" We swear to wage, 
 
 Thro' smoke and fire, victorious war until 
 We're from our shameful bondage loosed, and peace 
 And freedom are, throughout the land, declared 
 Once more." PAGE 88. 
 
THE 
 
 MEXICAN; 
 
 OB, 
 
 LOVE AKD LAND. 
 
 FOUNDED ON THE INVASION OF MAXIMILIAN, 
 
 
 BY JOHN M. DAGNALL, 
 
 AUTHOR OF " DAISY^SWAIN." 
 
 w An honest tale speeds best being plainly told." SHAKESPHAUE. 
 
 NEW YOEK : 
 
 AMERICAN NEWS COMPANY, 
 
 121 NASSAU STREET. 
 1868. 
 
T>I3 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by 
 JOHN M. DAGNALL, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the 
 Eastern District of New York. 
 
 Stereotyped by SMITH & McDouGAL, 82 & 84 Beekman St., New York. 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 day, amid the fervid gleam of noon, 
 In coolness basking on a breezy shore, 
 A Mexican, in pensive mood, was seen. 
 
6 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Idly loitering where the sea-foam fringed 
 
 A sandy girdle of Sonora's strand. 
 
 
 
 There, at times responsive to the ocean dirge, 
 His bosom heaved a sigh, and wildly strange 
 His numbers with the waves alone he held 
 In soft communion sweet. " How gleeful, wild, 
 How solemn, yet how glad, they murmur out, 
 Upon these glitt'ring sands they love so well, 
 A welcome fond to me, as if I were 
 To be thro' life endearM to them ! 
 
 "Ah, here," 
 
 He sigh'd, " upon this sea-beat shore, amid 
 The orient hues of morn, and, late at eve, 
 Beneath the starry gleam of moonless skies, 
 I often, when a beardless boy, have whiled 
 My youthful hours away, enraptured with 
 Thy surge> wild wave, as thou upon these sands 
 From out the swelling tide wouldst fretful rush 
 My careless feet to lave. But ne'er have I 
 
OK, LOVE AND LAND. 7 
 
 So much in all my sea-side rambles felt 
 Thy fond complaint, dear wave, my bosom move 
 With a desire to brave the stormy main 
 That gave thee birth." 
 
 Then out he look'd with eye 
 Of rapture, far across the sounding sea, 
 Verging on the sky, heaven's source divine, 
 The blissful zone of those from sin redeemed, 
 \Vhere he a prospect saw there for his soul, 
 ]f on this grand and mighty globe he'd seek 
 The righteous means for its salvation : 
 Religion, purest treasure of the soul : 
 Benevolence, prompt of means and love unto 
 The needful of his kind mid squalid scenes 
 Of suffering, want, and woe. 
 
 Oh, wherefore, then, 
 Ye sordid sons, to earthly forms attend, 
 Neglectful of the end and aims of Him 
 Who died upon the holy Mount, the souls 
 Of fallen man to save ? 
 
8 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Our hero was 
 
 A righteous man, a man of holy views ; 
 Sinless of conscience, sincere in creed ; 
 And dared defiantly, before bold men 
 With war's dread schemes familiar, stand 
 And bring to view the wrongs his bleeding land 
 Endured ; what burdens then opprest ; what ills 
 In evil hour his race afflict ; how then 
 Their hands and hearts in Freedom's cause were 
 
 join'd, 
 
 Nor fearing death for her sweet sake, for he who 
 Falls for Liberty fills a martyr's grave : 
 His soul heroic mounts to the blest goal 
 Of light and peace. 
 
 So there upon the beach 
 He stood and gazed the liquid scene around, 
 Feeling his country would the battle storm 
 Outride, as doth the well-mann'd bark upon 
 The plunging wave the gale that drives her on : 
 Hoping too, the wind would at no distant day 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 9 
 
 Him proudly waft across the wrinkling main, 
 Boiling there, in briny folds before his view, 
 The .future scene of his ambitious course, 
 Where noble deeds, some day, he would achieve ; 
 For in the pious fervor of his heart 
 He felt his soul was great, and that he could 
 Not but do well when for the right contending. 
 
 "Yes, yes," he cried, "'tis true, alas! fate ! 
 Too true ; a tyrant mocks thy storms, fond main ! 
 For on thy misty bosom, bounding near 
 These shores, and darkening yonder sun's bright 
 
 track, 
 
 There speeds a bold usurper's ship of war, 
 By steam 'gainst wind and tide of earth propell'd. 
 
 " my poor country ! once so fair and free ! 
 In former times thy days so full of joy! 
 All then was bright as gleams diffusive flung 
 From golden suns on streamlet, hill, and plain ; 
 
10 THE MEXICAN"; 
 
 But now, alas ! ere Freedom fair hath mark'd 
 An era in thy reign, thy summer days 
 Are clouded in the palling smoke of war. 
 In times long past she blest these realms so fair 
 Realms bravely won by our dead sires, who then, 
 As like huge rocks, in all their might and strength 
 Withstood the stern encounter of their foes, 
 And fell'd them down, at last, upon the field 
 Of strife, all shot and mangled unto death. 
 Then Freedom from her thralldom vile came forth, 
 And blest the land that gave her birth. But now, 
 Alas ! dear friend of the opprest, thou'rt down 
 In gloom again, with tyrant chains enslaved, 
 Thy laws o'erthrown by an invading foe. 
 
 " But soft ; while in this mood, I'll ask myself 
 What freedom is. Is freedom but a name ? 
 Is that name, like virtue to bold men, a myth, 
 Or thing too frail to last, when lust and power- 
 Twin tyrants bold the human raee enslave ? 
 
OK, LOVE AND LAND. 11 
 
 Hath Republics but a life's uncertain date ? 
 
 Shall tyrant sway yet be the form to rule 
 
 The earth's vast multitudes of men? It hath 
 
 been so 
 
 For ages past ; and monarchs in their pride 
 Yet boast that they, until the sun's last gleam 
 Upon this earth doth shine, shall rule the world : 
 E'en make, thro' war, an empire of this land, 
 So they in royal lands may concentrate 
 All Mexico's vast wealth, and circumscribe 
 Man's freedom here as they do now in their 
 Despotic climes remote. Will they, forsooth ! 
 They count without the cost ; we'll see to that, 
 And teach the tool of France that Mexicans 
 Can not be brought low grov'ling to the earth, 
 Like loathsome snakes abhorr'd, to be trod 
 On by dull, unfeeling kings. Know ye not 
 A patriot's right and power it is to teach 
 Vain tyrants how to rule the race of men 
 They would enslave with laws unjust ? for bear 
 
12 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 It well in mind, thou presumptuous thing ! 
 In tranquil times thy tongue with arrogance 
 May boast of kingly power ; but when the people 
 Eise with sword in hand, to speak of wrongs 
 Endured, how soon the royal coward skulks 
 Away dismay'd in other climes to dwell !" 
 
 " then, thou prideful man of worldly pomp, 
 Now learn from me how far above thee is 
 The patriot noble, great. 'Tis nature's sons 
 "Wear noble titles, honor, truth, and worth, 
 For love of country opens up their hearts 
 To every caste, condition, sect, and creed 
 Of men, that makes them great ; and I who feel, 
 As here upon my native shore I stand, 
 Fair nature's nobleness within my soul, 
 I raise my voice and say, ' Thank God, Rafael, 
 That thou art Mexico's true citizen, 
 Commissioned by the great Godhead to hurl 
 Swift vengeance on thy country's foes, if't be 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 13 
 
 The will of fate that I shall undertake 
 The task to marshal forth my countrymen, 
 On land or sea, to meet the daring foe/" 
 
 Then o'er the scene there came a change. 
 
 Darkening 
 
 On his view, in awful grandeur looming 
 Southward, great black clouds in dense folds 
 
 billow'd 
 
 All the vast horizon. A gloom the sea's 
 Bright features spread. From mount and rill 
 
 the sun 
 
 Its radiant gleams withdrew, then sunk down pale 
 Behind the dusky mass fast thund'ring on, 
 In elemental strife. 
 
 "Hark!" the patriot cried, 
 
 " Heaven hath ceased to slumber. In yonder cloud 
 God's vengeful spirit flies with tenfold force 
 Toward these shores. Again His mighty wrath 
 I hear in that dread crash. It warns me hence, 
 
14 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 And tells me that my time I idly waste 
 Upon this strand. Therefore, obedient to 
 The Will Divine, I'll here no longer stay." 
 
 Then Eafael took his eyes from off the brine, 
 
 And march'd along, the sandy shore, until 
 
 A cliff he reach'd. With supple limbs he climb'd 
 
 The steep ascent, then turn'd his eyes above 
 
 And saw the thunder-cloud about to burst 
 
 With rain. So nimbly thrice three furlongs' 
 
 lengths 
 
 He wander'd where a time-worn castle stood : 
 In olden times, tradition states, the seat 
 Of Aztec kings ; and then beneath an arch 
 Of its old battlements, where bristled once 
 In all their warlike trim, huge antique darts 
 Of war, rude lance and spear, Rafael there 
 
 sought 
 
 Shelter from the storm : fit spot to meditate 
 Alone. 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 15 
 
 There safely from the drenching rain 
 Inroof M the patriot sat, revolving still 
 Within his mind the fate of Mexico : 
 Of tyrant force and lawless power complain'd ; 
 What errors of almighty fate had brought 
 His country then so low down in the scale 
 Of nations ; how her rights and laws were lost, 
 Her freedom gone ; and how her patriots then 
 Were thrust in dungeons of eternal shame : 
 There yoked in chains on foreign anvils forged 
 In firm, united links by ruthless hands 
 Of bold invaders who then roam'd her plains, 
 To pillage, burn, and devastate the land. 
 
 Now mark what daring inspiration wakes 
 The man ! See how his eyes are by the beam 
 Of courage fired ! Both revenge and glory 
 Agitate his breast. True-hearted man, be thine 
 The power; thou hast the will and spirit bold 
 To win the wreath that crowns the victor's brow, 
 
16 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Fair recompense that merit earns among 
 The bravest and the best. For then he felt 
 He war could wage, or still in tempests live, 
 Danger scorn upon the waste of waters, 
 When the winds of ocean free shall waft him 
 Where adventure leads, to fame and conquest, 
 'Gainst his foes upon the sea. Eafael brave 
 For such a task was nobly fit by birth ; 
 For taintless in his veins the blood of chiefs 
 Kenown'd did flow. 
 
