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Themes and Variations
A MAORI LEGEND.
A legend, my friend, they relate of these fire-guarded mountains,
Three mountains that rise in the silent and untrodden forest,
Forbidden to white foot, and held by the Maori thrice-sacred.
Three mountains that rise in the silent and untrodden forest,
Forbidden to white foot, and held by the Maori thrice-sacred.
One mountain, the greatest, arises in snow-sheeted splendour,
Far seen, on the plains, like a white ship blown hither and stranded,
From the ice-fields that gleam to the dance of the southern Aurora;
And one wears the veil of volcano; and one looks a ruin.
Far seen, on the plains, like a white ship blown hither and stranded,
From the ice-fields that gleam to the dance of the southern Aurora;
And one wears the veil of volcano; and one looks a ruin.
In the ages far past came a chief from the isles of the west wave
To see these wild peaks; and with him came the slave, Ngaru-hoé,
They sought to ascend, but the death-wind blew cold from the glacier:
And the sleep of its breath overcame Ngaru-hoé, the faithful,
Then the chief cried in anguish—‘Oh, Sisters! come hither! I perish!’
To see these wild peaks; and with him came the slave, Ngaru-hoé,
They sought to ascend, but the death-wind blew cold from the glacier:
And the sleep of its breath overcame Ngaru-hoé, the faithful,
Then the chief cried in anguish—‘Oh, Sisters! come hither! I perish!’