LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 
 
 Chap.: Copyright No. 
 
 Shelf..j©_xM^ 
 
 F^ff 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
fr 
 
 MONTEZUMA" 
 
 AND 
 
 OTHER POEMS 
 
 BY 
 
 C. T. BATEMAN 
 
 TOLEDO, OHIO, 
 
 W. W. BATEMAN, Publisher, 
 1897. 
 
 1W0 COF' 
 
COPYRIGHT 1897 
 
 BY 
 
 C. T. BATEMAN. 
 
^ 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Montezuma, 
 
 John and I, - 
 
 Etherial Forms, 
 
 Somnus, 
 
 Ask and Embla, 
 
 Sometime, 
 
 Memorial Day, 
 
 Wit Better than Strength, 
 
 The Fire King, 
 
 Growing Older, 
 
 The Still, Small Voice, 
 
 John's Letter, - 
 
 Heaven's Welcome, 
 
 The Death of Balder, 
 
 Relics, 
 
 Gambrinus, 
 
 The Voice of the Wind, 
 
 The Brooklet, 
 
 The Angel's Song,- - 
 
 The Search for God, 
 
 A Norseman's Death, 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 1 
 
 79 
 
 - 81 
 82 
 
 - 83 
 85 
 
 - 87 
 89 
 
 - 91 
 93 
 
 - 98 
 100 
 
 - 102 
 106 
 
 - 114 
 117 
 
 - 121 
 123 
 
 - 124 
 125 
 
 - 127 
 
nONTEZUMA. 
 
 PART 
 
 T'was night within the Astec's sunny land. 
 
 Far o'er the crystal waves that circle round 
 
 And ever lave her well built island home, 
 
 The stuccoed walls of Tenochtitlan gleamed 
 
 In moonbeams pale aud shalow loving light. 
 
 Oil many a lofty tow'r and holy shrine 
 
 All brightly burned ihe sacred fire and shot 
 
 Athwart the scene ics red and bakdui glar(\ 
 
 The busy crowds h;v.l h.'ft the spacious streets; 
 
 The Tiatelolco with its merchant throng-^ 
 
 Was still; deserted by its devotees 
 
 In solemn silence high o'er-toping all, 
 
 The war god's mighty teocallis stood. 
 
 The thousand airy skiffs that skimmed the tide, 
 
 So light they scarcely touched the yielding flood, 
 
 With streamers gaily decked and flashing wide 
 
 With ev'ry gorgeous dj^e the sunshine paints, 
 
 Now gently rocking lay in quiet coves. 
 
 Tluj day had been an Astec festal day. 
 
 When firet the sunlight's dawning rays illumined 
 
 The snowy Popocatapetl's brow 
 
 Proclaiming to the darksome vale below 
 
 The near approach of day, began the rites 
 
 That ushered in the day of sacrifice. 
 
Tes-cat-li-po-ca, god of air, of life, 
 
 The soul and great creator of the world, 
 
 Had waited long his customed feast of blood. 
 
 For one short year the beauteous captive named 
 
 For sacrifice in regal splendor lived. 
 
 In Tenochtilan's honors high he stood 
 
 To Montezuma only second deemed. 
 
 The royal pages in his service bowed ; 
 
 Sweet clouds of incense round him ever curled; 
 
 The flower's brightest bloom his garlands tinged; 
 
 The fairest maidens found in all the land 
 
 Companions for the short lived god were giv'n. 
 
 When nobles spread the banquet table rich 
 
 The place of honor was his festal boon, 
 
 And when he deigned to show his face abroad 
 
 Or breathed melodious strains on Toltec flute, 
 
 The multitude in humble posture bent 
 
 Adored the human likeness of their god. 
 
 The sacrificial morn again had dawned. 
 
 The end of all his splendors brief had come. 
 
 Stripped of his gaudy robes, he bade adieu 
 
 To all the partners of his revelries. 
 
 Far o'er the shining wave where heav'n-ward mounts 
 
 The pyramidal teocallis walls, 
 
 In royal barges borne, the Aztec king, 
 
 The lords and nobles of his vassal train, 
 
 The fated victim of the hungry god, 
 
 Close followed by the city's vast concourse 
 
 Wide sweeping o'er the lake with festal fleets, 
 
 Had landed on Tezcuco's hither shore 
 
And winding high around the temple's sides 
 
 Had gained Tezcaltipoca's fatal shrine. 
 
 The doomed had cast his blooming chaplets down 
 
 And sadly gazed on earth, his parting gaze. 
 
 The priests with matted locks and garments red 
 
 Had shed the blood of sacrifice that day, 
 
 Had held the bleeding, throbbing heart on high 
 
 To catch the rising sun's first glowing beams ; 
 
 The altar still was red with human gore ; 
 
 The itzli blade still showed the crimson stain. 
 
 And though the robes of night had darkened all 
 
 And sleep had hushed the city's busy hum. 
 
 Yet, many a heart with shiv'ring fear confessed 
 
 The horrors of the sacrificial stone. 
 
 Though he who died the victims sacred d ath 
 
 And shed his life-blood on religion's ^h-ine 
 
 Would rest in mansions of the setting sun 
 
 And bask in everlasting joy and bliss 
 
 With all the good and brave of ev'ry clime, 
 
 Most few were those that dared to pluck the crown. 
 
 How many longed and prayed for milder creeds, 
 
 For some religion that would bless niankind, 
 
 Wipe out the stains of superstition dark 
 
 And fill the longings of th' undying soul. 
 
 Were never known to Tenochtitlan's lord. 
 
 VVilhin the lovely Iz ta pal a-pan 
 
 While shining on Tezcuco's farther shore 
 
 Whore princely palaces in splendor rose, 
 
 Where Montezuma's wondrous gardens spread 
 
 In wide luxuriance far and filled the air 
 
"With perfume sweet, the Astec lord was found. 
 
 The rites of bumau sacrifice performed 
 
 The royal barges hither turned their prows 
 
 Aud Montezuma with his honored train 
 
 His council held in Iztapalpan. 
 
 Then Montezuma reigned in pompous pride 
 
 O'er mountains great, o'er climes of wide extent, 
 
 O'er all the regions vast that grandly stretched 
 
 From wide Atlantic's ever swelling main 
 
 To vaster deeps, the blue Pacific claims. 
 
 Within his palace Montezuma sat. 
 
 Around him stood the pillars of his throne, 
 
 The favored nobles of his rich domain, 
 
 His brother Cuit-la-hu-a, brave and true, 
 
 Ca-cama lord of fair Tezcuco's vale, 
 
 Tla-co-pan's allied king, in rank the third, 
 
 And other vassals, each who ruled his tribe 
 
 And boasted of his hundred thousand spears. 
 
 The eacred fire upon a silver shrine 
 
 Cast o'er the throng its blazing brilliancy. 
 
 With incense sweet, the burning censers fiilled 
 
 The gaudy room, while through the curtained halls 
 
 Came music's soft cntrant-ing melody. 
 
 The music ceased, then Montezuma spake. 
 
 "My cherished friends we have performed this day 
 
 A pious Avork. Tezcatlipoca smiles 
 
 Once more on Tenochtitlan's island home; 
 
 Our knees in worship bent before his shrine, 
 
 The honors we have shown his sacred name. 
 
 Will clear of dark portents our doubtful sky; 
 
Disheartening omens shall distract no more 
 
 And fill our souls with dark forboding-s sad; 
 
 The rising sun that beamed so gloriously 
 
 And threw delightsome rays of golden light 
 
 Upon our teocallis towers gazed 
 
 All cloudless, on the victim's heart held high, 
 
 A happy sign for us that all is well. 
 
 O'er lovely Anahuac's extended climes 
 
 Inviting all its tribes to cast away 
 
 Their fears and sorrows and corroding cares 
 
 To morrow's sun shall throw its radiance far. 
 
 To-morrow's dawning light shall fall athwart 
 
 A nation basking in in the fav'ring smiles 
 
 Of him who rules with mighty hand the world. 
 
 To-morrow let our barges gaily float 
 
 And bear us to Tezcuco's hither shore, 
 
 Bear us where Xaltocan's bright waters flow 
 
 And lave the margins fair of blooming isles 
 
 With ever murm'ring sounds of limpid waves. 
 
 There spreads in wide extent a royal park 
 
 With wild wood's verdant bow'rs and arbors cool, 
 
 With blushing flowers and fragrance breathing trees 
 
 Where game abundant haunts its shining streams, 
 
 Hovers beneath its copses tangled growth, 
 
 Or flutters mid the overhanging trees. 
 
 Mid rural scenes the hunter's bow we'll bend. 
 
 We'll tread the thickets dense where sleeps the fawn, 
 
 We'll rouse the jaguar from his secret lair, 
 
 Or chase the puma to his rocky den. 
 
 To joy and mirth and game, four days we'll give, 
 
Thea cherished Tenochtitlan's weal shall be 
 Our future care. A nation's joy or grief 
 The monarch's joy or grief should also be; 
 As all the living body suffers pain 
 When but the smallest member feels a pang 
 So with the nation's body politic. 
 When supplications of the poor and weak 
 Unheeded pass, when fierce oppression builds 
 His gorgeous palaces with toil unpaid, 
 And peculation proudly gay exults 
 Iq ill-got wealth, when Crime unblusoing 
 Walks scathless in the light, and Innocence 
 Flies weeping from the land, then ruin dread 
 And dire distruction falls on high and low, 
 Crushes alike the poor and harmless slave, 
 The haughty noble rich in vassal throngs 
 And broad demesnes, the eraporer himself 
 Who stands pre-eminent, the nation's head. 
 Thus counselors and friends aid me to rule 
 Eememb'ring that the people's greatest good 
 Should ever be our greatest happiness. 
 The labor of the day is finished now, 
 To-morrow's plans are sketched, and now to rest. 
 May gentle slumber like a downy robe 
 Enfold your hearts in sweet untroubled sleep." 
 
PART II. 
 
 O'er Xaltocan's fair waters smooth and calm 
 
 The setting sun's last radiance gleamed afar, 
 
 Shedding a mellow lustre o'er the vale, 
 
 PaiDting sweet scenes of beauty to each eye, 
 
 And breathing into ev'ry form of life 
 
 Boundless delight and joyful ecstacy. 
 
 The buzz of wings fell gently on the ear 
 
 As flocks of birds went sailing o'er the lake 
 
 Seeking the forest wilds, for liight's repose. 
 
 The mocking bird poured forth its gushing song 
 
 Upon the balmy air; the vulture perched 
 
 Upon some lofty giant of the wood 
 
 Whose summit dead, threw out its naked limbs 
 
 And leafless boughs in solemn majesty 
 
 High over all the woodland growth around, 
 
 Looked down upon the beauteous world below, 
 
 And watched with silent gaze the noisy throngs 
 
 Of water fowl that haunt the reedy streams. 
 
 Like graceful birds upon the water's gleam, 
 
 The Astec's light pirogues, went glancing swift 
 
 O'er Xaltocan's unruffled deeps, or shot 
 
 Like feathry shafts, along its glowing brim. 
 
 From hamlets fair, the happy children came 
 
 And on the shining shore, with mirthful glee. 
 
 With sportive games, and thoughtless song and dance 
 
Inhaled the odors of the fragrant air. 
 
 Young men and maidens sought for garden bow'rs 
 
 And wove in cool retreat, the flowry wreath 
 
 Or gave the hour to love and happiness. 
 
 One pair pre-eminent for beauty walked 
 
 Upon the sandy beach of Xaltocan ; 
 
 One for her graceful mien and beauteous form, 
 
 The other for his stature grand and proud 
 
 His noble face and darkly flashing eyes. 
 
 The fair Copalpa's fame had spread abroad 
 
 And many a flattered beauty envied much 
 
 The bright and blooming maid of Xaltocan. 
 
 Her father was a famous Tultec seer 
 
 Whose wild secluded home embow'rd in trees 
 
 Hard by the royal park, now brightly threw 
 
 Its white reflection o'er the glassy flood. 
 
 Copalpa with sincere devotion loved 
 
 Her comrade whom she called her warrior brave, 
 
 Her lover true, her dear Tezcalican. 
 
 They wandered near the sandy shore and gazed 
 
 Delighted on the sun illumined waves; 
 
 Eemarked the light canoes swift gliding on 
 
 As if to scape their own bright silver trails ; 
 
 Traced out an eagle's course, that circled high 
 
 Above the wat'ry gleam; with eager eyes 
 
 Beheld the gorgeous glories of the sky 
 
 All glowing with the sunset's golden rays. 
 
 Then, turning from the beaten strand away 
 
 Sat down in shady bow'r where incense came 
 
 From flpw'r parterres in odorous breezes by, 
 
And talked of love, and sketched their futuro p'aiis 
 
 When hymeneal rites in union sweet 
 
 Should bind in sacred bonds their kindred hearts. 
 
 Thus swiftly passed the precious moments by, 
 
 Yet, ere the purple tints of dying day 
 
 Had fled before the dusky skies that lead 
 
 The statelj^ march of Night, the sombre queen 
 
 Who rules the world when sunlight westward flies, 
 
 They saw with deep surprise, as if to seek 
 
 Their chosen bow'r, a royal group advance. 
 
 Gay was the hunter throng; with nodding jtlunics 
 
 Their helmets waved; their cloaks were bright and ri. b 
 
 With skillful work of plumage so en wrought 
 
 They vied in beauty with the brilliant birds 
 
 That haunt the Astec's ever blooming clime: 
 
 Bright was the j^ellow dazzling gold that blazed 
 
 Profusely on their ornamented robes; 
 
 Untold the richness of the sparkling gems 
 
 That circled lordly necks or kingly brows. 
 
 Their shining shields, with strange devices wrought 
 
 Eevealed the noble's rank and high estate. 
 
 Wearied with toils and labors of the chase 
 
 Upon a jewelled litter born along 
 
 The emperor, great Montezuma came. 
 
 Copalpa and her lover bowing down 
 
 With reverence before his majesty 
 
 Craved blessings on their honored master's head. 
 
 Then spake Cacama brave and youthful lord 
 
 Of fair Tezcuco: "Else! fair maiden, rise! 
 
 Bend not to earth; a happy fortune shines 
 
10 
 
 Athwart thy flow'ry pathway's future course. 
 Thy glorious beauty's fame, hath spread afar 
 And Tenochtitlan's stately maids, though fair 
 As crimson roses breathing incense sweet, 
 Or rainbow tinted humming birds, beheld 
 Amid the glossy leaved banana's bloom, 
 For such a peerless form as thine have longed, 
 And envied thee thy beauty's matchless cast. 
 Behold our honored Montezuma's face! 
 ilis ( ar hath often heard thy praises ring 
 Eu kindling admiration in his heart; 
 And now he comes to bless thee with his love, 
 And from your father's cottage gently bear 
 You where Chapoltepec exalted stands 
 With tow'rs crowned and lofty battlements. 
 With noble groves of ancient cypress trees. 
 With gardens rich in myriad fruits and flow'rs, 
 Where splendid palaces look proudly down 
 Upon luxuriant vales and gleaming lakes, 
 And there in that delightful mountain home 
 Install you queen of love's elysian realm." 
 "No, no, I cannot go ! " Copalpa cried, 
 "Should Montezuma make me lawful queen, 
 And love me more than all the fairy forms 
 Who throng, in grandeur proud, his harems rich. 
 My heart is not my own, my love is fixed. 
 'Tis changeless as yon adamantine cliffs 
 That gird this ever verdant valley round. 
 To one of lowly birth, of name unknown, 
 Yet for his noble soul and talents rare 
 
11 
 
 Well worthy all the transient honors, wealth, 
 
 Or fame, or titles high, can mortals give ; 
 
 To one who loves me as he loves his life, 
 
 Without whose love, my life would bo a blank, 
 
 A dark and gloomy blank without a ray 
 
 Of joyful light to cheer its sombre path, 
 
 I gave my word and pledged undying faith." 
 
 *'Ah, foolish girl," Cacama answ'ring said, 
 
 "Wouldst thou refuse this rare, this priceless boon, 
 
 A boon the noblest damsels found would grasp 
 
 With eager joy and bless the silver star 
 
 In heav'n that rules her earthly destiny ? " 
 
 Copalpa wept and begged her freedom's rights, 
 
 Obscurity, her father's peaceful home, 
 
 The presence of her loved Tezcalican. 
 
 T'was all in vain ; at Montezuma's word 
 
 A most unwilling captive she was lead 
 
 By stranger hands from home and fi-iends away, 
 
 Tezcalican in dumb amazement stood 
 
 And almost thought t'was but a baseless dream, 
 
 Some vision wild, by troubled fancy wov'n. 
 
 His stupor fled and darkly flashed his eyes 
 
 With anger's rising spell. With hopes and fears 
 
 And anxious dread, he sought the Astec king 
 
 And audience craved, with Tenochtitlan's lord. 
 
 Great Montezuma heard his sujtpliant prayer, 
 
 Heard the sad pleading made by love bereaved 
 
 But from his haughty presence spurned the youtli, 
 
 Threat'ning, if e'er he dared petition more, 
 
 The horrors of the sacrificial stone. 
 
12 
 
 Like leaden weights, upon his heartstrings hung 
 
 Beep sorrow came, and dark resentment burned 
 
 Within tlie deep recesses of his soul. 
 
 Along the shores of limpid Xaltocan 
 
 He walked. With soft and soothing melody 
 
 The wavelets rippled on the sandy beach; 
 
 The full round moon, with mild and gentle beam 
 
 Roye calmly o'er the lofiy eastern hills; 
 
 The twinkling stars, from out the darksome depths 
 
 Came one by one and powdered all the sky, 
 
 But naught of pleasing sounds or fairy scenes 
 
 Could sooth the lover's anguish stricken soul. 
 
 He stopped at length and wildly gazed around. 
 
 He dropped upon his bended knees, one hand 
 
 Upon his heart, the right upraised to heav'n. 
 
 Then called upon the star that ruled his fate ; 
 
 *'0, glorious beam of light! sweet star of life ! 
 
 Thou fadeless flame, that leads my earthly course 
 
 Who from thy inaccessible abode 
 
 Nightly looks down upon the sunless earth 
 
 And sees thy servant as he slowly floats 
 
 In joy or grief adown life's ebbing wave 
 
 O, hear my prayers, and grant me aid divine. 
 
 Before thy shining throne adoringly 
 
 I bow and make my changeless vows to save 
 
 From Montezuma's grasp, my dear betrothed 
 
 Or failing in the perilous attempt 
 
 Avenge our wrongs upon his guilty head." 
 
13 
 
 PART III. 
 
 Six puns had traced their blazing coarses high 
 Along the Astec's bright and cloudless dome 
 Since great Tezcatlipoca's festal day. 
 From Xaltocan returned the royal train 
 Was safe in Tenochtitlan's glit'ring walls. 
 Within his palace Montezuma held 
 His daily court. The outer halls were thronged 
 With noble chieftains clad in garments rich, 
 Kesplendent decked with bright and precious genas 
 And feath'ry plumes in golden helmets clasped, 
 Waiting to bow before the greatest prince 
 Tho western continent had ever seen. 
 From cities far and near, from distant tribes 
 Whose names had scarcely reached the Aztec's ear, 
 From mountain climes, and tropic regions dressed 
 In never failing verdure, they had come. 
 Embassadors from distant Cozumel, 
 Bright ocean isle, from Guatemala's rea^nis, 
 Tabasco near th' Atlantic's curling waves 
 Embow'red in palm trees never failing green, 
 From Cempoalla midst the fertile plains 
 Where dwell the Totonacs but late subdued 
 By Montezuma's arms, Xalapa's tow'rs 
 And lofty fanes mid oaken groves upreared 
 High overlooking rich enameled plains 
 In torrid beauty stretching far below, 
 
14 
 
 From famed Cholula's city sacred held 
 
 By all the tribes of Anahuac's fair clime 
 
 Where mystic Quetzalcoatl, god of peace, 
 
 Had dwelt in ancient time and taught mankind 
 
 Religion's holy rites, from western tribes 
 
 Who ever hear the vast Pacific's waves 
 
 E ill fiercely on the trembling shore, were there 
 
 To greet their emperor and tidings bring 
 
 From ev'ry province in his broad domain. 
 
 First came a suppliant before the throne ; 
 
 With age his form was bent; his step was weak ; 
 
 Around his chin the curling gray-beard crept 
 
 And o'er his shoulders fell the few white locks 
 
 That passing years had failed to bear away. 
 
 Hi-i eye^, un dimmed by age, revealed the fires 
 
 And glowing fervor of a mighty soul, 
 
 Or flashed their arrow piercing glances deep 
 
 As if they saw man's secret thoughts and read 
 
 The dark arcana of the human heart. 
 
 lie was the Toltec seer of Xaltocan, 
 
 But Montezuma knew him not nor dreamed 
 
 Of wrongs himself had heaped upon his head, 
 
 Nor read the anguished lines upon his brow. 
 
