Of the Spirit past the night. It came to me
In darkness, after midnight, when the moon
Was gone, and all the stars were blotted out;
It gathered round me, with a noise of storms,
And entered into me, and I could feel
It was the Snake-God rolled and writh’d within;
And I, too, with the inward agony,
Roll’d like a snake, and writh’d. Give! give!’ he cried!
I thirst!.. His voice was in me, and it burnt
Like fire, and all my flesh and bones were shaken;
Till, with a throe which seem’d to rend my joints
Asunder, he past forth, and I was left
Speechless and motionless, gasping for breath.
Then Madoc, turning to Ayayaca,
Enquir’d, who is the man?.. The good old Priest
Replied, He hath attended from his youth
The Snake-God’s temple, and receiv’d for him
His offerings, and perform’d all sacrifice,
Till the Beloved Teacher made us leave
The wicked way.
Hear me! quoth Neolin,
With antic gesture and loud vehemence;
Before this generation, and before
These ancient forests,.. yea, before yon lake
Was hollow’d out, or one snow-feather fell
On yonder mountain-top, now never bare,..
Before these things I was,.. where, or from whence,
I know not,.. who can tell? But then I was,
And in the shadow of the Spirit stood;
And I beheld the Spirit, and in him
Saw all things, even as they were to be;
And I held commune with him, not of words,
But thought with thought. Then was it given me
That I should choose my station, when my hour
Of mortal birth was come,.. hunter, or chief,
Or to be mightiest in the work of war,
Or in the shadow of the Spirit live,
And he in me. According to my choice,
For ever, overshadow’d by his power,
I walk among mankind. At times I feel not
The burthen of his presence; then am I
Like other men; but when the season comes,
Or if I seek the visitation, then
He fills me, and my soul is carried on,
And then do I forelive the race of men,
So that the things that will be, are to me
Past.
Amalahta lifted then his eyes
A moment;.. It is true, he cried; “we know.
He is a gifted man, and wise beyond
The reach of mortal powers. Ayayaca
Hath also heard the warning.
As I slept,
Replied the aged Priest, upon the Field
Of the Spirit, a loud voice awaken’d me,
Crying, I thirst! Give,.. give! or I will take!
And then I heard a hiss, as if a snake
Were threatening at my side... But saw you nothing?
Quoth Madoc. Nothing; for the night was dark.
And felt you nothing? said the Ocean Prince.
He answered, Nothing, only sudden fear...
No inward struggle, like possession?.. None.
I thought of the Beloved Teacher’s words,
And crost myself, and then he had no power.
Thou hast slept heretofore upon the Field,
Said Madoc: didst thou never witness voice,
Or ominous sound? Ayayaca replied,
Certes the Field is holy! it receives,
All the year long, the operative power
Which falleth from the sky, or from below
Pervades the earth; no harvest groweth there,
Nor tree, nor bush, nor herb is left to spring;
But there the virtue of the elements
Is gathered, till the circle of the months
Be full; then, when the Priest, by mystic rites,
Long vigils, and long abstinence prepar’d,
Goeth there to pass the appointed night alone,
The whole collected influence enters him.
Doubt not but I have felt strange impulses
On that mysterious field, and in my dreams
Been visited; and have heard sounds in the air,
I knew not what;.. but words articulate
Never till now. It was the Wicked One!
He wanted blood.
Who says the Wicked One?
It was our fathers’ God! cried Neolin.
Sons of the Ocean! why should we forsake
The worship of our fathers? Ye obey
The White Man’s Maker; but to us was given
A different skin and speech and land and law.
The Snake God understands the Red-Man’s prayer,
And knows his wants, and loves him. Shame be to us,
That, since the Stranger here set foot among us,
We have let his lips be dry!
Enough! replied
Madoc, who, at Cadwallon’s look, represt
His answering anger. We will hold a talk
Of this hereafter. Be ye sure, mean time,
That the Great Spirit will from Evil Powers
Protect his people. This, too, be ye sure,
That every deed of darkness shall be brought
To light,.. and woe be to the lying lips!
IV.
Soon as the coming of the fleet was known,
Had Queen Erillyab sent her hunters forth.
They from the forest now arrive, with store
Of venison; fires are built before the tents,
Where Llaian and Goervyl for their guests
Direct the feast; and now the ready board
With grateful odour steams. But while they sate
At meat, did Amalahta many a time
Lift his slow eye askance, and eagerly
Gaze on Goervyl’s beauty; for whate’er
In man he might have thought deform’d or strange
Seemed beautiful in her,.. her golden curls,
Bright eyes of heavenly blue, and that clear skin,
Blooming with health and youth and happiness.
He, lightly yielding to the impulse, bent
His head aside, and to Erillyab spake.
