PS 3129 .M6 Copy 1 Ite ^ (lass ■\a/'^ U" WILLIAM AVATSON WALDRON. ATALA; OR, LOVE IIST ^ DESERT. A Metrical Indian Legend. AND OTHER POEMS. BY WILLIAM WATSON WALDKOX, A.B., AUTHOR OF "HUGUENOTS OP WESTCHESTER/' " IRVING AND COTEM- PORARIES," ETC. " I versify events, not poetize." Old Play. PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR. New- York THOMAS WHITTAKER, 2 BIBLE HOUSE. .IV 4 ^- CONTENTS Atala. Canto I . , Canto II. PAGE .. 7 ...20 Miscellaneous Poems. St. James's Churcli, Fordliam ^* In Memory of J. D. Wolfe 38 To the Prince of Wales 40 From tlie Greek ^^ In Memory of Annie E. Buslinell 43 Hymn...; 44 Watcliman, what of the Xight ? 45 Sister of Charity 4G Adam's Morning- Hymn 49 When shall I pray ? 51 Weep not for Him '^~' In Memory of Joseph Walker 54 On viewing- the Interment of L. B. Smitli 56 Jephthah's Vow 57 Hour of Love 59 Greenbank "^ Chieftain and Child 61 Landing of the Normans 63 Wreck of the Arctic 64 Address to George IV 6G Acrostic 6^ What is Life ? 68 Last Lav of the Minstrel '^^ PEOEM. The subject of the principal poem, in this collection, was suggested when translating, from the original, the beautiful tale of Chateaubriand which bears the same name. While thus employed, the idea occurred how suitable might the subject be to poetic numbers, and with it that some favored child of song would attune his harp to the praise of Atala. Such desire not being responded to (for what bard ever waked his chords thus to melody?), the following poem was the result of the refiectiou. In investing the heroine in a new garb, and introducing her, so arrayed, to the world, the author must submit to the kindness of friends and the judg- ment of the public. The shorter pieces were suggested by the various subjects they are designed to illustrate. ATALA CANTO I. And who is slie — the blue eyed southern child, Of clime more known to man, but scarce less wild? High-born (a birth at which the herald smiles, Without a 'scutcheon on his length'ning files ), Of a long race, the valiant and the free — Pure offspring- she of savage chivalry." Byron. At gray-eyed morn, briglit noon, or dewy eve, 'Tis truly wise the busy throng to leave. And list to tales that lead the mind to grieve O'er virtue's trials ; e'en her very tears More precious are than vacant smile that cheers The midnight revel.— Then, my Muse, on wing Aerial, come : attune the minstrel string To strains immortal, yet what mortals sing. Of kings I trow not : princes, heroes brave. Who, through the paths of gh^ry, seek the grave. The last asvlum of the lord and slave : -« ATALA. To things so lofty ne'er my soul aspires, Tlie forest children limit her desires, Needing nor angel voice nor seraph lyres. A peerless maid I sing — the Muse commands ; A daughter of the sun, throughout all lands In story famed. On her had bonnteous Heaven Conferred those gifts but rare to mortals given. Pare as the virgin snow she stood confest, No troubled waves to agitate a breast Where every virtue found a safe abode, No fiend to torment, canker to corrode ; Each aspiration breathed alone for God. III. The chords I touch for him who gained the heart Or Florida's fair child : he used no art, No charm, no spell save such as nature sends When into one two kindred souls she blends. The flame was mutual — each for other burns ; How blest when heart to heart such flame returns ! They name it friendship, love ; Heaven either sends ; Say, say, where one begins, the other ends ? In those fair regions when the white man came From realms beyond the deep, it lives in fame ATALA, That Atala, a daughter of the wild, Wacousta loved— a guileless forest child ; From hostile tribes they sprang : a Natchez he ; She, from the Seminoles, of high degree ; Her father was a sachem : he (the loved) A captive. Whom has love divine not proved ? V. Wacousta in a border fend was ta'en, And to an aged elm, with ozier chain, Most straitly^bound : before the dawn of day It was decreed, another solar ray lie never more should view ; but Heaven's decree's More potent e'en than those which monarchs please. And still her guardian angels hover round Declaring, ''Mercy seek and mercy's found:' VI. While the lone captive lay, in soft repose. Fond dreams, of by-gone days, assuage his woes ; The placid smile that played around his brow Declared he thought of other scenes than now. He felt his bonds relax and fain would rise, But sleep, the wretch's friend, still sealed his eyes; He wakes, but does he wake among the free, Whose heart no more partakes of liberty ? VII. Bright did the silver moonbeams shed their rays Onfall around ; Wacousta, with amaze, 10 ATALA. Saw hanging o'er him, and his chains unbind. A heavenly form ! Can such the wretched find As from above they wing their aerial flight ? Was it a vision that entranced his sight ? May the bright seraphim extend their care To such as fortune's favors rarely share ? VIII. He spake : " Canst thou be that famed Liberty ? Boundless as ocean and as tempest free : Unlimited as space, beyond all view. Endless as time, as unbeginning too, Who on a stranger now confers thy charms : Thy smile alone captivity disarms. Come, gentle Deity, oh ! succor me, Still be my breast a tranquil home to thee I" IX. " Or canst thou be that goddess from above Who takes the charge of those who truly love. Who binds such kindred hearts as Heaven unit33 Still close and closer by the nuptial rites, Blending them into one ? If so, I'm free, If I be but that kindred soul to thee ; Take me, oh ! take to those blest abodes, AVhere men are an gals ! angels less than gods ! The maiden blushed such ardent words to hear ; The blush responded — for her tongue, from fear, ATALA. 