 So while his fancy roam'd 
 The world of thought, our hero fix'd his mind 
 On fair Columbia's land ; she fired his heart : 
 An abstract view he took of her contest, 
 And dwelt in brief upon the strife, which late 
 Impell'd her dauntless sons to wage with arms 
 The holy task against the rebel foe, 
 And thus he to himself their deeds rehears'd : 
 
 " Ah ! yes, 'twas in that land of liberty, 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 17 
 
 Where Freedom sprung from out a tyrant's heart, 
 And wrench'd from his firm grasp the starry gem 
 Which now adorns her brow once the jewel 
 Earest of his crown ; as yet none brighter hath 
 Been found upon the wide earth thro'. But late, 
 In that far clime, just as her radiance shone 
 O'er all the world, and she had scarce enjoyM 
 Of liberty a century, Sedition 
 Rear'd her haughty crest of blood. The blow 
 Aim'd at her life, to stab her unawares, 
 Fell from a traitor's hand the hand of one 
 Who in the fostering lap of Freedom had been 
 From his childhood nurtured till he up 
 To manhood grew. But mark ! that son un- 
 grateful 
 His own mother struck ! shame of Freedom's 
 
 race! 
 
 Oh, why did anger urge thy hand to do the deed ! 
 But soon the blow evoked the chastisement 
 Then due ; for retribution quick soon fell 
 
18 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Upon the culprit's head. Thy act was rash, 
 And proved thy own downfall. 
 
 Then the blast 
 
 Of Liberty thro' all the land did sound 
 ' Arise, ye loyal men ! awhile forego 
 The joys that freedom brings to man. To arms ! 
 Vile Treason's cannon echoes thro' the land.' 
 Her loyal sons the summons heard ; for soon, 
 Obedient to her clarion call, they from 
 Columbia's cities, mines, and fertile lands, 
 In thousands to her holy rescue flew. 
 
 " But down she was awhile, and wept. All seem'd 
 In darkness lost. Faint on earth she languish'd 
 In the gloom. But yet no loyal heart despair'd, 
 For in their breasts they felt the spirit burn 
 Of their great sire, George Washington, champion 
 Of the free ; a noble man with lasting name 
 A name that all who freedom love revere ; 
 A hero brave of heart who would not brook 
 
OE, LOVE AND LAND. 19 
 
 A haughty kingdom's insolence upon their shores, 
 But dared with willing heart and hand to raise 
 His fallen kind ; and therefore fought for, lived for 
 Nothing but his country's good at heart. 
 ' Let all Columbia's loyal sons unite 
 Against the foe their efforts to the cause ; 
 'Tis for the general good ; for godless they, 
 Tho' Freedom's children' seemed in that dark hour 
 To whisper softly from his hallowed shade. 
 
 " At length the genius of Columbia's chiefs. 
 The free, the bold, her loyal-hearted sons, 
 Great armies mass'd and with unerring wisdom 
 Hurl'd the North's gigantic power against 
 Her frantic hordes of lawless foes. Yet well 
 The rebels wag'd the war thro' wildest scenes 
 Of carnage in their most disastrous days 
 Stood firm ; for they a haughty rule maintain'd ; 
 Submit they would not to a selfish triumph ; 
 For, being the same race, no cowardice 
 
20 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Had they in their hearts. ye Christians, 
 
 ponder ! 
 
 Her deadliest foes were her own race ! for ere 
 The pride and passions of the stubborn foe 
 Were quell'd, the North's best blood was shed in 
 
 streams 
 
 That crimson'd woodland, hill, and southern plain. 
 But ineffective proved the rebels' aims 
 To circle out a nation of their own. 
 Before the Northmen brave the traitors fell : 
 Poor, blind, reckless fools, they rush'd impetuous 
 To their own destruction ! In calmer sense 
 Each one now feels the burning shame that brands 
 His brow a traitor. Ah, who can tell us 
 All the mischief their wild spirits wrought ! 
 
 " Columbia fair ! thank God, the foe hath fail'd 
 To pluck one star from off thy diadem. 
 Now Discord from thy cherish'd land is swept ; 
 As there, from utmost hell with flaming brand 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 21 
 
 And torch to burn the air and desolate 
 Thy fields, no longer round Eebellion stalks 
 To disunite with iron hands thy frame 
 Of States ; she in her bloody ashes smoulders : 
 Naught is left of her but charr'd remains ; 
 And Carnage, too, with all her ghostly horrors, 
 Lies there buried in her gory shroud. Peace 
 Connects the sever'd parts ; the sword and 
 
 sheath 
 
 Are with the olive-branch of friendship twin'd ; 
 Their once irreverent hands in friendly links 
 Are grasp'd again ; the rash alone still boast 
 Sedition's spirit lives yet unsubdued, 
 While in the North a faction base keep down 
 Their fallen foe. Blind bigots ! know ye not 
 That mercy follows triumph ? The brave do 
 Pity, not abuse, when down, their foes. 
 
 "Yet, 
 
 'Tis not for us to say what they should do ; 
 Right glad are we to learn that now no smoke 
 
22 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Of war doth darken more Columbia's skies. 
 'Twas but a cloud that dim'd her starry zone, 
 As she, dear friend of the opprest, in all 
 Her former glory shines. Bright as the sun, 
 That flings its ray o'er hill and stream, her 
 
 splendor 
 
 Burns more clear ; for now Columbia all 
 The world admires. E'en those who deem'd her 
 
 lost, 
 
 Her glory now applaud. Ah ! well thou dost, 
 Kind friend of man, that praise deserve. In song 
 Thy bards thy deeds will sing ; thy orators 
 Pour forth the valor of thy patriot sons, 
 And let, in records lasting thro' all time, 
 Their actions live ; their names commemorate 
 On tomb, in trench, and lonely solitude, 
 With those of many an ardent exile too, 
 Who came from climes remote and nobly fought 
 With thy brave sons for freedom. There, with 
 The native born, in moonlit glade secure, 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 23 
 
 The Briton, Teuton, Celt, together sleep. 
 
 Oft may the gentle dews of heaven fall 
 
 And kiss the slabs that mark their resting place !' 
 
 So then, with eye uplifted, Rafael scanned 
 The sky. He saw the storm had past, that all 
 Was clear. Yet, fearful lest he might 
 Encounter a marauding gang of foes 
 Around the solitudes of ocean prowling 
 (Nor one, nor two, he fear'd to meet ; for tho' 
 Still young in years, yet few his strength could 
 
 boast ; 
 
 And he who dared dispute his way, he'd rap 
 With well-aim'd blows, his sconce, until his eyes 
 Would flash with stars), he quit the lonely shore, 
 
 Just then, the sun behind the west'ring wave 
 Went down, and twilight, with her russet veil, 
 Enwrapt the scenes around where Eafael all 
 The noon-half of that day had loiter'd. 
 

 CHAPTER II. 
 
 OK a slope with tropic verdure teeming, 
 Where Nature in her vernal beauty held 
 Her fragrant reign, between the hours of noon 
 And eve, screened from the sunny beam, beneath 
 
A bowering mango broad, there, side by side, 
 With all the world at peace, two mortals sat 
 Entranced in moments balmy, merrily 
 With their musical mother-tongue prattling 
 Praises lavishly, each on each, soft from 
 Their two hearts beating then with fondest hopes. 
 
 The maiden's dark eyes fring'd with lashes silken, 
 Softly in their soul-lit ardor tempered 
 With love's light, and pure as Venus brightly 
 In a twilight sky of amber gleaming, 
 Eeflective and brimful of love's romance, 
 Dreamingly speaking a language rare, 
 Tenderly gazed in conscious bliss divine 
 Upon the chosen partner of her heart, 
 Marking his growth of form and mind how fair, 
 How bland ! with all the graces which adorn 
 Young manhood's prime; combining with those 
 
 charms 
 Of person rare a just and generous heart. 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 2? 
 
 She loved him for that goodness of his heart, 
 And prized him also for his mind well-form'd 
 To govern less enlighten'd souls ; his courage 
 To explore untrodden ways. 
 
 But how looked 
 
 She attractive in her lover's eyes, 
 Which made his manly heart to softly yield 
 To her enchantment ? He many rivals had ; 
 Great ones knew her worth, and sought her hand. 
 Many wish'd her for their bride to heighten with 
 Her dazzling charms their pomp of life. But he 
 Alone was her heart's choice. He first among 
 Her suitors rank'd. They loved her for her wealtt 
 And skill in graceful arts ; but Eafael prized 
 Morena's heart and beauty more. 
 
 She too 
 
 Amid gay rivals shone supreme, yet held 
 Her Eafael captive by the matchless grace 
 Of mind and heart indulgent nature had 
 From birth on her bestow'd. She, superior far 
 
28 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Among kind fortune's brilliant stars, outshone 
 The rest. To Rafael, she the fairest 
 Of her sex, a precious gem, his queen of grace, 
 By love and fortune crown'd. None fairer 'ncath 
 The stars of heaven shone. Not since the birth 
 Of Time had kind creation graced this sphere 
 With one more lovely in his sight. In brief, 
 To him Morena was divine. 
 
 'Twas thus 
 
 Beneath that green alcove, these compliments 
 The lovers' time employ'd. 
 
 Then softly 'neath 
 
 The blissful weight of love, on Rafael's heart 
 Morena's head reclined, painting her thoughts 
 In tinted rainbow fancies fair and bright 
 As the radiant arch itself that girds 
 The rainy depths of space with splendor round. 
 How lovingly there also, in melting tones, 
 She'd lisp his own sweet name thro' ruby lips, 
 Where oft he sip'd the sweets that generous ilow'd 
 
OK, LOVE AND LAND. 29 
 
 From that soft source ! Ah, knew he the purport 
 Of her mystic sighs tender undertones 
 Of phrases broken, lingering on her lips ; 
 Those heavenly draughts of inspiration 
 Which her soul enthrall'd ; her inward spirit steep'd 
 In blissful ardor, breathing earthly love : 
 And fondly then a thousand hopes imparting 
 To his heart that yearn'd and bounded lightly 
 In his breast at the sweet words she whisper'd 
 With soft voice ? 
 
 Eesponsively, he too would breathe 
 Her tones she mostly loved to hear ; for then 
 Love reign'd in both their hearts, 
 The tyrant monarch of the breast commanding 
 All their thoughts, their wishes, voices, hopes: 
 Joys each fond heart sharing no two lips could 
 Murmur more. From their souls love blissful 
 
 guslrd 
 
 In words of mutual softness in each ear, 
 Ere their words upon the south wind fledeth 
 
30 THE MEXICAK; 
 
 Among the leaflets born of fragrant bowers j 
 Then rustling on the air their vernal chimes. 
 Thus love became their soul-absorbing theme : 
 Was given, taken, hourly sworn to, vouch'd 
 For by the sighs then dropping from each lip 
 Spontaneously for registry in heaven, 
 For they entranced, on earth no record kept ; 
 But swore they'd sacred keep their vows till o'er 
 Them life had lost its power. 
 
