The Legend of Wissahickon.While yet the Pale-face ne’er had peepedWithin that tranquil vale,—where steepedIn sombre, fir-clothed heights,[336]and boundOn either side[337]with moss-grown groundAnd craggy cliff,[338]a goodly stream,[339]With many a rippling noontide gleam,Nor ceased her daily tithes to payTo good Queen Ocean[340]far away—Deep sheltered from the hostile worldThe smoke from many a tent up-curled,Where, round the wigwam fire, red damesTalked o’er their tawny lords’ brave names,While they, with feathered death and bowAnd trackless step, now quick, now slow,Gave chase, in neighboring hills,[341]the game,There pasturing heedless, till death cameIn one fell dart. Life surely here—With naught but Manitou[342]to fear—Seemed sweet to those blest sons of men;Yet it did find its cares e’en then,For lo![343]at last there came a dayOf sorrow and of dread dismay,When from a lowering cloud that spread[344]Across the summer blue o’erhead,Their God-chiefs awful voice was heard,As like the thunder rolled each word:“My children, I am called awayWhere other souls my presence pray,But ere I leave ye I must askOne boon of all,—a simple task’Twill be to those whose faith hath borneThe tests of fiery stake or thorn.Yet some I know among ye, whoWill find it hard to sin eschewWhen left alone, and all must know,An evil spirit dwells belowThese rocks, and ever guards his chanceTo tempt ye, with his fiendish danceAnd wicked ways, to but forsakeMy laws for aught that he may make;Lo, should he rise when I am gone,Let no temptation lead ye onTo overstep the bounds here setAbout your hunting grounds, nor letAught of shape, however fairAnd good it seems, entice ye whereMy word hath said ye nay.”Thus said,The cloudy spirit, then vanishedInto the air from whence it grew;And now a wild commotion[345]flewThroughout the warriors gathered there;And wondered all how soon, and where,This new-brought ill its face should show,To tempt their Eve-like hearts; when lo!Ere two short days had dragged away,Within a distant wood,[346]where laySoft twilight[347]ever ’mong the trees,Strange music stirred, and on the breezeOf evening came wild shouts of mirth,[348]That seemed to wake the very earth,[349]So boisterous were they, and, alas!The youths could not a moment passTill they with stealthy steps were broughtClose to that God-forbidden spot;And there, as o’er a lofty browThat hemmed the darksome glade, they nowDid creep,[350]behold! a wondrous sight,[351]Such as their soul’s most fancied flightHad ne’er conceived of, met their eyes,Even like some glimpse of paradise:A Pale-face spirit,[352]lank and grim,With horns and claws that gave to himA weird, unearthly look, sat highUpon a rock that towered nigh;And while below[353]fair damsels playedWild antics through the woodland shade,He to loud fits of mirth gave vent,As near the maidens came and went,And cast before him laurels wreathedIn crowns; then—ere the watchers breathed,Lest they should be discovered there—Lo! quick as lightning ’thwart the air,The fiendish god turned full to view,And ere the astonished gazers knew,Close by their side[354]with devilish smileHe stood, and thus addressed them,[355]whileWith spell-bound gaze—their eyes made dimWith fascination—now from himFrom whom they had no power to go,Did wander to the scene below,[356]Where still,—though now the sun had gone—To music soft, the dance went on:—“Would’st thou, oh man, to pleasure blind,Seeking a gift thou ne’er shalt find,Led by a promise far astray[357]Along that hard and narrow way,Would’st thou no more sad anguish know,Nor lose the chase with feeble bow?Would’st thou be free,[358]and tread once moreThe grounds your fathers roamed of yore?Wouldst thou find game in every copseAnd stream,[359]and gather plenteous cropsIn autumn, yet know naught of careNor labor, but with damsels fair[360]And waxen, pass life’s endless daysAlong my smooth and flower-girt ways?Would’st thou, in fine, the height of bliss[361]Attain? I offer[362]ye all this,And more; come, follow me.”He ceased,And like some semi-human beast,His blood-cast eye