 He bade the suppliant speak who thus began : 
 
 "O king! Thou mighty lord of all the tribes 
 
 Who dwell in Anahuac's extended climes, 
 
 I pray thee bear with me, though I may sj^eak 
 
 With unbecoming boldness in thy ear 
 
 And hear me patiently, though painful truths 
 
 This aged tongue of mine may utter here. 
 
15 
 
 It is a time for bitter thoughts to stir 
 
 The inmost depths of ev'ry beating heart, 
 
 A time for joyous laughing eyes to weep, 
 
 A time to meditate upon the past, 
 
 And wisdom learn from dear experience, 
 
 To gaze upon the future's opening veil. 
 
 And read its strange forebodings shadowed forth 
 
 In light reflected back, from ages past. 
 
 I now am old ; have counted well my years. 
 
 Have seen of life its dark mysterious ways, 
 
 Have striven hard to learn the laws of God 
 
 And from his throne, celestial waters quaff*ed, 
 
 Have sought to feed on wisdom's heav'nly food, 
 
 And though with human imperfections clothed, 
 
 And naught but feeble mortal pow'rs boast 
 
 To ward oif fell destruction from our land 
 
 I fain would warnings give and counsels bring. 
 
 Twice have I seen the rolling years bring round 
 
 The rites that mark the cycle's dreaded close ; 
 
 Twice have I seen the dark unlucky day 
 
 When winter's snow among the mountain dells 
 
 Lay thick and deep and dimly shone the sun 
 
 With slanting rays, when anxious fear came down 
 
 And men in pieces broke their household gods 
 
 Distrustful of their waning pow'r to save, 
 
 When holy fires faint and fainter grew. 
 
 Until each sacred ember slowly died 
 
 Upon its dreary, cold, unworshipped shrine, 
 
 When the torn world, disordered, waiting stood 
 
 Prepared to meet the genii of fate 
 
16 
 
 Whose coming wraps the world in chaos dread. 
 
 Twice have I seen the last dark day depart 
 
 And midst the deep'ning shades of evening seen 
 
 The priestly throng ascend yon mountain's brow, 
 
 And as the Pleiades the zenith gained 
 
 Beheld upon the victim's wounded breast 
 
 The new fire blaze aloft and heard the shouts 
 
 Of boundless joy from gazing thousands rise 
 
 From hill and roof and tow'r and temple's dome. 
 
 Twice have I seen, from sacred beacons lit. 
 
 The red'ning glare of countless torches tinge 
 
 The midnight air, o'er all Tezeuco's vale 
 
 And seen the festive days of jubilee 
 
 That ushered in the new born cycle's course. 
 
 Like some grand picture painted bright and clear 
 
 Thy famous uncle's reign before me lies. 
 
 His great achievements I remember well, 
 
 The gods regaled with human hecatombs, 
 
 The terraced temples built, the works of art 
 
 That beautify the Aztec's chosen seat, 
 
 And with prophetic eye regarded well 
 
 The bearing of events. 1 too have seen, 
 
 Thy gradsire's stately palaces arise; 
 
 Have heard his legion's warlike tramp and seen 
 
 His gorgeous banners shine in triumph proud 
 
 And wisdom from his mighty actions learned. 
 
 The past I see in clear and faultless light ; 
 
 I read the future in the shadows dim 
 
 Coming events shed on the light of now. 
 
 We stand upon a dread and fearful brink; 
 
17 
 
 Abysses dark are yawning neath our feet ; 
 But one false step we topple down in ruin ; 
 No earthly power then from from utter woe 
 Can save this beauteous land, the gods will not. 
 'Tis not too late perchance to turn the course 
 Events are taking now and safety gain. 
 Hast thou, O king I not read aright the signs 
 That fill thy people's hearts with fear and dread ? 
 Dost thou remember how Tezcuco swelled 
 When all the sky was calm, and causeless rolled 
 It's wildly rushing billows o'er its shores 
 O'erwhelming happy homes, in furious wrath ? 
 The quenchless fire that wrapped in curling flames 
 The loftiest tow'r upon the war god's fane ? 
 Three blazing comets swung in heaven high 
 Eclipsing stars, with pale and gloomy light 
 Threat'ning our land, with more than mortal swords? 
 Strange voices heard in evenings calmest sky ? 
 Ominous sounds from neath the solid earth, 
 And how, far eastward rose that wondrous light 
 Like some vast pyramid of glowing fire 
 Whose sparkling apex reached the zenith high 
 Thick powdered with bright, scintillating stars 
 And changed the dark plumed Night to lurid Day ? 
 E'en now, methinks, I hear the multitude 
 Wlusper of mystic Quetzalcoatl's day; 
 His promise to return and claim his own ; 
 The speedy end of Montezuma's reign, 
 When the new empire of the god of peace 
 Shall make the land a glorious paradise. 
 
18 
 
 Let not thy servant anger thee, O king ! 
 
 But let me show thee Danger's fearful face. 
 
 Thy own right hand hath brought destruction near; 
 
 Thou hast forgotten all humility 
 
 And chilled the love thy people gave thee once ; 
 
 Extravagance hath burdened all the land 
 
 With grevious tithes; unwilling maidens torn 
 
 From dear paternal homes and bonds of love 
 
 Within thy harem walls, have brides become. 
 
 Unlike the happy Toltec race of old 
 
 Whose altars never ran with human blood 
 
 Nor smoked with aught, save incense wreathing clouds. 
 
 Thou hast polluted all the land with blood 
 
 Poured out before thy cruel senseless gods. 
 
 These signs in heaven above and earth beneath 
 
 Foreshadow sword and deadly pestilence ; 
 
 They are the omens dire of changes great ; 
 
 Then pale and grisly Fear shall walk abroad 
 
 And ev'ry heart shall fail, before his gaze ; 
 
 The weak shall safety seek in mountain dens ; 
 
 The strong shall fall and none shall give him aid 
 
 When dark and dread the days of judgment come. 
 
 They are the voices of the murdered dead, 
 
 The spirits of the hapless victims slain 
 
 Upon the horrid stone of sacrifice 
 
 That fill the air with sounds mysterious. 
 
 They cry for vengeance on this guilty land, 
 
 For never shall they find a haven of rest 
 
 Until their airy manes are appeased 
 
 By some undaunted hero who shall sweep 
 
19 
 
 This dark religion boldly from the earth. 
 
 May thine the blessed hand become to wash 
 
 And cleanse these sad and guilty stains away ; 
 
 liestore to earth the pure and gentle rites 
 
 That Quetzalcoatl taught in days of yore, 
 
 The worship of that great eternal god 
 
 The sole Creator and omnicient one. 
 
 One God alone there is, th' Omnipotent 
 
 Who needs no ministers to do his work, 
 
 Who reigns among the glowing stars of night, 
 
 Whose arm upholds the sun and guides the moon, 
 
 Whose hand from mingled chaos wrought the earth ; 
 
 The valleys heard the thunder of his voice 
 
 And rock built mountains pierced the vaulted sky 
 
 And hot volcanoes smoked; the sea and land 
 
 Felt his enlivening breath and swarmed with life 
 
 And in the radiance ot his gracious eye 
 
 Th' unbounded universe his praises sang. 
 
 O king ! I pray thee turn thy heart to him 
 
 Alone and trust no more thy cruel gods 
 
 Whose pow'r cannot avail in times of woe. 
 
 Without reform thy empire soon shall fall 
 
 And death and ruin riot o'er the land. 
 
 The burdens of thy people lighter made 
 
 Would soon recall their love, dissensions heal 
 
 And firmer seat thee on the Aztec throne. 
 
 Let justice ever be thy shining shield. 
 
 Let meekness form thy royal diadem, 
 
 And temp'rance fold thy limbs in during mail, 
 
 Then, armed with arrows tipped with piercing tri^th. 
 
20 
 
 Unharmed thou may'st withstand each threatning foe 
 
 And triumph over all the ills of earth, 
 
 And when thy radiant sun of life shall set, 
 
 And thou shalt join with choral symphonies 
 
 The shining throngs that circle earth and sky 
 
 Attending on the glorious orb of day, 
 
 Or, midst the blissful gardens of the west 
 
 In such beautitude as mortal tongue 
 
 Can never hope to tell, shalt gain repose, 
 
 Then, shalt thou leave behind a deathless name 
 
 Enduring as yon bold Chapoltepec 
 
 Whose rocks behe-ld the day's primeval dawn, 
 
 A name revered and loved, by grateful lands 
 
 Made happy by thy long auspicious reign. 
 
 One favor yet, for me and mine, I fain 
 
 Would ask O king ! I am the Toltec seer 
 
 Of Xaltocan. From home delights and love. 
 
 From unambitious joys and humble state 
 
 Torn by thy pow'r away, my daughter weeps 
 
 A pining captive in thy harem halls. 
 
 O ! give her liberty again I pray ; 
 
 Restore her to my old and anguished heart 
 
 And with each morning light and evening shade 
 
 For thee my prayers shall rise before the throne 
 
 Of him who rules supreme, the universe." 
 
 The old man ceased and bowed his hoary head. 
 
 Then dark with wrath grew Montezuma's brow 
 
 And rising from his golden throne, bade thrust 
 
 The Toltec eeor beyond the city's bounds 
 
 And order gave forbidding his return. 
 
21 
 
 Next from the throng a noble lord came forth; 
 
 Over his richly tinted cloak he spread 
 
 The nequen, hiding all armorial signs, 
 
 And by a royal page led in, advanced 
 
 Within the audience hall. He bov^^ed himself 
 
 Before great Montezuma's throne august. 
 
 Ilis right hand touched the earth thea grazed his brow 
 
 III humble salutation ere he spoke. 
 
 " My noble lord what news hast thou for me ? " 
 
 The king began ; " perchance thou bringest news 
 
 Of great import. If right I mark thee now 
 
 Thou comest from afar and tidings bear 
 
 From fair Tabasco's warm and fertile shore." 
 
 *' I do, O worthy king ! " the lord replied. 
 
 " Perhaps thine ear hath heard wild rumors come 
 
 Borne on the floating breath of wond'ring throngs, 
 
 Distinctless murmurs of the multitude, 
 
 Weaving, it seemed, from airy shadows, forms. 
 
 Fantastic shapes, described as vast pirogues 
 
 Swift gliding o'er the boundless billow's foam 
 
 Wide spreading bright and snowy wings to catch 
 
 Each freshly springing breeze of ocean birth, 
 
 And filled with children of the orient sun 
 
 Whose fair complexion seemed, to link their race 
 
 With mystic Quetzalcoatl's sacred blood. 
 
 These rumors now, however strange, are true. 
 
 Fair Cozumel, upon her island shores 
 
 Hath heard the white man's tread, in terror gazed 
 
 Upon the winged canoes, and saw the flames 
 
 Leap red and bright from thunder belching throats 
 
2^ 
 
 With which they spoke, or watched them plow the 
 
 waves 
 With more than giant strength and toss aside 
 In sporting play, the white and foamy surf. 
 All weak and powerless their gods became 
 Before the white man's face : from sacred shrines 
 And lofty temple heights, with ruthless hands 
 They hurled the Indian gods in ruin down 
 And fed the flames with many a worshiped form. 
 They raised a cross, the symbol of their creed. 
 And made it god alone in Cozumel. 
 From thence they sought Tabasco's flow'ry plains. 
 Tabascan warriors met, 'th invading band 
 Upon the shallow flood, their river rolls ; 
 They struggled with their fierce and hardy foes 
 Upon the river's soft and slipp'ry banks ; 
 Behind their palisades, they sternly fought 
 But all in vain, the white men gained the day. 
 Our forces fled, but fled to fight again. 
 On Ceutla's plain, with forty thousand men 
 Prepared to meet our dreadful foes we stood 
 Nor waited long. Ere noon, the third day's sun 
 Had gained, we saw them winding through the plain, 
 Beheld the gleaming of their metal spears 
 Amidst the fields of growing maize and heard 
 Upon the graveled roads, the heavy roll 
 Of strange machines of war. Then face to face 
 As mortal foeman meet in deadly strife 
 On Ceutla's bloody plain we met and fought. 
 Like hail upon the mountain's rocky slope 
 
23 
 
 When somber storm-clouds roll along the sky 
 
 Our arrows fell upon their serried ranks. 
 
 Unharmed they moved amidst the beating show'r 
 
 And armed with lightning's flames and thunder's shock 
 
 They piled the trampled plain with Indian dead. 
 
 The arrow's hiss, the crash of whizzing balls, 
 
 The dying groans and shouts of struggling men 
 
 Filled all the air ; but hark, a tumult dire, 
 
 A rushing sound, like tempests wild with rage 
 
 Is heard upon our flank. With battle cries 
 
 They came, the white man's chosen cavaliers 
 
 High mounted on their fierce and mighty beasts 
 
 Unlike all ever seen by Aztec eyes ; 
 
 Down ! down ! upon our terror stricken ranks 
 
 They ride and right and left, with flaming swords 
 
 Cut through the frightened throngs. Dissevered limbs 
 
 And gastly heads, and mangled corses roll 
 
 Upon the gory field. The riders rush 
 
 Trampling and crushing through tho swaying mass. 
 
 At length our thinned and bleeding forces break 
 
 And fly in wild dismay. Dark Terror spreads 
 
 Above the panic stricken fugitives 
 
 His quaking, trembling wings and fills the air 
 
 With horrid sounds and forms of frightful mein. 
 
 The day is lost and every bosom sinks 
 
 In grief, and blank despair gloats o'er the scene. 
 
 Alas ! how many weeping widows mourn 
 
 O'er bloody Ceutla's graves, or parents sigh 
 
 Over the fate of unreturning sons. 
 
 Tabasco's lords in mild submission bowed 
 
24 
 
 And forced allegiance gave to him who rules 
 
 The white man's home beyond the ocean's tide. 
 
 Fallen from high estates and earthward flung 
 
 Tabasco's gods were trampled under feet 
 
 And, as at Cozumel, the cross was raised 
 
 Mid shouts of joy and far resounding chants 
 
 Upon the sacred throne, where once reposed 
 
 In awful state, the ebon god of air. 
 
 From fair Tabasco northward o'er the sea 
 
 The strangers passed to seek thy famous land. 
 
 Many a weary league o'er burning plains, 
 
 O'er rivers swollen wide with mountain floods, 
 
 Through forests dark and over rocky steeps, 
 
 I've passed to meet thee in thy island home 
 
 And warning give, that thou may'st guard thyself 
 
 And people well, from all intruding foes." 
 
 "I thank thee noble friend ! " the king replied, 
 
 "For all thy pains I will reward thee well. 
 
 I'll ponder on thy words, though strange they seem. 
 
 Within my palace stay till rest and food 
 
 Eecruit thy wasted strength. Here worthy page 
 
 Attend the wishes of this noble lord. '* 
 
25 
 
 PART IV. 
 
 '' Two weeks iu prison passed," Copalpa sighed, 
 " Two weeks a captive here and yet no news 
 From home. No lather's voice to soothe my woe. 
 No lover's smile to cheer my heavy heart. 
 Though here luxurious feasts are spread, 
 And grand magnificence on every side 
 Surround, and liv'ried servants ever stand 
 To do what'er I wish, and beauteous throngs 
 Of matrons fair and damsels young and gay 
 Fill all these palace halls with mirthful joy. 
 And, though 1 wait to be a royal bride, 
 And share with other queens the monarch's smile. 
 Still from my burning eyes the tears will fall ; 
 Though laughter comes betimes it cannot hide 
 The deep drawn sigh or drive away the gloom 
 That hovers like a cloud upon my brow. 
 Why do 1 sit and gaze so wistfully 
 Upon yon shining lake or sloping lawn 
 Or watch each stranger's face with eager looks 
 As if I thought my father's dear old face 
 Would come to greet once more my longing eyes 
 Or I might catch again a loving glance 
 From him whom I have loved since infancy ? " 
 Thus plained Copalpa midst the garden bowers 
 Of fair Chapoltepec, The gloom of night 
 Came softly mingling with the deepening shades 
 
26 
 
 Of verdant trees and ever blooming shrubs 
 
 And still she sat and watched the gleaming stars 
 
 Come silently from out the darksome depths 
 
 Of cloudless skies or sang with plaintive voice 
 
 Some favorite melody of girlhood's days. 
 
 A gentle voice, a whisper soft, disturbed 
 
 The maiden's quietude. She turned and heard 
 
 Her name. It was Tezcalican, who spoke. 
 
 " Hist, hist ! my sweet Copalpa, not a word. 
 
 In ev'ry hidden walk and shad'wy nook 
 
 Around on ev'ry side grim dangers lurk. 
 
 These cool retreats and guarded palace walls 
 
 I've watched for days to gain a glimpse of you 
 
 And try by some bold, daring deed to save 
 
 My fair Copalpa from a harem's life." 
 
 " God bless thee dearest one," Copalpa breathed. 
 
 " O let me fly with thee ! We'll freedom gain 
 
 And seek a refuge wild mid mountain crags 
 
 Where love may fold us in his happy arms, 
 
 Or die in striving for this glorious boon." 
 
 '' We'll try," the answer ; then with cautious steps, 
 
 They passed through clust'ring bowers of scented vines, 
 
 Beneath the darkly waving foliage 
 
 Of lofty cypress trees, among the founts 
 
 That sparkle midst the sylvan solitudes, 
 
 Climbed o'er surrounding walls and gained at length 
 
 The water's placid gleam. His light canoe 
 
 Lay waiting on the silent sandy shore. 
 
 One moment more and like the graceful swan 
 
 It skims along the calm unruffled wave. 
 
27 
 
 " haste ! " a whispering spirit seemed to say 
 
 From out the fragrant breezes passing by. 
 
 " O haste ! thy precious freight is deathless love 
 
 More precious far than all the yellow gold 
 
 Or sparkling gems, great Montezuma owns ; 
 
 Not all the countless wealth from Tasco drawn 
 
 Or wrought from Zacotallan's rocky hills 
 
 Could bring such joy as thy affection gives. 
 
 Tezcaltipoca grant thee heavenly aid." 
 
 Such words of cheer Tezcalican received 
 
 As coming from the Genii that ruled 
 
 His destiny. It nerved to double strength 
 
 His arm and onward shot the tiny boat. 
 
 The stars of heaven threw their feeble rays 
 
 Upon the darksome lake, but in their hearts 
 
 The star of hope, a glorious light diffused. 
 
 Sometimes the rush of lonely prows was heard 
 
 And dancing lights from many a distant skiff 
 
 Came glim'ring faintly o'er the polished wave. 
 
 In the dim distance with its holy fires 
 
 Bright blazing on its thousand lofty fanes 
 
 The eye beheld in dusky outlines stand 
 
 The mighty city of the Aztec's pride. 
 
 On, on, they swiftly urge the light canoe 
 
 As each one to the wonted paddle bends. 
 
 Far, far, behind with faint and fainter glow 
 
 The holy fires reflect their baleful light. 
 
 Like fireflies dancing o'er some meadow damp 
 
 When genial summer lights their mimic lamps 
 
 Far rearward float the thousand lessning brands 
 
28 
 
 That rowers kindle on each barge's prow. 
 
 Before, the kindly darkness and the wave, 
 
 Behind, the closing waters and the light 
 
 That tells where busy multitudes collect. 
 
 Before, 'tis freedom, love and life itself. 
 
 Behind, 'tis slavery, grief and horrid death. 
 
 On, on, Tezcuco's lake is nearly crossed. 
 
 From o'er the dark outline of distant hills 
 
 The rising moon it's soft effulgence pours 
 
 Upon the night enveloped plain belOw, 
 
 And thickens danger round the fugitives. 
 
 Tezcalican beholds with trembling fear 
 
 The lighting of the waters calm expanse 
 
 And strives with more than wonted energy 
 
 The shclt'ring shore to gain ere swift pursuit 
 
 Should mock the hope, the veiling darkness raised, 
 
 Alas, Tezcalican, that flood of light 
 
 Hath brought misfortune on thy hapless head, 
 
 Hath brought the itzli blade upon thy soul. 
 
 Yain, vain, your hasty flight, ye cooing doves ; 
 
 From watchful eyre high, the cruel hawk 
 
 Hath downward stooped ; the angry, whizzing rush 
 
 Of his remorseless wings is heard afar ; 
 
 No flight however swift can stay their fate. 
 
 In hot pursuit the Aztec lord had sent 
 
 His minions forth. Wide sweeping o'er the lake 
 
 Seeking the fugitives, with rapid oars 
 
 The royal barges plowed the darkling Aoods 
 
 Nor found but rayless depths and sleeping shores. 
 
 Perchance, some slow, belated fisherman, 
 
29 
 
 His finny prey secured, now homeward bound, 
 
 Or floating gently on tne lazy tide 
 
 Festooned with wreaths, and richly trimmed with flags 
 
 Some pleasure boat, with merry hearted crew, 
 
 Till Luna's silv'ry torch with shim'ring ray 
 
 Kevealed the lover's course. Not long the chase. 
 