 Alternate then, 
 They'd look at each and smile, then clasp each 
 
 hand 
 
 With friendly fervor ; for each one felt that each 
 Was loved. Each ardent glance a test-oath was 
 Of fondness mutual, rousing up their souls 
 In raptures sweet yet strange, supreme, divine ! 
 For they in that gay season were when life 
 Most healthful in the blood doth burn. 'Twas love 
 Danced in their swelling veins. But their hearts 
 
 were free 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 31 
 
 From sin, and fraught with naught but feelings 
 
 sweet ; 
 
 Keeping the passion pure : Heaven's impulse, 
 Sweetest when fair Prudence guides the innocent 
 In ways of happiness and peace thro' 
 Future years ; these are the joys that virtue 
 
 knows, 
 
 Joys with heartfelt love combined, sweet passion 
 Of power benign, great source of every good : 
 It opens up the soul of him who dares 
 Essay to touch the hand of modest worth. 
 Soon blank would be life's gayest scenes without 
 Fond love divine. It doth the heart distend 
 With social warmth ; gives fire to blighted beauty, 
 Cheer to care, and solace to the sad. 
 The beam of love the human face illumes ; 
 "With its warmth it heightens every feature. 
 No fairer jewel can be found within 
 The soul of woman true. What man's heart is 
 
 proof 
 
32 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Against her ravishment when love's combined 
 With mortal charms ! She makes his heart 
 
 pulsate 
 With joys he dreams, on earth, will never end. 
 
 Thus pure and sweet their panting bosoms glow'd 
 With youthful love sincere. They hoped no pang, 
 Thro' all advancing years, their bliss would mar. 
 
 ISTow mark what then ensued. A change came o'er 
 The scene ; the twain in loving stress enthrall'd, 
 Sat speechless in the silence of the hour, 
 With purest thoughts of loving souls, shaping 
 In fancy's regions fair on earth a heaven 
 Of their own. 
 
 There, cumber'd by the weight 
 Of languor dreamy, Kafael then would breathe 
 Mysterious thoughts. He'd talk by fits, then 
 
 pause 
 Awhile in his ejaculations vague, 
 
OK, LOVE AND LAND. 33 
 
 Like one who wrangles with the tyrant love, 
 Tormenting his fond heart. But yet he had 
 No wish to hide his thoughts from his dear love. 
 Her heart he would not wrong by word nor deed ; 
 But then with her discernment quick, she mark'd 
 How soon his sighs were then repress'd, and, half 
 In wonder, half in mirth, Morena gazed 
 Upon his handsome face, defining with 
 A mild yet yearning eye, as best she could, 
 The hidden cause that bow'd his head in thought. 
 
 "Dear me," she said, "how strange he looks! 
 
 He's like 
 
 A man just half asleep : yet he's awake, 
 And dreams; loves, yet sighs not. His voice 
 
 hath lost 
 
 The tones he me just now asserted with 
 Avowals strong how much he loved. How 
 
 strange 
 A thing he is ! how dull ! capricious, too ! 
 
34 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 One time his heart all full of love, and then, 
 A moment after, all of troth devoid." 
 
 So then with voice so musical, so soft, 
 She ask'd him questions fond, to learn the secret 
 That he harbor'd in his breast. " Speak ; what ails 
 Thee ? Tell me, dear, what makes thee look 
 
 so sad?" 
 
 But Eafael speaketh not. " 'Pshaw," she said ; 
 " Earth holds none half so dull ! Oh ! would I knew 
 Thy mind's delirium. Ah me ! 'tis sad 
 To think how he could thus be chang'd so soon ! 
 Here he sits, but heareth not, or will not 
 List the words that question him ! Ah ! now thine 
 
 eye, 
 With coldness so indifferent seeming 
 
 Not long ago did sparkle with love's fire. 
 Alas ! it shows thy heart's inconstancy." 
 Yet Eafael sat unmov'd, as if he would 
 Thro' fretfulness, her loving temper try. 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 35 
 
 And from her gentle breath these tender words 
 His silence drew : 
 
 " Dear Rafael, take thine eye 
 From off the verdant ground, and gaze on me 
 Instead. Unveil the hidden cause. Oh, trust 
 Me with thy thoughts ! To thee Fm bound 
 
 beyond 
 A doubt : that love from thee shall ne'er depart." 
 
 " Nor mine from thee," was Rafael's quick 
 
 response. 
 
 " Thy mind, Morena dear, hath pictured scenes 
 Unreal ; for, unabated in my heart, 
 Still love's pure passion burns. What! I now 
 
 wound 
 
 The gentle heart my soul adores ! No, no ! 
 If e'er that time should come, I hope mine eyes 
 No more in life shall see the ocean gleam, 
 Nor sun, nor moon, nor stars above my head 
 Wooing the world below with glitt'ring pride." 
 
36 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Then Morena saw no sorrow Eafael's 
 
 Dark eye dim'd; still they sparkled with chaste 
 
 fire, 
 
 The flame of love. But yet she wonder'd why 
 He had to silence yielded up his breath, 
 His soul entranced: what cloud in life's spring 
 
 morn 
 
 His mind o'ercast, and made his heart that time 
 To coldness turn. "Is the cause past finding 
 
 out?" 
 Morena said. " No, Morena, no ; 
 
 If I the bold design unfold, wilt thou, 
 My love, indulgent prove ?" " I will," she said. 
 " Nor on me look with scornful eye when thou 
 Hast heard the tale?" "Thou me canst trust. 
 
 Tell it, 
 
 Eafael dear." Then she said, with voice elated ; 
 " Umbrage would ill suit the heart that sighs 
 For thee alone." 
 
OE, LOVE AND LAND. 37 
 
 "'Tiswell; now hear!" said Rafael. 
 " "When the sun last eve had set, and twilight, 
 Clad in vestment gray, enrobed the earth about, 
 I at my window, wrapt in thoughtful mood, 
 Relapsing down from wakefulness to sleep, 
 Sat dreamingly watching the glimmering 
 Of the vestal star in splendor twinkling 
 On my dreamy eyes its chasten'd light, soon, hushM 
 To life, my breathing spirit fled to dreamland. 
 But in that mystic sphere, reposing then, 
 Where soft stillness reign'd supreme, a vision 
 Mellowing on my dreamy sight, came thro* 
 The portals of high heaven and illum'd 
 The sky with holy light more dazzling far 
 Than gleams of the broad moon. Awhile she 
 
 To gaze on the tumultuous world beneath, 
 Then on she came near where I dreamt. 
 
 Half in awe, 
 I held my breath, and wondered still to know 
 
38 THE MEXICAN"; 
 
 What mission from benignant heaven brought 
 A reigning spirit there. 
 
 " 'Twas then I saw 
 
 She held in her left hand a batter'd shield, 
 On which there was engraved a tyrant's head ; 
 Her right a banner held, emblazon'd round 
 With stars, a brow of Liberty circling ; 
 Her azure crest with blood was slightly stain'd. 
 
 " Then nearer yet to where I dreaming was 
 
 Half quivering with affright, in splendor grand 
 
 She came ; and turning down her lustrous eyes, 
 
 As radiant as the beam reflected from 
 
 The spacious shield her hand sustained, and meek 
 
 Also, and tender as religion in 
 
 A virgin's eye, she said, with voice so sweet: 
 
 '0 Eafael ! from thy dream of ease awake. 
 
 Why in silken languor sleepeth there, 
 
 Unheeding Time's swift flight, no enterprise 
 
 "Nor work divine to do ? Inaction 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 39 
 
 Bringeth sloth ; languishment dull apathy, 
 That may, ere long, unnerve thee quite : for fate 
 Decrees that every earth-born thing that doth 
 Remain inactive, soon shall droopeth down 
 To death. Therefore, be warn'd ; get up, and stir 
 Thy nature from its weary dream of ease. 
 Arise, and in the cause of Freedom do some good. 
 Thou hast the strength, the heavenly grace and 
 
 soul, 
 
 All purely kind for such a task. Therefore, 
 Arise, and with firm resolution fix'd, 
 Assert the justice of thy race against 
 Their sworn foes of Freedom. The work is that 
 Of love such work that needeth all thy thoughts, 
 And all thy heart should feel. Now thy country is 
 In sorest need of thy transcending worth : 
 On every side she groans. A tyrant works 
 Destruction of thy race ; his sinful feet 
 Now tread the soil and from her fertile plains 
 Her patriots drive. Their children load the air 
 
40 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 "With cries, and bitter meanings from their widows 
 Eend the sky. 
 
 " ' Therefore, Eaf ael, arise and strike 
 The foe. Let thy valor match thy virtues ; 
 God thy arm will strengthen. For to be great 
 In conflict right, he must be good and brave. 
 Eightly earn'd in fighting for his country, 
 Both fame and fortune crown the hero's brow : 
 And when he dies, on earth a noble name 
 He leaves : here loving hands will deck his grave 
 "With blest immortelles. 
 
 " < So, Eafael, wherefore 
 Longer there be softly sway'd by idle 
 Dreams of life ? of faith and love why longer sing ? 
 Come, now, arise ! asunder tear the tyrant 
 From thy heart. Leave thy sighing love behind, 
 Else she'll wanton with thy fate ; for thou shouldst 
 Know the goddess coy allures her victims 
 Down to indolence abject : her votaries 
 Fame nor fortune seldom gain. Therefore, 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 41 
 
 Love's potent magic now reject. Let thy aims 
 In life more high ascend ; for he's unworthy 
 Of the heart and hand he doth not win 
 Doing something great in warfare holy. 
 Thou wert born for this : heaven hath given thee 
 Both the mind and strength to fight the foe thro' 
 Flame and death, on ocean, lake, or field, 
 Till naught remains of him upon these shores, 
 Which doth by right of birth to thee belong; 
 Then glory shall be thy reward. All will 
 Whisper Kafael's name ; pour it forth in prayer, 
 And live in lauded speech on peoples' tongues 
 The wide earth thro'. In brief, in every zone 
 Thy deeds shall be recorded in thy favor 
 Even when thy days of youth hath flown 
 Far out across Time's west'ring sea. Then thou'lt 
 Look upon the glorious past, and mark how well 
 In summer days of life, with hardy crew, 
 Thou didst upon the wave contend against 
 The foreign foe who now with fire and sword 
 
42 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Doth desolate thy land. Therefore, again, 
 Rafael, no longer be weighed down to earth 
 By soft, unnerving love, but now awaken 
 From lascivious dreaming to thy duty. 
 Arise, go forth ; grace with my name all earth/ 
 
 " She spoke no more. Aloft her beaming eye 
 Look'd on a zone of gleaming stars. A mist 
 Her heavenly form enwrapt, and veil'd her from 
 My gaze. 
 
