 | Ouâbi : or the virtues of nature |  |
Aw'd by her virtue, by her charms subdued,
Celario follows o'er the wid'ning plains,
Nor dares his hopeless passion to intrude,
Where constant truth, and blest Ouâbi reigns.
Celario follows o'er the wid'ning plains,
Nor dares his hopeless passion to intrude,
Where constant truth, and blest Ouâbi reigns.
Now distant flames assail his dazzled eyes,
High as the clouds the curling spires ascend,
While warlike youths in circling orders
And midst the green with graceful silence bend.
High as the clouds the curling spires ascend,
While warlike youths in circling orders
And midst the green with graceful silence bend.
14
Far o'er the chieftains great Ouâbi moves,
With step majestic thro the boundless plain;
Thus tow'rs the cedar o'er the willow-groves,
Thus shines bright Cynthia midst her starry train.
With step majestic thro the boundless plain;
Thus tow'rs the cedar o'er the willow-groves,
Thus shines bright Cynthia midst her starry train.
Swift to his arms the fond Azâkia flies,
And oft repeats the fear-embellish'd tale;
How pointed lightnings pierc'd her wond'ring eyes,
While the near thunder broke the trembling gale!
And oft repeats the fear-embellish'd tale;
How pointed lightnings pierc'd her wond'ring eyes,
While the near thunder broke the trembling gale!
Ouâbi! form'd by nature's hand divine,
Whose naked limbs the sculptor's art defied,
Whose nervous strength and graceful charms combine,
Where dignity with fleetness was allied.
Whose naked limbs the sculptor's art defied,
Whose nervous strength and graceful charms combine,
Where dignity with fleetness was allied.
High from his head the painted plumes arose,
His sounding bow was o'er his shoulder flung,
The hatchet, dreadful to insulting foes,
On the low branch in peaceful caution hung.
His sounding bow was o'er his shoulder flung,
The hatchet, dreadful to insulting foes,
On the low branch in peaceful caution hung.
Adown his ears the glist'ning rings descend,
His manly arms the clasping bracelets bind,
From his broad chest the vari'd beads depend,
And all the hero tow'r'd within his mind.
His manly arms the clasping bracelets bind,
From his broad chest the vari'd beads depend,
And all the hero tow'r'd within his mind.
His hand he yielded to the gentle youth,
Inquir'd his sorrows with benignant air,
And, kind as pity, unreserv'd as truth,
Sooth'd ev'ry grief, and proffer'd ev'ry care.
Inquir'd his sorrows with benignant air,
And, kind as pity, unreserv'd as truth,
Sooth'd ev'ry grief, and proffer'd ev'ry care.
15
When young Celario, breathing many a sigh,
Disclos'd the warring tumults of his breast,
Low on the ground reclin'd his pensive eye,
While his persuasive voice the chief address'd.
Disclos'd the warring tumults of his breast,
Low on the ground reclin'd his pensive eye,
While his persuasive voice the chief address'd.
| Ouâbi : or the virtues of nature | |