the crowd scanned o’er,Where some, entranced, could hear no more,But, weak of heart, with outstretched hand,Forgetting quite their God’s commandOf yester morn, were quickly ledAdown the cliff[363]with dizzy headAnd burning brain, and those, alas!From mortal view for aye did pass;But some there were who still delayed,Not resolute and half afraidTo follow; lingering there they stoodTill lo! the dawn[364]crept through the wood;And on its gentle face, behold![365]A strange-shaped cloud, fringed round[366]with gold,Came darkly flitting through the sky,Till seemingly it had drawn nighAbove[367]that gathering in the vale.Then quick the subtle fiend turned pale,As from the frowning mists o’erheadA mighty voice and angry said:—“Depart, ye tempter of the night!Hence! Dare ye show your face in light?Did I not bid thee well bewareLest thou shouldst fall in thine own snare?”The spirit fled,[368]but scarce had leftHis seat, when some great earthquake cleftThe rock beneath his feet in twain,And deep he plunged[369]between. In vainHe strove to rise again, for quickThe waters from a hillside creek[370]O’erran that pool,[371]that marks to-dayThe spot where Satan passed away.Then kindly smiled the ManitouOn those around, and said:—“To youMy children, who have yet withstoodThe things of evil for the good;To you whose faith has ne’er been turnedAstray by sin, well have ye earnedThe joys foretold; so now go forth;The boundless woods from south to north,From east to west, are yours to roamFor aye, till I shall call ye home.”—John L. Cooper.Gestures.[336]A. O.[337]B. H. O.[338]A. O.[339]D. F.[340]Left. H. L.[341]H. O.[342]Ind. fin. A. O.[343]Raise hand.[344]V. A. O.[345]B. H. L.[346]H. F.[347]P. H. F.[348]H. F.[349]D. F.[350]P. D. F.[351]B. H. O.[352]Left. A. F.[353]D. F.[354]Left. H. L.[355]Look to left.[356]D. F.[356a]Speak to H. O.[357]H. O.[358]B. H. O.[359]Left. H. O.[360]D. F.[361]Ind. fin. A. O.[362]B. O. H.[363]D. F.[364]H. L.[365]A. L.[366]A. Sw.[367]A. F.[368]Left. H. O.[369]Left. D. O.[370]Left. H. L.[371]Left. D. O.
The Legend of Wissahickon.While yet the Pale-face ne’er had peepedWithin that tranquil vale,—where steepedIn sombre, fir-clothed heights,[336]and boundOn either side[337]with moss-grown groundAnd craggy cliff,[338]a goodly stream,[339]With many a rippling noontide gleam,Nor ceased her daily tithes to payTo good Queen Ocean[340]far away—Deep sheltered from the hostile worldThe smoke from many a tent up-curled,Where, round the wigwam fire, red damesTalked o’er their tawny lords’ brave names,While they, with feathered death and bowAnd trackless step, now quick, now slow,Gave chase, in neighboring hills,[341]the game,There pasturing heedless, till death cameIn one fell dart. Life surely here—With naught but Manitou[342]to fear—Seemed sweet to those blest sons of men;Yet it did find its cares e’en then,For lo![343]at last there came a dayOf sorrow and of dread dismay,When from a lowering cloud that spread[344]Across the summer blue o’erhead,Their God-chiefs awful voice was heard,As like the thunder rolled each word:“My children, I am called awayWhere other souls my presence pray,But ere I leave ye I must askOne boon of all,—a simple task’Twill be to those whose faith hath borneThe tests of fiery stake or thorn.Yet some I know among ye, whoWill find it hard to sin eschewWhen left alone, and all must know,An evil spirit dwells belowThese rocks, and ever guards his chanceTo tempt ye, with his fiendish danceAnd wicked ways, to but forsakeMy laws for aught that he may make;Lo, should he rise when I am gone,Let no temptation lead ye onTo overstep the bounds here setAbout your hunting grounds, nor letAught of shape, however fairAnd good it seems, entice ye whereMy word hath said ye nay.”Thus said,The cloudy spirit, then vanishedInto the air from whence it grew;And now a wild commotion[345]flewThroughout the warriors gathered there;And wondered all how soon, and where,This new-brought ill its face should show,To tempt their Eve-like hearts; when lo!Ere two short days had dragged away,Within a distant wood,[346]where