 " Then thoughts so strange rush'd in my mind 
 'Tween love and fame my inward spirit work'd. 
 I said, ' Shall I forego my love and thee, 
 High glory to achieve ? ' Too bad, I thought, 
 'Twould be to rend the blest communion 
 Of our two hearts now so firmly tied by love 
 And faith. 
 
 " But now it must be done. I must 
 From passion's dream my soul emancipate ; 
 Must fly retirement ; leave these downy beds 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 43 
 
 Of flowers, and in the world my strength attest 
 In d.eeds of arms to bring renown to me, 
 And peace to my distracted land, scorning 
 A minion, hither from a usurp'd throne, 
 Sent here to reign a despot in the halls 
 Of the famed Montezumas." 
 
 So when he 
 
 Told the tale, Morena, half unconscious 
 By her Eafael's side, sat mute. Ah, what 
 A mournful theme of fond, despairing love 
 Into her ear he breathed ! A thousand doubts 
 And fears past thro' her mind, as he the tale 
 Rehearsed, that he no longer loved her. 
 
 Soon 
 
 Her pensive notion he perceived. How pale 
 Her comely cheek ! Then said : "What fears annoy 
 Thy heart, Morena dear ; why thus so sad ? 
 Thou, perchance, art brooding without reason, 
 O'er some fate thou think'st will dim thine eyes 
 With tears." 
 
44 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Then lowly with soft breath he whispered 
 Hope to soothe her anxious fears, and said : " Why 
 
 from 
 
 Thy face hath gloom the light of joy withdrawn ? 
 Look up, my dear ; come, turn thy gaze on me. 
 Oh ! tell me, love, what doubtful vision now 
 Thy downcast eyes portray; what woe afflicts 
 Thy heart ; what pangs assail thy breast within. 
 If thy voice hath not expression lost, oh ! speak : 
 Tell me, love, the sorrow which now sitteth 
 On thy heart. Come, Morena dear, look up ; 
 Eeceive from me one cheering smile. I'm thine, 
 I vow ; will serve thee, see thee as thou wish : 
 For thee, and thee alone, I live. Come, dear 
 To my soul and fair to my sight, speak out; 
 I'm thine, aye I truly thine as ever yes, 
 And will be till life's spell is broke." 
 
 So then, 
 
 Obedient to his voice, Morena raised 
 Her languid eyes, that plainly told how much 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 45 
 
 She drank the tender tale which made the 
 
 name 
 
 Of Rafael dear ; her looks all woe-begone, 
 An anguish'd spirit ; in fine, a thousand 
 Signs of grief without, how much she suffered 
 Mentally, how much she loved. But oh! such 
 
 were 
 
 The tearful looks she then to Eafael gave 
 That even Joy herself would grieve to see 
 The heart-drops which her sadden'd soul forced up 
 From well of purest grief within upon 
 Her silken lashes, then in deepest sorrow 
 Shading, as they rose all warm and limpid 
 In her eye. 
 
 So Rafael, then by pity 
 Moved, observed how much his love, meantime, 
 
 pour'd 
 
 Forth upon the breeze alternate sobs and sighs. 
 Why cry, Morena ? Weep not, love. Oh ! what 
 Emotion tender forceth from their source 
 
46 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 These heart-born tears to stream so down thy 
 
 cheek ? 
 
 Tell me, is thy heart with anguish bleeding ? 
 Do these tears arise from thence to signalize 
 Young Joy in thine heart is drown'd ? Oh ! let me 
 
 know." 
 
 Morena then her grieving stillness broke 
 
 With sad voice low : " Alas ! how changed, when 
 
 thou 
 
 Hast been so true ! Kafael, meditate. 
 Flattering, vain, that vision, and delusive. 
 Give credence none to what you thought it said. 
 'Twas but a mystic phantom, born of dreamland, 
 Which, when thou the tedious hours did court 
 Soft on thy couch, flit on the slumbrous air. 
 Ah, Eafael ! rush not forward ; ponder, pry 
 The dark futurity. Oh, think what ills 
 May come ; how much do snares of life await 
 The youth, tho' fortified with holy thoughts 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 47 
 
 And fond precepts maternal, what dangers 
 May befall when he on untried paths doth 
 Venture ! Now thy heart ambition yearneth. 
 Alas ! for fame, thou wouldst in human gore 
 Thy hands imbrue with sword destructive, 
 Wielding it against superior force of arms 
 Which may perchance, ere long, thee crush amid 
 The stricken dead ; for adverse fate doth oft 
 Befall the bravest youth of Adam's race. 
 Few triumph o'er the chance of war; then why, 
 Eafael, thus leave thy friends, thy native land, 
 To traverse seas unknown, and there, perchance, 
 Be wreck'd or thrown upon some island vast 
 'Mid tribes carnivorous, when thou hast joy, 
 Content, and pastime here the tardy time 
 To kill with thy companions ? For thou wert 
 Born for peace, not war : thine ears for music 
 Form'd, not battle's din ; in brief, Apollo's lute, 
 Not Mars' dread sounds. Oh ! therefore, Eafael, 
 Quell a moment thy heart's yearning fond. 'Twas 
 
48 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 But a vision, light as the breath that breathed 
 
 Thy name that beckon'd out Fame's radiant goal 
 
 Where all look'd bright, but yet delusive still ; 
 
 Aye, even transient as a rainbow, arching 
 
 Heaven high with belts of fire resplendent 
 
 To one's sight, yet wasting as it shines ; 
 
 For there, where all looks pure and bright, doth 
 
 soon 
 
 Become as darksome as before. So let 
 The vision not betray nor lead thee on, 
 But pause in thy career, ere thou doth find 
 Thy hopes of worldly greatness all in vain ; 
 Yes, Rafael dear, oh ! prize thy peaceful hours more, 
 And with me learn the sacred lessons 
 Which the stars that shine above do nightly teach." 
 
 " Must I, then," said Rafael, "exhaust my life 
 In sighs ? Let love pronounce my destiny." 
 
 Then, laying her soft hand in his, she said : 
 " Ah ! Rafael dear, I pray thee, mark the toils 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 49 
 
 And dangers of the treacherous deep 
 Which now thy daring spirit longs to brave." 
 
 " No fear have I," Eafael replied : " see there, 
 
 Morena ; yonder in the distance stands 
 
 A structure grand and high, now by the moss 
 
 Of ages crown'd. Yon crumbling pile, in times 
 
 Gone by, was my forefathers' seat. There, from 
 
 Its casement, oft have I in infancy 
 
 Look'd out and watch'd with joy the dashing 
 
 waves 
 
 In foam break on the rocky knoll which forms 
 Its rugged base. 'Twas on those waves in youth 
 That Neptune me his trident gave, and there, 
 Oft since, have I within my buoyant skiff 
 Been tost about, a youthful mariner." 
 
 " A wayward prank of idle youth, no more," 
 
 Morena said ; " but now, Rafael, thou art 
 
 To manhood grown ; thy mind with reason fraught. 
 
50 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 So, wherefore risk the faithless main, or let 
 The din of noisy war now yex thy peace ?" 
 
 " To fight," Eafael replied, " in Freedom's cause 
 Until my arm if fate so wills shall sink 
 Beneath the weighty sword, all for thy brow, 
 My dear, the laurel wreath of victory earning." 
 
 " But thou in tropic calms, Eafael, upon 
 The liquid brine may languish, or p'rhaps, find, 
 When out upon the ocean broad, thy barque is 
 Far too frail to dash o'er seas tempestuous : 
 The billow of the angry blast to rush 
 Against its side, its rocking keel careen : 
 Then, oh, who knows what terrors might arise 
 To call thee to its soundless depths below, 
 Without a funeral rite nor hallow'd mark 
 To tell me where thy cold remains may sleep ! 
 Then gentle peace on earth ' good-bye,' my voice 
 Would murmur evermore; grief my guest would be. 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 51 
 
 I'd weep my life away ; but then, dissolved 
 In tears, Fd run to ocean's bed, if fate 
 Ordain'd, and form thy watery shroud. But yet, 
 Ah ! Eafael dear, take heed, still at my side 
 Keign lord of my heart. Power nor wealth in life 
 Are naught without thee. Cold and valueless 
 "Will be all things about if thou doth leave 
 Thy native place, where love and joy prevail, 
 To mingle with tumultuous men at war." 
 
 Yet still her mild persuasion fail'd to lure 
 Him from his lofty aims. Ambition yet 
 Knock'd proudly at his heart ; and so obedient 
 To its promptings, said : 
 
 " Such vicissitudes 
 
 Are naught to me, for duty spurns such toils, 
 However vast. I feel as if I now 
 Could fight in zones far off, where torrid heats 
 Breed plague and pestilence, or at the poles 
 Abide, where nature bound in chains of ice, 
 
52 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Sleeps fast beneath eternal snows. 'Tis now, 
 In truth, the only love I feel." 
 
 At this, 
 
 Morena's eye with jealous fire flash'd ; 
 Then half in anger, half in doubt, she said : 
 " thou inconstant man, I fear 'tis thro' 
 The gay, admiring world, where beauty reigns, 
 That thou wouldst roam, and there in wanton love 
 Entrall'd, that callous soon, and cold as ice 
 For me thy heart will grow ; for absence chills 
 The flame divine. Man is weak when woman 
 Charms him with her beauty. But beware. 
 The wretch who wantons after every face 
 He views, from faded health unto an early death 
 A painful life doth hourly linger." 
 
 Then, free and open as the passing air, 
 Eafael replied : " Be not suspicious, love : 
 Too much I value thy celestial worth, 
 To leave thee in despair and wander with 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND 53 
 
 A mind unfix'd strange regions to explore 
 In search of beauty new. I'll from my love 
 No rebel be. No, by my troth, I swear, 
 That love's seductive wiles shall never lure 
 Me to the couch where beauty slumbers ; nor 
 Shall beauty's tempting smile from prudence wean 
 My youthful heart and bid it weakly yield 
 To wanton joys, nor things that dazzle sight, 
 Nor merry songs, nor plaintive tunes : in brief, 
 Not all seductive love's allurements shall 
 Estrange thy Eafael's heart from thee. For tho' 
 By tyrant love now chain'd, yet I shall be 
 No other woman's slave ; nor her caprice 
 Nor fortune proud me from thee shall entice. 
 Thy modest worth alone doth recompense 
 My ardent vows. Be I 'mid genial airs 
 In summer's balmy climes, or nipt by frost 
 Of winter keen, thou'lt find no alter'd love 
 In me to damp thy soul with grief, and wreck 
 In life thy hopes. Ah, no ! for me thou'lt find 
 
54 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 As constant as the magnet to the poles ; 
 E'en as the moon the tides controls, so thou 
 Doth me. Content am I with thee. In vain 
 I'd search the half earth thro' to find 
 One lovelier than thyself fond partner 
 Of my fate and fortunes. Thy mother Eve 
 Of holy fame more fair than thou was not. 
 All the charms that others boast are in thee 
 Concentrated quite ; nor greatest fame, nor heaps 
 Of treasured gold from Montezuma's 
 Caverns deep to me are dearer ; a gem 
 More rare and brighter than a star not known ; 
 More charming than a queen of royal court 
 Mine in heart and soul, I love thee next my God. 
 Therefore, Morena dear, have done with doubting. 
 Thou mayst live to see how vain thy fears have 
 
 been. 
 
