Biographie des Sagamos illustres de l'Amérique Septentrionale (1848)
I
Down in the darkful vale of death, forgotten years gone by,
Ah! who into that secret womb, in memory will fly?
Back to forgotten memory, a hundred years ago,
A hundred years ago, or more, thy legends now show?
A hundred years ago, or more, in silent solitude
By Etiwando's raging flood, young Etiwando stood!
Disdain was in his swelling heart, as flashed the meteor o'er.
His dark black eyes, in liquid fire, a strong resemblance bore!
II
All motionless as rock he stood, as firm as granite stone,
By Etiwando's silent tide, in silence all alone;
His bosom heaving as the tide of Etiwando's flood,
His forehead swollen by the veins, big with revengeful blood;
His dark eyes quivered with a light--O God! how strongly fix'd
They were on time, on space, and seemed as with a devil mix'd;
As motionless he stood as gazed upon the rising day,
And seem to speak, and did not speak, but yet his heard did say:
III
«Ho! mandates of the living God, how tyrants little reck!
Ho! mandates of an earthly king, how galling to the neck!
How much of evil and of good together here are mix'd
How much of evil here we find with good to it affix'd!
Now by the healing blood of Christ will Etiwando swear,
God help him now to keep the vow--no tyrant now shall swear,
Nor kingly crown, nor purple robe within a land like this.»
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VII
In council as a prophet, seer, young Etiwando stood,
None deemed less divine than man, some thought quite a god!
In councils wise, in battles brave, his countrymen did say,
That none did more of honor, save Marion in his day.
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IX
It was on holy Christmas eve, the moon was shining bright,
And on old Etiwando shed a flood of ivory light:
The sentinel was heard at post, a-pacing to and fro--
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XIV
Ho! Carolina's Huguenots! rejected sons of France,
On Briton and on Hessian too, in chivalry advance!
Ho for your altars and your hearths! arouse, the thought inspires!
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Ho Carolina's Huguenots! the battle is begun,
If lost to give the slavery, or freedom if 'tis won!
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XVII
Young Etiwando, prophet, seer, young Etiwando stood,
A sprit quenchless in its fire, a spirit brooding good!
The Sachem of a perished race, he stood the white man's friend,
And blest the cause of Liberty, of Freedom to the end!
In Freedom's cause, on Eutaw's plains, how gloriously he fell,
The annals of his country point, and will forever tell! 161
Note 161: (retour) Cette ballade contient un épisode des campagnes de la Caroline lors de la guerre de l'indépendance. Le poëte loue Etiwando, qui suivait le parti des insurgés. Quoique le Sachem n'eut qu'un bien faux intérêt à agir de la sorte, on ne saurait blâmer le barde d'exalter le défenseur d'une cause qu'il croit sainte.
NARRAGHANSETT WAR SONG
BY MRS. FRANCES GREEN
Wake Narraghansetts! wake!
The foe is in our borders!
Come forth for hill and lake;
Repel the bold marauders!
Disgrace and pains
And servile chains
Shall Indians languish under?
No, we disdain
The yengee's chain,
And mock his booming thunder!
Come forth from vale and plain,
From river, wood and fountain;
Come, like the hurricane,
When storms sweep o'er the mountain!
Our cry shall be,
«For liberty!»
The strong arm we are baring;
For child and sire,
And council fire,
The foe shall rue our daring!