laySoft twilight[347]ever ’mong the trees,Strange music stirred, and on the breezeOf evening came wild shouts of mirth,[348]That seemed to wake the very earth,[349]So boisterous were they, and, alas!The youths could not a moment passTill they with stealthy steps were broughtClose to that God-forbidden spot;And there, as o’er a lofty browThat hemmed the darksome glade, they nowDid creep,[350]behold! a wondrous sight,[351]Such as their soul’s most fancied flightHad ne’er conceived of, met their eyes,Even like some glimpse of paradise:A Pale-face spirit,[352]lank and grim,With horns and claws that gave to himA weird, unearthly look, sat highUpon a rock that towered nigh;And while below[353]fair damsels playedWild antics through the woodland shade,He to loud fits of mirth gave vent,As near the maidens came and went,And cast before him laurels wreathedIn crowns; then—ere the watchers breathed,Lest they should be discovered there—Lo! quick as lightning ’thwart the air,The fiendish god turned full to view,And ere the astonished gazers knew,Close by their side[354]with devilish smileHe stood, and thus addressed them,[355]whileWith spell-bound gaze—their eyes made dimWith fascination—now from himFrom whom they had no power to go,Did wander to the scene below,[356]Where still,—though now the sun had gone—To music soft, the dance went on:—“Would’st thou, oh man, to pleasure blind,Seeking a gift thou ne’er shalt find,Led by a promise far astray[357]Along that hard and narrow way,Would’st thou no more sad anguish know,Nor lose the chase with feeble bow?Would’st thou be free,[358]and tread once moreThe grounds your fathers roamed of yore?Wouldst thou find game in every copseAnd stream,[359]and gather plenteous cropsIn autumn, yet know naught of careNor labor, but with damsels fair[360]And waxen, pass life’s endless daysAlong my smooth and flower-girt ways?Would’st thou, in fine, the height of bliss[361]Attain? I offer[362]ye all this,And more; come, follow me.”He ceased,And like some semi-human beast,His blood-cast eye the crowd scanned o’er,Where some, entranced, could hear no more,But, weak of heart, with outstretched hand,Forgetting quite their God’s commandOf yester morn, were quickly ledAdown the cliff[363]with dizzy headAnd burning brain, and those, alas!From mortal view for aye did pass;But some there were who still delayed,Not resolute and half afraidTo follow; lingering there they stoodTill lo! the dawn[364]crept through the wood;And on its gentle face, behold![365]A strange-shaped cloud, fringed round[366]with gold,Came darkly flitting through the sky,Till seemingly it had drawn nighAbove[367]that gathering in the vale.Then quick the subtle fiend turned pale,As from the frowning mists o’erheadA mighty voice and angry said:—“Depart, ye tempter of the night!Hence! Dare ye show your face in light?Did I not bid thee well bewareLest thou shouldst fall in thine own snare?”The spirit fled,[368]but scarce had leftHis seat, when some great earthquake cleftThe rock beneath his feet in twain,And deep he plunged[369]between. In vainHe strove to rise again, for quickThe waters from a hillside creek[370]O’erran that pool,[371]that marks to-dayThe spot where Satan passed away.Then kindly smiled the ManitouOn those around, and said:—“To youMy children, who have yet withstoodThe things of evil for the good;To you whose faith has ne’er been turnedAstray by sin, well have ye earnedThe joys foretold; so now go forth;The boundless woods from south to north,From east to west, are yours to roamFor aye, till I shall call ye home.”—John L. Cooper.Gestures.[336]A. O.[337]B. H. O.[338]A. O.[339]D. F.[340]Left. H. L.[341]H. O.[342]Ind. fin. A. O.[343]Raise hand.[344]V. A. O.[345]B. H. L.[346]H. F.[347]P. H. F.[348]H. F.[349]D. F.[350]P. D. F.[351]B. H. O.[352]Left. A. F.[353]D. F.[354]Left. H. L.[355]Look to left.[356]D. F.[356a]Speak to H. O.[357]H. O.[358]B. H. O.[359]Left. H. O.[360]D. F.[361]Ind. fin. A. O.[362]B. O. H.[363]D. F.[364]H. L.[365]A. L.[366]A. Sw.[367]A. F.[368]Left. H. O.[369]Left. D. O.[370]Left. H. L.[371]Left. D. O.
