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

236 THE LEAGUE OF THE IBOQUOIS.
Bright on the wigwams, painted fair
I see each to-tem form again,
Of Beaver, Tortoise, Wolf, and Bear,
Of Falcon, Plover, Deer and Crane ;
With picture-writing wondrous shown :
All birds and beasts
all symbols whence
The greatly wise may draw alone
The mystery of the hidden sense.
Still on the endless Seasons roll :
All manly sports their joys enhance ;
Elate they play at Bat and Ball.
Or shake the Bowl, in game of chance ,
Or with the hunter's shaft and bow
Still, as of old, in passion new,
They track afar the flying Roe
To hills beyond the farthest blue.
There through the forest's leafy sheen
Still gleams each royal antlered head,
And all the plain's unbroken green
Far trembles to each tameless tread ;
There every bird beloved of old,
That clove the air or swam the sea,
With gayer plume, with wing more bold,
Still climbs an ampler
ether free.