 Both strength and hope had failed their youthful hearts 
 
 And blank despair had chilled the love of life. 
 
 They saw their armed pursuers near and heard 
 
 Their threat'ning voices o'er Tezcuco ring. 
 
 Few were the hurried words of love they spake, 
 
 One last embrace. The dark, deep waters closed 
 
 Unpityingly above the self doomed pair. 
 
 To seek repose beneath the crystal tide, 
 
 To lose in death all sorrow, woe and pain, 
 
 To sleep the soul away to spirit worlds 
 
 And join perchance the bright and joyous throngs 
 
 That dwell upon the sun's resplendent orb, 
 
 To their benighted minds seemed better far 
 
 Than bear the crushing hand of cruel fate. 
 
 Thus seeking death they sank beneath the lake 
 
 But found not there his cold and pallid form. 
 
 Ere life had fled, the divers drew them forth 
 
 And bore them back to Montezuma's court. 
 
 Condemned to die upon the war-god's shrine 
 
 Tezcalican in guarded prison lay 
 
 Mourning his sad and gloomy destiny. 
 
 " Alas, alas I " cried he, " Is there no good 
 
 No light, no joy, in all this world for me ? 
 
 Why was I born ? Did being only come 
 
30 
 
 To bring me anguish, woe, and hateful death ? 
 
 Is there a God who built the universe, 
 
 Who rules supreme, all things that are, have been 
 
 Or yet shall be ? Perhaps he may exist ; 
 
 Our wise men tell us of his mighty power ; 
 
 His goodness and perfection infinite ; 
 
 Then why should he endow me thus with life, 
 
 Life fitted for the joys this earth contains, 
 
 Give to me reason, sense and longing hopes 
 
 Ending in bitter painful mockery ? 
 
 My life, a sad and hopeless failure seems. 
 
 In childhood's helpless hour misfortune came 
 
 And hand in hand we walked, companions then, 
 
 Companions yet. Joy often comes to earth. 
 
 I've seen his garlands wreathed on many brows. 
 
 Have seen him oft with happy comrades dance, 
 
 Yet, when I turned on him my wistful gaze 
 
 'Twas only chilling frowns he deigned for me. 
 
 To some are riches, honor, health, and power 
 
 While others poor, dispised, and weak toil on 
 
 Through life and sleep in unremembered graves. 
 
 Ah! who can pierce the veil of mystery 
 
 And tell from whence and wherefore evil comes? 
 
 Where is the land that gave the monster birth ? 
 
 Who is the sire of such a progeny ? 
 
 Is earth the only region by him cursed 
 
 Or doth his cruel spirit wide pervade 
 
 Creation's vast extent? Is life alone 
 
 Saddened by his relentless, tireless hand 
 
 Or doth his fell dominion pass beyond 
 
31 
 
 And anguish bring on disembodied souls? 
 
 If death shall land us in a better world 
 
 Perhaps the evils of this changeful life 
 
 With all its burdened woes of hapless grief, 
 
 Of crushed and broken hopes, of painful toil, 
 
 Of dark oprobrium and shameful crime. 
 
 Of sad existence fraught with pain and death, 
 
 Will all be righted by a master hand 
 
 And our rebellious thoughts complain no more." 
 
 PART V. 
 
 Beneath the haughty Spaniard's daring foot. 
 
 In grandeur, beauty and magnificence 
 
 The land of flowers lay. Wide o'er the realms 
 
 Of ample Anahuac's dominion spread 
 
 The news of white men wafted o'er the floods 
 
 From far Tlapallan's bright mysterious shore 
 
 And landed on the Aztec's sacred soil. 
 
 Oft where the lofty Ceiba throws its shade 
 
 The wond'riug people gather round to talk 
 
 Of the bright tules, children of the sun, 
 
 Their fair complexions, robes of texture strange, 
 
 Their fearful arms, the stately winged pirogues 
 
 That brought them safely o'er the ocean deeps. 
 
 And, most of all, their swift and mighty steeds 
 
32 
 
 That bore their fearless riders o'er the plain, 
 
 Or dashed resistless through opposing foes. 
 
 As bats from dark and sunless caves come forth 
 
 When dusky twilight dims the summer day, 
 
 Traditions hoary with the mist of years, 
 
 Half buried in the gloom of ancient time 
 
 Came forth and mingling with the gath'ring throngs 
 
 Gave form and hue to every strange report 
 
 And heightened all the mj^steries, the past 
 
 Or present brought before the Indian mind. 
 
 Untroubled in his fairy mountain home 
 
 With strong and rocky ramparts girt around 
 
 Deeming himself secure from human foes 
 
 Great Montezuma held supreme control. 
 
 Perhaps the fame of Quetzalcoatl's reign, 
 
 The old tradition of his sure return 
 
 To claim his kingdom o'er the western world, 
 
 ThoHe strange reports that from the seashore came 
 
 Climbing and spreading o'er the high plateaus 
 
 Until they reached fair Tonocbtitlan's isle 
 
 Of white men riding on the eastern waves 
 
 In floating houses built with snowy wings, 
 
 Their doings where they deigned the solid land. 
 
 The signs in heaven above and earth beneath 
 
 Filling all people's hearts with awful dread, 
 
 At times gave some disquiet to his mind, 
 
 But fawning courtiers banished ev'ry thought 
 
 Of boding ill, and dangers darkning round, 
 
 And ever spread before his royal eyes 
 
 Fair pictures, bright with every rosy hue 
 
33 
 
 Of purest happiness and future joy. 
 
 O'er great men's eyes, Fate cast a blinding vail 
 
 And kings and princes stumbled in the dark. 
 
 Some heard the mutters of the gath'ring storm 
 
 And read mysterious portents in the skies 
 
 But found no pow'r to move the hearts of kings 
 
 Or means to save from dark impending doom 
 
 And helpless ruin, their cherished, native land. 
 
 The dream of peace and calm security 
 
 Soon broke and fled from Montezuma's eyes, 
 
 And fear like ghastly ghoul from grave-yard haunt 
 
 Revealed in dreadful form before him stood. 
 
 Teulille an Aztec lord, a messenger 
 
 From eastern plains where dwell the Totonacs 
 
 Brought word that made the monarch pale with dread 
 
 And tremble on his frail and tot'ring throne. 
 
 Before his nation's chosen lord he came 
 
 And thus th' astounded emperor addressed : 
 
 *' O noble sire ! Unwillingly I bring 
 
 Thee tidings boding ill, I fear, our land. 
 
 Upon the eastern shores of thy broad realm 
 
 Where first the orient sun beams kindle up 
 
 The light of day upon the Aztec soil, 
 
 Where Cempoalla's late sabjected tribes 
 
 The maize and glossy leaved banana raise 
 
 And, clothe the verdant fields with indigo. 
 
 White men from lands unknown beyond the sea 
 
 Have boldly dared to set presumptuous feet 
 
 And now demand a pathway through thy land 
 
 And with thy majesty an interview 
 
34 
 
 Here in fair Tenochtitlan's rock built halls. 
 
 In numbers they are weak, in knowledge strong. 
 
 In boldness and self-confidence they seem 
 
 A host of mighty pow'r ; they come, alas, 
 
 Not transient visitors, for when they reached 
 
 Our shelt'ring shores and gained the solid earth, 
 
 As if intending no return, they burned 
 
 Their floating houses and prepared to dwell 
 
 Among the simple minded Totonacs. 
 
 Their chief is Cortez whom we call Malinche ; 
 
 A man of God like form and haughty brow, 
 
 Of daring soul and firm unbending will. 
 
 Another chief is Alvarado famed 
 
 For sunny locks and handsome form and face 
 
 Wherefore we call him bright Tonatiuh. 
 
 Olmedo is their priest and counselor 
 
 Who bears the cross, the symbol of their God, 
 
 And leads the worship of these wondrous men, 
 
 Consoles the dying with his cheering words 
 
 Or checks with calm rebuke the sinful hand. 
 
 An Aztec maiden, who had been a slave 
 
 On far Campeachy's shore, Marina named. 
 
 Yet often called the beautiful Malinche 
 
 Attends the white faced chief, where'er he goes 
 
 As his companion and interpreter. 
 
 They say, ambassadors to thee, they come 
 
 From some great king beyond the briny sea. 
 
 In form and feature and in human wants 
 
 They seem but men, but whether born of earth 
 
 Or tules nurtured in the sunlight's home 
 
35 
 
 High o'er the eastern deeps, I cannot tell. 
 
 They are the men who fought at Ceutla's plain 
 
 And made the fields grow red with Indian blood 
 
 And sacred shrines destroyed at Cozumel. 
 
 Not bows and clubs, like ours they deign to wield 
 
 But armed they seem to be with sulph'rous flames 
 
 And all the dread artillery of heaven. 
 
 Hast thou not seen, from out the rolling storm 
 
 That darkens all the azure atmosphere 
 
 The blazing lightnings leap with bursting crash 
 
 And shiver to its base an aged pine 
 
 On Popocatapetl's rugged steeps ? 
 
 So thunder, smoke, and crash, and overturn. 
 
 Their missiles, when they wake their sleeping fires. 
 
 Four-footed beasts have they of mighty pow'r 
 
 Unlike all ever seen within this land. 
 
 As large and strong as buffalos that throng 
 
 The northern plains. Upon their haughty backs 
 
 These white men mount and swifter than the wind 
 
 Are born along the trembling, shaking earth. 
 
 Canoes have they of form and size so strange 
 
 They seen* like giant pelicans with wings 
 
 Of snowy plumage spread to catch the breeze. 
 
 And when the freshening gale comes rushing by 
 
 They mount the rolling waves and onward move 
 
 Majestic o'er the ever swelling seas. 
 
 Here noble father ! read this manuscript. 
 
 Observe its pictures well. They're true as life. 
 
 'Twill give thee knowledge of the stranger hosts 
 
 That seek admission to thy royal throne." 
 
36 
 
 With trembling hands the Indian emperor 
 
 deceived the manuscript. With troubled brow 
 
 He darkly gazed upon its pictured page. 
 
 Within that mystic book he seemed to read 
 
 The cruel fate of all the Aztec race, 
 
 And saw with something like prophetic eye 
 
 The shadow of his own sad destiny. 
 
 O'er the bright sunlight of his soul there came 
 
 The darkness of some terrible eclipse. 
 
 He felt his empire slipping from his grasp ; 
 
 His royal gemmed penache, the diadem 
 
 To him bequeathed from noble ancestors, 
 
 He saw to ashes crumble on his brow. 
 
 He shivered neath misfortune's heavy hand 
 
 And longed to gain a refuge in the grave. 
 
 The trusted gods, his fathers long had served. 
 
 To whom his life-long adorations giv'n 
 
 Might build some hope of favor in the hour 
 
 Of anguish, gods, for whom, a nation's tears 
 
 Had not been spared, for whom the painful toil 
 
 Of millions scarce sufficed their greedy shrines, 
 
 For whom a myriad temples reared on high 
 
 Became vast slaughter pens for human flesh, 
 
 Forsook him in the trying hour of need. 
 
 Boused from his musings sad, at length he called 
 
 Brave Cuit-la-hu-a, brother true and tried 
 
 And bold Cacama, strongest of allies 
 
 That deigned to prop the Aztec's tot'ring throne 
 
 And thus addressed his worthy counselors : 
 
 "O brothers ! dark and evil days have come 
 
37 
 
 And Hope like a startled bird now spreads her wing 
 
 As if to bid our land a long farewell. 
 
 Tulille's strange speech, within thy ears still sounds, 
 
 Like the first echoes of th' advancing storm, 
 
 Or as the hollow smothered groans that come 
 
 Ere earthquake's shock o'erturns the rock ribbed hills 
 
 And buries lakes within the yawning earth. 
 
 It is a time that wraps each thinking soul 
 
 In dread bewilderment ; a doleful hour 
 
 That sadness brings to ev'ry loyal heart. 
 
 Wise counsel now from you I sorely need. 
 
 I pray you speak : Perchance some way we'll find 
 
 To rid ourselves of these strange visitors. 
 
 Were they but earth born men of mortal mould, 
 
 Like men we soon should meet them face to face 
 
 And all undaunted hurl th' invader back. 
 
 But if they come as children of the sun 
 
 To claim the land in Quetzalcoatl's right 
 
 To re-establish his dominion here 
 
 As in the legendary days of old, 
 
 Eesistance would but surer vengeance bring. 
 
 To hear thy friendly counsel now I wait." 
 
 Then bowing, Cuitla-hu-a thus began : 
 
 "My king ! my brother ! fain would I propose 
 
 Some plan to take this burden from thy soul 
 
 I see how trouble pales thy radiant brow, 
 
 And earthward drags thy noble, gen'rous heart. 
 
 Should tules come, from glorious sun-realms down 
 
 How happy should 1 be to welcome give 
 
 And bow myself a humble suppliant 
 
38 
 
 And crave their blessings on my mortal brow. . 
 
 O king ! let not thy heart be heavy more. 
 
 Let not traditions old nor doubtful signs 
 
 Disturb thy peace. These strangers are but men. 
 
 The gods are just, and children of the sun 
 
 Have naught but love beneficent for men. 
 
 Yon golden orb of day, what tongue can tell 
 
 Th' uncounted blessings it bestows on man. 
 
 It gives us light and life and joy and hope ; 
 
 It gives us beauteous skies and blooming earth. 
 
 The grass that softly clothes yon smiling plain, 
 
 The flow'rs that breathe sweet incense on the air, 
 
 The silken corn, that waves its slender leaves 
 
 In ev'ry breeze that floats our lakes among, 
 
 The plenteous fruits, that bless our cheri.Nhed land, 
 
 The forest giants on our mountain slopes. 
 
 The gentle show'r, the sky refreshing storm, 
 
 The shining fish that leap in silv'ry waves. 
 
 The glorious tinted birds that gladness bring 
 
 To ev'ry blooming grove, and all the forms 
 
 Of happy life that cheer our landscape fair 
 
 Are but the rich and beauteous gifts, the sun, 
 
 The king of day, our Father, gives to us. 
 
 Tell me not beings ever came from thence 
 
 Defiled with earth-born passions ; beings fierce 
 
 To drench the sun-kissed earth with human blood ; 
 
 Beings whose souls are fired with quenchless zeal 
 
 Against the very teocalli reared 
 
 In honor of th' eternal god of heaven. 
 
 Their shameful deeds, wherever they have been, 
 
39 
 
 Their natures common to humanity 
 
 Give proof, conclusive proof, that they are men. 
 
 Superior to us, perhaps they seem, 
 
 As we to tribes who roam the northern plains 
 
 And rudely live on spoils of war and chase, 
 
 But still how few their numbers when compared 
 
 With all the thousands ready at thy call 
 
 To march where'er thy eagle standard floats. 
 
 Then let us rise and drive them from our shores 
 
 Or bury them beneath a wooden show'r 
 
 Of life devouring shafts. Perchance we'll drag 
 
 Their chief to die the victims bloody death 
 
 Upon yon lofty Teocallis stone 
 
 Before Mexilti's stern and pit'less face 
 
 Fit expiation for his sacrilege." 
 
 He ceased and then Cacama thus began : 
 
 "Great king ! thy brother's counsel seems to me 
 
 Too warlike in its tone to serve our need ; 
 
 But who and what these wondrous strangers are 
 
 I fain would know before advising war. 
 
 If they're of Quetzalcoatl's godlike race 
 
 'Tis madness to oppose their hither march ; 
 
 If as embassadors they visit us 
 
 Sent by some noble king beyond the sea 
 
 'Twould show a meanly weak, suspicious hand 
 
 To thus oppose their mission to our shores ; 
 
 Let open hearted friendship welcome give 
 
 And if they prove unworthy of our love, 
 
 If they betray our sacred confidence 
 
 With right upon our side and heaven's help 
 
40 
 
 Bemorselessly we'll crush the stranger hosts, 
 
 As anacondas crush in death's embrace 
 
 The antlered stag, or ocelotl fierce, 
 
 And thus we'll prove, that strength but stronger grows 
 
 When fighting neath the banner of the right." 
 
 He ceased and Montezuma sought the shrine 
 
 Where fierce j»nd black Mexilti's image stood. 
 
 With sacrifice and off"ring8 rich and rare 
 
 He bowed himself and aid divine implored, 
 
 But dumb the god, and dumb his crimson priests ; 
 
 Then taking counsel of his growing fear^ 
 
 Adopted neither Cuit-la-hu-a's plan 
 
 Of bold and open war, nor peaceful means 
 
 Urged by Tezcuco's brave and gen'rous lord. 
 
 From out the treasures of his hoarded wealth, 
 
 To show his pow'r and grand magnificence 
 
 He chose bright diadems and coronets 
 
 Dazzling the eye with emeralds and pearls 
 
 And crystals of the purple amythyst, 
 
 Bright helms and hollow shields and heavy chains 
 
 And wheel-like zodiacs of purest gold. 
 
 Plume-woven garments, rich with all the tints 
 
 That clad a thousand brilliant forest birds, 
 
 Unrivaled by the bloom of scented fields 
 
 Or green chinampas on the waters blue. 
 
 And then addressed Teulille the tried and true ; 
 
 "Here noble chieftain ! see these treasures rich ; 
 
 I trust them in thy care. Go! choose a band 
 
 Of tamanes and bear these precious gifts , 
 
 Unto the teules chief, the great Malinche. 
 
41 
 
 Tell him that Montezuma is his friend. 
 
 Give him our royal welcome to our shores ; 
 
 Bid him receive the gifts as tokens giv'n 
 
 To bind the chain of friendship firm and strong; 
 
 Hia daily needs from out the nation's store 
 
 Shall be supplied and give him this command : 
 
 'Dwell thou upon the borders of our realm 
 
 Until thy sovereign bids thee back return 
 
 But come not nearer to my mountain home. 
 
 No monarch of the noble Aztec race 
 
 E'er gave to strangers such a dangerous boon 
 
 As leave to visit Tenochtitlan's isle.' 
 
 Go forth my brave Teulille ; thou knowest well 
 
 I fain would keep the great Malinche afar ; 
 
 I leave the rest with thee, and may the gods 
 
 From sungilt heavens smile propitiously." 
 
 PART VI, 
 
 Week after week of golden summer days 
 
 Eolled by and Autumn's painted robes were seen 
 
 Eedning the hillside, purpling valleys bright, 
 
 And scatt'ring fruits where Spring had planted flower 
 
 'Twas one of those delicious sunny days 
 
 When all the world was bright and beautiful. 
 
 The Aztec emperor from out the tow'rs 
 
42 
 
 That crowned the heights of fair Chapoltepec 
 
 Gazed wistfully upon the shining wave 
 
 That swept proteetingly its silver floods 
 
 Eound Tenochtitlan's walls and sadly mused 
 
 O'er the enchanting scene, his childhood's home, 
 
 The pride of youthful days, the grand estate 
 
 He long had ruled in happy quietude. 
 
 He trembled lest the lovely scene should fade 
 
 And darkness covers all the joys of life. 
 
 The very air seemed dark and ominous ; 
 
 Nor sun, nor moon, nor constellations bright, 
 
 Nor winds, nor rain, nor thunder's jarring sound, 
 
 Nor earthquake's shock, nor nature's deepest calm, 
 
 Could give a cheery hopeful atmosphere. 
 
 It was the great Malinche, the white man's chief. 
 
 Whose interposing shadow hid the light 
 
 That long had beamed upon the Indian heart. 
 
 Eegarding neither gifts, nor friendly words 
 
 And careless of commands imperial, 
 
 Malinche had spread his banners to the breeze 
 
 And in Tlascala's rugged, mountain land 
 
 Had met the dusky warriors of the rocks 
 
 In bloody fray. Before his sturdy blows 
 
 The heron fell, its snowy plumage soiled ; 
 
 The golden eagle, emblem of the tribes 
 
 Tlascala nurtured in her rocky deeps 
 
 Drooped his resplendent wings and haughty crest 
 
 And yielded to the mighty conqueror 
 
 Submissively his dearest, proudest boon, 
 
 The ancient independence of his race. 
 
43 
 
 Cholula too, religion's sacred home, 
 
 The holiest city of the western world 
 
 Where pilgrim devotees unnumbered throng 
 
 To gaze upon its lofty pyramids 
 
 And off'rings bear to Quetzalcoatl's shrine 
 
 Had fallen neath the stranger's bloody hand. 
 
 In vain four hundred towers flashed afar 
 
 The light of never dying, sacred fires ; 
 
 In vain the cherished shrines that overlooked 
 
 The mighty city, with its crowded streets ; 
 
 Id vain the valor of its dauntless sons ; 
 
 The white man's sword had made it desolate. 
 
 Its smoky heaps and blackened walls appear 
 
 Where happy multitudes were wont to crowd 
 
 The broad arenas of its market squares. 
 