While yet the Pale-face ne’er had peepedWithin that tranquil vale,—where steepedIn sombre, fir-clothed heights,[336]and boundOn either side[337]with moss-grown groundAnd craggy cliff,[338]a goodly stream,[339]With many a rippling noontide gleam,Nor ceased her daily tithes to payTo good Queen Ocean[340]far away—Deep sheltered from the hostile worldThe smoke from many a tent up-curled,Where, round the wigwam fire, red damesTalked o’er their tawny lords’ brave names,While they, with feathered death and bowAnd trackless step, now quick, now slow,Gave chase, in neighboring hills,[341]the game,There pasturing heedless, till death cameIn one fell dart. Life surely here—With naught but Manitou[342]to fear—Seemed sweet to those blest sons of men;Yet it did find its cares e’en then,For lo![343]at last there came a dayOf sorrow and of dread dismay,When from a lowering cloud that spread[344]Across the summer blue o’erhead,Their God-chiefs awful voice was heard,As like the thunder rolled each word:“My children, I am called awayWhere other souls my presence pray,But ere I leave ye I must askOne boon of all,—a simple task’Twill be to those whose faith hath borneThe tests of fiery stake or thorn.Yet some I know among ye, whoWill find it hard to sin eschewWhen left alone, and all must know,An evil spirit dwells belowThese rocks, and ever guards his chanceTo tempt ye, with his fiendish danceAnd wicked ways, to but forsakeMy laws for aught that he may make;Lo, should he rise when I am gone,Let no temptation lead ye onTo overstep the bounds here setAbout your hunting grounds, nor letAught of shape, however fairAnd good it seems, entice ye whereMy word hath said ye nay.”Thus said,The cloudy spirit, then vanishedInto the air from whence it grew;And now a wild commotion[345]flewThroughout the warriors gathered there;And wondered all how soon, and where,This new-brought ill its face should show,To tempt their Eve-like hearts; when lo!Ere two short days had dragged away,Within a distant wood,[346]where laySoft twilight[347]ever ’mong the trees,Strange music stirred, and on the breezeOf evening came wild shouts of mirth,[348]That seemed to wake the very earth,[349]So boisterous were they, and, alas!The youths could not a moment passTill they with stealthy steps were broughtClose to that God-forbidden spot;And there, as o’er a lofty browThat hemmed the darksome glade, they nowDid creep,[350]behold! a wondrous sight,[351]Such as their soul’s most fancied flightHad ne’er conceived of, met their eyes,Even like some glimpse of paradise:A Pale-face spirit,[352]lank and grim,With horns and claws that gave to himA weird, unearthly look, sat highUpon a rock that towered nigh;And while below[353]fair damsels playedWild antics through the woodland shade,He to loud fits of mirth gave vent,As near the maidens came and went,And cast before him laurels wreathedIn crowns; then—ere the watchers breathed,Lest they should be discovered there—Lo! quick as lightning ’thwart the air,The fiendish god turned full to view,And ere the astonished gazers knew,Close by their side[354]with devilish smileHe stood, and thus addressed them,[355]whileWith spell-bound gaze—their eyes made dimWith fascination—now from himFrom whom they had no power to go,Did wander to the scene below,[356]Where still,—though now the sun had gone—To music soft, the dance went on:—“Would’st thou, oh man, to pleasure blind,Seeking a gift thou ne’er shalt find,Led by a promise far astray[357]Along that hard and narrow way,Would’st thou no more sad anguish know,Nor lose the chase with feeble bow?Would’st thou be free,[358]and tread once moreThe grounds your fathers roamed of yore?Wouldst thou find game in every copseAnd stream,[359]and gather plenteous cropsIn autumn, yet know naught of careNor labor, but with damsels fair[360]And waxen, pass life’s endless daysAlong my smooth and flower-girt ways?Would’st thou, in fine, the height of bliss[361]Attain? I offer[362]ye all this,And more; come, follow me.”He ceased,And like some semi-human beast,His blood-cast eye the crowd scanned o’er,Where some, entranced, could hear no more,But, weak of heart, with outstretched hand,Forgetting quite their God’s commandOf yester morn, were quickly ledAdown the cliff[363]with dizzy headAnd burning brain, and those, alas!From mortal view for aye did pass;But some there were who still delayed,Not resolute and half afraidTo follow; lingering there they stoodTill lo! the dawn[364]crept through the wood;And on its gentle face, behold![365]A strange-shaped cloud, fringed round[366]with gold,Came darkly flitting through the sky,Till seemingly it had drawn nighAbove[367]that gathering in the vale.Then quick the subtle fiend turned pale,As from the frowning mists o’erheadA mighty voice and angry said:—“Depart, ye tempter of the night!Hence! Dare ye show your face in light?Did I not bid thee well bewareLest thou shouldst fall in thine own snare?”The spirit fled,[368]but scarce had leftHis seat, when some great earthquake cleftThe rock beneath his feet in twain,And deep he plunged[369]between. In vainHe strove to rise again, for quickThe waters from a hillside creek[370]O’erran that pool,[371]that marks to-dayThe spot where Satan passed away.Then kindly smiled the ManitouOn those around, and said:—“To youMy children, who have yet withstoodThe things of evil for the good;To you whose faith has ne’er been turnedAstray by sin, well have ye earnedThe joys foretold; so now go forth;The boundless woods from south to north,From east to west, are yours to roamFor aye, till I shall call ye home.”—John L. Cooper.
