157. HIAWATHA'S HUNTING. HEN the little Hiawatha THEN Learned of every bird its language, Learned their names and all their secrets, How they built their nests in summer, Where they hid themselves in winter, Talked with them where'er he met them, Called them "Hiawatha's chickens." Of all beasts he learned the language, Learned their names and all their secrets, How the beavers built their lodges, Where the squirrels hid their acorns, How the reindeer ran so swiftly, Why the rabbit was so timid, Talked with them where'er he met them, Called them "Hiawatha's brothers." Then Iagoo, the great boaster, He, the marvellous story-teller, Made a bow for Hiawatha; From a branch of ash he made it, From an oak bow made the arrows, Tipp'd with flint, and wing'd with feathers, 66 Go, my son, into the forest, Where the red deer herd together; Proudly, with his bow and arrows. And the birds sang round him, o'er him, "Do not shoot us, Hiawatha." Sang the robin, sang the bluebird, For his thoughts were with the red deer; And as one in slumber walked he. Like the birch-leaf palpitated, As the deer came down the pathway. Scarce a twig moved with his motion, Stamped with all his hoofs together, Throbbed, and shouted, and exulted, LONGFELLOW 158. THE PERI AT THE GATE [From LALLA ROOKн.] OW happy," exclaimed this child of air, "HOW "Are the holy spirits which wander there, Mid flowers that never shall fade or fall: Though mine are the gardens of earth and sea, And the stars themselves have flowers for me, One blossom of heaven outblooms them all! แ "Though sunny the lake of cool Cashmere, With its plane-tree isle reflected clear, And sweetly the founts of that valley fall: Though bright are the waters of Sing-su-hay, And the golden floods that thitherward stray, Yet oh! 'tis only the blest can say How the waters of heaven outshine them all! "Go, wing thy flight from star to star, From world to luminous world, as far As the universe spreads its flaming wall : T. MOORE. 159. THE BECALMED SHIP. [From THE ANCIENT MARINER.] THE fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, THE The furrow followed free; We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea. Down dropt the breeze, the sails dropt down, 'Twas sad as sad could be; And we did speak only to break The silence of the sea! All in a hot and copper sky, The bloody sun, at noon, Right up above the mast did stand, Day after day, day after day, We stuck, nor breath nor motion; As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean. Water, water everywhere, And all the boards did shrink: Water, water everywhere, Nor any drop to drink! The very deep did rot: alas! About, about, in reel and rout, The death-fires danc'd at night: The water, like a witch's oils, Burnt green, and blue, and white. And every tongue, through utter drought, We could not speak no more than if There passed a weary time: each throat At first it seemed a little speck, It moved and moved, and took at last |