11 Refused expression ; still the heaving breast Dechircd the struggling thought, the eye confest That passion ruled within ; she turned to see If aught could view the mental agony Around, above — no witness to view-; She spake — her sighs were many, w^ords were few. XI. " Warrior, I am not she to whom is given To rule o'er hearts that fate unites in heaven ; Nor yet fair Liberty : but of this earth I am — to mortal parents owe my birth. My sire was Simghan, ruler of that band That led thee captive, and throughout the land Of Seminoles the chief— nor more is he ; Tell me, in turn, youth ! who thou mayst be ?" A quick reply the falt'ring tongue denies, Still, still 'tis told expressive through the eyes, The glance, the blush respond 'neath southern skies. What though a darker hue may dye the cheek, The glowing tinge the passions well bespeak. Nature, in mystic character, imparts A mutual eloquence to kindred hearts. Thus mute the captive stood as 'twere some spell Retained a heart too full its griefs to tell. Till from its flowings these effusions fell. 12 ATALA. '' A Natchez I — who, who can fail to know Great Outalissa of the Silver Bow ? T came of him, long famed in martial tale That still makes maid and matron's cheek grow pale; A chief redoubtable. Alas ! no more , He'll lead his tribe to glory, as before. In the same foray I was captive led. My father fought till numbered with the dead ?" XIV. As so Wacousta of his sire declares. The cheek of Atala alternate wears That changing tint the feelings oft portray, And the soul's inmost workings well betray ; From pale to deepest crimson eke it glows. And, in its turn, each changing passion shows. Such varying hue emotion strong bespeaks. And stillness reigns till thus she silence breaks. XV. " Art thou the son of that redoubted chief, Him of the Silver Boio ? His life was brief For all the mighty actions of renown That wreathed his brows with many a laurel crown ; E'en though he has extinguished all my race, Nor is there left a solitary trace Of what we were — still, still I'll be to thee A guardian spirit — be so thou to me !" ATALA. 13 XVI. By speech relieved, the heart resumes' its peace, And throes that swell the bosom quickly cease ; Tears cease to flow, as if their cause were o'er, Their balming ministry avails no more. She takes a brilliant cross whose sparkling light Subdued the thick'ning shades of falling night Then gath'ring round : on the young captive's breast The gem she hung : her feelings thus exprest. XVII. " Young warrior, take this cross : salvation seek Through Him who died for all : who lowly, meek, Gave e'en his life for me : a rev'rend seer Of the pale strangers first conveyed it here : St. Aubry is he named, a holy man : Far in the wilderness he dwells : you can Seek his lone cave : with him and heaven e'er dwell : Remember Atala ! Farewell ! farewell ! XVIII. As the fair herald of salvation seems About to wing her flight to realms of dreams — For surely from a spirit-land was she Who thus could set a stranger captive free — Wacousta turned a supplicating eye. Expressing more than language could supply : Thoughts, erst in bondage held, their fetters break. And feelings long imprisoned, quickly spake. 14 ATA.LA. XIX. '* Stay, stay tliee, stranger ! Though yon brilliant orb, Whose light must all the lights of heaven absorb, My fathers long have worshiped ; still with thee I'll bow to this fair cross thou gav'st to me : And leave me not. 'Tis safety to be near "Where'er thou art. With thee what heart can fear ? Oh ! fly with me ! We'll make the world a home. And to its farthest verge together roam. XX. *' Sacred to friendship let us raise a shrine, Remote from cities — seek a love divine. Some sacred spot by human foot untrod ; A life less dear to man, more true to God, We'll pass : nor shorter road from earth is given Than what the wilderness affords to heaven : Where love and friendship yield alternate charms : Fly, fly with me, nor shun a lover's arms." He spake — but ere another word could say, A cloud of dust obscures the light of day. With trembling heart he saw the hostile foe Approach, well armed with quiver, shaft, and bow. No time was left for counsel to explore. He burst his swaths and to the thicket bore The maiden ; reckless they of hound or horn That still assailed the ear till break of morn. AT ALA. 15 XXII. Thus on life's troubled ocean were they tost, Till in the mazes of the forest lost ; No guiding star emits a friendly ray, Through tlie dark foliage, to illume the way ; No friendly word salutes the listening ear. No sound familiar heard, no voice to cheer ; On silence naught intrudes ; the beasts that roain Anon may break it as they seek their home. XXIII. Onward they strayed until Aurora's dawn Presents a broad savannah, where the fawn Sported around upon the velvet lawn. Their seats they take within the fragrant bowers That nature formed of incense-breathing flowers. Where trees of varied tint aftord a shade, And fruits as varied as their hues displayed, Birds of all plumage pass from spray to spray, And add new charms to while the time away. XXIV. Escambia, of the Florida's fair streams, The fairest she to wake soft fancy's dreams. Meandered by, in murmurs loud and deep. That well might weary senses lull to sleep ; Her mirror waters shed around the scene Such charms as mortal eyes have seldom seen : On every side enchantment's spells it threw, Such spells as waking e^es but rarely view. 1 le House, Ne^v-Yorlc. Daily Communings with God, Cloth gilt, $0 75 Selected chiefly from the writinj;:8 of Archbishop Leighton, and were made with a view to their use as family prayers. Prayers and Meditations. Cloth gilt, 75 These prayers were composed in the French language, in the year 1693, by George William, Count of Kniphuysen Nienvort, Translated by an American. Little Things in Every-day Life, Cloth gilt, 50 Being a series of Short Meditations on the follow- ing subjects: Little Duties, Little Kindnesses, Little Efforts, Little Cares, Little Pleasures, Little Sins. Saved Noiv, A True Narrative. By Anna Shipton. Cloth gilt, 60 Thoughts for Weary Hours. Cloth gilt, 9. 50 Dedicated " to all those who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adTersity." Eaj'uest Thoughts for Every Day, Cloth gilt, $0 76 By the Author of "Thoughts for Weary Hours," and a companion vohime, The Feast Enjoyed. Illustrative of the Lord's Supper. B7 Rev. Dr. Tyng. Cloth gilt, 76 The denunciation. An Essay on Worldly Amusements, By Rev. Dr. Bedell. Cloth, 30 Personal Piety. A Help to Christians to Walk Worthy of their Calling. Cloth gilt, 75 A Tiny Footfall tvithin the Golden Gate, By the Author of " Fountain of Liv- ing Waters." Cloth, 25 Hopeful Words for the Sick and Suf- fering. Square, cloth gilt, 1 00 For the comfort of those to whom the Lord has appointed Bai/s of Weariness this volume has been prepared, and to them is affectionately dedicated. Short Family Prayers^ ivith Hymns. Cloth, 30 The Name above every Name ; or, De- votional and Practical Meditations on the Scriptural Titles of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. By Rev. Samuel Cutler. Cloth gilt, 1 25 The Communicants Spiritual Com- panion. By the Rev. Thomas Haweis, D.D Cloth, • 40 Ctiristian Titles. A Series of Practical Meditations. By Rev. Dr. Tyng. Cloth gilt, 1 25 Tlie Life of God in the Soul of Man ; or, the Nature and Excellency of the Christian Relio-ion By the Rev. Henry ScouCxAT.l. ClotS ^^^« Christ on the Cross, An Exposition of the Twenty-second Psalm. By the Rev. John Stevenson. Cloth, ^ ^^^ The Lord our She2)herd. An Exposition of the Twenty-third Psalm. By the same Author. Cloth. '^^ The Table of the Lord, By Caeoline Fry, ^ ^^ A practical Treatise on the Ordinart/ Operations of the Holy Spirit. By the Rev. G. S. Faber. Cloth, ^0 The Life of the Apostle St, John, In u series of Practical Discourses. By the Right Rev. Alfred Lee, D.D. Cloth 90 A Voice in the Wilderness ; or, the Har- binger of Jesus. A series of Practical Dis- courses on the Life and Ministry of John the Baptist. By the same Author, 90 The Bich Kinsman; or, Muth the Moabitess. By Rev. Dr. Tyng. Cloth,... 1 25 Lenten Thovffhts, Being a series of Brief Meditations on the Collects, Epistles, and Gospels for the Season of Lent. Cloth, 00 Sacred roetry. Selected from the works of the Rev. Charles Wesley, M.A. Edited bv a lay member of the Protestant Episco- ^ o no pal Church, '^ "" Beauties of Sacred Literature, A Com- pendium of Christian Doctrine, Faith and Practice. Selected from various authors. A companion volume to " Sacred Poetry." $3 00 Expository Lectures on St, JPanVs Epistle to the Colossians, By Bishop Wilson, of Calcutta. Cloth, 1 00 Books by the late Rev. G. T. Bedell, D.D. EzekieVs Vision, By the late Rev. G. T. Bedell, D.D. 32mo, gilt, 30 Js it Well ? By the same Author. 32mo, gilt, 30 It is Well, By the same Author. 33mo, gilt, 30 Onward, By the same Author. 32mo, gilt,. . 30 Renunciation, By the same Author. 32mo, gilt, 30 Way^narJiS, By the same Author. 32mo, gilt, 30 ^" Any of the above sent by mail on receipt ol advertised price. Catalogues sent on application. Address THOMAS WHITTAKER, No. 2 Bible House, N. Y. J UN 14 1906 LIBRARY OF 018 604 245 1