 Its gods in that dread hour of deep distress 
 
 Forgot their ancient promises to save. 
 
 From out Cholula's broken pyramid 
 
 Came forth no raging flood to overwhelm 
 
 Its pit'less foes or quench its wasting flames. 
 
 With silv'ry lustre, midst the fruitful fields 
 
 Far southward stretched lake Chalco's limpid waves. 
 
 The later flow'rs still lingered on its shores ; 
 
 The purple orchards cast the autumn gleam 
 
 Wide o'er its quiet deeps; the fading leaves 
 
 Down flut'ring on the gentle breezes fell 
 
 And floated on its liquid, glassy sheen. 
 
 Here forest groves crept to the water's edge 
 
 And there the cultivated fields drew up 
 
 The freshning moisture of the friendly lake ; 
 
44 
 
 Here dwellings nestled neath the clust'ring trees, 
 
 And there the well built villages were seen 
 
 Like jewels on a rich embroidered robe. 
 
 Fairest and brightest on the Chalcan shores 
 
 Stood Ajotzinco with its walls of stone. 
 
 Towards its far distant gleaming, anxious eyes 
 
 From Tenochtitlan's lofty towers bent 
 
 And trembled with forebodings deep and strange. 
 
 There lay Malinche and all his marshalled hosts. 
 
 White men from o'er the sea, the Totonacs 
 
 From distant Cempoalla's torrid clime, 
 
 And throngs of fierce Tlascala's hated sons, 
 
 There rested from their long and toilsome march. 
 
 Before another sun should rise and set 
 
 That host would knock at Tenochtitlan's gate. 
 
 Upon Tezcuco's shore, with towers high 
 
 And from the Aztec city dimly seen 
 
 A sacred teocallis grandly rose 
 
 Upon whose summit stood Mexitli's shrine 
 
 Where human sacrifices daily bled 
 
 Before the war-god's stern and awful form. 
 
 Thither, before that bright autumnal day 
 
 Had faded, Montezuma and his lords 
 
 With royal fleet went gliding o'er the lake 
 
 Bearing the victims doomed to sacrifice, 
 
 Yet, ere they gained the templed halls of death, 
 
 To win once more Mexitli's gracious smile, 
 
 To seek the boon so vainly craved before, 
 
 Eelief from dread Malinche's bloody host, 
 
 A sudden storm arose. The howling winds 
 
45 
 
 Leapt madly down and caught the rolling tides 
 
 In wild embrace and hurled the spray aloft. 
 
 Deep aarkness with its swooping pinions shed 
 
 Disastrous shadows on the troubled waves. 
 
 The rain in torrents fell, and lightnings blazed 
 
 And struggled with the black unconquered night. 
 
 A captive in the barge that victims bore 
 
 Slipping the thongs that bound his aching hands, 
 
 Unseen, unnoticed, in the tumult dire 
 
 Plunged headlong midst the surges boiling high 
 
 And safely gained at last the storm lashed shore. 
 
 With hurried march the angry storm passed on ; 
 
 A calm stole slowly o'er the troubled lake 
 
 While through the broken clouds that rearward hung 
 
 Fol'wing the footsteps of the tempest, shone 
 
 The setting sun with soft and mellow beam 
 
 Eemoving danger from the royal suite 
 
 And gave once more the Aztec's beauteous world 
 
 The bright and rosy tints of hope and joy. 
 
 " 'Tis well," said Montezuma as he stepped 
 
 Upon the rock paved shore. " The storm has spent 
 
 The fury of its wrath, and ev'ry barge 
 
 Safe from the cruel sport of wind and wave 
 
 Is mooring now upon the sacred beach. 
 
 Behold how bright the glorious sunset sheds 
 
 His parting rays upon these polished stones 
 
 And gilded tow'rs that crown yon holy fane, 
 
 The lofty throne, where great Mexitli sits 
 
 And graciously receives our sacrifice. 
 
 As yon refulgent sun -god sweeps the clouds 
 
46 
 
 Of darkness from our sight, and paints the world 
 
 Anew with golden tints and cheery hues, 
 
 So may our patron god sweep from our skies 
 
 The sombre clouds of danger o'er us hung 
 
 And brighten all the Aztec world with hope. 
 
 Bring forth the victims now and let us mount 
 
 That winding way which leads where blood is shed 
 
 Atoning for the nation's grievous sins. 
 
 But what strange thing is this, my trusted guards? 
 
 The seventh victim, where is he? come, speak ! 
 
 What have ye done with fierce Tezcalican ? " 
 
 " We slew him as the vilest of the seven," 
 
 The guards reply, '' and cast him midst the floods 
 
 That round us rolled, deep yawning for our lives 
 
 If haply thus we might appease Tlaloc 
 
 The mighty god, who rules the storm cast heav'n, 
 
 Who sends us both the calm and gentle show'r 
 
 And fierce deluging rains, with thunder mixed." 
 
 No more was said. A shadow as of grief 
 
 Passed o'er the Aztec's dark imperial brow 
 
 As slowly turning round he led the way. 
 
 With solemn steps they climbed the steep ascent 
 
 That round and round the pyramidal pile 
 
 With less'ning spirals high and higher wound 
 
 Until, the summit's broad arena gained, 
 
 They stood before Mexitli's cherished shrine 
 
 To make atonement tor the nation's sins. 
 
 Then Montezuma's voice was heard in prayer : 
 
 "O, bear us ! great Mexitli, patron god. 
 
 Preserver of our nation's pow'r and fame, 
 
47 
 
 Decreer of our future destiny, 
 
 O, hear the cries of thy unhappy sons, 
 
 For troubles, like a sea of boistrous waves 
 
 With tumult dire, upon us fiercely leap 
 
 Threat'ning to 'whelm us neath resistless floods. 
 
 Like the dread storm, that madly shrieks and howls 
 
 Among the mountain's dreary solitudes 
 
 Grim Fear hath rushed upon our fainting hearts. 
 
 And the deep darkness of despair rolls night. 
 
 Moonless and starless on our gloomy souls. 
 
 Let now thy mighty hand be stretched to save. 
 
 At thy command, yoa beauteous city rose 
 
 From out the depths of fair Tezcuco's lake 
 
 And like a lily sat upon the waves. 
 
 Its foes have felt the vengeance of thy arm 
 
 Or fled dismayed before thy winged shafts. 
 
 O, great Mexitli ! save us from the wiles 
 
 Of dread Malinche, who rests e'en now his hosts 
 
 Upon the Chalcan shore. His coming throws 
 
 An ominous eclipse, wide o'er the land 
 
 And fills our hearts with sad uncertainty. 
 
 If aught of cold neglect hath angered thee, 
 
 If we have failed in off' rings rich and rare, 
 
 Forgive us all these faults, what'er they be. 
 
 And grant us graciously thy help divine 
 
 While we renew our vows to worship thee 
 
 As once our fathers did in olden times 
 
 E'en as we did, when I, a humble priest. 
 
 Was glad to sweep the stairways of thy halls 
 
 Or decorate thy shrine with simple flowers. 
 
48 
 
 Then daily, noble lives were given thee ; 
 
 Not such poor, worthless slaves as later sans 
 
 Have seen upon thy stone of sacrifice. 
 
 Henceforth, if thou wilt bless the Aztec race 
 
 Thy altars ne'er shall want for noble blood." 
 
 The emperor arose and calmly stood 
 
 Before Mexitli's throne, while one by one 
 
 The priests led forth the pale and tremb'iing men 
 
 Doomed to the sacrifice. The great drum beat 
 
 Knelling the last heart throbs of victims slain 
 
 To mollify the angry god's deep ire. 
 
 'Twas Montezuma's last great sacrifice. 
 
 The pjw'rs above, that rule the azure sky, 
 
 That guide the shining orbs of night and day, 
 
 The gods of earth, and of the wat'ry deeps. 
 
 To whom high teocalli filled the land, 
 
 Whose idols grim, could only desolate 
 
 The beauteous plains that lay beneath their shrines. 
 
 Gave no response to prayer or sacrifice. 
 
 PART VII. 
 
 'Twas night, and dusky shadows darkly lay 
 Upon lake Chalco's dimlit, smooth expanse. 
 The Spanish camp was quiet, save the tread 
 Of watchful sentinel or breathings deep 
 Where slept the rider and his weary steed. 
 
49 
 
 Wakeful and anxious Cortez eat and gazed 
 
 Upon the darksome water's placid face 
 
 That seemed to rest in gentle unison 
 
 With all the sleeping world that lay around, 
 
 And mused upon the herculean task, 
 
 The mighty work, that he, almost alone, 
 
 And far from aid, had dared to undertake. 
 
 A few brave men with strong and willing hands 
 
 Were his, to do his ev'ry bidding well ; 
 
 His dark allies could give but feeble aid ; 
 
 His own right arm, his quick and fertile brain, 
 
 And faith unwav'ring in his destiny, 
 
 Must be the main and all pervadiug pow'r. 
 
 Before him lay, almost within his grasp. 
 
 The golden prize, for which he long had toiled, 
 
 For which he risked his all, his wealth and home 
 
 His fame, and life itself The morning sun 
 
 Would show the gleaming of its palaces. 
 
 Would touch with fire its red tetzontli walls, 
 
 Would paint upon the azure sky beyond 
 
 In bold outline, its templed towers grand. 
 
 Would burnish with his radiant beams afar 
 
 Tezcuco's lambent waves and verdant shores. 
 
 And show where lofty built Chapoltepec 
 
 High heavenward lifts its domes magnificent. 
 
 Scarce half a score of easy miles away 
 
 There stood the beauteous city, grand and strong 
 
 And mighty in its splendid opulence, 
 
 The vaunted pride of all the Aztec world. 
 
 The seat of Montezuma's dreaded pow'r. 
 
50 
 
 From out its swarming streets its armed hosts 
 Had often poured like dark resistless floods 
 Until its surges broke upon the strand 
 Where briny oceans toss their foaming seas. 
 The glit'ring prize, indeed, was near at hand 
 But inaccessible and strong it stood 
 Defended by Tezcuco's friendly tides, 
 A hundred thousand warriors stood prepared 
 To sieze their arms at Montezuma's call 
 And for their city dare the fate of war. 
 Not force alone could give success but craft 
 And cunning stratagems in friendship's guise 
 Must give abundant aid. The noble cause, 
 To add so rich a jewel to the crown 
 Of glorious Spain, to overthrow at once 
 The dark and bloody rites of pagan shrines, 
 Convert a nation to the Christian faith. 
 And plant the cross within this wondrous land, 
 Would sanctify the means, however harsh. 
 Each jarring element in all the realm. 
 Each foe hereditary must be roused, 
 Must be united and combined to aid 
 In crushing this barbarian emperor. 
 Approaching footsteps broke at last the train 
 Of reveries that circled through his brain. 
 'Twas Alvarado, whom the Indians named 
 Tonatiuh, but not alone he came ; 
 Close by his side a youthful Toltec walked. 
 "Cortez ! I've brought to thee a fugitive 
 Escaped from yonder city's tyrant lord. 
 
61 
 
 Perchance he bringeth news of deep import, 
 
 Some tidings that may give us needed aid 
 
 In this our great and weighty enterprise." 
 
 "Most noble Alvarado ! thanks to thee ! 
 
 Let fair Marina come and be our tongue." 
 
 She came and thus, through her, the Indian spake 
 
 "A captive have I been for weary months 
 
 Bound fast within a dismal prison cell, 
 
 Condemned to linger there in anxious dread 
 
 Just poised 'twixt painful life and cruel death 
 
 Waiting the horrid doom for me prepared 
 
 Before Mexitli's dark and bloody throne. 
 
 IN'o prisoner saved from war's devouring wrath, 
 
 No felon branded with inhuman crimes 
 
 Was I. My crimes were those of purest love 
 
 Where law and justice were upon my side. 
 
 The lord of yonder island city snatched 
 
 The bird of hope and life from this poor heart 
 
 And when its folded wings with sorrow drooped 
 
 Within that gilded cage, Chapoltepec, 
 
 And all its music ceased, my soul grew dark 
 
 And vengeance whispered fierce imaginings. 
 
 I strove to open wide the prison door 
 
 And bear my prize to some fair mountain's shade, 
 
 But vain were all my hopes. A narrow cell 
 
 Where golden sunlight never broke the gloom 
 
 Nor warmed with cheerful glow my clammy bed. 
 
 Where sights of joyous beauty pleased no more 
 
 The weary eye, where sounds of melody, 
 
 Of mirth, of love or passion, never came 
 
52 
 
 To wake the silence of the lifeless stone, 
 
 Became my sole domain, my little world ; 
 
 But yesterday brought me deliverance. 
 
 Filled with deep terror at thy near approach, 
 
 For you are held as foes of dreaded pow'r, 
 
 Fearing alike to welcome you as friends 
 
 Or meet you boldly on the battle field 
 
 Lest he should fight against the godlike sons 
 
 Of Quetzalcoatl's race and thus incur 
 
 The fiercest anger of the guardian gods, 
 
 King Montezuma led me forth to die 
 
 The victim's death before the war-gods face, 
 
 If haply thus the patron diety 
 
 Appeased by such a bloody sacrifice 
 
 Would save from ev'ry foe, the Aztec world ; 
 
 1 was but one; with me six others were, 
 
 All doomed alike to sacrificial death. 
 
 Guarded and bound, they placed us on a barge 
 
 Then, launching out upon Tezcuco's tide 
 
 They strove to reach a lofty temple built 
 
 Upon the mainland shore, where dark and grim 
 
 The war-gods image feasts on human flesh. 
 
 A storm came on. A wilder, fiercer one 
 
 Was never seen. How thick the darkness fell. 
 
 How poured the rain, in dreadful torrents down, 
 
 I need not tell; Thine eyes its fury saw, 
 
 Thine ears the mutt'ring of its thunders heard ; 
 
 To die amidst the waves, were better far 
 
 Than bleed beneath the hands of cruel priests. 
 
 I slipped the knotted bands, and headlong plunged 
 
53 
 
 Within the dark and wildly rolling deeps. 
 
 Kind fortune gave her aid, and here am I, 
 
 Thy friend and servant, but a bitter foe 
 
 To Montezuma and his tyrant house. 
 
 With thy consent I'll join thy armed host. 
 
 Some aid, perhaps, my feeble hand may bring." 
 
 The night passed swiftly o'er the sleeping throngs. 
 
 High over eastern hills and mountain crags 
 
 A bright autumnal sun revealed its face 
 
 From cloudless skies and filled the world with light, 
 
 And as it looked upon the smiling plain 
 
 It saw the Spanish host upon the march, 
 
 For Montezuma's wave washed citadel. 
 
 What tongue can tell, the varied feelings, hopes 
 
 And aspirations ot that moving band. 
 
 The clangor and the din of horses' hoofs 
 
 Upon the causey's hard cemented road, 
 
 The trundling of their cannon wheels that roll 
 
 A dull monotony of heavy sounds, 
 
 The strange jargon of words, where gath'ring crowds 
 
 Looked on the moving pageant with surprise 
 
 And thought the prancing steed and rider one, 
 
 A god-like being from some distant sphere. 
 
 Broke on the list'ning ear with strange effect. 
 
 They gazed with wonder on the fruitful plain 
 
 Now clothed and decked with autumn's fairest robes. 
 
 They saw the purple orchards bend with fruit. 
 
 Gardens still fresh with bloom of ling'ring flow'rs 
 
 And fields of cotton and the yellow maize. 
 
 Mid shelt'ring groves and clustering vines they caught 
 
54 
 
 G-limpses of happy homes and villages. 
 
 Along their route lake Chalco stretched afar 
 
 Its silv'ry floods and on its bosom bore 
 
 A thousand light canoes and floating isles. 
 
 Some eyes in simple wonder thus beheld 
 
 The beauteous scene and longed for stranger sights; 
 
 Some gazed with saddened brows, and turned their 
 
 thoughts 
 Toward the distant hills of old Castile ; 
 To sonie, these scenes of buay life and pow'r 
 But added fear to hearts already faint ; 
 To others they could bring but visions bright 
 Of countless wealth and ever during fame. 
 Still on and on they moved, until at last 
 The gleaming walls of Tenochtitlan burst 
 Upon the sight. Wild cheer on cheer went up 
 Wide echoing o'er lake Chalco's quiet deeps 
 Until enthusiasm kindled high 
 In ev'ry heart, and each man felt himself 
 A host whose own right arm might battles win. 
 Alas how tew, that greet with joyful shouts 
 The sight of that fair city's battlements 
 Shall e'er return from neath its hostile walls. 
 
65 
 
 PART VIII. 
 
 An aged man with wearied steps drew near 
 
 The sloping brow of fair Chapoltepec 
 
 And neath a giant cypress sat him dowD 
 
 And gazed with wistful eyes upon the scene 
 
 That lay in view so lovely and so grand. 
 
 How bright and splendid in the mellow light 
 
 Of autumn's setting sun the city looked. 
 
 More like some vision of enchantment spread 
 
 Before the dreamer's fertile brain it seemed 
 
 Than earth's reality. How smooth and calm 
 
 The lake lay in the bosom of the vale 
 
 And seemed to bear upon its silver wave, 
 
 With all its solid teocallis tow'rs 
 
 Its stone built dykes and massive palaces 
 
 The proudest city of the western world. 
 
 Around and on the water's clear expanse 
 
 Where e'er his wand'ring eye might turn he saw 
 
 The signs of human life and human toil ; 
 
 Chinampas moving slowly o'er the deeps 
 
 Or anchored where some sheltered cove gleams out, 
 
 Light bounding barks that scarcely touched the tide, 
 
 Orchards and woods and cultivated fields 
 
 Stretching along Tuzcuco's fertile shores, 
 
 Cities and towns and temples gleaming far 
 
 And throwing dark reflections o'er the lake. 
 
 Thus gazed the Toltec then, perchance, he dreamed : 
 
56 
 
 A mystic form before the old man stood 
 
 E^en such as old traditions often tell 
 
 The benefactor Quetzacoatl wore 
 
 In ancient times when men beheld his face, 
 
 A tall and noble form, a snowy beard, 
 
 A mild blue eye beneath a sunny brow ; 
 
 In garments white his graceful form was clad ; 
 
 A belt with golden clasp of strange device 
 
 Around'his waist restrained his flowing robes, 
 
 While down his shoulders streamed his long white hair. 
 
 His clear toned voice with strange magnetic pow'r 
 
 Fell on the aged Toltec's list'ning ear : 
 
 "Arise, O seer ! and get thee to the hills 
 
 From whence thou comest, for a storm shall rise 
 
 And sweep this lovely scene with horrid ruin. 
 
 From the deep, mountain caves where Fairies dwell 
 
 From that dark realm where sunlight never falls 
 
 Where Fate his doleful record keeps, I came. 
 
 The raging Furies now are on the win 
 
 To vex this land and dire misfortune bring. 
 
 Death ready holds his sharpened blade and longs 
 
 With eager hope th' expected carnival 
 
 When Fate shall bid him stretch his pinions dark 
 
 And smite the land with sword and pestilence. 
 
 A change is coming o'er the nation soon. 
 
 'Tis close at hand. Its shadow even now 
 
 Darkens the throne of Aztec royalty. 
 
 But darker yet and thicker, deeper still. 
 
 Its gloom shall fall, enshrouding high and low 
 
 In one long, black, despairing night of woe. 
 
6^ 
 
 Hast thou not heard how ocean floods have thrown 
 
 Upon these shores a host of strangers, born 
 
 Far toward the orient realms of rising day? 
 
 Hast thou not heard them called the Teules bright 
 
 The children of the sun from heaven come? 
 
 Look on yon beauteous city girt around 
 
 With clear Tezcuco's ever lambent floods. 
 
 The Tlat-e-lol-co with its busy crowds 
 
 Is seen where all these smooth paved highways meet. 
 
 That lordly pile is Montezuma's home. 
 
 Within its curtained halls and fragrant rooms 
 
 Embassadors and kings their homage give 
 
 To Tenochtitlan's lord, and messengers 
 
 From ev'ry tributary nation briog 
 
 Tithings and offerings of treasured wealth. 
 
 With portals op'ning on the market square 
 
 Behold another splendid palace stand 
 
 Where Montezuma's grandsire long ago 
 
 His court maintained in rare magnificence. 
 
 Within its stately walls and roomy aisles 
 
 The white man's face is seen ; the steady tramp 
 
 Of sentinel rings through the corridors 
 
 And horses neigh, within its open courts. 
 
 The Spaniards with their wearied tamanes 
 
 And warriors from Tlascala's rocky dells 
 
 Have safely passed the causey's narrow track. 
 
 The open gates, and through the surging crowds 
 
 That thronged in countless thousands to behold 
 
 The wondrous visitors, whose fame had spread 
 
 Through all the regions of the Aztec world, 
 
58 
 
 And now are quartered in those ancient halls. 
 
