The league of the Iroquois and other legends : from the Indian muse

THE WOOING. 91
Then forth the aged chief he drew
In unforgotten tales, to tell
Of warrior deeds when days were few,
Of braves that in the battle fell ;
And still, as one with gifted speech
The fit occasion waits, forbore
Untimely thence to bring, in breach
Of courtesy, his fairer lore.
Yet beauty speaks through charm and grace
In tongue that silence cannot bind ;
So brightly shone his prophet-face
With thoughts that lit his wiser mind ;
And when the shadows fell that make
The cheerful home-fire brighten more,
His lips he loosed ;
and as he spake
Night, listening rapt, contented wore.
He told in lofty speech and wise
Of other wigwams far away ;
Of fairer shores that loom and rise
Beyond the utmost bound of day ;
Of hunter-homes, of tribe and band
Where more than sunset glory smile^ ;
Of Oway-neo's Shining Land,
Of Inigorio's Happy Isles.
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