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

254 THE GREAT SNAKE OF CANANDAIGUA.
While she, the wood-emmantled Hill,
Blushed red through all her summer face,
As, chained in passion's thrall and thrill,
She yielded to his rapt embrace ;
O'er all the plain a cloudy fold
A glory made as if
to hide
With flaming sunset's fire and gold
The bliss of more than mortal bride.
All unaware of maiden blame,
What time the Seasons onward drew,
Her life of other life became
A part ;
or so in seeming grew ;
A marvel more, so new to her
The miracle of life to prove ;
To feel the quickening pulse and stir
That wakes the fond maternal love.
Still more a wonder day by day,
Until
the days to fullness grown
The quarried steep in travail lay,
In mighty child-birth wail and moan.
By earthquake-pain parturient urged,
The parted cliff made willing way ;
And lo ! a people thence emerged
The great and noble Seneca.