While yet the Pale-face ne’er had peepedWithin that tranquil vale,—where steepedIn sombre, fir-clothed heights,[336]and boundOn either side[337]with moss-grown groundAnd craggy cliff,[338]a goodly stream,[339]With many a rippling noontide gleam,Nor ceased her daily tithes to payTo good Queen Ocean[340]far away—Deep sheltered from the hostile worldThe smoke from many a tent up-curled,Where, round the wigwam fire, red damesTalked o’er their tawny lords’ brave names,While they, with feathered death and bowAnd trackless step, now quick, now slow,Gave chase, in neighboring hills,[341]the game,There pasturing heedless, till death cameIn one fell dart. Life surely here—With naught but Manitou[342]to fear—Seemed sweet to those blest sons of men;Yet it did find its cares e’en then,For lo![343]at last there came a dayOf sorrow and of dread dismay,When from a lowering cloud that spread[344]Across the summer blue o’erhead,Their God-chiefs awful voice was heard,As like the thunder rolled each word:“My children, I am called awayWhere other souls my presence pray,But ere I leave ye I must askOne boon of all,—a simple task’Twill be to those whose faith hath borneThe tests of fiery stake or thorn.Yet some I know among ye, whoWill find it hard to sin eschewWhen left alone, and all must know,An evil spirit dwells belowThese rocks, and ever guards his chanceTo tempt ye, with his fiendish danceAnd wicked ways, to but forsakeMy laws for aught that he may make;Lo, should he rise when I am gone,Let no temptation lead ye onTo overstep the bounds here setAbout your hunting grounds, nor letAught of shape, however fairAnd good it seems, entice ye whereMy word hath said ye nay.”Thus said,The cloudy spirit, then vanishedInto the air from whence it grew;And now a wild commotion[345]flewThroughout the warriors gathered there;And wondered all how soon, and where,This new-brought ill its face should show,To tempt their Eve-like hearts; when lo!Ere two short days had dragged away,Within a distant wood,[346]where laySoft twilight[347]ever ’mong the trees,Strange music stirred, and on the breezeOf evening came wild shouts of mirth,[348]That seemed to wake the very earth,[349]So boisterous were they, and, alas!The youths could not a moment passTill they with stealthy steps were broughtClose to that God-forbidden spot;And there, as o’er a lofty browThat hemmed the darksome glade, they nowDid creep,[350]behold! a wondrous sight,[351]Such as their soul’s most fancied flightHad ne’er conceived of, met their eyes,Even like some glimpse of paradise:A Pale-face spirit,[352]lank and grim,With horns and claws that gave to himA weird, unearthly look, sat highUpon a rock that towered nigh;And while below[353]fair damsels playedWild antics through the woodland shade,He to loud fits of mirth gave vent,As near the maidens came and went,And cast before him laurels wreathedIn crowns; then—ere the watchers breathed,Lest they should be discovered there—Lo! quick as lightning ’thwart the air,The fiendish god turned full to view,And ere the astonished gazers knew,Close by their side[354]with devilish smileHe stood, and thus addressed them,[355]whileWith spell-bound gaze—their eyes made dimWith fascination—now from himFrom whom they had no power to go,Did wander to the scene below,[356]Where still,—though now the sun had gone—To music soft, the dance went on:—“Would’st thou, oh man, to pleasure blind,Seeking a gift thou ne’er shalt find,Led by a promise far astray[357]Along that hard and narrow way,Would’st thou no more sad anguish know,Nor lose the chase with feeble bow?Would’st thou be free,[358]and tread once moreThe grounds your fathers