 My way is mark'd, my mind made up ; and thou, 
 Instead of weeping tears to soften down 
 My heart and win me over to thy will 
 
OK, LOVE AND LAND. 55 
 
 Thro' fear and doubt from waging with my sword 
 The righteous war that leads to victory, 
 Should, like the ladies fair of olden times, 
 Who bade their valiant courtiers take up arms 
 In a just cause, me likwise urge to drive 
 The bold invader from these shores." 
 
 "Yet think, 
 
 Eafael, think," she said, "how can my heart, 
 When thou art gone, the parting pang endure 1" 
 
 " Be not childish, love ; 'tis thine to bear ; for thou 
 May just as well command the sun that rolls 
 Overhead to stop its course, as now to swerve 
 Me from my resolution firm. E'en tho' 
 Sorrow may thy raven tresses blanchen, 
 And tears thine eyes' expressive beauty dim, 
 
 1 shall awhile forego these rosy hours. 
 Duty calls me hence, and bids me never 
 Kneel a slave to haughty power in this land 
 Where my forefathers were created free. 
 
56 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 No : I hate the tyrant and his minions. 
 What ! shall I, forsooth, sit down and fold 
 My arms when loud the voice of Freedom's heard 
 O'er field and flood, from dell to mountain-top 
 Chat now her bleeding patriots dying are, 
 Beneath the sickly sun on their own land, 
 And with extended hands, and moans, beseeching 
 Death with friendly stroke for to release them 
 From their shameful fates ? Oh ! I spurn the tool 
 Of France and all such tyrants, minions, things ! 
 Mourns he the widow's loss, or doth he grieve 
 With the poor orphan made thus desolate 
 Of heart ? Not he. On plunder he is bent, 
 To gratify his pride ; on blood, to glut 
 His thirst that may enhance his power : for he 
 Hath drag'd the peasant from his lowly cot, 
 The drooping aged snatch'd from his leaning 
 
 staff; 
 
 Torn from their sickly beds the lingering weak, 
 And thrust them, all enfeebled, in foul cells, 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 57 
 
 Because they in their sense of right maintain'd 
 Fair freedom's speech ! 
 
 " But doom'd beneath their roofs 
 Of mold and filth of dungeon damp they may 
 Be for a time ; yet the sun doth shine 
 Above their sorrowing heads. Justice still 
 Doth weigh the balance. God will see the 
 
 measure 
 
 Eight ; and oh ! if He doth strength impart 
 To willing hands, we shall not know an hour 
 Of rest until this land is free." 
 
 At this, 
 
 Morena's jealous fear gave way. A flood 
 Of light broke in upon her darkened soul; 
 And clearer grew fair Reason's beam. New truths 
 Her mind enlightened. Her brighten'd look did 
 
 then 
 
 The triumph of his suit attest. Long since 
 Had Rafael won her heart, but he now gain'd 
 A victory o'er her mind. Her answering smiles 
 
58 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 His warlike course endorsed. He then, the idol 
 Of her bosom's love, would be her care discreet. 
 
 " Ah, yes," she said, " I now all fear resign, 
 For with thy love, Eafael, I still am blest. 
 'Tis ordain'd by Him above that we should 
 Part : I'll trust in thee, nor longer bid thee 
 Now defer thy duty." 
 
 Then afterward, 
 
 Half boastingly, she said that she was stout 
 Of heart could fight as well as he himself. 
 
 " Oh, take me with thee, Eafael, to the wars," 
 She said. "Fear not : woman tho' I am, thou'lt 
 Find me brave. Much I can endure aye ! more, 
 Perchance, than thou conceives : if not to fight, 
 I can upon the wounded wait, and stanch 
 The blood the deadly missile makes ; assuage 
 Their woes : a balm their dying spirits need 
 To charm them with new hopes of life." 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAtfD. 59 
 
 When with 
 These words she had her venturesome deeds 
 
 exprest, 
 
 Rafael glanced with admiration on 
 Her soft, angelic form, and said : 
 
 "No, no! 
 
 Morena dear, the task is quite too hard ; 
 Thy sex too weak, too finely strung, in shape 
 Too delicate for toils and dangers of 
 Tumultuous war ; such hazards are for man 
 Severe ; nor could he them withstand, nor brave, 
 If duty did not urge, necessity 
 His strength and skill demand." 
 
 Morena, 
 
 Then, her Rafael hail'd with more congenial mood. 
 She praised him then with accents kind, admired 
 His soul so full of action warm, as if he had 
 By nature been for contest bred. 
 
 So there 
 She then with hopeful heart and mind perused 
 
60 
 
 The future thro', and raised a palace grand 
 All splendor in her radiant fancy bright, 
 With glittering titles, honors too to share 
 In happy future days with her young friend. 
 
 " When far away thou art," she said, " my much 
 Loved lyre shall make my sinking heart 
 
 rejoice ; 
 
 And ere I seek repose, my wakeful eyes 
 At night, the tardy time to kill, shall glean 
 The legendary tale." 
 
 Then wrangling Mars 
 And Cupid quartered in their leafy camp, 
 Seeing the sun dipt on the ocean's verge, 
 Up from their seats arose, and, arm-in-arm, 
 In lovelinks fondly twined, they saunter'd with 
 An easy gait along a pathway ample, 
 Wide, and girt with flowering shrubs. 
 
 Soon they reach'd. 
 With graceful step and slow, the palace of 
 
OR, LOVE AXD LAND. 61 
 
 Don Pedro, fair Morena's honor'd sire, 
 Whose shiny pate a bald index reveal'd 
 That there old Time a barber turn'd and shorn 
 It of the silken locks his youth had wove. 
 But yet he bore his weight of years well. 
 He sturdy was with veins by age unchill'd ; 
 In sight yet unimpair'd ; enjoying length 
 Of days sweet blessings of a well-earn'd past 
 Upon his rich possessions broad. 
 
 Just then, 
 
 With prideful step Don Pedro trod his lawn, 
 And met Morena and her lover brave, 
 But not with scornful brow ; but smiling, low 
 He bent his head, and haiPd with outstretched 
 
 hands 
 
 The loving twain with hearty cheer. For well 
 He knew brave Eafael's heart, his aims in life, 
 Its sweet civilities himself too well 
 To cross our hero's love with warnings harsh 
 And frowns importunate ; for he could see 
 
62 
 
 The lovers were to each betroth'd, and 'gainst 
 Their yearning souls no opposition firm 
 He placed, but nursed and cherish'd the best gift 
 Of heaven, gave it growth while young and 
 
 tender 
 Were their hearts enwreathed with fondness holy. 
 
 Now proud Don Pedro also felt to think 
 His daughter won the heart of one so brave, 
 With rectitude, undeviating from 
 The ways of truth that grace and dignify 
 The mellow morn of youth and ripen'd age. 
 For well he knew how pure was Rafael's caste : 
 The son of an undaunted Mexican 
 In arms renown'd, who, bold and resolute, 
 Had often there with martial firmness led 
 His matchless soldiers 'gainst Columbia's hosts 
 At Monterey. So Don Pedro anxious was, 
 That Rafael's honor'd name should live from age 
 To age, and hoped his blood would never cease 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 63 
 
 In human veins to course till blood and earth, 
 On the last day, were one mix'd element. 
 
 So, thus for BafaePs weal solicitous, 
 Don Pedro, moved by fond paternal love, 
 Him warmly held fast by the hand. 
 
 Eafael, 
 
 Meantime, gracefully the sire saluted. 
 With reverend hand he raised his hat, and 
 
 bow'd 
 With forehead bare down to the Don, then said : 
 
 " Thou dost the evening's balmy air respire, 
 Sefior." 
 
 " Tis nature's cordial, good my boy, 
 For spirits low ; the heart it cheers and life 
 Prolongs," was old Don Pedro's answer. 
 
 Then 
 
 Marking well the vein of humor in the Don, 
 Rafael soon perceived the opportunity 
 
64 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 And place inclined him to engage 
 Awhile the mind congenial of the sire. 
 
 Tho' never broach'd, as yet, by word of mouth, 
 He there and then essay'd to ask the hand 
 Of her he loved, in wedlock holy. 
 
 Now, 
 
 Quick with joy Don Pedro's heart did beat ; 
 That instant there his hand felt free to give 
 Eafael his daughter fair ; but he a moment 
 There abstracted stood in thought; for then he felt 
 In duty bound his daughter's heart to guard 
 Against desire too quick, then burning, p'rhaps, 
 In Eafael's breast ; so, deigning a reply, 
 Don Pedro clung fast hold of Eafael's hand, 
 And said : 
 
 "Eafael, well I know thy honor'd race ; 
 Thy father was himself a soldier brave, 
 But who, while coping 'gainst superior force, 
 Amid the arduous strife fell dead at Monterey ; 
 
OE, LOVE AND LAND. 65 
 
 His name, his history, and his fate are now 
 
 Upon his country's page inscribed ; and thou, 
 
 The sole survivor of that warrior tried 
 
 In contest fierce against Columbia's host, 
 
 "Will ne'er, I trow, dishonor the good name 
 
 Of him thy valiant parent kind. Upon 
 
 Thy sapling youth a watchful eye he kept, 
 
 And pruned thy budding manhood of dank weeds, 
 
 To bend thy mind to good and give thy tree 
 
 Of life its stalwart growth. Therefore, thou seest, 
 
 I know thy grafted merits well ; aye ! more 
 
 Than that, I know, also, that up to date 
 
 Thy life by crime nor falsehood hath been stain'd." 
 
 Then Eafael lowly to the Don bent down 
 
 His head, and there, with manly heart and voice, 
 
 He told him all about his mission bold. 
 
 Don Pedro murmur'd out his praises loud, 
 And said : " Brave youth, long mayst thou live 
 To raise with valiant arm the sword on sea 
 
66 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Or land in Freedom's cause ! A lasting name 
 Is worthy of the brave. All hallow'd be 
 Thy fame when thou art from existence gone, 
 Thro' death to mingle with immortal gods 
 In heavens of light and bliss eternal. 
 
