Part 4 (1/2)
TOLONGA, Minahita's Father.
DOLBREKA, Indian Chief.
I.
_Chorus._
In summer's rare beauty the earth is arrayed, Gay flowers are blooming on hill-side and glade, Embalming the air with sweet subtle perfume, Enriching the earth with their beautiful bloom; The moss, like green velvet, yields soft 'neath the tread, The forest trees wave in luxuriance o'er head, Whilst fresh dawning beauties of sky, wood and plain, Proclaim that fair summer is with us again.
Let the choice, then, be made of the thrice-favored one Whom Niagara's Spirit will soon call his own!
At morn, when the sun wakes refulgent on high In billows of gold, hooding earth, sea and sky, How glorious the music that welcomes his rays, One loud choral song of rejoicing and praise: The clear notes of birds and the soft rustling breeze The murmur of waters, the sighing of trees, And the thousand sweet voices, so tender and gay, That haunt our old woods through the bright summer day.
Let the choice, then, be made of the thrice-favored one Whom Niagara's Spirit will soon call his own!
DOLBREKA.
Ah! yes, the time and hour have come To choose a fitting bride For that Spirit who from his wat'ry home, Speaks forth in might and pride; Whilst the zephyrs toy with his sapphire waves, He would bear her down to his crystal caves.
Seek the woods for buds to deck her brow; And offerings must she bring, Ripe blooming fruits and fragrant bough, As gifts for the River King-- Gifts of earth's loveliest things, while she, 'Mid our maidens fair, must the fairest be!
II.
OREIKA.
The Sachems all have spoken, and the lot has fallen on one As fair as any wild rose that blossoms 'neath the sun, Her eyes, like starlit waters, are liquid, soft and clear; Her voice like sweetest song-bird's in the springtime of the year; No merry fawn that lightly springs from forest tree to tree Hath form so light and graceful, or footstep half as free;
Like plumage of the raven is her heavy silken hair, Which she binds with scarlet blossoms--with strings of wampum rare; And the crimson hue that flushes her soft though dusky cheek Is like the sunbeam's parting blush upon the mountain peak.
O, never since Niagara first thundered down in pride Had the Spirit of its waters so beautiful a bride!
_Chorus of Indian Women._
Ah, Minahita! sister fair, What lot with thine can now compare?
'Mid all the daughters of our race Peerless in beauty and in grace.
More blest than if in wifehood's pride Thou stood'st at some young warrior's side, Or with fair children round thy knee Didst crown thy young maternity!
III.
MINAHITA.
My heart is throbbing with solemn joy, May no earthly thoughts that bliss alloy, By Sachems chosen and tribesmen all-- I gladly lead, and obey the call!
TOLONGA.
Ah, spoken well, my daughter, and worthy of thy sires, Who've ever held an honored place around our council fires!
My foot treads earth more proudly, my heart beats quick and high, To know that, like a Sachem's child, my daughter goes to die!
Though Mamtou denied me a son to glad mine age, To follow in the warpath when our foes fierce combat wage.
I offer him, with grateful heart, thanksgiving deep and warm That he has placed a warrior's heart within thy fragile form.
_Aria._