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

74: THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS.
What time her virgin footsteps pressed
The border-land of Womanhood,
When wakes a longing in the breast,
When stirs a spring-tide in the blood,
When grace beyond all manly grace
Unto the maid the lover shows,
While unto him the maiden-face
With splendor passing beauty glows ;
She that the Meda's secrets knew
Of mystic dance and chant and song,
Could presage read in bird that fleAV,
Knew all the use of fasting long,
Invoking so, or strong or weak,
Powers that the will of man await,
As youth and maiden may, did seek
Some token of her happier fate. 25
And of th'at dream ?
it is not new,
The charm all maiden hearts do own ;
The presence on her vision grew
Of one, nor haply all unknown ;
A warrior-chieftain ;
on his breast
He proud a royal mantle wore ;
Well pleased she saw the shining vest,
But nobleness enrobed him' more.