 Though entertained with friendship and respect, 
 
 Fed by the bounty of the royal board, 
 
 Arrayed in costly robes and decked with gold 
 
 And ornaments of rare and precious stones 
 
 Drawn from the hoarded treasures of the realm 
 
 By order of the Indian emperor, 
 
 Yet they are vigilant and well they keep 
 
 Within those strong built walls no careless watch. 
 
 Their coming sounds the knell of Aztec pow'r. 
 
 Thy broken sceptre down to earth shall fall 
 
 O fairest city of the lake of lakes ! 
 
 Weep for thy throne is rent and desolate ; 
 
 Thy race shall rule no more, but humbly serve; 
 
 Sorrows shall darken all thy sunny sky ; 
 
 Thy warriors valiant, strong, and firm, shall fall 
 
 Beneath the strangers all devouring sword ; 
 
 The direful pestilence shall visit thee 
 
 And thou shalt mourn thy widowed, childless state; 
 
 Thy palaces shall topple down in ruin 
 
 And all thy mighty teocalli reared 
 
 Iq honor of thy gods, to shapeless mounds 
 
 Shall crumble, leaving scarce a sculptured stone 
 
 To tell the tale of gods and worshippers 
 
 Destroyed and numbered with the things that were. 
 
 Fallen and prostrate neath the Spaniard's heel 
 
 Thy race can only cry in agony 
 
 And call on Death to cure the troubled heart. 
 
 Drink! drink! the bitter cup prepared for thee, 
 
 For God hath seen thy dark and cruel deeds 
 
59 
 
 Tenochtitlan beauty of the lake. 
 Drink deep and let thy dying wail resound 
 A warning to the nations of the earth ! 
 
 As old traditions long have prophesied 
 Of my return, so have I come again 
 But not to rule my ancient kingdom o'er 
 And teach thee mercy, love and purer faith 
 As once 1 taught the peaceful Toltec race 
 But bid thy lands, I loved so well, adieu. 
 Grieve o'er thy fallen state and coming doom 
 Then, to my mystic shore repair again." 
 The vision faded from the old man's eyes 
 And all was silent save the busy hum 
 That floated from the city's crowded marts. 
 " 'Tis well perchance," the Toltec calmly mused 
 " That spirit came and timely warning gave. 
 I'll heed those words prophetic and return, 
 For dangers lurk in ev'ry ambush here 
 And coming wars can bring no charm for me. 
 
 1 cannot follow where the banner leads. 
 These aged limbs of mine can bear no more 
 The added weight of buckler, spear and helm. 
 Whatever changing revolutions come 
 
 Little have I, indeed, to gain or lose 
 Save the faint hope of seeing her again 
 My darling child Copalpa, last bright link 
 That binds my soul to earth and she, perhaps. 
 E'en now walks in those bright celestial fields 
 Where throng the happy spirits of the blest. 
 Or bending o'er the parapets of heaven 
 
60 
 
 With garlands wreathed of never fading light 
 
 Upon her loving brow, with radiant hands 
 
 Beckons me on my slow paced journey there. 
 
 Yes, I'll return to yonder distant home 
 
 Though drear and desolate it waits for me, 
 
 Yet ere I go from hence I'll question well 
 
 That flower girl that bears so jauntily 
 
 Her basket with its load of sweet boquets 
 
 And fragrant fruits, and learn what'er I can 
 
 Of Montezuma and his palaces. 
 
 E'en now perhaps may be the chosen time 
 
 While strangers fill his heart with awe and dread 
 
 To bring my only child deliverance." 
 
 They met and O, what rapturous joy was theirs ; 
 
 How unexpected, yet what ecstacy. 
 
 'Twas fair Copalpa's face he eaw once more, 
 
 Again her sweet and loving voice he heard. 
 
 " O father, father ! heaven bless thee now 
 
 And ever more. How fortunate am I. 
 
 What gladness thrills my heart. Can it be real 
 
 Or do I dream ? so oft I've dreamed of thee. 
 
 Last night I dreamed that I should meet thee here. 
 
 I've just escaped from yonder palace walls 
 
 By means of this disguise that covers me. 
 
 Quick father let us fly. My absence marked 
 
 Pursuit may blast again my growing hopes." 
 
 " Yes, yes, dear child ! " the father said, " Come on. 
 
 This joy gives strength and vital energy. 
 
 We must not linger here. Away ! away ! 
 
 For mountain dens where wild beasts love to dwell. 
 
61 
 
 Away from city, plain and gleaming lake ; 
 
 No safety midst the pleasant haunts of men 
 
 To us is given ; that boon is only found 
 
 Where rocky steeps and overhanging crags, 
 
 Dark gorges hidden neath the forest shades, 
 
 And rugged mountains inaccessible 
 
 Forbid the near approach of ruthless man." 
 
 Their flight was toward the hills, that northward 
 
 stretch 
 Their rocky chains around the pleasant vale. 
 Not on the open highways ever thronged, 
 Nor midst the happy villages, they passed, 
 But through deserted fields and forests wild 
 They chose unseen their lonely, winding way. 
 The daylight fled, and dark-robed Night led forth 
 Orion, shining with his starry robes 
 To guide the wand'rers on their weary way. 
 "Father," the fair Copalpa sighed at last, 
 "Oh, I'm so weary, let us rest awhile 
 Within the darkness of this bushy screen ; 
 My heart beats faint, and I can scarcely raise 
 My aching limbs to stumble on the way ; 
 Come sit thee here and while we rest I'll tell 
 Of Montezuma and the strange Malinche. 
 Thou knowest well how white men crossed the sea 
 And gained the Aztec shore, then marching on 
 Th tough valleys wide and over mountain crags. 
 Mid hostile tribes, and cities black with ruin. 
 Reached fair Tezcuco's vale and shelter found 
 Within the ancient halls of royalty. 
 
62 
 
 But yesterday an interview, Malinche 
 
 Obtained with Montezuma and his court. 
 
 The king with mild benignity received 
 
 The white man's chief and then addressed him thus 
 
 'I oft have heard of thee, my friend Malinche, 
 
 And wondered what thy mission here could mean. 
 
 Tell me of things beyond the ocean tide, 
 
 Thy king, thy native country and its laws, 
 
 And of thyself. What is thy titled rank, 
 
 And why thy royal master sends thee here 
 
 To visit me. I wish to know it all.' 
 
 Then Cortez bowing, thus addressed the king: 
 
 'We come, great Montezuma, not as foes 
 
 To rend th}^ noble empire from thy hand 
 
 But as embassadors we seek thy throne. 
 
 Our Christian king sends messages of love, 
 
 Would gladly form alliances with thee 
 
 Enriching with commercial intercourse 
 
 Thy mighty nation, and his royal realm. 
 
 And more ; I see a false religion hangs 
 
 Like Night's deep darkness o'er thy native race 
 
 That brings but woe and pain upon thy land, 
 
 And will, at last, by gross delusions sink 
 
 Thy nation in perdition's deepest pit 
 
 Where light and hope and joy can never come. 
 
 We offer thee, the holy Christian faith 
 
 Brought down from heav'n by the Son of God, 
 
 Attested by his more than human pow'r. 
 
 Given to man, to save from wrath deserved. 
 
 Preached by the saints to all the eastern world. 
 
63 
 
 The only faith that had its birth in heaven. 
 
 Its banner is God's love to fallen man j 
 
 Its symbol is the holy crucifix ; 
 
 Its mottoes, hope, and faith and charity. 
 
 Upon its altars blood is never shed. 
 
 The sacrifice the son of God demands 
 
 Is true repentance of each earthly sin. 
 
 It offers us a bright and happy home 
 
 When we have passed the darksome river death 
 
 Where sorrows never dim the radiant brow, 
 
 Where joy unclouded by a single woe 
 
 Fills all that beatific world with light, 
 
 Where God's eternal throne forever stands 
 
 The glory of th' unbounded universe. 
 
 Eeceive us then O king, as ministers 
 
 Sent by our gracious monarch for thy good, 
 
 Sent to redeem thy race from Satan's chains 
 
 And freedom give from ev'ry bloody rite.' 
 
 He ceased, and Montezuma thus replied : 
 
 ' My friend Malinche, all praise and love is due 
 
 Your noble king, and it shall be my joy 
 
 To honor him above all earthly names, 
 
 To seek his favor and his confidence. 
 
 And make him know me as a brother king. 
 
 Before I saw thy face I often heard 
 
 Thee called religion's stern, relentless foe. 
 
 Have heard of sacred shrines to ashes burned 
 
 And hoiy symbols trampled under foot 
 
 By thy command. How good thy gods may be 
 
 What mighty pow'rs they have I cannot tell, 
 
64 
 
 But mine are great and good enough for me. 
 
 They are the gods my ancestors adored, 
 
 Who guarded us when we were weak and poor, 
 
 Who gave us here a beauteous island home. 
 
 Who gave us vict'ry over all our foes. 
 
 Who gave us riches, power, and great renown. 
 
 I served them humbly as a menial priest. 
 
 They raised me up and placed th' imperial crown 
 
 Upon my brow, and now for twenty years 
 
 Have guarded me with ever watchful care, 
 
 Wherefore I cannot worship other gods. 
 
 When human thoughts for forty years have run 
 
 Within the selfsame channel, hard it is 
 
 To turn their course or bend them to the will. 
 
 Our gods, too, offer us a happy home 
 
 Within the spirit world, a bright abode 
 
 Amidst the glories of the rolling sun 
 
 Where darkness, mist, and shadows never fall, 
 
 Where all the good with choral symphonies 
 
 Shall circle earth rejoicing in the light 
 
 Of endless day until prepared, at last 
 
 For brighter realms beyond the western sky, 
 
 Where we shall find a home forever blest 
 
 Where great Tezcatlipoca reigns in peace 
 
 O'er all the beauteous plains of paradise. 
 
 Wherefore Malinche press not thy doctrine now; 
 
 The hope that I should change my steadfast faith 
 
 Is all in vain, but let our friendship rest 
 
 On other grounds than that of common creed. 
 
 Behold yon pyramidal temple rise 
 
65 
 
 High overtopping all the city round ! 
 
 'Tis dedicated to our patron god, 
 
 The great Mexitli, whom we all adore 
 
 And on his altars heap in sacrifice 
 
 The dearest treasures we may call our own ; 
 
 For all we are, and all we have is his, 
 
 Given us by this glorious god of heaven. 
 
 Given to use awhile and then restore 
 
 That all mankind may learn true gratitude. 
 
 I grant thee, for the service of thy god, 
 
 A portion of that temple's holy square 
 
 Wherein your daily worship may arise, 
 
 A place whereon to bend the supliant knee 
 
 And lift your pious hearts from earth to heaven.' 
 
 He ceased, and then with words of gratitude 
 
 Malinche retiring left the royal halls. 
 
 Thus day by day in grand formality 
 
 They meet to talk of Anahuac's fair clime. 
 
 Of Europe's Christian realms and Christian faith. 
 
 But dark hypocrisy lies there concealed 
 
 And each one hides his craft in friendly smiles. 
 
 Within his capital the one beholds 
 
 A dreaded foe and longs to see the time 
 
 When fierce Malinche and all his impious hosts 
 
 Shall die upon the altars of his gods 
 
 In expiation for Cholula's wrongs. 
 
 The other watches some excuse to sieze 
 
 The Indian emperor, subvert his pow'r. 
 
 And to the Spanish crown a jewel add 
 
 Eclipsing all the brilliants of Peru. 
 
66 
 
 Now father let us haste upon our way ; 
 I feel refreshed and long to gain the wilds 
 Of yonder mountain crags and canons dark 
 Where we, at last, secure from royal foes 
 Within some friendly cavern may repose." 
 
 PART IX. 
 
 Over the crystal depths of Xaltocan 
 A light canoe swept hurriedly along, 
 Urged onward by a strong impetuous arm 
 Until it struck upon the sandy beach 
 Beneath the shadow of the Toltec's home. 
 Tezcalican stepped forth upon the shore 
 And sought the sacred spot to mem'ry dear, 
 Where fair Copalpa dwelt in days gone by. 
 All silent stood the house ; no sound of life 
 Within its dreary portals reached his ear ; 
 Where flowers once in radiant beauty bloomed 
 Now weeds alone of rankest growth were found ; 
 Slow dying from the want of fost'ring hands. 
 For life, the unkempt trees still struggled on ; 
 Convolvuli with all entwining arms 
 Had seized the wasting door that once had swung 
 On friendly hinge, to greet each passer by. 
 And blocked the way with walls of living green ; 
 
67 
 
 The thatch was rent by age and beating storm, 
 
 And lonesome gloom, complete posession held. 
 
 With heavy, aching heart and eyes suffused 
 
 He sadly gazed upon that ruined home. 
 
 Sweet forms of life had once held carnival 
 
 Within those dismal halls, and love, and joy, and peace, 
 
 In years agone had blessed those crumbling walls. 
 
 O'er changes sad 'twas vain to longer grieve ; 
 
 Of all the past, sweet memories would live ; 
 
 The future, though unknown, was all he had ; 
 
 He forced the doors ; the walls but echoed back 
 
 His own impatient footfalls on the floor. 
 
 All desolate he found the Toltec's home. 
 
 With deep surprise, as one from dead returned 
 
 To linger lovingly amidst the scenes 
 
 Held dearest, sweetest, in this mundane life 
 
 The villagers, his well known face beheld. 
 
 No one could tell him where the seer had gone 
 
 Or speak of sweet Copalpa's hidden fate. 
 
 Out on the lake once more, he sped his bark. 
 
 When far from shore, he stayed his dipping blade 
 
 And slowly drifting o'er the smooth expanse 
 
 Resigned himself to fitful wind or tide. 
 
 The sunset with its brilliance passed away ; 
 
 With noiseless step the Night came softly down 
 
 Sprinkling the ebon sky with countless gems. 
 
 Still drifting gently on he dreamed or slept 
 
 While midnight stars gleamed o'er the dusky scene. 
 
 At last, with golden skies, the morning came 
 
 And found him stranded on the northern shore. 
 
68 
 
 He slept no more; he sprang upon the land ; 
 
 He marked the course thus given by the breath 
 
 Of airy heav'n, then guided by the breeze 
 
 He sought the wildwood haunts of northern hills. 
 
 With rapid pace, scarce knowing where he went 
 
 Or why he took th' untraveled wildwood path, 
 
 He onward pressed his journey, hoping chance 
 
 Or accident would solve the mystery 
 
 That darkly veiled the aged Toltec's fate. 
 
 As thus he wandered waking mem'ry threw 
 
 Before his eyes a vision of the past. 
 
 In hunter's costume wildly clad he saw 
 
 Again the Toltec and himself pursue 
 
 With cautious haste and arrows ready fixed 
 
 The ocelotl to his mountain den. 
 
 Once more with mem'ry's eye he seemed to see 
 
 Half veiled in white by falling cascade's spray 
 
 A cavern door wide opening into fairy halls 
 
 With smooth laid rocky floors, with snowy walls, 
 
 With crystal domes of opalescent spar 
 
 Where often they had found repose and rest 
 
 Or stored the spoils of many a mountain chase. 
 
 Something seemed to whisper in his ear 
 
 He may have fled the cruel, heartless world 
 
 And sought that cavern midst the wilderness 
 
 To breathe away in peaceful solitude 
 
 The last sad hours of his despondent life. 
 
 Among the hills that ancient cave he sought 
 
 Nor wandered long ere cascades foam revealed 
 
 The spot where hidden portals once received 
 
69 
 
 With welcome rest, the wearied hunter's feet. 
 
 With anxious heart he gained the cavern door 
 
 And as he passed witbio, O strange surprise ! 
 
 How sweet a vision met his eager gaze. 
 
 'Twas fair Copalpa and her Toltec sire 
 
 Whose forms, in firelight's crimson glow revealed, 
 
 Filled all his soul with more than earthly light. 
 
 The deep astonishment, the rapturous joy, 
 
 No pen can write, no human tongue can tell. 
 
 The heart bereaved of all that's dear on earth. 
 
 In doubt, suspense, and tearful agony, 
 
 When unexpectedly from grief relieved. 
 
 Its sweetest hopes restored, alone can feel 
 
 Such depths of joy, such happiness as theirs. 
 
 Copalpa long had thought her lover dead. 
 
 The very day the royal pages said 
 
 Tezcalican was doomed to sacrifice, 
 
 She sadly heard the war-god's fatal drum 
 
 Wide echo o'er Tezcuco's lake and vale 
 
 With slow and solemn stroke, the victim's knell. 
 
 How sweet the happy days now passed away. 
 
 All tears were dried and banished ev'ry sigh ; 
 
 The clouded brow grew bright and fair again, 
 
 And hoary age regained its waning strength. 
 
 The forest game supplied their present wants 
 
 And when afar the beauteous sunset threw 
 
 Its brilliant tints upon the wooded hills 
 
 Tezcalican returning from the chase 
 
 Found bounteous cheer and loving smiles. 
 
 Thus far away in wild secluded haunts 
 
70 
 
 Beyond the sight and sound of angry strife 
 
 These worn and weary waifs of human life 
 
 A sweet and undisturbed repose enjoyed, 
 
 And oft when twilight shadows softly crept 
 
 With soothing spell adown the mountain slopes 
 
 Each gave the hist'ry of adventures past 
 
 And thus Tezcalicaa his story told : 
 
 " When we were captured on Tezcuco's wave 
 
 They bore me o'er the flood, bound hand and foot 
 
 To Tenochtitlan's darkest prison cell. 
 
 With six unhappy victims like myself 
 
 Condemned to die a sacrificial death 
 
 Our royal keepers led us forth to bid 
 
 A last adieu to all the scenes of earth 
 
 And o'er Tezcuco's tides with rapid oars 
 
 And southern course, they hurried us along, 
 
 Yet ere we gained the templed shore of death 
 
 Where lofty teocallis walls are seen 
 
 High overlooking all the fairy vale. 
 
 The god of storms arose and smote the lake 
 
 With roaring winds and blinding rain and hail. 
 
 I slipped, unseen, the thongs that bound my hands 
 
 And plunged amidst the white and boiling foam 
 
 And safely reached at last the neighb'ring shore. 
 
 At Ajotzinco lay the Spanish host. 
 
 The followers of great Malinche I joined 
 
 And, like a warrior from Tlaseala's hills 
 
 Disguised, I marched beneath the white man's flag 
 
 And with them entered Tenochtitlan's walls. 
 
 There quietly for days and weeks I dwelt 
 
71 
 
 And saw the mighty changes and events 
 
 That to the center shook the Aztec pow'r. 
 
 Alas, what horrid woes, what scenes of blood, 
 
 Of death and ruin dire have I beheld. 
 
 Although in seeming friendship oft they met, 
 
 The Indian emperor and fierce Malinche, 
 
 Yet from the first, they were but deadly foes 
 
 And each one plaj^ed dark games of perfidy. 
 
 At last the mask was rudely thrown aside. 
 
 Malinche was in the grand reception hall 
 
 Of Aztec royalty ; his faithful guards 
 
 With brave Tonatiuh, their chief, stood near. 
 
 Almost unguarded Montezuma sat 
 
 Upon his throne and friendly greetings gave. 
 
 With fierce upbraidings then Malinche began 
 
 Accusing him of secret murders done 
 
 By his command, of treach'rous plots arranged 
 
 Threat'ning the lives of all the Spanish host. 
 
 In vain he strove to plead his innocence ; 
 
 The sword was at his breast ; the iron shaft 
 
 His soul had pierced; a pris'ner weak and dumb 
 
 He sadly left his grand magnificence 
 
 And neath the stranger's eye, with feeble hand 
 
 And loosening rein, ruled o'er the Aztec world. 
 
 A calm prevailed ; Malinche was far away ; 
 
 The Spaniards walked the streets or traveled safe 
 
 Through all the land, but direful woes were near 
 
 And signs of ominous portent were seen 
 
 Boding calamities and mournful ruin. 
 
 'Twas greedy avarice broke the quietude 
 
72 
 
 And made the city red with ghastly slain 
 
 And stained the lake with many a bleeding corse. 
 
 A thousand of the city's noblest youth 
 
 Arrayed in garments wrought with costly care 
 
 Shining with gold and pearls and sapphires bright, 
 
 Upon Mexitli's greatest temple held 
 
 With joyous rites a sacred festival. 
 
 With armed men Tonatiuh came forth 
 
 And on that festive, helpless throng he fell 
 
 With slaughter indiscriminate nor ceased 
 
 The falchion's bloody work until expired 
 
 The last of all that gay and happy band. 
 
 And oh ! what grief and anger fiercely burned 
 
 Within each Aztec heart as horror struck 
 
 They gazed upon their murdered, pillaged dead, 
 
 Then like the rushing flames that leap and swell 
 
 Where prairies stretch their arid meadows far. 
 
 The smothered fires of hot revenge burst forth 
 
 With furious rage, and blood! blood! blood ! was hissed 
 
 Through gnashing teeth, and all the multitude 
 
 Cried war! warl war! through all the crowded streets 
 
 And seized their arms to join the mortal fray. 
 
