45. Serenely thus the seasons pass away ; And, oh ! how rapidly they seem to fly With those for whom to-morrow like to-day Glides on in peaceful uniformity! Five years

have since Yeruti's birth gone by, Five happy years ;.. and ere the Moon which then Hung like a Sylphid's light canoe on high

Should fill its circle, Monnema again Laying her burthen down must bear a mother's pain.

In quest

46.
Alas, a keener pang before that day,
Must by the wretched Monnema be borne!

of
game

Quiara went his way
To roam the wilds as he was wont, one morn ;
She look'd in vain at eve for his return.
By moonlight thro' the midnight solitude
She sought him; and she found his garment torn,

His bow and useless arrows in the wood, Marks of a jaguar's feet, a broken spear, and blood.

A TALE OF PARAGUAY.

CANTO II.

VOL. VII.

D

A TALE OF PARAGUAY.

CANTO II.

1. O thou who listening to the Poet's song Dost yield thy willing spirit to his sway, Look not that I should painfully prolong The sad narration of that fatal day With tragic details : all too true the lay! Nor is my purpose e'er to entertain The heart with useless grief ; but as I may,

Blend in my calm and meditative strain Consolatory thoughts, the balm for real pain.

2. O Youth or Maiden, whosoe'er thou art, Safe in my guidance may thy spirit be; I wound not wantonly the tender heart: And if sometimes a tear of sympathy Should rise, it will from bitterness be free ... Yea, with a healing virtue be endued, As thou in this true tale shalt hear from me

Of evils overcome, and grief subdued, And virtues springing up like flowers in solitude.

3. The unhappy Monnema when thus bereft Sunk not beneath the desolating blow. Widow'd she was : but still her child was left; For him must she sustain the weight of woe, Which else would in that hour have laid her low. Nor wish'd she now the work of death complete: Then only doth the soul of woman know

Its proper strength, when love and duty meet; Invincible the heart wherein they have their seat.

4.
The seamen who upon some coral reef
Are cast amid the interminable main,
Still cling to life, and hoping for relief
Drag on their days of wretchedness and pain.
In turtle shells they hoard the scanty rain,
And eat its flesh, sun-dried for lack of fire,
Till the weak body can no more sustain

Its wants, but sinks beneath its sufferings dire ; Most miserable man who sees the rest expire !

5.
He lingers there while months and years go by :
And holds his hope though months and years have

past;
And still at morning round the farthest sky,
And still at eve his eagle glance is cast,
If there he may behold the far-off mast
Arise, for which he hath not ceased to pray.
And if perchance a ship should come at last,

And bear him from that dismal bank away,
He blesses God that he hath lived to see

hat day.