Mother, said he, tell them to give to me
That woman for my wife, that we may be
Brethren and friends. She, in the same low tone,
Rebuked him, in her heart too well aware
How far unworthy he. Abash’d thereby,
As he not yet had wholly shaken off
Habitual reverence, he sate sullenly,
Brooding in silence his imagin’d wiles,
By sight of beauty made more apt for ill;
For he himself being evil, good in him
Work’d evil.
And now Madoc, pouring forth
The ripe metheglin, to Erillyab gave
The horn of silver brim. Taste, Queen and friend,
Said he, what from our father-land we bring,
The old beloved beverage. Sparingly
Drink; for it hath a strength to stir the brain,
And trouble reason, if intemperate lips
Abuse its potency. She took the horn,
And sipped with wary wisdom... Canst thou teach us
The art of this rare beverage? quoth the Queen,
Or is the gift reserv’d for ye alone,
By the Great Spirit, who hath favour’d ye
In all things above us?.. The Chief replied,
All that we know of useful and of good
Ye also shall be taught, that we may be
One people.
While he spake, Erillyab past
The horn to Amalahta. Sparingly!
Madoc exclaim’d; but, when the savage felt
The luscious flavor and the poignant life,
He heeded nought beyond the immediate j
oy.
Deep did he drink, and still with clinching hands
Struggled, when from his lips, unsatisfied,
Erillyab pluck’d the horn with sharp reproof,
Chiding his stubborn wilfulness. Ere long
The generous liquor flush’d him: he could feel
His blood play faster, and the joyful dance
Of animal life within him. Bolder grown,
He at Goervyl lifts no longer now
The secret glance, but gloats with greedy eye;
Till, at the long and loathsome look abash’d,
She rose, and nearer to her brother drew,
On light pretence of speech, being half in fear.
But he, regardless of Erillyab now,
To Madoc cried aloud, Thou art a King,
And I a King!.. Give me thy sister there,
To be my wife, and then we will be friends,
And reign together.
Let me answer him,
Madoc! Cadwallon cried. I better know
Their language, and will set aside all hope,
Yet not incense the savage... A great thing,
Prince Amalahta, hast thou ask’d! said he;
Nor is it in Lord Madoc’s power to give
Or to withhold; for marriage is with us
The holiest ordinance of God, whereon
The bliss or bane of human life depends.
Love must be won by love, and heart to heart
Linked in mysterious sympathy, before
We pledge the marriage vow; and some there are,
Who hold, that, e’er we enter into life,
Soul hath with soul been mated, each for each
Especially ordained. Prince Madoc’s will
Avails not, therefore, where this secret bond
Hath not been fram’d in Heaven.
The skilful speech,
Which, with wild faith and reason, thus confirm’d
Yet tempered the denial, for a while
Silenced him, and he sate in moody dreams
Of snares and violence. Soon a drunken thirst,
And longing for the luscious beverage,
Drove those dark thoughts aside. More drink! quoth he.
Give me the drink!.. Madoc again repeats
His warning, and again with look and voice
Erillyab chides; but he, of all restraint
Impatient, cries aloud, Am I a child?
Give, give! or I will take!.. Perchance ye think
I and my God alike cry out in vain!
But ye shall find us true!
Give him the horn!
Cadwallon answered; there will come upon him
Folly and sleep, and then an after-pain,
Which may bring wisdom with it, if he learn
Therefrom to heed our warning... As thou say’st,
No child art thou!.. The choice is in thy hand;..
Drink, if thou wilt, and suffer, and in pain
Remember us.
He clinch’d the horn, and swill’d
The sweet intoxication copious down.
So bad grew worse. The potent draught provok’d
Fierce pride and savage insolence. Aye! now
It seems that I have taught ye who I am!
The inebriate wretch exclaim’d. This land is mine,
Not hers; the kingdom and the power are mine!
I am the master!
Hath it made thee mad?
Erillyab cried... Ask thou the Snake-God that!
Quoth he; ask Neolin and Aztlan that!
Hear me, thou Son of the Waters! wilt thou have me
For friend or foe?.. Give me that woman there,
And store me with this blessed beverage,
And thou shalt dwell in my domains;.. or else,
Blood! blood! The Snake-God calls for blood; the Gods
Of Aztlan and the people call for blood;
They call on me, and I will give them blood,
Till they have had their fill!
Meanwhile the Queen,
In wonder and amazement heard, and grief;
Watching the fiendish workings of his face,
And turning to the Prince at times, as if
She looked to him for comfort. Give him drink,
To be at peace! “ quoth Madoc. The good mead
Did its good office soon; his dizzy eyes
Roll’d with a sleepy swim; the joyous thrill
Died away; and, as every limb relax’d,
Down sunk his heavy head, and down he fell.