 Then louder grew the harsh discordant din 
 
 And dark tumultuous crowds like ocean waves 
 
 Surged through the streets and fell with dire assault 
 
 Upon the red tetzontli palaces 
 
 That sheltered in their ancient halls the men 
 
 All red and gory from the work of death. 
 
 The storm of battle rolled along its walls 
 
 And fiercely swept around its solid tow'rs ; 
 
73 
 
 Sharp, flinted arrows hissing through the air 
 
 And missiles from a myriad brawny arms 
 
 All mingling with the sulphurous fire and smoke 
 
 Of arquebus and thunder belching throats 
 
 Of pondrous culverins, shook earth and sky, 
 
 And strewed the earthy with bleeding, dying men. 
 
 Upon the walls the angry Aztecs rushed. 
 
 The bolted gates they strove to batter down 
 
 Or scale the battlements, but only fell 
 
 Beneath the white man's blade or sank in death 
 
 Where fierce Tlascala's spears the breaches kept. 
 
 Death ruled the battle's dread, terrific hour 
 
 And many a spirit sought its kindred dead 
 
 Within the sunset's ever glowing clime. 
 
 Night came at last and closed the bloody scene. 
 
 The morning dawned ; the ghastly dead were gone : 
 
 No wounded lay upon the stony streets ; 
 
 A death like silence o'er the city reigned ; 
 
 'Twas short ; again low distant murmurs told 
 
 That mighty hosts were marshalling in arms 
 
 To try the bloody fate of battles more. 
 
 On, on they come, and wilder and wilder grew 
 
 The rash assault of reckless, daring men. 
 
 It was a weary day of blood and death. 
 
 Again the darkness bade the tumult cease. 
 
 Thus day by day the cruel siege went on 
 
 Until Malinche with reinforcements came. 
 
 O'er narrow dikes and broad obstructed streets 
 
 He forced his way and joined the weary men 
 
 So long beleagured by the Aztec hosts. 
 
74 
 
 New strength and energy for our defense 
 
 His presence gave. He strove to pacify 
 
 The fi'ry passions of the angry foe; 
 
 A show'r of arrows was the answer giv'n. 
 
 Upon the loftiest tow'r that reared on high 
 
 Its summit o'er his guarded citadel 
 
 Next Montezuma showed his well known face. 
 
 The clash of arms and battle's clangor ceased. 
 
 Within an outer court among allies 
 
 And brave Tlascalan warriors, armed I stood 
 
 And heard his clear toned voice in half command 
 
 And half entreaty strive to calm the storm 
 
 And soothe the boistrous elements to peace. 
 
 As oft you've seen the mountain hurricane 
 
 With wrathful shrieks, leap down from rocky heights 
 
 And roll the quiet deeps of Xaltocan 
 
 In wild tumultuous waves of boiling foam 
 
 E'en so at sight of him my soul was stirred 
 
 And frenzy seized upon my heated brain. 
 
 Sweet joys forever lost, hearts broken, crushed. 
 
 Sorrows and insults, dungeon's dreary cells, 
 
 And solemn vows thy fearful wrongs and mine 
 
 To right, nerved ev'ry muscle in my frame 
 
 And loudly whispered, ' let the tyrant die.' 
 
 The murmurs scarce suppressed now trebly swelled 
 
 And clamor dire soon drowned the speaker's voice. 
 
 Around his kingly head a shower fell 
 
 Of missiles from the angry crowd below. 
 
 My arrow too sped on its vengeful course. 
 
 He fell; whose arrow gave the wrathful blow 
 
75 
 
 I cannot tell ; 'twas not a weapon gave 
 
 The mortal pang, 'twas grief and shame that laid 
 
 The royal Montezuma low in death. 
 
 Over the ashes of their noble dead 
 
 Awhile the Aztecs mourned and we had peace, 
 
 But short the calm ; brave Cuit-la-hu-a wore 
 
 His brother's crown imperial. War, war, 
 
 The rallying cry was heard through all the land. 
 
 Again with wilder rage and fiercer wrath 
 
 The storm of battle rolls along the earth ; 
 
 Fair Tenochtitlan's walls with terror quake 
 
 And bright Tezcuco trembles neath the shock. 
 
 His mounted cavaliers Malinche led forth 
 
 And often swept the streets with flaming brand 
 
 But all in vain, for ev'ry Aztec slain 
 
 A hundred added foemen seemed to spring 
 
 Full armed from earth. Though many thousands fell 
 
 Still thousands more filled up the bleeding ranks. 
 
 * A thousand lives for one and vict'ry comes 
 
 At last,' is Cuitlahua's dauntless cry, 
 
 ' A mighty nation is our firm support, 
 
 Theirs but their own strong arms and weak allies. 
 
 Starvation soon shall do the work for us 
 
 And rid our land of cruel bloody foes.' 
 
 He spoke the truth, for worn and wearied long 
 
 By battle's toil, by constant watchfulness 
 
 And pinched by want, we saw our only choice 
 
 Was ling'ring death within the palace walls 
 
 Or flight beset with perils, dread, unknown. 
 
 With many a charge Malinche had swept the streets 
 
76 
 
 Of ev'ry foe and we had leveled down 
 
 Each barricade and bridged the deep canals 
 
 When orders came, as night's deep shadows fell, 
 
 To leave the city and its hostile throngs. 
 
 But ah ! the horrors of that dreadful night ; 
 
 What tongue can tell its woes, its strife, its death ; 
 
 All wedged and crowded on the narrow dike, 
 
 The dark and dang'rous waves on either side. 
 
 We hurried on ; one bridge was safely passed ; 
 
 Another bridgeless chasm before us lay. 
 
 Like fiends from some black, hidden shore broke loose 
 
 A myriad hostile boat came swarming on 
 
 And burdened far, Tezcuco's troubled deeps. 
 
 With frantic rage upon our lines they rushed 
 
 And filled the gloomy shades of sombre night 
 
 With all the direful sounds of bloody war. 
 
 Arrows and stones and spears fell thick around 
 
 From either side upon our crowded ranks. 
 
 Some moored their little boats and sprang ashore 
 
 And hand to hand in fierce encounter strove. 
 
 Or grasping each his foe in mad embrace 
 
 Eolled down the narrow, slipp'ry banks and sank 
 
 Within the turbid waters. Shrieks and groans, 
 
 Entreaties and commands, the horses tramp, 
 
 The splash of waves, the roar of Spanish guns. 
 
 Made dismal night resound with hideous din. 
 
 Attacked on ev'ry side, the drawbridge fast. 
 
 Within the darksome gulf before us plunged 
 
 The living stream of reckless, frightened men. 
 
 Some sank to rise no more, some struggled long 
 
77 
 
 But only fell in cruel Aztec hands 
 
 To die upon the altar's bloody stone. 
 
 A fewer number reached the friendly shore. 
 
 Still onward rolled that living struggling stream. 
 
 With cannons, wrecks, arms, horses, men, the chasm 
 
 Was bridged at last and o'er it safely fled 
 
 The ling'ring remnants of our hapless host. 
 
 Alas ! the horrors of that sad, sad night ; 
 
 Its memory can never fade while sense 
 
 And reason rule this thinking soul of mine. 
 
 The morning found us on Tezcuco's shore 
 
 From present danger free, but ah I how thin 
 
 And weak our ranks; not half our army saved 
 
 From out the jaws of that devouring night. 
 
 For lair Tlascala's land of bread I saw 
 
 Mulinche lead forth his shattered, weakened band. 
 
 Far eastward he hath gone but will return. 
 
 O'er Tenochtitlan's prostrate walls shall float 
 
 Triumphantly the Spaniard's conq'ring flag 
 
 And Aztec pow'r shall fall te rise no more." 
 
 He ceased and thus the Toltec seer began : 
 
 " 'Tis well that cruel pow'r should fall to earth. 
 
 Too long its superstitions dark and dense 
 
 Have veiled this land from all the glorious light 
 
 Kind heaven lain would pour in ceaseless floods 
 
 Upon its ever fair and beauteous plains. 
 
 Those ghastly pyramids of human skulls 
 
 That fill the land, are mournlul monuments 
 
 Of false religion and perverted faith, 
 
 Of bloody, idol worship, dismal rites, 
 
78 
 
 Of priestly bigotry and sad misrule. 
 That cruel race must bow the supliant knee ; 
 Its day is past ; the long, long, bitter night 
 Begins to cast its gloomy shadows round ; 
 Its cup is full of loathsome wickedness 
 And it must drain it to the very dregs ; 
 Its robes of golden woof and plumage fair 
 Are worn and soiled and soon forlorn and weak, 
 Naked and desolate, 'twill crouch and weep 
 Beneath the pit'less stranger's iron rule. 
 Commotions, wars, and pestilential plagues, 
 Earthquakes, and devastating flloods, and storms, 
 And changes great, and full of dire dismay. 
 Shall come upon this land, but rest and peace 
 Shall dawn at last and heaven's glorious light 
 Eesplendent o'er a world regenerate 
 Shall slowly brighten into perfect day." 
 
79 
 
 JOHN AND I. 
 
 what a merry set were we, 
 When ruddy boys long years ago ! 
 
 How wild we romped in thoughtless glee, 
 And how we loved the fleecy snow ; 
 Our skates shone bright in rapid flight, 
 Our limbs were strong and spirits light. 
 
 Ah ! John, we've had some gleesome times 
 At th' old brown school house in the dell. 
 
 1 still recall the ringing chimes 
 That echoed from the brazen bell ; 
 E'en now each well rememb'red note 
 Seems on the morning air to float. 
 
 'Twas there too John ! we chose our girls ; 
 You one with eyes of azure light 
 Who wore her golden hair in curls, 
 I, one with hazel eyes as bright, 
 With face to me so sweet and fair, 
 They both are gone, I know not where 
 
 How changed is all the world since then. 
 The passing years have whirled us on, 
 And now we're tall and bearded men 
 Struggling with fitful fortune, John ; 
 And though the vict'ry seems afar 
 Bright hope is still our guiding star. 
 
80 
 
 How sadly now our band is broken ; 
 Far o'er the land they're scattered wide ; 
 The sculptured stone, affection's tok'n, 
 White gleaming oq some green hill side 
 Tells where some well rememb'red face 
 Hath found a quiet sleeping place. 
 
 The war hath claimed its victims too ; 
 Poor Charlie's laughing eyes grew dim 
 While bravely clad in Union blue. 
 Dead ! dead! he died mid battl's din, 
 Died where the old flag rose and fell. 
 Died where the cannon boomed his knell. 
 
 Bright Harry too, so sad his fate. 
 With lost Sultana's crew he died ; 
 Borne from the prison's open gate 
 To sink where ever rolls the tide 
 Of mighty Mississippi's waves 
 Over its dark unfathomed caves. 
 
 Yes John ! our band is broken now, 
 And many a silv'ry voice is hushed, 
 And grief hath saddened many a brow 
 And many a youthful hope is crushed. 
 And many an airy castle bright 
 Hath faded from our anxious sight. 
 
 A few years more, how short they seem ! 
 When wrinkled, gray, and old, the last 
 Of our bright band shall sleep to dream 
 No more of joys and sorrows past, 
 But, with a sweet untroubled rest 
 Eecline upon earth's loving breast. 
 
81 
 
 And now dear John, we'll ever pray, 
 Whatever fortune may betide, 
 That in the future's glorious day 
 With radiant souls all purified 
 We'll meet OQce more, a joyful band 
 In happy realms of spirit land. 
 
 ETHERIAL FORMS. 
 
 Oh beauteous shapes that fill the air, 
 The forms of thought and action fair, 
 
 All forms of good that men have done 
 Since earth obeyed the smiling sun, 
 
 Come, breathe upon my languid heart 
 And aspirations pure impart. 
 
 Come, touch my soul with living fire. 
 And strengthen ev'ry good desire 
 
 That I might lift some drooping form 
 From darkness into sunlight warm, 
 
 Rescue some one from sinful chains 
 
 And show him where true freedom reigns. 
 
82 
 
 SOMNUS. 
 
 When sunlight fades in Western skies 
 And Evening o'er our landscape flies 
 With widespread wings of sombre hue 
 Eclipsing all high heaven's blue, 
 I wait for thee with longings deep 
 Thou god benign of blessed sleep. 
 
 Whene'er thou see'st the crimson stains 
 The dying day leaves on the plains, 
 Then come to me, that I may rest 
 My languid head upon thy breast, 
 And gaze within thy drowsy eyes 
 And dream of blissful paradise. 
 
 When wearied with my daily toil 
 And senses reel with earth's turmoil. 
 When restless thoughts spare not the brain, 
 Or sorrow comes with rending pain, 
 Then come to me on gentle wing 
 And slumber from thy treasures bring. 
 
 When drooping spirits o'er me bend, 
 And weights upon my heart suspend, 
 And all the world seems hard and cold, 
 Then in thy sweet embrace enfold 
 Me till my willing soul floats on 
 Lethean waves of Acheron. 
 
83 
 
 Oh, never more while life is mine 
 Forsake the couch where I recline. 
 When I would know no more of care, 
 When I would wasting life repair, 
 When I would roam in dreamland bowers, 
 Then wreath my brow with restful flow'rs. 
 
 Ah, then how sweet will I repose 
 Soothed by the gifts thy love bestows ! 
 Eeclining in thy dear embrace 
 Ko tears shall stain my radiant face, 
 And when old age my strength has riv'n 
 From out thy arms shall wake in heav'n. 
 
 ASK AND EMBLA. 
 
 (ash and elm.) 
 
 In ancient time when all the world was young. 
 The Asas, from a race of giants sprung, 
 The mighty Ymer slew and from his bones 
 They built the mountains high with solid stones ; 
 From out his flesh the level land was built ; 
 The ocean surged where'er his blood was spilt ; 
 To grass and trees that love the Summer air 
 They changed the slaughtered Ymer's ruddy hair ; 
 
84 
 
 His eyebrows circling round like ramparts high 
 
 Produced Midgard, a land of azure sky ; 
 
 The clouds dark swelling with abundant rains 
 
 And charged with lightning's fire, sprang from his brains; 
 
 While over all the land and sea thus made 
 
 The mighty giant's dome-like skull was laid. 
 
 Beyond the clouds with outlines dimly seen 
 
 Where mortal beings yet had never been 
 
 Lay Asgard's beauteous fields of pure delight 
 
 Where Asas dwell in homes of silver bright. 
 
 When Gladsheim here, with golden towers shone 
 
 Complete from dome to deep foundation stone. 
 
 Three Asas left their fair and happy lands 
 
 And wandered over Midgard's lonely strands. 
 
 The grass was fresh and green beneath their feet; 
 
 The flowers filled the air with odors sweet; 
 
 The zephyrs whispered in the leafy bow'rs ; 
 
 The birds, too, sang through all the summer hours ; 
 
 Abundant game was seen on ev'ry strand 
 
 And fruit hung ready for the willing hand ; 
 
 The limpid brook that bubbled through the vale 
 
 Was bright with fish, white- clad in silver mail ; 
 
 The sunny skies were radiant over-head ; 
 
 And ocean calmly slept within his bed. 
 
 But on this beauteous world, by Asas raised 
 
 For man, no human eye had ever gazed, 
 
 No human ear had caught the melody 
 
 That murmured sweetly over land and sea. 
 
 Along the sea shore o'er the gleaming sands 
 
 The Asas wandered on through many lands 
 
85 
 
 Till growing side by side, at last they found 
 
 An ash and elm, with verdant leaflets crowned. 
 
 His hands on them the mighty Loder laid 
 
 While bright the light of Heaven round him played ; 
 
 To each he gave a beauteous human form 
 
 And filled their veins with currents red and warm ; 
 
 He gave them eyes and ears and passions fire 
 
 And filled their throbbing hearts with deep desire. 
 
 Then Odin, great all-father, blest the pair 
 
 And softly breathed on them celestial air 
 
 Endowing them with pow'rs of highest worth, 
 
 A thinking mind, and soul of god-like birth. 
 
 SOMETiriE. 
 
 "Grolden-haired child in the morn of thy being 
 Nurtured in kindness, thy parents chief treasure, 
 Will you be happier when you are older. 
 Knowing the world with its pains and its pleasures ?" 
 
 "O 1 I am longing for bliss more enchanting. 
 When I can live in some glorious sun -clime 
 Crowned with the chaplets of favoring fortune 
 In the bright days of the coming sometime." 
 
86 
 
 "Pilgrim so weary of life's heavy burdens 
 What are the signs empyrean now gleaming ? 
 See'st thou glimpses of a gladsome future 
 Over thy toilsome pathway streaming?" 
 
 "Yes, my companion in life's rugged journey ; 
 Bright are the stars in the heaven now shining 
 Lighting the realms of the blessed liereafter, 
 Realms that are free from all grief and repining." 
 
 "Storm tossed sailor on life's troubled ocean, 
 Victim of sad disappointment and sorrow, 
 Can'st thou see aught in the twilight of heaven 
 Bidding thee hope for a golden tomorrow ?" 
 
 "Omens I see in the sky's azure regions 
 Faintly revealing the light of the dawning ; 
 Speed thee, O ! speed thee, angel of brightness, 
 Hasten the light of a joyful morning ! " 
 
 "Soon shall the rays of thy golden wings shimmer 
 Darkness and shadow shall melt in the sunshine. 
 Then shall we read on banners celestial 
 Happiness dwells in the sweet coming sometime." 
 
87 
 
 MEMORIAL DAY. 
 
 O, glorious land, Columbia's strand, 
 How broad and rich thy fertile plains ! 
 
 How grandly rise to meet the skies 
 Thy lofty peaks and mountain chains. 
 
 We love thy fields that cotton yields, 
 
 Thy mountain streams that gleam with gold, 
 
 Thy prairies green where corn is seen 
 
 Thy rock-bound shores with headlands bold. 
 
 With swelling pride, we watch the tide 
 
 The Mississippi rolls along ; 
 With joy we view the lakes of blue 
 
 Where merchant sails in beauty throng. 
 
 We chant in song, our numbers strong 
 
 Our wealth and great prosperity. 
 And well we may, such glorious day 
 
 No other land may hope to see. 
 
 'Tis well to praise, in tuneful lays 
 Our patriot sires from o'er the main 
 
 Who laid in toil, 'mid war's turmoil 
 Foundations deep for Freedom's fane. 
 
 Those noble names which now are fame's 
 Who freed our land from servitude 
 
 Who fought and won with Washington 
 Shall ever claim our gratitude. 
 
Long live in rhyme their deeds sublime; 
 
 High let their names emblazoned be, 
 While men revere with love sincere 
 
 The cherished name of liberty. 
 
 But dearer yet, can we forget 
 
 Our soldier comrades, true and tried 
 
 Who bravely fell, while battling well, 
 And for our sacred Union died ? 
 
 When traitor hands in sunny lands 
 Against our cherished Union rose 
 
 They rushed to arms, mid war's alarms 
 And struggled with our country's foes. 
 
 With honor blest, they sank to rest 
 That Freedom's holy fane might stand 
 
 That truth and right o'er wrong and might 
 Should noble victory command. 
 
 Then flowers bring in blooming Spring 
 And weave them into garlands tair ; 
 
 We'll gently spread them o'er our dead. 
 Bright emblems of our loving care. 
 
 These fading flowers, the birth of showers 
 Eenew each year of coming time, 
 
 Till loyal fires each heart inspires 
 To patriotic deeds sublime. 
 
WIT BETTER THAN STRENGTH. 
 
 The sun was in the azure sky ; 
 
 The morning breeze was on the wing ; 
 
 The crystal streamlet bubbled by ; 
 
 The fields were sweet with blooms of Spring ; 
 
 And all the landscape fair and bright 
 
 Lay smiling in the glad sunlight. 
 
 The air was filled with humming bees 
 Wide searching through the flow'ry fields ; 
 The birds were singing in the trees, 
 And where the scented clover yields 
 Its fragrance to the passing breeze 
 Fed happy flocks in thoughtless ease. 
 
 I wandered far in musing mood 
 Through meadows green and valleys fair 
 Neath clinging vines and darksome wood, 
 O'er rocky hills and fallows bare, 
 Then sat me down where waters play 
 In silver chimes the livelong day. 
 
 The tinkling, chirping, bubbling sounds 
 Of bells and birds and cascades near 
 White foaming through their rocky bounds 
 Entrancing ev'ry listning ear 
 Cast o'er my mind a magic spell 
 And led me where enchanters dwell. 
 
90 
 
 Where birds of song and birds of prey 
 From lowland plains and mountains bold, 
 And birds from ocean's briny spray, 
 From torrid lands and regions cold, 
 Were gathered round on airy wing 
 To choose the feathered tribes a king. 
 
 The bird that might with pinion bold 
 The highest blue of heav'n aspire, 
 And bathe his wings in sunlight's gold. 
 Exceeding all and mounting higher 
 Should be with worthy honors blest 
 The chosen king of all the rest. 
 