 " To thee 
 
 I'll give my daughter fair. Her I shall guard, 
 Near at my side when thou, Eafael, goeth hence 
 Manfully in thy prime to dare the foe 
 In battle fierce ; and when the labor, thirst, 
 And perils of thy patriotic course 
 Are o'er, my daughter shall thy worth reward, 
 And crown thy wish, my honor' d youth, with cla :ms 
 To bind thee fondly with a thousand ties - 
 Connubial in the future. Now, what says 
 Morena, eh ? speak, child." 
 
 " Oh, I'm agreed 
 
 That Rafael shall go forth in Freedom's cause 
 To earn a place among the chiyalrous sons 
 Of men." 
 
OK, LOVE AKD LAND. 67 
 
 " Well said, my child," the sire replied. 
 " May heaven bless ye both. May nothing mar 
 Your hopes of future happiness." Then he took 
 Each by the hand, and led them from the lawn, 
 With him the evening meal to share. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 Now ere a month its course had run, Don Pedro 
 Call'd from far and near unto his hall, friends 
 And dames, and sires old, fair beauteous youths, 
 With maidens lovely all Morena's friends 
 To join with him in banquet of good things. 
 
70 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 So there, as was their wont on gala days, 
 They flock'd from fair Sonora's dingles, hills, 
 And dells, around in festive throng, and paid 
 The alcalde high their kind regards. 
 
 Many 
 
 A friend he had, his urbane nature won 
 Them over to his side ; and on that night 
 His spacious halls with a gay throng were fill'd : 
 There all within betoken'd splendor rare ; 
 All, in fine, was brilliant, gay. 
 
 "Welcome, friends," 
 Don Pedro said, as they approach'd him near. 
 
 Then soon around the board in festive cheer 
 They all in groups assembled, sat and quafFd 
 Their cups brimful of ruddy wine, which fill'd 
 All hearts with pleasure, joy, and song. 
 
 Rafael 
 
 There was seen ; all his form beheld ; maidens fair, 
 With earnest eyes, his dress, his gait, admired ; 
 
OE, LOVE AND LAND. 71 
 
 And, meantime, envied his Morena near, 
 Who at his side, in dress with pearl and gold 
 En wrought, so pensive, silent sat. 
 
 They spoke 
 
 On themes both grave and gay ; on fashion, arts ; 
 But yet the subject of their converse ran 
 Mostly in the vein of stormy war. 
 All mark'd how glib this made Don Pedro's 
 
 tongue ; 
 
 A noble son-in-law in prospect, p'rhaps, 
 Or still, perchance, the cup's inspiring power 
 His heart had warm'd ; for oh, how animate 
 He was ! how keen and piercing then his eye ! 
 The fire of courage burn'd within his breast; 
 For he tho' long from cares of state retired, 
 Yet kept an eye upon his country's rights, 
 And fearlessly dared, before his friends, 
 To scan with nicest scrutiny the wrongs 
 She then endured. 
 
72 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 So there, up from his seat, 
 Obedient to his warmth, Don Pedro rose 
 And spake th to his mirthful guests around : 
 " This night, my friends, we have assembled here 
 To pay the homage due the gallant men 
 Who earnestly with noble hearts and hands 
 Go forth, at break of day, with holy zeal 
 And righteous vengeance in their breasts com- 
 bined, 
 
 To smite, with frames of iron strength, and hands 
 Of steel, their country's foes with fiery shafts 
 Of war on the broad sea in stanch craft built 
 Of firmest oak, all metal-bound. If Time's 
 Allotted span had not my date of life 
 Abridged, but gave me strength in my decline, 
 Old as I am, I swear I would myself 
 Go forth and wield with pliant aim the sword 
 To rend from the enslaved the galling chains 
 Which the despotic hands of Max hath wrought ; 
 Aye! the tyrant's stern commands lebuke; avenge 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 73 
 
 Myself on him who hath come here to rob 
 
 Us of our hapless land, and so, thereby, 
 
 Would string new honors on life's lengthened 
 
 chain; yes, 
 
 Altho' the vital thread that links my soul 
 To life should the next moment severM be. 
 No fear of death have I; for die I must 
 When nature calls me hence to mingle with 
 The earth from whence I came ; but when I die 
 I want my bones laid down in Freedom's lap 
 Of earth, which I myself have help'd to make." 
 
 Then shouts applauding rang throughout the hall, 
 " Well said, Senor ! go on." While there, meantime, 
 Vivacious yet, Don Pedro quaff'd again 
 The warm libation down, and thus forthwith 
 His speech resumed : 
 
 " But mark the despot's craft : 
 Here, my friends, with tongue so mild and 
 plausible, 
 
74 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 He solely comes, lie says, to pacify 
 Our hapless discontents domestic ! 
 Now, his deeds alone his tongue belie ; 
 The wily knave unblushingly with sword 
 In hand, now strews our loved domains with those 
 Who dare with arms defend their native land. 
 In dignified disgrace a ruthless wretch 
 He stands before the world for his attempt 
 To subjugate our land, where he a horde 
 Of traitors base-born, cringing knaves around 
 Himself hath drawn ; but they disloyal are 
 In hopes of gain ; the spoils of office 
 Their reward. In guise dissembling, they 
 For their excuse proclaim that the black cloud 
 Of fate hangs o'er the land ; that peace hath flown 
 Prom these unhappy shores ; that factions tend 
 Eepublics, and foment internal feuds ; 
 Therefore a monarchy they wish. These are 
 The views of those whose factious voice hath 
 brought 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 75 
 
 Us oft upon the verge of grim rebellion ; 
 
 But I, for one, disdain those recreant knaves, 
 
 Who for a monarch's badge their birthright sold. 
 
 Those self-same secret foes, who often here, 
 
 Time and again, have, under the mild form 
 
 Of freedom, played the tyrant's r6le, have sought 
 
 Of late, in guise of amity, by bribes 
 
 To play upon my credent mind and win 
 
 Me over to the bold usurper's power, 
 
 So I with their consenting voice shall crown 
 
 Him great. Him great, forsooth ! a pigmy man ! 
 
 High dudgeon vast of peerless Mexico ! 
 
 Fit only for a king ! right royal liege 
 
 Just from the mighty house of Ha,psburg, do 
 
 Accept the crown. Take it now, adventurer ; 
 
 We barter oft with traffickers in thrones 
 
 For promised honors. 'Tis cheap, aye ! very cheap, 
 
 Indeed ! yet, we ask no more ; 'tis thine ; do 
 
 With it what you will ; unearth its treasures vast, 
 
 And feed thy courtly drones and titled things 
 
76 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Those idols of courts and puppets of pomp 
 My traitor countrymen in royal garb 
 Of state enrobed, who strut and lounge about, 
 First favorites of thy smile ! 
 
 " ye schemers vile ! 
 
 Ye'll down upon your knees, and yet atone, 
 With penitent hearts, past sins. / will not bite 
 Thy tempting bait ; hence to some other brook, 
 And there try hook a more confiding gudgeon. 
 What ! obey the sovereign whim of despots 
 In my native land ! Oh, infamy supreme ! 
 
 " Yea, my friends, them have I shun'd. fate ! 
 Avert their schemes. I scorn the man who 
 
 makes 
 
 A tyrant of himself; and not, so long 
 As I survive, will I unfaithful prove 
 To yon true flag that waves for man and Freedom ! 
 
 " So now let all unite and look on each 
 With eyes fraternal, else greater evils 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 77 
 
 May our land befall. All feuds domestic 
 
 Should be now forgotten quite ; aye, buried 
 
 In our hearts, where kindred feelings should 
 
 prevail. 
 
 We should in friendliness and concord live, 
 That we may hope to see our country freed 
 From despots and their myrmidons. A youth 
 There stands with heart for the encounter rife ; 
 He hath his brain and blood from valiant chiefs 
 Illustrious, and all of matchless prowess 
 Famed ; and skill'd in naval art, he foremost 
 Now among his classmates stands confest : 
 Come hither, champion brave ! the rostrum mount : 
 Let's hear thee speak." 
 
 Then down Don Pedro sat 
 Mid shouts prolong'd and loud thro' hearty cheera 
 
 three : 
 His counsel there by all approved. 
 
 Now, 
 Peal after peal, to the festoon'd roof, shot up 
 
78 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 For Kafael brave. " A speech, a speech essay," 
 They cried. So then, obedient to their wish, 
 Forth Eafael stept and fill'd his goblet rare 
 All gold inlaid with ruddy wine : then down 
 His throat the soul-inspiring draught he pour'd ; 
 The juice spread through his frame; his breast 
 
 inspired ; 
 
 "With joy his heart elated. Then to his knees 
 Their pristine spring he gave, and high above 
 The rest he stood. Awhile prelusive round 
 The hall he gazed, then forth his tongue these words 
 Essay'd : 
 
 " Ye sires and sons, ye maidens, 
 Wives, and mothers all, a bold invader 
 From a scepter'd throne 'cross far-off seas, 
 Hath with his foreign legions bold, all arm'd 
 "With war's destructive engines vile, come here 
 Unsummon'd to these shores auriferous, 
 And, vainly vaunting of his combats won 
 "With reeking blade upon red foreign fields 
 
OK, LOVE AND LAND. 79 
 
 Of slaughter, audaciously, with breath accurst 
 
 Proclaims himself aloud sole potentate 
 
 Of Mexico, our blessed land, to rule 
 
 With civil laws profess'd ; but 'tis to shackle 
 
 Firm in tyrant chains of adamant our race, 
 
 Whom he, faint image of his God, adjudges 
 
 Rude, unpolish'd ; so they, when down enthralled, 
 
 Must bow to him who thus approves himself 
 
 So great. Oh, Heaven forbid that we should e'er 
 
 Allegiance own to him, the foreign sneak ! 
 
 No ! I, with other freeborn Mexicans, 
 
 Shall never servile bend a knee to do 
 
 In our land a foreign monarch homage. 
 
 Montezuma's sons alone can judge 
 
 What still is best for erring Mexico ; 
 
 For they, although at times their country may 
 
 Be rent by civil feuds, yet want no tool 
 
 Of haughty France to rule with tyrant laws 
 
 Her disaffected people. Her patriots, 
 
 Brave and true, fair Freedom's charter will maintain 
 
80 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Thro' fire and blood, ere they bow down their neoN 
 
 To the despotic yoke a tyrant's hand 
 
 Hath wrought. No \ we, with firm and righteous 
 
 hands, 
 
 Shall wield the sword thro' dangers e'en to death 
 Against that scepter'd minion of a king, 
 Who, if it be not wrested from his grasp, 
 Will sit in pride of purple state enthroned 
 In Montezuma's halls, and there, exulting 
 O'er his wondrous blood and rank, will chuckle 
 To himself, 'I a prince imperial was, 
 But now I'm Mexico's great emperor.' 
 man, vain man ! thou tak'st upon thyself 
 Much pride. Thou'lt wear thy bloodstain'd laurels 
 
 low. 
 
