Poems and Plays :: :: University of Virginia Library

The sublime instance of heroic friendship that forms the subject of this Poem, is recorded by ANTONIO DE SOLIS, is his History of Mexico. This is an episode of a more extensive poem, which is suppressed: This episode is retained, as being the part of that poem which was favourably received. Two fragments, which met with the same distinction, are also preserved.

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Two valiant Youths (whom Friendship's holy hand
Had join'd with her indissoluble band)
Beheld indignant, smit with patriot grief,
The great achievements of the hostile chief:
And now Janellan thus accosts his Friend:—
‘Firm to no purpose, active to no end,
‘See from our gallant men yon hallow'd tow'r
‘Already ravish'd by the invading pow'r:
‘Must this, committed to our mutual care,
‘The same defeat, the same dishonour share?
‘If so—the victor shall not long survive—
‘A thought that bids my fading hope revive,

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‘A thought—that like the thunder-flash of night
‘Darts on my darken'd mind a radiant light—
‘But ere my veil'd designment I unfold,
‘Declare, however rash, however bold,
‘Thou'lt not o'ershade with Caution's chill controul,
‘The warm, the splendid purpose of my soul.’

Venzula to his breast his hand applied,
And thus, beyond the pow'r of words, replied.

The Youth resum'd—‘From this aerial height,
‘Bid thy bold vision take its deepest flight,
‘Down to yon rock, far stretching o'er the shore,
‘'Gainst which the raging waves incessant roar,
‘Whose clashing voices into stillness fade,
‘Ere this tremendous distance they pervade:
‘If Fortune bless what my proud counsels urge,
‘Yon waves shall murmur soon the victor's dirge!
‘My secret project I will now unveil:—
‘Should Cortez o'er this valiant band prevail,

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‘Should thro' controulment, and thro' stubborn force,
‘Pour like a torrent his destructive course,
‘When on this summit first he shall appear,
‘I will advance, with well-dissembled fear,
‘And, suppliant as I kneel to win his grace,
‘I'll dauntless lock him in a stern embrace,
‘Bear him reluctant to yon giddy steep,
‘Where yawns a dreadful opening to the deep,
‘And thence—self-ruin'd for my country's good—
‘Plunge with her foe into the whelming flood!’

Venzula answer'd—‘Yes, I much admire
‘What now thy matchless virtue dares inspire:
‘But wilt thou, with an avarice of fame,
‘The meed of Glory all exclusive claim?
‘Wilt thou to perils close to Death adjoin'd
‘Advance, and leave thy faithful Friend behind?
‘In infancy we shar'd the glitt'ring toys,
‘And in one circle play'd our harmless joys:

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‘And when we quitted Childhood's lowly vale,
‘Where springing flowrets scent the playful gale,
‘Still hand in hand we climb'd youth's arduous height,
‘Whence greater scenes expanded on the sight,
‘Still our pursuits consenting to one plan,
‘Like wedded streams our lives united ran:
‘And wilt thou now oppose the sacred tide,
‘And bid the friendly waves disparting glide?’

Janellan spoke—‘Endearing Youth! forgive:
‘The conqu'ror of some future Cortez live!
‘Nor mark my fall with Grief's dejected brow,
‘View from my death the bright effects that flow:
‘Behold the tomb that Gratitude shall raise,
‘Illustrious signal of my Country's praise.’

To this the brave Venzula made reply,
And as he spoke, tears started from his eye:
‘What tho' Felicity, thy gift, shall stream
‘Sunlike o'er Mexico with brightest beam,

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‘Not all the splendour that her rays impart,
‘Will e'er illumine my benighted heart,
‘When destitute of thee, its only ray,
‘Without the hope of kind returning day.

‘Yet then to this great argument adjoin'd
‘Sublimer motives urge my steady mind:
‘Recal, recal that joy-diffusing hour,
‘When gay Prosperity adorn'd my bow'r,
‘As thy fair sister, half-afraid to speak,
‘With downcast look, and blush-embellish'd cheek,
‘At Love's request assented to be mine:
‘Of fleeting bliss vain momentary shine!
‘For she, in flow'r of Youth and Virtue's bloom,
‘Was swept untimely to the rav'nous tomb:
‘As sorrow-wounded o'er her couch I hung,
‘To catch the tones that faded as they sprung,
‘The God, she said, now summons me away,
‘Far from the confines of th' endearing day:

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‘Thou of the life I lose the dearest part,
‘Thou chosen spouse! thou sun-beam of my heart,
‘Say, by Affection's glowing hand impress'd,
‘Shall I not live in thy recording breast?
‘If sacred be the suff'rer's last desires,
‘Revere what now my parting soul requires:
‘I leave a brother, by bright Honour rear'd,
‘By all approv'd, and much to me endear'd:
‘Be, for the sister's love, the brother's Friend;
‘Nor from his side depart when storms descend:
‘The palm of Glory waving in your sight,
‘In council, peril, enterprise unite.’

‘Shall I, when danger calls, consign to air
‘The last bequeathing wishes of the Fair?
‘Perdition catch the base unmanly thought!
‘By Love's subliming purest dictates taught,
‘Amid the perils that around thee wait,
‘View me resolv'd to share th' impending fate:

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Now to this spot the foe impels the war,
‘Discordance screams, opposing lances jar:
‘The steep ascent, lo! Cortez now has gain'd,
‘Ah! mark his spear with streaming gore distain'd!

The illustrious Youths now act their dread design:
See at the victor's knee they low incline!
Now clasp with circling force th' incautious foe,
And close adhering to his figure grow:
Their deadly aim his better fate control'd,
With matchless pow'r he bursts their stubborn hold:
The heroes, blasted in their bold intent,
Approach'd (Death hov'ring near) the dire descent:
Then, in each other's circling arms intwin'd,
In energetic harmony combin'd:
'Twas Friendship, burning with meridian flame,
One cause—one thought—one ruin—and one fame:

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Tremendous moment! See, they fall from light,
And dauntless rush to never-ending night!

Ye self-devoted patriot victims, hail!
Oblivion's gulph shall ne'er entomb your tale:
While History to Time's extremest goal
Her stream majestic shall thro' ages roll,
Like two fair flowrets on one stem that blow,
Ye on her margin shall for ever glow.