An Indian Tale, Canto II

What time red Sirius sheds his baneful pow'r, And fades the verdant beauties of the grove; When thirsty plants droop for the cooling show'r, And not a leaf the sleeping zephyrs move,

Azâkia wander'd from her sultry home, Amid the stream her languid limbs to lave, Now on the sedgy banks delights to roam, Now her light body curls the shining wave.

While thro the woods the sachem chas'd the deer, Celario mourns Azâkia's long delay, Oft at her absence drops th' empassion'd tear, Counting the tedious moments' leaden way.

When half the scorching day its course had run, The wand'rer seeks her lov'd abode again, Nor thinks how fad existence lingers on, Unsooth'd by love, and worn by anxious pain.

Celario greets her with a lover's care, And sees new beauties grace her modest form, Repeats his fond complaint, his late despair, And dwells enraptur'd on each glowing charm:

Till, quite regardless of Ouâbi's name, His yielding soul to desp'rate love resign'd, Urg'd with insidious voice his daring flame, By ev'ry art assail'd her soften'd mind.

E'en while she spake the great Ouâbi came, Celario's cheek betrays the conscious glow; But chaste Azâkia, pure from ev'ry shame, Nor checks her tears, nor hides her blameless woe.

With soften'd accent, and expressive eye, The faultless chief regards her quiv'ring fear, His gentle voice repels the swelling sigh, His fond endearment stops the rolling tear.

Celario listens with averted mien, Struck to the soul, by secret guilt oppress'd, In sullen silence wanders round the green, While the soft sorrower all her grief express'd.

Thus great Ouâbi sooths with gentle care The guilty anguish of Celario's breast, Dissuades his purpose from the coming war, And calms his stormy passions into rest.

Now the brave hero seeks the distant foe, And leads his warriors with unequall'd grace, Adorn'd with paint their martial bodies glow, A firm, unconquer'd, unforgiving race.

Such as when JULIUS sought Britannia's plain, With fearless step approach'd her pensile shore, Whose naked limbs the varying colours stain, Who dare the war, and scorn the conq'ror's pow'r.

Mean time Azâkia for her sachem mourns, Her troubled heart to ceaseless pangs resign'd; Now to Celario's ardent love returns, Now native virtue brightens in her mind.

Unbending honor gains her spotless breast; Forms the resolve to guard his fatal charms, To seek some nymph with radiant beauty blest, To win his love, and grace his envi'd arms.

On the young ZISMA all her hopes repose, Who next herself adorn'd the peopled glade; Like the green bud beneath the op'ning rose, With bright Azâkia shone the rising maid.

To the fair stranger gentle Zisma flies, Prevents each wish, each luxury prepares, Dwells on his beauties with unweari'd eyes, And lures with siren voice his froward cares.

Much he admires, and much his soul approves; But when was love by frigid prudence sway'd! In the torn breast, which burning passion moves, Can the cold law of reason be obey'd!

Still to Azâkia all his thoughts retire, Her slender form, her love-exciting face, Her gentle voice, each tremb'ling nerve inspire, And ev'ry smile robs Zisma of a grace.

Oft tears of transport from his eyes distil, Oft rays of hope thro' dark'ning sorrows beam, Now at her feet the subject of her will, Now wild as loud Ontario's rushing stream.