Page:Iracéma, the honey-lips (1886).djvu/67

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IRAÇÉMA.
53

The forest distilled its sweetest fragrance and was vocal with its most harmonious music; the sighs of the heart mingled with the whispers of the wilderness. It was the feast of Love, the song of Hymen.

Already the morning light pierced the dense thicket, when the solemn and sonorous voice of Poty sounded amidst the hum and the buzz of waking life.

"The Tabajáras walk through the forest!"

Iraçéma sprang from the arms that encircled her and from the lips which held her captive—sprang from the hammock lightly to the ground, like the agile Zabelê,[1] and seizing the weapons of her spouse, led him into the depths of the bush.

From time to time the prudent Poty laid his ear to the face of earth, and his head inclined from side to side, as the cloud on the summit of a rock waves with every puff of the coming storm.

"What does the ear of the warrior Poty hear?"

"It listens to the flying step of the Tabajára. He comes like the Tapyr[2] tearing through the forest."

"The Pytiguára warrior is like the Ostrich[3] which flies along the earth; we will follow him like his wings," said Iraçéma.

The Chief shook his head anew.

"Whilst the Sea-Warrior slept the enemy ran. Those who first set out are now near, as the horns are to the bow."

Shame gnawed the heart of Martim.

"Let the Chief Poty fly and save Iraçéma. The bad warrior, who would not listen to the voice of his brother and the wish of his bride, can only die."

Martim began to retrace his steps.

"The soul of the white warrior does not listen to

  1. ↑ Zabelê, a small bird somewhat like a partridge.
  2. ↑ Tapyr, a well-known animal about the size of a calf. The hide is useful, and of buff colour. It is also called Tapijerete, Tapy՚ra, and Tapy՚ra caapóra.
  3. ↑ In the original Ema, the South American ostrich.
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