roamed of yore?Wouldst thou find game in every copseAnd stream,[359]and gather plenteous cropsIn autumn, yet know naught of careNor labor, but with damsels fair[360]And waxen, pass life’s endless daysAlong my smooth and flower-girt ways?Would’st thou, in fine, the height of bliss[361]Attain? I offer[362]ye all this,And more; come, follow me.”He ceased,And like some semi-human beast,His blood-cast eye the crowd scanned o’er,Where some, entranced, could hear no more,But, weak of heart, with outstretched hand,Forgetting quite their God’s commandOf yester morn, were quickly ledAdown the cliff[363]with dizzy headAnd burning brain, and those, alas!From mortal view for aye did pass;But some there were who still delayed,Not resolute and half afraidTo follow; lingering there they stoodTill lo! the dawn[364]crept through the wood;And on its gentle face, behold![365]A strange-shaped cloud, fringed round[366]with gold,Came darkly flitting through the sky,Till seemingly it had drawn nighAbove[367]that gathering in the vale.Then quick the subtle fiend turned pale,As from the frowning mists o’erheadA mighty voice and angry said:—“Depart, ye tempter of the night!Hence! Dare ye show your face in light?Did I not bid thee well bewareLest thou shouldst fall in thine own snare?”The spirit fled,[368]but scarce had leftHis seat, when some great earthquake cleftThe rock beneath his feet in twain,And deep he plunged[369]between. In vainHe strove to rise again, for quickThe waters from a hillside creek[370]O’erran that pool,[371]that marks to-dayThe spot where Satan passed away.Then kindly smiled the ManitouOn those around, and said:—“To youMy children, who have yet withstoodThe things of evil for the good;To you whose faith has ne’er been turnedAstray by sin, well have ye earnedThe joys foretold; so now go forth;The boundless woods from south to north,From east to west, are yours to roamFor aye, till I shall call ye home.”—John L. Cooper.
While yet the Pale-face ne’er had peeped
Within that tranquil vale,—where steeped
In sombre, fir-clothed heights,[336]and bound
On either side[337]with moss-grown ground
And craggy cliff,[338]a goodly stream,[339]
With many a rippling noontide gleam,
Nor ceased her daily tithes to pay
To good Queen Ocean[340]far away—
Deep sheltered from the hostile world
The smoke from many a tent up-curled,
Where, round the wigwam fire, red dames
Talked o’er their tawny lords’ brave names,
While they, with feathered death and bow
And trackless step, now quick, now slow,
Gave chase, in neighboring hills,[341]the game,
There pasturing heedless, till death came
In one fell dart. Life surely here—
With naught but Manitou[342]to fear—
Seemed sweet to those blest sons of men;
Yet it did find its cares e’en then,
For lo![343]at last there came a day
Of sorrow and of dread dismay,
When from a lowering cloud that spread[344]
Across the summer blue o’erhead,
Their God-chiefs awful voice was heard,
As like the thunder rolled each word:
“My children, I am called awayWhere other souls my presence pray,But ere I leave ye I must askOne boon of all,—a simple task’Twill be to those whose faith hath borneThe tests of fiery stake or thorn.Yet some I know among ye, whoWill find it hard to sin eschewWhen left alone, and all must know,An evil spirit dwells belowThese rocks, and ever guards his chanceTo tempt ye, with his fiendish danceAnd wicked ways, to but forsakeMy laws for aught that he may make;Lo, should he rise when I am gone,Let no temptation lead ye onTo overstep the bounds here setAbout your hunting grounds, nor letAught of shape, however fairAnd good it seems, entice ye whereMy word hath said ye nay.”