 A juster crown the generous wear. Doing 
 Private good with moral worth would earn 
 Thee far more lasting praise. Thy name in song 
 Immortalized would be, and orphans too, 
 On bended knees, would raise their voice on high 
 
OE, LOVE AND LAND. 81 
 
 And pray : ' that monarch best deserves to reign 
 Who studies the just welfare of mankind ;' 
 For on that gilded throne, my friends, he can 
 But sit awhile in purple state, without 
 A wreath of merit on his brazen brow ; 
 And there presiding with his courtly drones, 
 Talk and smile o'er his great triumph bold 
 In this our land by wealth so favor'd. 
 Besides, his life may with his reign here end ; 
 An arm indignant of some patriot youth 
 The blow may strike, or p'rhaps he'll be removed, 
 By flight compell'd to seek his rest in Gaul, 
 And there, thro' shame, regret his usurp'd course 
 In Mexico. 
 
 " Therefore, my friends, let naught 
 Alarm us. To one end let all unite. 
 A kindred spirit will sustain us firmly 
 As doth the oak the ivy, if we fight 
 For Freedom in this land where tyranny 
 Not long can reign. 
 
82 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 " So now let every one 
 Who loves his native land, himself arouse 
 From out the sullen dearth of sloth. 'Tis no time 
 For sleep, but action on the field, or sea. 
 All arm'd, here let him look upon this flag 
 With raptur'd eye admiringly, to make 
 His heart undaunted rise and urge him forth 
 With all the fierceness God hath given, to prove 
 His valor on the field. Let him unheed 
 The menace of superior force. If we, 
 Forsooth, have not an equal force, we have, 
 At least, far more than equal fire to urge 
 Us on to meet the foe and struggle to be free. 
 Therefore, be not dismay'd, but scorn his laws, 
 His pleas, his awful threats, his spite confound, 
 His puny power hate : in short, let all 
 But cowards, who with diffidence look on, 
 Regardless of their country's fate, rebuke 
 The stern, unblushing gaze of despots. 
 Here, with oppression's sword, one hath let out 
 
OE, LOVE AND LAND. 83 
 
 Our patriots' unoffending blood. But tho' 
 They cold and stiff do sleep beneath the soil 
 That gave them birth, yet still their spirits rise, 
 Their voices mingle with the wind, and urge 
 Us onward to avenge their cruel fates." 
 
 Saying which, then Kafael's men stept forth, 
 And from their scabbards dangling at their sides 
 Their trusty swords withdrew. They crost their 
 
 own 
 
 With his bright blade, then down upon their knees, 
 All frank, with open hearts, aloud exclaimed : 
 
 " Tho' fate may frown adverse, and cowards scoff 
 And jeer, yet still thro' toil and peril vast, 
 On sea or land, with our bold chief, who hath 
 The strength and mind to guide us rightly where 
 The battle presses most, we swear to wage, 
 Thro' smoke and fire, victorious war until 
 We're from our shameful bondage loosed, and peace 
 
84 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 And freedom are, throughout the land, declared 
 Once more." 
 
 This touch'd the listeners' hearts. All felfc 
 Their breasts were moved with love of land, and 
 
 haiFd 
 
 The braves with one accordant cheer. From man 
 To man, from maid, and matron bending 'neath 
 Her weight of years, the praise went round. All 
 
 grasp'd, 
 
 In turn, our hero firmly by the hand. 
 Thrice three times, three hundred tongues rang out 
 His name ; the roof caught up the sound, and still 
 The name of Kafael Alvarez prolong'd. 
 
 Thus, unmark'd by all, the time went by, till 
 Prom the east on flew, o'er land and sea, 
 The new-born day with silvery pinions dipt 
 All in the purpling dyes of morn, and swept 
 The gloomy night's dim shadow from the earth. 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 85 
 
 Then Kafael rose amid the group, look'd out, 
 And said : " Come, friends and comrades all, 'tis time 
 To go. The morning bird with joyous notes 
 Doth greet the day." 
 
 Then oh, what shaking of 
 Hands commenced! what kissing there! How 
 
 many 
 
 Parting tears, like jets of pearly dew, shone 
 In the eyes of maidens fair, as they prest 
 Round, with beating hearts, to bid from trembling 
 
 lips 
 
 The last fond word " adieu." Commingling 
 With regret and fear some thought that fate would 
 Mark the steps of the adventurers bold 
 With some mishap unknown ! 
 
 Then from the palace 
 Onward they in file continuous follow'd 
 Eafael, who, with footstep firm, then march'd 
 Majestic down a winding cleft of rock 
 Thro' which the Gulf wind, wafting cool and fresh, 
 
86 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 ToyM with his raven hair. His ears attuned 
 .From boyhood up, soon caught the murmur 
 Of the shore. The ocean broaden'd to his view, 
 And out upon its heaving bosom, bounding 
 Lightly to and fro, he saw his craft 
 In warlike, martial aspect frowning, just 
 Five furlongs from the shore. 
 
 Then Rafael blew 
 
 From bugle horn a blast ; the sightless note 
 Across the main on pinions briny flew. 
 The boatswain from the deck the summons heard, 
 And there and then, with well-tried seamen two, 
 They pullM with practiced arm the yawl-boat thro' 
 The dark-blue wave, until her swift keel delved 
 A channel snug within the beachy sand. 
 
 Meanwhile, upon the sandy beach there stood 
 Bold Rafael with Morena from the group 
 Apart; his arm the fond guerdon that twined 
 Her fair waist. Speechless there, almost as pale 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 87 
 
 As one in ghostly grief, she stood with head 
 Downcast and aching eyes with tears bedew'd, 
 Presaging some disaster dire might rise 
 And sever him from her. 
 
 " What ails thee, love ? 
 Thou seem'st unhappy with emotions strong. 
 Now, come, cheer up, be wise, and emulate 
 What reason best conceives, ere a pang severe 
 May rend the link that binds thy soul to 
 earth." 
 
 " Ah me !" she sighed, " ere I by fate am from 
 
 Thee torn apart, one boon, Eafael, I crave." 
 
 " Name it, love. Be brief; time flies." " Know 
 
 then," she said, 
 
 "When I am left behind, unscreen'd from eyes 
 Too jealous of thy love, alas ! the hours, 
 Day after day, week in and week out, will 
 Come and go, all full of painful watchings 
 For thy glad return from scenes remote, where 
 
88 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Thou, estranged from my fond View, perchance, 
 
 may 
 
 Soon forget to think of me. Oh, then, how 
 "Wretched would my life be spent ! but yet I hope, 
 Fond Eafael, prudence will thy actions guide, 
 And honor ne'er forsake thy heart when thou 
 Amid the tumult of the mad'ning world 
 Doth mingle. 
 
 " Here, amid these joyous scenes, 
 From morn till night, I shall incessant roam 
 And sigh until I see thee once again : 
 Aye ! unmindful of fair nature's beauties, 
 I, from rosy hour of morn, till noon 
 And blushing beamy eye, the twilight blends 
 With night's dark shade, shall sit and rore 
 
 with thee 
 
 In fancy o'er yon gleaming main. Wilt thou 
 As fondly think of me ? " 
 
 " Think of thee yes !" 
 Eafael with manly zeal replied ; " ne'er could 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 89 
 
 I forget the light that beams so pure within 
 Thy true heart's diadem. On me thou canst 
 Eely. All tempting smiles I shall unheed ; 
 Aye, firm and true I'll be to thee ! Where'er 
 I may be, cast upon far distant strands, 
 Among the rich and low, the high, the great, 
 Or scaling unfrequented Alps of snow, 
 Or clamb'ring steeps of mountains drear, or 
 
 swelt'ring 
 
 'Neath a torrid zone on Afric's burning sands, 
 Unmindful of fatigue, I'll think of thee. 
 
 " In eager chase of foes upon the main, 
 Sweet thoughts of thee, Morena dear, will rise : 
 "When tempests howl, amid the darkest hour 
 Of night, thou in the rayless gloom wilt, like 
 A specter, haunt my brain ; and when my bark 
 In calms serene on ocean's stilly bed 
 Doth rest, thy image fond in fancy's beam 
 Will shine as clear and fair as now thou art 
 
90 THE MEXICAH; 
 
 Before my eyes in day's bright gleam enwrapt. 
 
 " Or if, perchance, I'm on a sea of ice, 
 Beneath a cold moon sleeping fast, there still 
 My dreams with happy visions of thee will 
 Be fill'd ; aye, even when I'm kneeling down, 
 Communing with my God, a spirit sweet 
 Thro 3 nightly shades, to hear my prayer, thou'lt 
 come." 
 
 This said, Morena raised from Rafael's breast 
 Her head, and, gazing in his bright dark eye, 
 She naught but pure, unsullied honor saw 
 There, scorning every thought of love forlorn 
 And breach of nuptial vow. 
 
 " Dear Eafael, go," 
 
 She said, "where ocean's waves expand, and seek 
 New honors for thy manly brow ; and may 
 God waft thee safely o'er the deep, again, 
 To me : till then, in thought, thy image, 
 Rafael, I shall trace upon thy journeyings." 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 91 
 
 Just then, wrapt in the trailing shadow of 
 A cloud fast rolling 'neath the glancing sun, 
 Don Pedro, treading deep the sinking sands, 
 With stately step the spot approach'd where stood 
 The parting lovers, lisping soft and low, 
 'Twixt earth and sky, their hopes and fears. 
 
 May God 
 
 The billows smooth, brave boy, when fast thy bark 
 Is plunging o'er the raging sea ; and winds 
 Propitious waft thee and thy comrades brave, 
 Again to fair Sonera's strand," he said. 
 
 " For thy good wishes, Sefior, pray accept 
 My grateful thanks," then Rafael, bowing, said. 
 " I leave my much-loved object to thy care : 
 Sefior, guard well thy trust ; for she, alone, 
 Is the sole pride and glory of my life." 
 
 " I shall with fond paternal care, my friend, 
 Guard well my child. What says Morena, eh ? " 
 A passionate kiss was her fond answer. 
 
92 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 So then the hour of parting came ; the god 
 Of light shone half the day ; all prest in turn 
 Our hero's hand. All said, " God save and speed 
 Thee on thy briny way !" 
 
 Then Eafael to 
 
 His panting heart Morena drew. They kiss'd, 
 Embraced, shook hands, and in their parting sighs 
 Each bade to each " farewell ! " 
 
 Then eagerly forth 
 
 He from her folding arms withdrew, and sprang, 
 With hasty step and firm, a slanting plank 
 That bridged the yawl-boat there from beach to 
 
 wave. 
 