 I saw them spread their wings in flight 
 
 And whirl through heaven's cloudless blue 
 
 With eager cries of wild delight. 
 
 But o'er them all the eagle flew 
 
 And downward looked with haughty glow 
 
 Upon the failing wings below. 
 
 On, on, and higher still he whirled 
 Unconscious of the wren he bore 
 Perched on his back with pinions furled, 
 And when at last his flight was o'er 
 And down he stooped from lofty skies, 
 The wren shot high and won the prize. 
 
 And then I heard the thrushes sing: 
 "The wren is small, the wren is fair, 
 The wren hath but a tiny wing 
 Yet he hath wit and wisdom rare. 
 Loud let his worthy praises ring 
 For he shall be our loving king." 
 
91 
 
 THE FIRE KING, 
 
 Aha I a Demon ? Yes, a king. 
 
 Out, out, on ev'ry breeze I fling 
 
 My banner to the trembling world, 
 
 A blazing banner high unfurled, 
 
 A banner streaked with lightning's ire 
 
 And crimsoned o'er with angry fire. 
 
 Throughout the universe I reign 
 And bright revolving worlds sustain. 
 Around the sun my robes I fold 
 In glowing dress of yellow gold ; 
 The stars that blaze in boundless space 
 Submissive yield to my embrace. 
 
 My pencil tints the beauteous sky ; 
 I fling the lightnings from on high ; 
 I warm the breeze that floats along; 
 I make the ocean currents strong ; 
 The Spring strews flowers in my path 
 And Winter flies my burning wrath. 
 
 In central earth neath oceans deep ^ 
 
 My glowing forge I ever keep j 
 
 I touch the mountains and they smoke 
 
 I rend the earth with earthquake stroke 
 
 And pour my molten lavas wide 
 
 In many a red and scorching tide, 
 
92 
 
 I course through all the veins of life ; 
 And aid in ev'ry deadly strife. 
 The steam expands at my command 
 And toils for man on sea and land ; 
 I heat the forge, I turn the mill, 
 I bless or curse where'er I will. 
 
 In gentle mood with tender hand 
 I cheer with warmth the household band 
 Like toiling slave of servile birth 
 Throughout the busy realms of earth 
 To calm and peaceful work resigned 
 I toil and labor for mankind. 
 
 But when I'm roused with fierce desire 
 I burst all bounds in dreadful ire 
 While Euin, Death, and pale Dismay 
 Like raging demons round me play 
 And on the wings of smoke and flame 
 Spread wide the terrors of my name. 
 
 Where'er my chariot wheels are whirled 
 With rumbling roar I stun the world. 
 The cow'ring nations stand aghast 
 Until my furious steeds have passed. 
 While earth and sea and sky are red 
 With pyres that light the mangled dead. 
 
GROWING OLDER. 
 
 I'm a trav'ler, wand'ring trav'ler 
 In this mystic world of motion, 
 
 Scanning all its great mutations 
 On the land and on the ocean, 
 
 All its changes ending never 
 
 Bringing joy or sorrow ever. 
 
 Ever in my lonely musings 
 
 Whisp'ring voices seem to greet me, 
 Voices from the sky surrounding, 
 
 Voices from the earth beneath me, 
 From the wat'ry flood and fountain 
 And the cliffs that top the mountain. 
 
 Deep within the secret chambers, 
 Chambers of my soul's indwelling. 
 
 Temple of the inner being 
 Tiny voices ever swelling. 
 
 Seem to whisper, " Growing older, 
 
 Slowly fading, growing older." 
 
 I behold my friends around me. 
 Note their ever changing features 
 
 As the ceaseless years roll onward, 
 
 Showing that we're transient creatures 
 
 Showing that the earth is but the portal, 
 
 Not the home of souls immortal. 
 
94 
 
 I can see their wrinkles growing, 
 
 See their beaming eyes grow dimmer, 
 
 See their noble forme grow stooping, 
 See thir fires of vigor glimmer. 
 
 Fainter, weaker, slowly colder. 
 
 Day by day they're growing older. 
 
 They are passing, swiftly passing 
 
 To the land of spirit nations ; 
 One by one they cross the river, 
 
 Gloomy verge of fair creation, 
 Leaving lifeless forms to slumber 
 Where the tombstones earth encumber. 
 
 Look upon the fairest cities 
 Grlowing in resplendent riches. 
 
 Gilded domes and marble temples, 
 Pillared halls and statued niches, 
 
 Yast cathedrals dim and solemn 
 
 Grandly built with arch and column. 
 
 Age shall fiercely come upon them 
 Crushing down and overturning. 
 
 Leaving scarce a stone to tell you 
 
 Where the seats of wealth and learning 
 
 Once received the adoration 
 
 Of some unrememb'red nation. 
 
 Ev'ry work of man's construction. 
 Aqueducts and sparkling fountains, 
 
 Moles, restraining dashing billows, 
 
 Tunnels through the granite mountains. 
 
 Ever tell the olden story 
 
 Transient is each earthly glory. 
 
95 
 
 Egypt's massive sculptures whisper 
 To the trav'ler wand'ring thither, 
 
 " Growing older, crumbling, falling, 
 Thus all fame at last must wither. 
 
 Thus all beauty, strength and glory 
 
 Soon shall be but ruins hoary." 
 
 Neath the palm tree's grateful shadow 
 Where the torrid sun is shining, 
 
 Uxmal lifts its mould'ring towers 
 
 Green with tangled vines entwining. 
 
 Wasting midst the vegetation 
 
 Into dreary desolation. 
 
 Mighty nations rise and prosper 
 Filling all the world with wonder 
 
 At their power, fame and glory, 
 Yet how soon they break asunder, 
 
 Scatt'ring fragments as the token 
 
 Of their grandeur, crushed and broken. 
 
 Earth itself is growing older ; 
 
 Eocky cliffs are downward bending. 
 Worn away by wasting ages 
 
 To the level plains descending, 
 And the ocean ever beating 
 Solid earth is ever eating. 
 
 Eivers with their mighty currents, 
 Melting snows in mountain gorges 
 
 Sweeping with their torrents seaward, 
 Yolcans, with their blazing forges. 
 
 Earth remoulding and renewing 
 
 Ever tell what Tinie is doing. 
 
96 
 
 Yiew the glorious orb of morning 
 
 Rising from its eastern bowers, 
 Shedding wide its golden sunshine 
 
 Over temples, domes and towers. 
 Wide dispersing gloom and sadness 
 Filling all the world with gladness. 
 
 When the cheerful day is wasting. 
 When the sunset tints are fading 
 
 From the dappled skies of evening. 
 When the darkness flings her shading 
 
 Over land and over ocean, 
 
 Watch the moon's majestic motion. 
 
 Gaze upon the star-lit heaven 
 
 Flashiog with its silv'ry gleaming, 
 
 Mark the comet's blazing pathway 
 
 With its light through darkness streaming, 
 
 See the meteoric sparkling 
 
 Bursting through the heaven darkling. 
 
 Look on these celestial bodies ; 
 
 Listen to the voices falling 
 From their high abodes in ether 
 
 Plainly to us ever calling, 
 Read their sad and solemn story, 
 Learn that all is transitory. 
 
 Yes ! the sun, so grand and glorious, 
 
 Ev'ry shining constellation, 
 Ev'ry orb in heaven flying 
 
 Through the depths of vast creation 
 Shall bow down in mild submission 
 Bound by mighty Time's decision. 
 
97 
 
 Dreams there were in olden ages, 
 
 Dreams of youth's perpetual fountain, 
 
 Life's elixir, health restorer, 
 
 Hid beneath some western mountain ; 
 
 Joyful was the drinker, ever 
 
 Blest with fadeless youth forever. 
 
 Heroes vainly sought these waters 
 Far exploring forests haunted, 
 
 Wand'ring over pathless regions 
 
 Full of hope, with hearts undaunted ; 
 
 They but found a spot for dying 
 
 Lonely graves neath forests sighing. 
 
 Yet the fount of youth unfading 
 
 Is not all a mere delusion, 
 Mocking all our aspirations, 
 
 Mingling hopes in strange confusion, 
 For, in heaven ever glowing 
 You may find the fountain flowing. 
 
 He who drinks those crystal waters 
 From the throne of God proceeding, 
 
 Tastes the golden fruits of heaven 
 Ev'ry hungry spirit feeding, 
 
 Safe from age, in climes supernal 
 
 Shall be blest with life eternal. 
 
 Time may roll unending cycles, 
 Wing his flight forever soaring 
 
 Blot out shining spheres from being, 
 Back to Chaos worlds restoring, 
 
 But he dares not heaven's portal 
 
 Sacred home of souls immortal. 
 
98 
 
 THE STILL SMALL VOICE. 
 
 Elijah stood upon the mount of God. 
 
 Above his head, the heavens blue and calm 
 
 No sign of storm or boist'rous wind displayed. 
 
 Far eastward, o'er the hills, the morning sun 
 
 Majestic rose, and all the world around. 
 
 With gladsome smiling, welcomed his ascent. 
 
 Around were rugged rocks and threat'ning crags 
 
 Bright gleaming in the golden light of day, 
 
 While far below, the trackless wilderness 
 
 With many an ancient grove of verdant trees 
 
 Beneath the shadow of the mountain, slept 
 
 In quiet solitude, a dreamless sleep. 
 
 With outstretched arms and eyes that anxious seemeJ 
 
 To pierce the airy veil that round him hung, 
 
 To heaven's king the kneeling prophet prayed ; 
 
 " Lord, God of Hosts ! most jealous have I been 
 
 For thee ; for Israel, with wicked hands, 
 
 Forsaking all thy covenants, have thrown 
 
 Thy altars down, and, with the sword, slain 
 
 Thy prophets. I, e'en I alone, remain 
 
 And now, through all the land, my life they seek." 
 
 Eijah rose and stood before the Lord 
 
 And for his coming waited silently. 
 
 A mighty wind arose and smote in wrath 
 
 The mountain's crest; it clave the rocks in twain 
 
And rent the strongest cedars, but the Lord 
 
 Came not in howling storm. An earthquake shook 
 
 The rock built mountains, but the Lord was not 
 
 In earthquake shock ; then red'ning all the sky 
 
 Came fire and Horeb blazed with lightning's glare. 
 
 The Lord came not in fire's consuming flame. 
 
 He came at last ; a still small voice it was, 
 
 And then the prophet knew the Lord had come, 
 
 And bowing down his veiled face, received 
 
 In meek humility his gentle words. 
 
 Long years have passed. No prophet stands to-day 
 
 Before the Lord on Horeb's holy mount 
 
 But now, as then, the still small voice is heard. 
 
 The Lord comes not in wild tumultuous din, 
 
 Nor takes the stony heart by fierce assault, 
 
 But softens and subdues by influence sweet 
 
 And leads by love divine the willing soul. 
 
 In hours of joy it speaks of gratitude ; 
 
 In grief and sorrow, consolation gives ; 
 
 On hearts despairing sheds the light of hope 
 
 And leads the wand'ring pilgrim home to God. 
 
100 
 
 JOHN'S LETTER. 
 
 Within my happy home terrene, 
 The summer of my life serene, 
 Dear John ! beloved friend of yore ! 
 Tho' far removed from mortal eyes, 
 Tho' dwelling in celestial skies 
 To thee I fain would write once more. 
 
 Beneath some cheerful shady wood 
 
 I often sit in musing mood 
 
 And think of thee, so long unseen, 
 
 While futile questions come and go 
 
 Like rippling waves that gently flow 
 
 Where brooklets lave their margins green. 
 
 Where are you now, I ask once more, 
 Dost haunt some fair enchanted shore. 
 Some mystic haven far away ? 
 Dost e'er revisit earthly climes 
 Once sacred held in olden times, 
 Or dost thou sleep in cold decay ? 
 
 Knowest thou aught what lives we lead. 
 Of thoughts we cherish in our creed, 
 Of hopes that beckon on with smiles. 
 Of toil and care that clogs the soul, 
 Of griefs that on our bosoms roll 
 Like surges over sea born isles ? 
 
101 
 
 Wben death's grim shadow o'er thee fell 
 And Daught its darkness could dispel, 
 And faith and hope and love were vain, 
 Say, wast thou conscious how we grieved, 
 And how our heavy hearts bereaved 
 Were anguished long with bitter pain ? 
 
 And since the sad and weary day 
 When we entombed thy mortal clay, 
 Obedient to the will of fate. 
 Hast thou e'er grieved and suffered pain, 
 Or hast thou found that death was gain 
 The birth of an elysian state ? 
 
 Hast thou on heavenly pinions borne 
 
 Far toward the golden gates of morn 
 
 Searched out the mysteries of life, 
 
 Or farther still with bolder sweep 
 
 Explored wide the starry deep 
 
 And sought new worlds of strange delight ? 
 
 Hast thou yet learned what life may be 
 Or what is fate and destiny ? 
 Why Sin and Evil had a birth, 
 Why Sorrow with despondent air 
 Should curse mankind with black despair 
 And Death should sway the realms of earth ? 
 
 Please come to me on angel wing 
 And answer to this letter bring 
 That I may know thy present state, 
 For oh ! how deeply yearns my soul 
 For one sweet word from heaven's goal 
 To shadow forth our future state. 
 
102 
 
 Within that strange mysterious clime 
 Where blazing suns n'er mount sublime 
 Nor radiant beam with sunny day, 
 Within that world, so dark, unknown, 
 Whose gates are kept by death alone 
 For but a single glance I pray. 
 
 Come, lift the veil I now implore 
 And let me look beyond the shore 
 That hides thee in its silent gloom 
 And see with eyes supremely blest 
 Some glimpses of that heavenly rest 
 Ere grim despair my hopes consume. 
 
 And now farewell ! no more I'll write 
 While doubts bedim my feeble sight. 
 Though I should never greet thee more, 
 Nor know what destinies are thine 
 While earthly claims our thoughts confine, 
 Yet, time may all our joys restore. 
 
 HEAVEN'S WELCOHE. 
 
 How strangely now, dear John, we meet 
 And with increased aifection greet 
 Each other on this mystic shore, 
 This spirit land unknown and strange 
 Where we with tireless limbs may range 
 And Death may never part us i^ore. 
 
103 
 
 'Tis twenty years ago, long years, 
 Dear John, since we with many tears 
 Kesigned thee sadly to thy God ; 
 Folded thy hands in sweet repose 
 Weary no more with earthly woes 
 And laid thee neath the verdant sod. 
 
 The twigs we planted o'er thy tomb 
 Now stately trees in radiant bloom 
 Cast fragrant showers o'er the ground 
 While midst the boughs that o'er it bend 
 The birds and bees their music blend 
 With many a sweet harmonious sound. 
 
 I need not tell how many more 
 Our loved and cherished friends of yore 
 Now rest within that hallowed ground ; 
 Their souls entranced in blissful rest 
 Have gained these regions of the blest 
 And greeted thee with joy profound. 
 
 'Tis joy indeed to meet thee now, 
 To see the light upon thy brow 
 That tells of heav'n's ecstatic climes, 
 To see once more thy loving face. 
 And clasp thy form in sweet embrace, 
 And talk with thee of olden times. 
 
 As thoughtful still as when on earth 
 You meet me at my new life's birth 
 When first in heav'n I ope my eyes. 
 You guide my wand'ring steps aright. 
 You lead me into purer light 
 And feast my eyes with glad surprise. 
 
104 
 
 And now I loDg to hear you tell 
 
 How disembodied spirits dwell 
 
 Within this sweet unfading clime. 
 
 Do aspirations still inspire ? 
 
 Do souls in heaven e'er desire 
 
 To walk progressions heights sublime? 
 
 And more, I fain would hear, dear friend, 
 How far these shining realms extend 
 Beyond my vision's utmost bound, 
 What spirits roam these happy plains, 
 What fadeless joys this heav'n contains, 
 And where God's dwelling place is found. 
 
 Shall we with angel eyes behold 
 
 Our Father's throne more bright than gold 
 
 Or ever see his form divine? 
 
 Shall we but gaze upon him here 
 
 In glorious works that we revere, 
 
 The wondrous proofs of his design ? 
 
 Ah, yes ! though we may never gaze 
 
 Upon the infinite of days 
 
 Or all his mighty realms explore; 
 
 Tho' we may never comprehend 
 
 How far eternities extend 
 
 Yet we may learn forever more. 
 
 Where dwell those spirits ftiir 1 pray 
 Whom once I knew in forms of clay, 
 The loved and lost of days gone by ? 
 For heaven's bright and glorious dome 
 Can never be a perfect home 
 Without their loving presence nigh. 
 
105 
 
 'Tis well ! You say they all are here 
 Awaiting me with words of cbeer 
 Keady to welcome me on high ; 
 E'en now the bliss of paradise 
 Falls o'er my form in golden guise 
 And sunlight gleams from heaven's sky. 
 
 Yes, yes ! now o'er those crystal tow'rs 
 O'ertopping all these heav'nly bow'rs 
 Once more their radiant forms I see ; 
 With outstretched hands and joyous eyes 
 Illumined by empyrean skies 
 They're bending now to welcome me. 
 
 O Death ! how long I feared thy pow'r 
 And strove to shun the dreaded hour 
 When I should feel thy heavy hand, 
 But now in heaven's light I see 
 How true a friend thou wast to me 
 And bless thee for thy fatal brand. 
 
 Farewell, oh earth ! beloved sphere 
 Sweet home of all my heart held dear 
 When youthful hopes inspired my soul ; 
 Farewell to all thy rich domains 
 To all thy joys and all thy pains 
 I've reached at last a heav'nly goal. 
 
 Hail, hail ! supernal glorious rest 
 O bright abode ! supremely blest. 
 My joyous home forever more. 
 O forms of fair angelic mould 
 Me, in thy loving arms enfold 
 A welcome sweet, to heaven's shore. 
 
THE DEATH OF BALDER. 
 
 In Asgard's bright and glorious land 
 Wlnere Odin rules with mighty hand, 
 Unwelcome came the goddess Grief. 
 With haggard brow and woeful face 
 She sought the god's assembly place 
 And stood before Valhal's great chief. 
 
 " O Goddess ! never seen before 
 Upon fair Gladsheim's golden shore, 
 Bright home of all the noble slain. 
 Why thus intrude in Odin's hall 
 Or let thy gloomy shadow fall 
 Within the Asa's glad domain ? " 
 
 " 'Tis Balder's doom I come to tell. 
 
 For Balder, gapes the gates of Hel, 
 
 Harsh grating on their hinges wide; 
 
 For Balder fair, and pure, and white. 
 
 The radiant god of summer light. 
 
 Must down through nine dark regions glide. 
 
 Fair Balder out of Gladsheim hurled 
 Must ride through Helheim's gloomy world 
 And grope through many a darksome vale, 
 Must cross the Slid's envenomed wave. 
 Pass by the Hel-hound's gnipacave 
 And hear the howling monster wail. 
 
107 
 
 For well I know that Balder'8 sleep 
 Is filled with dreams that terror heap 
 Upon his pure and god-like soul. 
 These grievous dreams his fate foreshow 
 And shadow forth the future woe 
 That soon o'er Ida's plain shall roll. 
 
 High mounting Heimdal's bridge of flame 
 From Midgard's lower realm I came 
 To sing in rhymes the fate's decree 
 But since my painful task is done, 
 I'll leave awhile great Odin's son 
 And visit Ean beneath the sea." 
 
 Then anxious, all the gods divine 
 
 Who dwellings have in Asaheim 
 
 And all the goddesses likewise 
 
 For Balder's sake a council held 
 
 That threatened woes might be dispelled, 
 
 From Gladheim's ever sunny skies. 
 
 Then good it seemed to all the gods 
 To send throughout the world's abodes 
 Beseeching ev'ry being known, 
 All things that in creation dwell. 
 From Muspelheim to realms of Hel 
 To bring no grief to Odin's throne. 
 
 All species then assurance gave, 
 The cloud, the storm, the briny wave. 
 Earths, and rocks, and metals bright, 
 All things that in the waters play. 
 That dwell on earth, in realms of day 
 Or grope in regions dark as night. 
 
108 
 
 Then all their vows and pledges giv'n, 
 To injure not the light of heav'n 
 And darkness bring o'er all the earth, 
 Fair Frigg received and bore away 
 To Gladsheim's realms of glorious day 
 To cheer the gods of Asa birth. 
 
 Then up rose Odin fearing still 
 Some cause o'erlooked forboding ill, 
 And full on Sleipner's back he laid 
 His golden saddle risted o'er 
 With mystic runes of god-like lore 
 And downward rode to Helheim's shade. 
 
 A dog he met from Helheim's shore 
 
 Begrimed and stained with crimson gore 
 
 Upon his breast and cruel jaws ; 
 
 At Odin, lord of magic song, 
 
 He gaped and barked with bowlings long 
 
 Or tore the earth with iron claws. 
 