Then said the Prince, We must rejoice in this,
O Queen and friend, that, evil though it be,
Evil is brought to light: he hath divulged,
In this mad mood, what else had been conceal’d
By guilty cunning. Set a watch upon him,
And on Priest Neolin; they plot against us;
Your fall and mine do they alike conspire,
Being leagued with Aztlan to destroy us both.
Thy son will not remember that his lips
Have let the treason pass. Be wary, then,
And we shall catch the crafty in the pit
Which they have dug for us.
Erillyab cast
A look of anger, made intense by grief,
On Amalahta... Cursed be the hour
Wherein I gave thee birth! she cried; that pain
Was light to what thy base and brutal nature
Hath sent into my soul... But take thou heed!
I have borne many a woe and many a loss,
My father’s realm, the husband of my youth,
My hope in thee!.. all motherly love is gone,..
Sufferance well nigh worn out.
When she had ceas’d
Still the deep feeling fill’d her, and her eye
Dwelt on him, still in thought. Brother! she cried,
As Madoc would have soothed her, doubt not me!
Mine is no feeble heart. Abundantly
Did the Great Spirit overpay all woes,
And this the heaviest, when he sent thee here,
The friend and the deliverer. Evil tongues
May scatter lies; bad spirits and bad men
May league against thy life; but go thou on,
Brother! He loves thee, and will be thy shield.
V.
THIS is the day, when, in a foreign grave,
King Owen’s relics shall be laid to rest.
No bright emblazonries bedecked his bier,
No tapers blaz’d, no prelate sung the mass,
No choristers the funeral dirge inton’d,
No mitred abbots, and no tonsured train,
Lengthen’d the pomp of ceremonious woe.
His decent bier was with white linen spread
And canopied; two elks and bisons, yok’d,
Drew on the car; foremost Cadwallon bore
The Crucifix; with single voice distinct,
The good Priest Llorien chanted loud and deep
The solemn service; Madoc next the bier
Followe’d his father’s corpse; bareheaded then
Came all the people, silently and slow.
The burial-place was in a grassy plat,
A little level glade of sunny green,
Between the river and a rocky bank,
Which, like a buttress, from the precipice
Of naked rock sloped out. On either side
’Twas skirted by the woodlands. A stone cross
Stood on Cynetha’s grave, sole monument,
Beneath a single cocoa, whose straight trunk
Rose like an obelisk, and wav’d on high
Its palmy plumage, green and never sere.
Here, by Cynetha’s side, with Christian prayers,
All wrongs forgotten now, was Owen laid.
Rest, King of Gwyneth, in a foreign grave!
From foul indignity of Romish pride
And bigot priesthood, from a falling land
&nb
sp; Thus timely snatched, and from the impending yoke,
Rest in the. kingdom of thy noble son!
Ambassadors from Aztlan in the vale
Awaited their return, — Yuhidthiton,
Chief of the Chiefs, and Helhua the Priest.
With these came Malinal. They met the Prince,
And with a sullen stateliness return’d
His salutation; then the Chief began:
Lord of the Strangers, hear me! by my voice
The People and the Pabas and the King
Of Aztlan speak. Our injured Gods have claim’d
Their wonted worship, and made manifest
Their wrath: we dare not impiously provoke
The Dreadful. Worship ye in your own way;
But we must keep the path our fathers kept.
We parted, O Yuhidthiton! as friends
And brethren, said the Christian Prince; alas,
That this should be our meeting! When we pledged,
In the broad daylight and the eye of Heaven,
Our hands in peace, ye heard and understood.
The will of God, and felt that it was good,
In reason and in heart. This calm assent
Ye would bely, by midnight miracles
Scar’d, and such signs of darkness as beseem
The daemons whom ye dread! or, likelier,
Dup’d by the craft of those accursed men
Whose trade is blood. Ask thou of thine own heart,
Yuhidthiton, —
But Helhua broke his speech:
Our bidding is to tell thee, quoth the Priest,
That Aztlan hath restor’d, and will maintain,
Her ancient faith. If it offendeth thee,
Move thou thy dwelling place.
Madoc replied,
This day have I deposited in earth
My father’s bones; and where his bones are laid,
There mine shall moulder.
Malinal at that
Advanced. — Prince Madoc, said the youth, I come,
True to thy faith and thee, and to the weal
Of Aztlan true, and bearing, for that truth,
Reproach and shame and scorn and obloquy.
In sorrow come I here, a banish’d man;
Here take, in sorrow, my abiding place,
Cut off from all my kin, from all old ties
Divorced; all dear, familiar countenances
No longer to be present to my sight;
Complete Poetical Works of Robert Southey Page 76