The Poetical Works of Mrs. Leprohon Part 5

TOLONGA, MINAHITA, DOLBREKA.

TOLONGA.

Daughter of a dauntless race, Now draws nigh the solemn hour, Which, O maid of childlike grace, Well might make the bravest cower!

Thundering down the awful steep, Hear Niagara's waters leap, Tossing, surging, flecked with foam, Child, my child, they call thee home!

MINAHITA.

I am ready! See, I wear Wampum belt and garments gay; Mark my smoothly braided hair, Decked with sh.e.l.ls and wild flower spray, My wrists their silver circlets bear, Polished with maiden's patient care; Unshrinking from the stormy foam, I'm ready for my wild, chill home!

DOLBREKA.

Girl, thou art a worthy bride For Niagara's fierce King!

Men will think of thee with pride, Maidens will thy courage sing, Sachems tell of thee with praise, Warriors on thee proudly gaze, While pure and fair as ocean foam, Thou pa.s.sest to the Spirit's home.

_Chorus of Indian Braves._

We have launched the light canoe Upon Niagara's waters blue, 'Tis white and bright as an ocean sh.e.l.l, Swifter than the sea gull's wing, Worthy the hand that will guide it well, Amid the foam wreaths the wild waves fling.

_Chorus of Indian Women._

And it is freighted with fragrant flowers, The brightest culled 'mid our forest bowers, Fruits ripened beneath the sun's warm rays-- And silky ta.s.sels of golden maize, And with them the maid who is doomed to bring These gifts to the pitiless Cataract King.

_Chorus of Male and Female Voices._

Fair are the flowers, but she's fairer far, Lovelier she than the Evening Star, Pure as the moonbeams that tremulous s.h.i.+ne, Flooding the earth with their sheen divine.

VI.

TOLONGA.

Oh weary heart! I have wandered lone Close to Niagara's awful throne; I've gazed till his roar and fearful might Have dulled mine ear and blinded my sight; I've heard the hoa.r.s.e and terrible song Of the mountain waves as they rolled along, And plunged down the watery precipice steep, Like white-robed furies that whirl and leap.

I thought of my child's fair form and face Grasped in their stormy, cruel embrace, The tender arms that have clasped me oft In dying agony flung aloft, The delicate limbs a helpless prey To their maddened rage, or demon play; And I turned aside in anguish wild.

Oh, wretched Father! My child, my child!

But I must be calm and act a part, Nor show the fierce grief that rends my heart; A Seneca chief must learn to hide His pangs 'neath a mask of stoic pride.

VII.

MINAHITA. _Prayer._

Hear me, Thou great and glorious One!

Protector of my race!

Whom in the far-off Spirit Land I shall soon see face to face; I ask Thee, humbly bending Before Thy Mighty Throne, To cleanse me from all stain of sin And make me soon thine own: My people guard and bless, All wrongs and ills redress, Their enemies subdue, And for the youth, the life, I freely yield, Give them peace, plenty, victory in the field, And honest hearts and true.

VIII.

TOLONGA. _Duet_

My daughter, let me press thee Close to my yearning heart, Ah! once more softly bless thee Ere we for ever part!

I adjure thee not to falter In the trial now so nigh, But, as victim on the altar, A Sachem's daughter die.

MINAHITA.

Father, courage will be given In that awful hour supreme, When all earth's ties are riven, And I float down death's dark stream.

_Both Voices._

Yes, courage not to falter In the trial now so nigh, But, as victim on the altar, A Sachem's daughter die.

IX.

OREIKA.

One lingering, last, farewell embrace I take!

MINAHITA.

Yes, one for thine and one for Osseo's sake.

OREIKA.

How solace him beneath his trial sore?

MINAHITA.

Tell him I loved him well, but honor more.

_Chorus--Voices approaching._

The moon is gilding the Cataract's brow, And tinging his foam-robe as white as snow,-- Like silver it gleams 'Neath the bright moon beams, Whilst soft and slow The waters flow; For his lovely bride he is waiting now!

OREIKA.

The hour is come! despair--despair!

TOLONGA.

Girl, such idle words forbear!

MINAHITA.

In the Spirit Land we shall meet again, Where unknown are parting and grief and pain.

X.