 Still onward dauntless Odin rode 
 
 Till gained was Hel's malign abode ; 
 
 His course he stayed, the east gate reached, 
 
 For well he knew that neath a mound 
 
 The vala's grave could here be found, 
 
 Where long in death her bones had bleached 
 
 Then looking north with deep intent 
 Before the vala's grave he bent 
 And chanted loud a magic song ; 
 With runes and spells and potent charms 
 He soon aroused from Death's cold arms 
 The vala with prophetic tongue. 
 
109 
 
 THE VALA. 
 
 Who Cometh now so great and strong 
 My rest to vex with mystic song ? 
 The snow hath decked my lowly bed, 
 The cruel rains have beaten me, 
 The dews have moistened silently ; 
 Uncounted years have I been dead. 
 
 VEGTAM. 
 
 Vegtam is now the name I bear 
 And Yaltam's noble blood I share. 
 From earth I came, on thee to call. 
 For whom are golden couches spread, 
 Why precious rings their brilliance shed 
 O'er benches bright in Helheim's hall ? 
 
 THE VALA. 
 
 For Balder doomed to Helheim's shade 
 The well brewed mead is ready made 
 And with a shield is covered o'er. 
 Prophetic words will I declare ; 
 The race of gods shall soon despair ; 
 Now silent let me speak no more. 
 
 VEGTAM. 
 
 Nay Vala, be not silent yet 
 
 Lest it may cause you deep regret 
 
 And fill your soul with sad unrest. 
 
 Whose hand shall strike the grievous blow 
 
 Wide dark'ning all the world with woe 
 
 And Balder send to shades unblest ? 
 
110 
 
 THE VALA. 
 
 Blind Hoder, god of rayless night, 
 His shining brother clad in light 
 Shall hither hurl to Hel's domain. 
 By strong compulsion have I spok'n 
 Now let the magic spell be brok'n, 
 That I may sleep in peace again. 
 
 VEGTAM. 
 
 For silence on this gloomy shore 
 O Yala, plead with me no more ; 
 My stay is short in Niffelheim ; 
 One question yet; I must know all ; 
 Who will avenge fair Balder's fall 
 And Hoder punish for his crime ? 
 
 THE VALA. 
 
 In winter's halls of icy glare 
 To Odin, Eind a son shall bear 
 Who, ere his age shall count one day, 
 Who, ere he wash, or comb, shall rise 
 And Hoder hurl from darkened skies 
 Now let me silent sleep, 1 pray. 
 
 Then back to heaven Odin rode 
 To seek Yalhal's divine abode 
 And mingle with the Asas bright. 
 To none advice he gave or sought 
 Nor ever told what he had brought 
 From Helheim's gloomy realms of night. 
 
Ill 
 
 The Asas in their sun-gilt home 
 Where Yalhal gleams with silver dome 
 Disturbed by Balder's dreams no more 
 Since ev'ry creature vows had giv'n 
 To injure not the light of heav'n 
 Kept festal games on Asgard's shore. 
 
 When jealous Loke, the god of fire, 
 Beheld pure Balder and his sire 
 Eejoicing in the light of heav'n 
 Dispensing gladness ev'rywhere 
 With tender love and thoughtful care 
 His breast with burning ire was riv'n. 
 
 In womanly disguise arrayed 
 The Fensal palace he assayed 
 And there the fatal secret learned ; 
 The mistletoe of feeble growth 
 Unfettered by the sacred oath 
 For Balder's life was not concerned. 
 
 Eejecting all disguise he sought 
 The mistletoe with mischief fraught 
 Then from the shrub a branch he bore. 
 Eeturning through the Asa lands, 
 The deadly fragment in his hands, 
 He gained Yalhal's effulgent door. 
 
 Believing now that Balder's light 
 Would ever bless the Asa's sight 
 Upon his scathless form, a shining mark 
 They hurled their arras in god-like sport 
 Nor ever fear the gods resort 
 Can lose its glory or grow dark. 
 
112 
 
 Loke found the gods in bright array 
 Engaging thus in harmless fray 
 While sightless Hoder stood aside. 
 Thus Loke : "O Hoder, god of night ! 
 Why standest thou withdrawn from light 
 Nor weapon hurl at Odin's pride?" 
 
 HODER. 
 
 I cannot see the shining mark 
 Since all the world to me is dark 
 And gloom o'ercasts my burdened mind ; 
 I hear the spacious courts around 
 With arms and joyous sports resound 
 But not for me, for I am blind. 
 
 Here take this harmless parasite 
 While I direct thy arm aright 
 And Balder honor by a blow ; 
 Though dim and sightless are thine eyes 
 Thou canst this Asa world surprise 
 And thus thy mighty power show. 
 
 Against the dazzling god of day 
 Blind Hoder hurled the deadly spray 
 And smote him with a fatal blow ; 
 Predestined to the realms of Hel 
 Bereft of life fair Balder fell 
 And left the world in speechless woe. 
 
113 
 
 With horror stricken eyes amazed, 
 With unexpected sorrow dazed, 
 The gods beheld fair Balder fall. 
 No power divine, however great 
 Could Balder save from destined fate 
 Or back from Death his soul recall. 
 
 Far southward shorn of golden beams, 
 Where red the angry fire-world gleams, 
 The sun went down mid lurid skies, 
 While from the realms of Angerbode 
 The cloud enveloped storm fiends rode 
 And filled the world with tears and sighs. 
 
 Thus Balder's death in ancient time 
 Eecorded in poetic rhyme, 
 Speaks sadly of the dying year. 
 The sun forsakes the northern skies. 
 The sullen clouds of winter rise 
 And darkly sweep in wild career. 
 
 A cry is heard, a sound breaks forth 
 Through all the regions of the north 
 Kesounding far through realms of night : 
 All life in sea and earth and sky 
 With plaintive voice and weeping eye 
 Is heard to pray for blessed light. 
 
114 
 
 RELICS. 
 
 Come John I and look my relics o'er 
 The fragments of the life that's gone, 
 
 Mementoes cherished more and more 
 As swift the wheels of time roll on, 
 
 And let us live past hours again 
 
 Tho' some were fraught with grief and pain. 
 
 Within this trunk so black and old 
 
 You scarce would give it storage room, 
 
 I've hoarded treasures rich as gold 
 And fragrant with the sweet perfume 
 
 Of many a glorious halcyon day 
 
 That beamed athwart my youthful way. 
 
 Here is a worn-out pocket-book, 
 
 My father's present long ago ; 
 My notes and coin it gladly took 
 
 And served me honestly, I know, 
 So now it rests with honors rife 
 Keminder of my boyhood life. 
 
 These letters, too, now soiled and old 
 And faded by the breath of time, 
 
 Within their written pages hold 
 
 Sweet memories and thoughts sublime 
 
 That stir the heart and fire the brain 
 
 With youthful love and hope again. 
 
115. 
 
 This misbive is a valentine 
 
 Penned by some gentle hand, perchance, 
 To touch my heart v/ith fire divine 
 
 And fill my soul with love's romance, 
 And tho' unknown the author's name, 
 These lines I've saved from wasting flame. 
 
 A motto, John ! a heart and hand ; 
 
 Around it cling sweet memories 
 Of one who dwells in Beulah-land ; 
 
 Upon her grave neath willow trees 
 The rains have shed their crystal tears 
 And flowers bloomed for many years. 
 
 A silver lock of hair is here 
 Reminder of a loved one gone 
 
 Whose memory is ever dear ; 
 
 Whose life like summer morning's dawn 
 
 Bright shining o'er th' awak'ning earth, 
 
 Filled many a heart with joy and mirth. 
 
 Behold ! I pray, this golden star 
 
 Upon a ground of azure hue, 
 I brought it from the fields of war 
 
 Where it had beamed o'er ranks of blue 
 Till torn away by bursting shell 
 Down from its silken field it fell. 
 
 This crimson sash I used to wear 
 When bugle sounded dress parade ; 
 
 This sword, too, its honors share 
 For sure it was a trusty blade; 
 
 Companion near, by night, by day 
 
 Wherever duty led the way. 
 
116 
 
 This photo of a manly form, 
 
 My comrade in a fierce campaign, 
 
 Fell by my side in battle's storm 
 
 While death was raging o'er the plain 
 
 And gave his strong and hopeful life 
 
 A victim to Kebellion's strife. 
 
 Another here who sank to rest 
 
 Not hurled to death by shot or shell 
 
 But weak and faint, with want oppressed 
 Died in a Southern prison hell 
 
 Where loving hands might n'er compose 
 
 His pallid form in death's repose. 
 
 And here is one with eyes of blue 
 That ever shone with joyous light 
 
 Whose heart was warm, whose love was true, 
 Whose beauty made the world more bright. 
 
 But never more with sweet refrain 
 
 Shall her dear voice be heard again. 
 
 These shadow forms no voice may bring, 
 No hand with loving clasp extend 
 
 Yet still they come on mem'ry's wing 
 As silent as the dews descend, 
 
 And backward lead us thro' the years 
 
 Now fled with all their joys and tears. 
 
117 
 
 GAMBRINUS. 
 
 Pluto sat among his minions 
 Shaking from his bat-like pinions 
 Sulph'rous odors clinging there, 
 Then he hung his head in sadness, 
 Showing signs of burning madness 
 As he groaned in deep despair. 
 
 Soon erect he stood, and higher 
 Than the flames of hell aspire 
 Up he raised his mighty hand, 
 Waved away the billows burning 
 Eed tides from his palace turning 
 Then addressed his chosen band. 
 
 " Hark, ye servants of the Devil, 
 Chosen ministers of evil ! 
 Faithful have ye ever been 
 In my labors truly aiding 
 Earth forever boldly raiding 
 Teaching men to live in sin. 
 
 Sorrow now has fallen round us. 
 Dark despair hath stronger bound us, 
 Sharper gnaws each stinging pain ; 
 Hades, known in olden story, 
 Now is losing ancient glory, 
 Labors for it seem in vain. 
 
118 
 
 Fewer, fewer souls are falling 
 Hither drawn by Hades calling 
 Urging them to choose our land; 
 Much I fear we're losing power 
 Day by day and hour by hour 
 On the sunlight's glowing strand. 
 
 On the highway strait and narrow 
 Cheered by hope and free from sorrow, 
 Pilgrims throng toward heaven bright. 
 While our road so broad and pleasant 
 Well prepared for king or peasant 
 Almost vacant pains my sight. 
 
 Many gins and snares I've planted, 
 Sylvan groves with spirits haunted, 
 Temples built to Yenus fair, 
 Bachanalian altars founded. 
 Trumps of fame and glory sounded. 
 Tempting men our realms to share. 
 
 Now, companions of my choosing, 
 Speak! what plan will stop our losing 
 And our wonted power gain ? 
 Joy to us consists in doing, 
 Leading men to hopeless ruin. 
 Crowning them with endless pain." 
 
 Each one then of Pluto's minions 
 Volunteered his fell opinions 
 How to fill the realms below, 
 How to drag to Hell's dark regions 
 Human souls in countless legions 
 Doomed to all consuming woe. 
 
119 
 
 Avarice, Murder, Lust, and Anger, 
 Rose with haste and noisy clangor ; 
 Alcohol and Nicotine 
 Lifted up their loathsome features ; 
 War and other hateful creatures 
 Crowding round their king were seen. 
 
 Many plans were then invented 
 And with cunning speech presented 
 To the crafty King of Hell ; 
 In proposing what was needed 
 Appetite alone succeeded 
 In a plan that promised well, 
 
 Pluto heard his plan with gladness 
 Caring naught for all the sadness 
 It would bring upon the world. 
 Out from Hades swiftly flying 
 Came to where the Rhine was sighing 
 Then his dusky pinions furled. 
 
 Soon a son he sired, Gambrinus, 
 Who became as fond of wine as 
 Bachus, born of race divine. 
 By his cunning father nourished 
 Young Gambrinus grandly flourished 
 In his castle on the Rhine. 
 
 'Twas a cold and bleak October 
 When the fields were sad and sober 
 Mid the valleys of the Rhine; 
 All the vintage had been wasted 
 By the summer frosts that tasted 
 Of the yet unripened wine. 
 
120 
 
 When Gambrimis saw the ruin 
 Caused by Frost's untimely wooing 
 Urged by sateless appetite, 
 Craving e'er and n'er contented^ 
 He the foamy beer invented 
 Brewed from barley clean and white. 
 
 Knowing not his baneful dower 
 
 Was the gift of Pluto's power 
 
 Only planned for human woes, 
 
 Soon the people gathered round him 
 
 And with honors, King they crowned him, 
 
 King of Heaven's untiring foes. 
 
 Then his image, crowned and burnished 
 With a foaming goblet furnished 
 Emblem of his godless reign, 
 Could be seen in public highways. 
 Gardens, groves, and secret byways, 
 Where his worship cursed the plain. 
 
 Then did sorrow, crime, and anguish, 
 Many a noble spirit vanquish. 
 Many a happy home destroy ; 
 Love of God was growing colder, 
 Evil doers, waxing bolder, 
 Eeveled oft in maudlin joy. 
 
 Now, Gambrinus rules the nations 
 Thro' the power of his potations 
 While his father Pluto winking 
 Smiles to see unnumbered millions 
 Thronging to his dark pavilions 
 Downward led by love of drinking. 
 
121 
 
 THE VOICES OF THE WIND. 
 
 I hear the winds go sighing by, 
 
 I feel their touch upon my cheek, 
 I see them whirl the clouds on high 
 
 O'er lowland plain and mountain peak. 
 With dance and song they bound along 
 
 Like smiling maidens young and fair, 
 Or rush on noisy pinions strong 
 
 Like eagles thro' the ambient air. 
 
 They kiss the sleeping infant's lip, 
 
 Or bear away the mourner's sigh ; 
 They waft along the gallant ship. 
 
 Or play with sands on deserts dry. 
 Howe'er they come, howe'er they go. 
 
 In boistrous mood or gentle mien, 
 With angry shriek or whisper low, 
 
 They stories tell of what they've seen. 
 And oh, while sweeping round the earth, 
 
 What scenes of love, or hopeless pain, 
 Of tearful grief, or noisy mirth, 
 
 The winds have seen on land and main. 
 When over happy plains they fly. 
 
 Or rustle thro' the fragrant trees 
 They seem to sing of a brighter sky, 
 
 Of happy hearts and careless ease. 
 
122 
 
 Again, when o'er the azure deep 
 
 They spread the rain clouds dark and dun 
 Until the misty heavens weep, 
 
 They chant a song of harvests won. 
 
 When soughing thro' the lonely pines. 
 
 Or sighing over dreary plains 
 Where dim the sunlight shines, 
 
 My soul in sadness then complains. 
 
 They seem to tell of fading flow'rs, 
 Of autumn's sear and falling leaves. 
 
 And of those melancholy hours 
 
 When dying Nature gently grieves. 
 
 When dull and slow they murmur on 
 Like dirges from some distant shore, 
 
 I think of faces pale and wan 
 
 Whom I shall here behold no more. 
 
 But when they come with angry sweep 
 High tossing storm clouds thro' the sky, 
 
 They tell how sea born surges leap 
 
 Where ship-wrecked sailors sink and die. 
 
 'Tis then their wrathful bowlings fill 
 
 The air with dread portentous wails, 
 And stoutest hearts grow faint and chill. 
 
 And all their boasted courage fails. 
 Perchance they come to tell of mirth 
 
 When tinkling bells and bounding sleighs 
 Go skimming o'er the snow white earth 
 
 Among the merry Christmas days. 
 
123 
 
 Sometimes, on zephyr's gentle wing, 
 
 With fragrant breath from flow'ry plains 
 
 They sing of verdant, sunny spring. 
 And echo far the thrushes' strains. 
 
 'Tis then they speak in joyous rhyme 
 
 Of new born life on ev'ry shore, 
 And of some glorious coming time 
 
 When death and storm shall fright no more. 
 
 THE BROOKLET, 
 
 Flowing soft with gentle murmur. 
 Gliding thro' some shady nooklet. 
 Sometimes dashing midst the boulders, 
 I'm a sparkling, happy brooklet 
 Blest with pure, unfailing fountains 
 Nurtured midst the purple mountains. 
 
 Winding thro' the pleasant valley. 
 Full of life, and rich in beauty, 
 Laughing in the golden sunshine, 
 Joyful I perform my duty 
 Whether summer showers thrill me 
 Or congealing winters chill me. 
 
124 
 
 Would you know the good I'm doing, 
 Ask the flowers that bless my coming, 
 Ask the birds that sing above me, 
 Ask the bees around me humming, 
 Ask the cattle when they seek me 
 And the children when they greet me. 
 
 Like a song that soothes the mourner, 
 Like a hand that helps the weary, 
 Like the light that guides the erring, 
 Like the love that makes one cheery, 
 So my waves with fond caressing 
 Show my life is spent in blessing. 
 
 THE ANQEL'5 SONG. 
 
 O fleecy cloud that floats on high 
 Across the arching, azure sky 
 Come down to me on airy wing, 
 And tell me what the angels sing I 
 Sing they of happy, cloudless skies 
 Found in some distant paradise 
 Where spirits free from earth-born clay 
 Bask in the light of endless day ? 
 
125 
 
 Sing they of Truth that never dies, 
 Of Beauty tinting all the skies, 
 Of Patience meek, enduring long, 
 And Hope that ever groweth strong ? 
 
 Sing they of Mercy, pure, divine 
 That rules in heaven with sway benign. 
 Or sing they more of Justice true 
 That gives to ev'ry soul his due ? 
 
 Sing they of Pow'r omnipotent 
 That never fails, whose force unspent 
 Still fills unmeasured space afar 
 With world on world and star on star ? 
 
 Ah ! now I hear the word you bring 
 That tells me what the angels sing : 
 They sing of Love and nothing more 
 For Love is king on ev'ry shore. 
 
 THE SEARCH FOR GOD. 
 
 His voice, methinks, I sometimes hear, 
 I tremble then with love and fear ; 
 His footsteps with a muffled tread 
 I seem to catch with solemn dread. 
 
126 
 
 'Tis then I raise my sleeping soul 
 Like runner striving for the goal, 
 And forth I rush to seek His face, 
 Or grasp His form in love's embrace. 
 
 With bated breath I forward bound, 
 With hurried steps I spurn the ground, 
 But dark and darker still the clouds 
 Enwrap my soul in sable shrouds. 
 
 I listen for His footfall's sound 
 
 But only silence, deep, profound ; 
 
 Then back with careful pace I go 
 
 To searcTi through all the realms below. 
 
 Upon the right I seek Him far 
 But gloomy doubts my vision bar, 
 Upon the left my search is vain, 
 My heart grows sick with longing pain. 
 
 His work I see, above, below. 
 On every side, where'er I go, 
 His love revealed in nature's laws. 
 His wisdom in effect and cause. 
 
 I cannot see His smiling face, 
 His holy form I cannot trace, 
 I cannot grasp His hand divine, 
 Or lean upon His breast benign. 
 And yet, I know I'm in His care, 
 I feel His presence everywhere ; 
 His love shall wipe each tear away. 
 And fill my heart with endless day. 
 
127 
 
 A NORSEHAN'S DEATH. 
 
 Come hither round my couch, my loving friends! 
 
 Behold me ! Am I dying? Is my soul 
 
 So long possessor of this house of life 
 
 About to open wide its closeless door 
 
 And pass its threshold to return no more? 
 
 Is it about to say the last farewell 
 
 To ev'ry earthly thing the heart holds dear 
 
 And seek a fairer home in Asa land ? 
 
 Is this the end a Yiking chief should choose, 
 
 A man who nothing feared except to sin ? 
 
 Oh ! would that on the bloody field of death, 
 
 Beneath the shadow of Valkyrie's wing, 
 
 Contending bravely with heroic men 
 
 Amidst the din of loud resounding war, 
 
 My deathless soul had sought on wings sublime 
 
 The beauteous dwelling place where Odin reigns. 
 
 Think ye dear friends, my fatal hour has come ? 
 
 Must love be anguished by our partings sad. 
 
 And must I travel thro' that mystic gate 
 
 That opens into worlds unknown and strange? 
 
 Ah, yes ! Your tearful faces answer me ; 
 
 Then bear me forth beyond these palace walls 
 
 That I may see the glorious sun once more. 
 
 I want to die beneath the open sky 
 
 Where I can hear the happy robins sing. 
 
128 
 
 I want to see, once more, in distance dim 
 
 The misty clouds upon the mountain tops, 
 
 Once more behold the forests dark and old 
 
 That I have known since childhood's merry morn. 
 
 Oh ! let my eyes grow dim while looking out 
 
 Upon the world so beautiful and grand 
 
 A symbol of its great Creator's love, 
 
 And let the thoughts that last, with ling'ring steps, 
 
 March thro' the portals of my dark'ning brain. 
 
 With loving trust look up to God supreme. 
 
 ^ mmm mr wmm * 
 
I