa vicinia abundat, vel me ipso teste oculato. Pridie ejus diei, quo in istorum contubernium incurrimus, parum abfuit, quin dormiens à propinqua jam tigride devorarer. Indi mei ejus rugitu expergefacti et hastis et admotis celeriter ignibus vitam servarunt meam. His in nemoribus, cum minor sit ferarum copia, tigrides fame stimulante ferociunt atrocius, avidiusque in obvios assiliunt homines, quam in campis, ubi, cum infinita vis pecorum omnis generis oberret, præda, famisque remedium, quoties lubet, illis in promptu est. Novi proselyti in oppido mox vestiti reliquorum more, et præ reliquis quotidiano cibo liberaliter refecti sunt. Curatum quoque à me diligenter, ad sylvas vicinas cum aliis ut excurrant frequentius, umbra, amœnaque arborum, queis assueverant, viriditate fruituri. Experientia equidem novimus, ut pisces extra aquam cito intereunt, sic barbaros è sylvis ad oppida translatos sæpe contabescere, victus, aerisque mutatione, ac solis potissimum æstu corporum habitudinem perturbante, quippe quæ à pueritia humidis, frigidiusculis, opacisque nemoribus assueverunt. Idem fuit matris, filii, filiæque nostro in noster equidem optime valet, verum mihi videtur ad nis capitum scientia sat certus præmissis interrogationibusque necessariis eum sacris undis mox ablui, Ludovici nomine insignivi. Hoc a me præstitum 23 Junii, S. Joannis Baptista vigilia circa horam decimam antemeridianam. Eodem die circa vesperum nullo morbo, aut apoplexia indicio accedente placidissime expiravit. « Hic eventus, universo oppido compertus, quemque juratus testari possum, in admirationem rapuit omnes. Lectoris arbitrio, quid de hoc sentiendum sit, relinquo. Nunquam tamen in animum inducere meum, potui, ut factum hoc fortuitum putarem. Eximiæ Dei clementiæ tribuo, quod hi tres sylvicolæ à me sint reperti in ignotis sylvarum latebris, quod mihi ad oppidum meum, ad amplectendam religionem se hortanti morem promptissime gesserint, quod sacro latice expiati vitam clauserint. Optimum Numen in Cœlo consociatos voluit, qui tot annos in sylva contubernales fuere incredibili morum integritate. Fateor, dulcissimam mihi etiamnum accidere expeditionis ad flumen Empalado memoriam, quæ licet multis molestiis, periculisque mihi constiterit, ternis illis sylvicolis felicissima fuit; Hispanis utilissima: hi equidem à me facti certiores, quod per immensos illos nemorum tractus nulla porro Barbarorum vestigia extent, istic per triennium quæstu maximo multa centenariorum millia herbæ Paraquaricæ collegerunt. Neque id rarum, missionariorum, qui sylvas herbæ feraces barbaris liberant, sudore, ac periculo Hispanos ditescere mercatores. His tamen nunquam in mentem venit ad alendos, vestiendosque catechumenos vel micam, filumve contribuere. Illorum corpora, ut animi missionariorum sæpissime inopum curæ relinquuntur.»-Dobrizhoffer de Abiponibus, Lib. Prodromus, pp. 97-106. PROEM. THAT was a memorable day for Spain, And frequent cannon flash'd, whose lurid light round Roll'd the war-thunders, and with long rebound Backward from many a rock and cloud-capt height In answering peals Pyrene sent the sound. Impatient for relief, toward the fight The hungry garrison their eye-balls strain: Vain was the Frenchman's skill, his valour vain; And even then, when eager hope almost Had moved their irreligious lips to prayer, Averting from the fatal scene their sight, They breathed the imprecations of despair. For Wellesley's star hath risena scendant there; Once more he drove the host of France to flight, And triumphed once again for God and for the right. That was a day, whose influence far and wide The struggling nations felt; it was a joy Wherewith all Europe rung from side to side. Sore hurt, but not to death. For when long care Long time upon the bed of pain he lay By gentleness and pious art subdued, Bow'd their meek heads beneath the Jesuit's sway, I love thus uncontroll'd, as in a dream, But now in quest of no ambitious height, CANTO I. I. JENNER! for ever shall thy honour'd name Among the children of mankind be blest, Who by thy skill hast taught us how to tame One dire disease 3-the lamentable pest Which Africa sent forth to scourge the West, As if in vengeance for her sable brood So many an age remorselessly opprest. For that most fearful malady subdued Receive a poet's praise, a father's gratitude. II. Fair promise be this triumph of an age When Man, with vain desires no longer blind, And wise though late, his only war shall wage Against the miseries which afflict mankind, Striving with virtuous heart and strenuous mind Till evil from the earth shall pass away. Lo, this his glorious destiny assign'd! For that blest consummation let us pray, And trust in fervent faith, and labour as we may. III. The hideous malady which lost its power VIII. Devices these by poor weak nature taught, From anguish that the soul must else endure. IX. None sorrow'd here; the sense of woe was sear'd, Its fatal course, rest cometh at the end! For tyrannous fear dissolved all natural bouds of man. 4 That welcome boon from death, the never-failing friend. And being there conceal'd in peace their lives they led. And lightly then relay the floor above his head? V. There had the tribe a safe asylum found Amid those marshes wide and woodlands dense, With pathless wilds and waters spread around, And labyrinthine swamps, a sure defence From buman foes,-but not from pestilence. The spotted plague appear'd, that direst ill,How