A TALE OF PARAGUAY. CANTO IV. 1. THE bells rung blithely from St. Mary's tower When in St. Joachin's the news was told That Dobrizhoffer from his quest that hour Drew nigh: the glad Guaranies young and old Throng through the gate, rejoicing to behold His face again; and all with heartfelt glee Welcome the Pastor to his peaceful fold, Where so beloved amid his flock was he That this return was like a day of jubilee. 2. How more than strange, how marvellous a sight Something like fear was mingled with affright And now and then a sigh that heaved the breast Unconsciously bewray'd their feeling of unrest. 3. Not more prodigious than that little town and power Nor the elder Babylon, or ere that hour When her high gardens, and her cloud-capt tower, And her broad walls before the Persian fell; Nor those dread fanes on Nile's forsaken shore Whose ruins yet their pristine grandeur tell, Wherein the demon Gods themselves might deign to dwell. 4. But if, all humble as it was, that scene Some hope and earnest of a happier age, When vain pursuits no more the heart shall blind, But Faith the evils of this earth assuage, And to all souls assure their heavenly heritage. Yes; 5. for in history's mournful map, the On Paraguay, as on a sunny spot, May rest complacent: to humanity, eye There, and there only, hath a peaceful lot Been granted, by Ambition troubled not, By Avarice undebased, exempt from care, By perilous passions undisturb'd. And what If Glory never rear'd her standard there, Nor with her clarion's blast awoke the slumbering air? 6. Content and cheerful Piety were found Within those humble walls. From youth to age The simple dwellers paced their even round Of duty, not desiring to engage Upon the busy world's contentious stage, Whose ways they wisely had been train'd to dread: Their inoffensive lives in pupilage Perpetually, but peacefully they led, From all temptation saved, and sure of daily bread. 7. They on the Jesuit, who was nothing loth, Reposed alike their conscience and their cares; And he, with equal faith, the trust of both Accepted and discharged. The bliss is theirs Of that entire dependence that prepares Entire submission, let what may befall; And his whole careful course of life declares That for their good he holds them thus in thrall, Their Father and their Friend, Priest, Ruler, all in all. 8. Food, raiment, shelter, safety, he provides; No forecast, no anxieties have they; The Jesuit governs, and instructs and guides; By him their eyes are closed, by him their burial blest. 9. Deem not their lives of happiness devoid, Though thus the years their course obscurely fill; And many a pleasing task of pliant skill, Sufficient scope was given. Each had assign'd 10. It was a land of priestcraft, but the Priest And make the weal of man its first and only care. 11. Nor lack'd they store of innocent delight, Brought forth upon some Saint's high holyday, Gladness in every heart, and mirth on every tongue. 12. Thou who despisest so debased a fate, As in the pride of wisdom thou may'st 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. 13. 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. 14. Far happier the Guaranies' humble race, Butthere they dwelt as if theworld were all their own. |