Wherein the demon gods themselves might deign to By whom the scheme of that wise order was combined. Nor with her clarion's blast awoke the slumbering air? Gladness in every heart, and mirth on every tongue. XII. Thou who despisest so debased a fate, As in the pride of wisdom thou mayst call These meek submissive Indians' low estate, Look round the world, and see where over all Injurious passions hold mankind in thrall! How barbarous Force asserts a ruthless reign, Or Mammon, o'er his portion of the ball, Hath learn'd a baser empire to maintain, Mammon, the god of all who give their souls to gain. XIII. Behold the fraudful arts, the covert strife, The jarring interests that engross mankind; The low pursuits, the selfish aims of life; Studies that weary and contract the mind, That bring no joy, and leave no peace behind; And Death approaching to dissolve the spell! The immortal soul, which hath so long been blind, Recovers then clear sight, and sees too well The error of its ways, when irretrievable. XIV. Far happier the Guaranies' humble race, With whom in dutiful conteniment wise, The gentle virtues had their dwelling place. With them the dear domestic charities Sustain'd no blight from fortune; natural ties There suffer'd no divorcement, save alone That which in course of nature might arise: No artificial wants and ills were known; But there they dwelt as if the world were all their own. XV. Obedience in its laws that takes delight Poor, erring, self-tormentor that thou art; O Man! and on thine own undoing bent, XVIII. There on the altar was his image set, The lamp before it burning night and day, And there was incensed, when his votaries met Before the sacred shrine, their beads to say, And for his fancied intercession pray, Devoutly as in faith they bent the knee. Such adoration they were taught to pay. Good man, how little had he ween'd that he Should thus obtain a place in Rome's idolatry! XIX. But chiefly there the Mother of our Lord, The Babe divine on whom she fix'd her sight; XX. To this great family the Jesuit brought His new-found children now; for young and old Ile deem'd alike his children while he wrought For their salvation,-seeking to unfold The saving mysteries in the creed enroll'd, To their slow minds, that could but ill conceive The import of the mighty truths he told. But errors they have none to which they cleave, And whatsoe'er he tells they willingly believe. XXI. Safe from that pride of ignorance were they In man doth impious unbelief arise; Wherewith canst thou be blest, if not with these con- God bids us love, and then our faith is perfected. XXIV. Even when the spirit to that secret wood XXX. They laid her in the Garden of the Dead. All things that it had heard, and seen, and more than That all was verdant there throughout the unvarying these. XXV. For in their sleep strange forms deform'd they saw year. ΧΧΧΙ. Nor ever did irreverent feet intrude And feel, like dew from Heaven, the precious aid of Compress'd alike into that mass of mortal mould. prayer. XXVI. And Angels who around their glorious Queen XXXII. Mortal, and yet at the Archangel's voice That made its hours of rest more restless than the day. Children of God, and heirs of his eternity! XXVII. To all who from an old erratic course Of life, within the Jesuit's fold were led, The change was perilous. They felt the force Of habit, when, till then in forests bred, A thick perpetual umbrage overhead, They came to dwell in open light and air. This ill the Fathers long had learnt to dread, And still devised such means as might prepare The new-reclaim'd unhurt this total change to bear. XXVIII. All thoughts and occupations to commute, XXXIII. This hope supported Mooma, hand in hand To them had been their teacher's favourite theme, Life, death, and all things else, a shadow or a dream. XXXIV. Yea, so possest with that best hope were they, That their new way of life brought with it in its train. Lift us whom thou hast loved into thy happy sphere! |