brought among them none could tell, or whence; The mortal seed had lain among them still, And quicken'd now to work the Lord's mysterious will. VI. Alas, it was no medicable grief Which herbs might reach! Nor could the juggler's power With all his antic mummeries bring relief. From death; the strong man sunk beneath its rage, And death cut short the thread of childhood and of age. VII. No time for customary mourning now; With hand close-clench'd to pluck the rooted hair, To beat the bosom, on the swelling brow Inflict redoubled blows, and blindly tear The cheeks, indenting bloody furrows there, The deep-traced signs indelible of woe; Then, to some crag, or bank abrupt, repair, And giving grief its scope infuriate, throw The impatient body thence upon the earth below. XI. Unwept, unshrouded, and unsepulchred, The hammock where they hang, for winding-sheet Safer than if within the tomb's retreat. The carrion birds obscene in vain essay To find that quarry: round and round they beat The air, but fear to enter for their prey, And from the silent door the jaguar turns away. 5 XII. But nature for her universal law Hath other surer instruments in store, Whom from the haunts of men no wonted awe Withholds as with a spell. In swarms they pour From wood and swamp: and when their work is o'er On the white bones the mouldering roof will fall; Seeds will take root, and spring in sun and shower; And Mother Earth ere long with her green pall, Resuming to herself the wreck, will cover all. XIII. Oh! better thus with earth to have their part, Strange pride that with corruption thus would vie! XIV. One pair alone survived the general fate; Alike to them, it seem'd in their despair, They reck'd not when their fate, nor where, nor what, XVI. That palsying stupor past away ere long, And as the spring of health resumed its power, They felt that life was dear, and hope was strong. What marvel! T was with them the morning hour, When bliss appears to be the natural dower Of all the creatures of this joyous earth; And sorrow fleeting like a vernal shower Scarce interrupts the current of our mirth; Such is the happy heart we bring with us at birth. XVII. Though of his nature and his boundless love And in their state forlorn they found this thought Of natural faith with hope and consolation fraught. XVIII. And now they built themselves a leafy bower, The common home of all, their human nest, XIX. A few firm stakes they planted in the ground, Circling a narrow space, yet large enow; These strongly interknit they closed around With basket-work of many a pliant bough. The roof was like the sides; the door was low, And rude the hut, and trimm'd with little care, For little heart had they to dress it now; Yet was the humble structure fresh and fair, And soon its inmates found that Love might sojourn there. XX. Quiara could recall to mind the course Of twenty summers; perfectly he knew Whate'er his fathers taught of skill or force. Right to the mark his whizzing lance he threw, And from his bow the unerring arrow flew With fatal aim: and when the laden bee Buzz'd by him in its flight, he could pursue Its path with certain ken,7 and follow free Until he traced the hive in hidden bank or tree. XXI. Of answering years was Monnema, nor less Expert in all her sex's household ways. The Indian weed she skilfully could dress; And in what depth to drop the yellow maize She knew, and when around its stem to raise The lighten'd soil; and well could she prepare Its ripen'd seed for food, her proper 'praise; Or in the embers turn with frequent care Its succulent head yet green, sometimes for daintier fare. XXII. And how to macerate the bark she knew, And draw apart its beaten fibres fine, And bleaching them in sun, and air, and dew; From dry and glossy filaments entwine With rapid twirl of hand the lengthening line; Next interknitting well the twisted thread, In many an even mesh its knots combine, And shape in tapering length the pensile bed, Light hammock there to hang beneath the leafy shed. XXIII Time had been when expert in works of clay She lent her hands the swelling urn to mould, And fill'd it for the appointed festal day With the beloved beverage which the bold Quaff'd in their triumph and their joy of old; The fruitful cause of many an uproar rude, When in their drunken bravery uncontroll'd, Some bitter jest awoke the dormant feud, And wrath and rage and strife and wounds and death ensued. XXIV. These occupations were gone by the skill A draught for repetition all unmeet; No feverish pulse ensued, nor ireful heat, Their days were undisturb'd, their natural sleep was sweet. XXV. She too had learut in youth how best to trim The honoured Chief for his triumphal day, And covering with soft gums the obedient limb And body, then with feathers overlay, In regular hues disposed,8 a rich display. Well-pleased the glorious savage stood and eyed The growing work; then vain of his array Look'd with complacent frown from side to side, Stalk'd with elater step, and swell'd with statelier pride. XXVI. XXVII. The Moon had gather'd oft her monthly store XXXII. Thus Monnema and thus Quiara thought, XXXIII. Link'd as they were, where each to each was all, When the dread Messenger should find them there, and bathed, and all was done. Whom it had bound so close, for ever separate. Still laid his snares for birds, and still the chase pursued. From all mankind, their hearts and their desires were one. |