“My children, I am called away
Where other souls my presence pray,
But ere I leave ye I must ask
One boon of all,—a simple task
’Twill be to those whose faith hath borne
The tests of fiery stake or thorn.
Yet some I know among ye, who
Will find it hard to sin eschew
When left alone, and all must know,
An evil spirit dwells below
These rocks, and ever guards his chance
To tempt ye, with his fiendish dance
And wicked ways, to but forsake
My laws for aught that he may make;
Lo, should he rise when I am gone,
Let no temptation lead ye on
To overstep the bounds here set
About your hunting grounds, nor let
Aught of shape, however fair
And good it seems, entice ye where
My word hath said ye nay.”
Thus said,The cloudy spirit, then vanishedInto the air from whence it grew;And now a wild commotion[345]flewThroughout the warriors gathered there;And wondered all how soon, and where,This new-brought ill its face should show,To tempt their Eve-like hearts; when lo!Ere two short days had dragged away,Within a distant wood,[346]where laySoft twilight[347]ever ’mong the trees,Strange music stirred, and on the breezeOf evening came wild shouts of mirth,[348]That seemed to wake the very earth,[349]So boisterous were they, and, alas!The youths could not a moment passTill they with stealthy steps were broughtClose to that God-forbidden spot;And there, as o’er a lofty browThat hemmed the darksome glade, they nowDid creep,[350]behold! a wondrous sight,[351]Such as their soul’s most fancied flightHad ne’er conceived of, met their eyes,Even like some glimpse of paradise:A Pale-face spirit,[352]lank and grim,With horns and claws that gave to himA weird, unearthly look, sat highUpon a rock that towered nigh;And while below[353]fair damsels playedWild antics through the woodland shade,He to loud fits of mirth gave vent,As near the maidens came and went,And cast before him laurels wreathedIn crowns; then—ere the watchers breathed,Lest they should be discovered there—Lo! quick as lightning ’thwart the air,The fiendish god turned full to view,And ere the astonished gazers knew,Close by their side[354]with devilish smileHe stood, and thus addressed them,[355]whileWith spell-bound gaze—their eyes made dimWith fascination—now from himFrom whom they had no power to go,Did wander to the scene below,[356]Where still,—though now the sun had gone—To music soft, the dance went on:—
Thus said,
The cloudy spirit, then vanished
Into the air from whence it grew;
And now a wild commotion[345]flew
Throughout the warriors gathered there;
And wondered all how soon, and where,
This new-brought ill its face should show,
To tempt their Eve-like hearts; when lo!
Ere two short days had dragged away,
Within a distant wood,[346]where lay
Soft twilight[347]ever ’mong the trees,
Strange music stirred, and on the breeze
Of evening came wild shouts of mirth,[348]
That seemed to wake the very earth,[349]
So boisterous were they, and, alas!
The youths could not a moment pass
Till they with stealthy steps were brought
Close to that God-forbidden spot;
And there, as o’er a lofty brow
That hemmed the darksome glade, they now
Did creep,[350]behold! a wondrous sight,[351]
Such as their soul’s most fancied flight
Had ne’er conceived of, met their eyes,
Even like some glimpse of paradise:
A Pale-face spirit,[352]lank and grim,
With horns and claws that gave to him
A weird, unearthly look, sat high
Upon a rock that towered nigh;
And while below[353]fair damsels played
Wild antics through the woodland shade,
He to loud fits of mirth gave vent,
As near the maidens came and went,
And cast before him laurels wreathed
In crowns; then—ere the watchers breathed,
Lest they should be discovered there—
Lo! quick as lightning ’thwart the air,
The fiendish god turned full to view,
And ere the astonished gazers knew,
Close by their side[354]with devilish smile
He stood, and thus addressed them,[355]while
With spell-bound gaze—their eyes made dim
With fascination—now from him
From whom they had no power to go,
Did wander to the scene below,[356]
Where still,—though now the sun had gone—
To music soft, the dance went on:—
“Would’st thou, oh man, to pleasure blind,Seeking a gift thou ne’er shalt find,Led by a promise far astray[357]Along that hard and narrow way,Would’st thou no more sad anguish know,Nor lose the chase with feeble bow?Would’st thou be free,[358]and tread once moreThe grounds your fathers roamed of yore?Wouldst thou find game in every copseAnd stream,[359]and gather plenteous cropsIn autumn, yet know naught of careNor labor, but with damsels fair[360]And waxen, pass life’s endless daysAlong my smooth and flower-girt ways?Would’st thou, in fine, the height of bliss[361]Attain? I offer[362]ye all this,And more; come, follow me.”
