The Indian Girl Tells the Hero Where to Go to Get the Laughing Bell

"To the farthest star of all, Go, make a moment's raid. To the west—escape the earth Before your pennons fade! West! west! o'ertake the night That flees the morning sun. There's a path between the stars—, A black and silent one. O tremble when you near The smallest star that sings: Only the farthest star Is cool for willow wings. "There's a sky within the west— There's a sky beyond the skies Where only one star shines— The Star of Laughing Bells— In Chaos-land it lies; Cold as morning-dew, A gray and tiny boat Moored on Chaos-shore, Where nothing else can float But the Wings of the Morning strong And the lilt of laughing song From many a ruddy throat: "For the Tree of Laughing Bells Grew from a bleeding seed Planted mid enchantment Played on a harp and reed: Darkness was the harp— Chaos-wind the reed; The fruit of the tree is a bell, blood-red— The seed was the heart of a fairy, dead. Part of the bells of the Laughing Tree Fell to-day at a blast from the reed. Bring a fallen bell to me. Go !" the maiden said. "For the bell will quench our memory, Our hope, Our borrowed sorrow; We will have no thirst for yesterday, No thought for to-morrow."