“Would’st thou, oh man, to pleasure blind,
Seeking a gift thou ne’er shalt find,
Led by a promise far astray[357]
Along that hard and narrow way,
Would’st thou no more sad anguish know,
Nor lose the chase with feeble bow?
Would’st thou be free,[358]and tread once more
The grounds your fathers roamed of yore?
Wouldst thou find game in every copse
And stream,[359]and gather plenteous crops
In autumn, yet know naught of care
Nor labor, but with damsels fair[360]
And waxen, pass life’s endless days
Along my smooth and flower-girt ways?
Would’st thou, in fine, the height of bliss[361]
Attain? I offer[362]ye all this,
And more; come, follow me.”
He ceased,And like some semi-human beast,His blood-cast eye the crowd scanned o’er,Where some, entranced, could hear no more,But, weak of heart, with outstretched hand,Forgetting quite their God’s commandOf yester morn, were quickly ledAdown the cliff[363]with dizzy headAnd burning brain, and those, alas!From mortal view for aye did pass;
He ceased,
And like some semi-human beast,
His blood-cast eye the crowd scanned o’er,
Where some, entranced, could hear no more,
But, weak of heart, with outstretched hand,
Forgetting quite their God’s command
Of yester morn, were quickly led
Adown the cliff[363]with dizzy head
And burning brain, and those, alas!
From mortal view for aye did pass;
But some there were who still delayed,Not resolute and half afraidTo follow; lingering there they stoodTill lo! the dawn[364]crept through the wood;And on its gentle face, behold![365]A strange-shaped cloud, fringed round[366]with gold,Came darkly flitting through the sky,Till seemingly it had drawn nighAbove[367]that gathering in the vale.Then quick the subtle fiend turned pale,As from the frowning mists o’erheadA mighty voice and angry said:—
But some there were who still delayed,
Not resolute and half afraid
To follow; lingering there they stood
Till lo! the dawn[364]crept through the wood;
And on its gentle face, behold![365]
A strange-shaped cloud, fringed round[366]with gold,
Came darkly flitting through the sky,
Till seemingly it had drawn nigh
Above[367]that gathering in the vale.
Then quick the subtle fiend turned pale,
As from the frowning mists o’erhead
A mighty voice and angry said:—
“Depart, ye tempter of the night!Hence! Dare ye show your face in light?Did I not bid thee well bewareLest thou shouldst fall in thine own snare?”The spirit fled,[368]but scarce had leftHis seat, when some great earthquake cleftThe rock beneath his feet in twain,And deep he plunged[369]between. In vainHe strove to rise again, for quickThe waters from a hillside creek[370]O’erran that pool,[371]that marks to-dayThe spot where Satan passed away.Then kindly smiled the ManitouOn those around, and said:—
“Depart, ye tempter of the night!
Hence! Dare ye show your face in light?
Did I not bid thee well beware
Lest thou shouldst fall in thine own snare?”
The spirit fled,[368]but scarce had left
His seat, when some great earthquake cleft
The rock beneath his feet in twain,
And deep he plunged[369]between. In vain
He strove to rise again, for quick
The waters from a hillside creek[370]
O’erran that pool,[371]that marks to-day
The spot where Satan passed away.
Then kindly smiled the Manitou
On those around, and said:—
“To youMy children, who have yet withstoodThe things of evil for the good;To you whose faith has ne’er been turnedAstray by sin, well have ye earnedThe joys foretold; so now go forth;The boundless woods from south to north,From east to west, are yours to roamFor aye, till I shall call ye home.”—John L. Cooper.
“To you
My children, who have yet withstood
The things of evil for the good;
To you whose faith has ne’er been turned
Astray by sin, well have ye earned
The joys foretold; so now go forth;
The boundless woods from south to north,
From east to west, are yours to roam
For aye, till I shall call ye home.”
—John L. Cooper.
Gestures.