 Just where Morena stood in grief to catch 
 His parting breath, a score of throats rang out, 
 " A safe return to Eafael brave I" 
 
 This heard, 
 
 He answered back, " Good-bye !" Then to himself 
 He bade a long adieu ! 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 93 
 
 The yawl-boat stanch, 
 By nimble oars plied, on swiftly skipt 
 Across the rough waves' crest to where the bark 
 Then darkly on the brine lay moorM. 
 
 There soon 
 
 Our hero, like a scepter'd chief, upon 
 Her cleanly deck stood high among his crew, 
 All tough as steel, with features rough and tan'd 
 By the briny winds of many a sea. 
 
 So while the seamen scan'd, from head to foot, 
 
 Brave Rafael's manly form, and saw how much 
 
 It tallied with his inborn worth, they all, 
 
 Amid their admiration, wonder'd why 
 
 His usual buoyant spirits were o'ercast 
 
 By grief or sorrow strange, to them unknown, 
 
 Down pressing on his heart. 
 
 But brief the time 
 
 Of their surmise ; for soon he bid his tars 
 Unbend the sails. " The anchor weigh," he cried ; 
 
94 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Then near the capstan, where he stood absorb'd 
 In thought, he heaved a sigh for her he left 
 Upon the shore, there lingering yet enthralled 
 With hope, love, fear. 
 
 " The anchor's hoisted," 
 Loud t^e boatswain cried ; yet Kafael stood 
 
 unmoved. 
 
 " Sefior, the anchor's on the deck and lash'd." 
 "All right, Juan." 
 
 Then, smiling to himself, 
 He said : " What mawkish mood is this Fm in, 
 Now making me seem so foolish here 
 On deck before my men ? I'll shake it off. 
 'Tis a woman's weakness thus to indulge 
 In hopeless love ; what ! I, a warlike chief, 
 Turn'd god of doleful sighs ! 'Pshaw ! " 
 
 "Juan," 
 
 He cried. " Aye, aye, sir ! " " Hoist the sails ; 
 first raise 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 95 
 
 The jib ; then cleat the halliards taut, and 
 
 westward 
 "Wear the bark from shore away." 
 
 Soon the wind 
 
 Abeam her spreading sails fill'd full and urged 
 Her swift keel onward thro' the trackless deep. 
 
 So, meantime, Rafael near the taffrail stood 
 Glancing along the vessel's foamy wake, 
 And thought, as there he stood and gazed upon 
 His native headlands dim and fast receding 
 From his view, if fate would condescend 
 To grant the full enjoyment of his wish : 
 High warlike fame achieve, and live to hear it 
 Thro' the wide world spread, with her his bride, 
 Morena fair, with ample dower enrich'd, 
 Who there alone, that moment stood upon 
 The shore, watching in the haze of ocean far 
 The bark then speeding on its watery way; 
 Hoping God would all the rude winds temper 
 
96 THE MEXICAN". 
 
 And save it from the rocks which treacherous lurk 
 In ambush briny 'neath the wave ; as she 
 Herself resigned to fate, her lot would bear 
 And cherish grief, unheeding every thing 
 Save Kafael's last fond word " adieu." 
 
CHAPTEE IV. 
 
 Now one there was, with heart of base deceit, 
 Who well could act the two-faced part of friend 
 And foe, for fair and foul were both alike 
 To him who would, his selfish ends to gain, 
 
98 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Assume the fairest garb of friendliness ; 
 Approach you with a most complacent smile; 
 Affect in thy welfare an interest deep, 
 To sound the secrets you might know 
 Concerning those whose confidence you'd gain'd; 
 So he, the trafficker in slander base, 
 Could yilify the innocent and hold 
 The honest and true-hearted up to shame. 
 
 Therefore, this crafty knave, with artifice 
 
 And subtle ways of scheming base, did try 
 
 To rope into Don Pedro's confidence ; 
 
 For he, the sneaking skulk, from day to day, 
 
 Went nosing round the old man's place to spot 
 
 And foist pretended wealth and honor'd birth 
 
 About his graceless self. So there, one day, 
 
 Believing he Don Pedro's good-will gain'd, 
 
 Essay'd to win his daughter over 
 
 To his side by mild attentions made with 
 
 Gifts, and words of prosy tongue aye, practiced 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND, 99 
 
 All his arts insidious so that he could 
 Bend her mind to think of him, and thereby 
 O'er her weak, confiding nature triumph. 
 
 But thro' his thin disguise Morena saw. 
 Her quick discernment read the villain's heart ; 
 For well she saw his hidden craft within ; 
 Nor could he with his wiles her reason blind. 
 
 Yet with his mind that deeply work'd in darkness, 
 Often he with diligence would watch the time 
 And place where she would slow and thoughtful 
 
 walk, 
 
 To meet as if by chance and greet her with 
 A smile, prelusive to the specious tale 
 Of wily sophistry so sleek, he wish'd 
 To breathe into her ear. But him she'd pass 
 Disdainful by, nor condescended once 
 To fix upon his low and sensual phiz 
 A gaze. These slights were sharp as poniards; 
 
100 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 They in his heart the jealous passion wrought. 
 
 So with his mind by dark designs replete, 
 
 The dastard hit upon a scheme to act 
 
 The shyster's part, apparently of friend, 
 
 Sincere of course in thy behalf, yet hints 
 
 Of secrets in the past forgotten quite, 
 
 Lest if they were exhumed, they might disgrace 
 
 A good man's name. 'Twas thus the schemer 
 
 plan'd 
 To levy UacJc-mail from Don Pedro. 
 
 So with the Don one day conversing, he 
 The parasite would now and then throw out 
 A hint of what he thought he knew, but gave 
 No word direct. Now, Don Pedro mark'd the drift 
 In which the fellow's conversation ran, 
 And so made bold to ask him what he meant ; 
 But then the coward, quite reluctant, smooth'd 
 His hints and inuendoes over with 
 Evasive answers soft. 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 101 
 
 " Thy talk is strange ! 
 
 Thy answers stranger yet ! Why intimate ? 
 What do you mean ? Speak out. What foibles am 
 I guilty of to fear or tribute give 
 To hush a tattler's tongue ?" Don Pedro said. 
 
 " The recompense alone Fll name, that seals 
 
 My lip in secresy, and thou as brief 
 
 With thy response must be," the leech replied. 
 
 " Then out with it. I'm a man of few words," 
 Don Pedro firmly said. " Gome, what would you 
 Have me do ? Speak out. 
 
 " 'Tis well," the sneak rejoin'd ; 
 " My terms are, that, unless thy daughter's hand, 
 With ample fortune too, be mine, forthwith 
 Fll now myself, post-haste, away and tell 
 With my own tongue thy plans and league of foes 
 Which thou defiantly hath raised against 
 His august majesty, to whom I've sworn 
 Allegiance." 
 
102 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 As if thunderstruck, awhile 
 Don Pedro sat amazed ; then anger'd, he 
 The sycophant, with scowling brow survey 'd, 
 And hurl'd at him his wrath for hatching 
 In his brain foul treason 'gainst the state, then 
 
 said: 
 " Begone, base, servile wretch, begone ! Thou 
 
 traitor ! 
 
 I thy warning scorn ; thy calumny resent : 
 None but a low-born, cringing whelp would raise 
 With shameful hand the venal sword against 
 The land that gave him birth. Hence, vile tool, 
 
 and do 
 Thy worst. In vice thou'rt harden'd. Renew'd 
 
 crimes 
 
 Become more heinous than the last. New crimes 
 Come after those that meet success ; but thine, 
 From this time forth, shall be short-lived. Away !" 
 
 Then black despair the traitor's bosom rack'd ; 
 
OK, LOVE AND LAHD. 103 
 
 He saw no comfort in the world, for hope 
 
 Of better luck had fled his madden'd brain. 
 
 So thoughts of crime ran thro' his mind. " What 
 
 shall 
 
 I do," he'd say, " to ease my frenzied soul ? 
 I feel the brand of Cain upon my brow. 
 Shall I roam the world's wide scope in quest 
 Of peace, or here remain and fill my mind 
 With phantoms of revenge ?" 
 
 But, while thinking 
 
 O'er his chequer'd fortune lost the alcalde, 
 With retainers came and bound in fetters strong 
 The renegade. 
 
 In prison, then, he took 
 An oath his days should there be few, for free 
 He'd be or forfeit life. 
 
 So there in jail, 
 
 Shut from day's cheering beam, a smile ironic 
 Oft he fix'd upon the links his wrist 
 Opprest ; and so, by stroke of stratagem, 
 
104 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 He many an hour would rasp his chains, 
 Until, at last, he burst his yoke and gain'd 
 At dead of night his freedom sweet. 
 
 Then quickly on thro' many a tortuous path 
 He sped o'er hill and forest thro', when night, 
 With dusky robe, a moonless sky enwrapt, 
 Until one day he reach'd imperial ground. 
 
 "Who, without speech or call, comes here?" the 
 
 guard 
 Exclaimed. "No further move. Thy mission? 
 
 Speak." 
 
 " The news I bear is not for thee ; none save 
 His majesty shall know. With him I wish 
 To speak ; therefore, under guard escort, 
 Me to the regal hall where he doth sit." 
 
 "As thy anxious look is voucher to thy tongue, 
 
105 
 
 The privilege is thine; so come this way; 
 I will direct," the sentinel replied. 
 
 Soon face to face the cringing traitor stood 
 Before the Archduke Maximilian, who, 
 In all his august pride erect there sat, 
 By trophies of war and art surrounded ; 
 And him in fair pretense of comely guise, 
 The renegade address'd : 
 
 " Peace to thy reign, 
 
 Most worthy prince. I'm from Sonora come 
 A loyal subject of thy majesty 
 To warn thee 'gainst a lawless crowd of foes 
 Who there with swelling clamor make the hills 
 And valleys ring with vile abuse and threats 
 Against thy life and throne." 
 
 So, hearing this, 
 
 Max in derision smiled, and said : " Ugh ! ' bribes ! 
 Threats ! torments ! tyrants ! On bloody trophies 
 
 gluts ! 
 We'll load him down with chains ; no mercy have ! 
 
106 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 His soul's as black as hell ! A prodigal 
 
 Of guilt ! His bosom's harden'd ; his breast hath 
 
 Never heaved a sigh ! His hour hath come ! We'll 
 
 Crush his haughty soul ! With his tott'ring throne, 
 
 We'll raze his palace on his sinful head !' 
 
 All such invectives vile are quite familiar 
 
 To my ear ; yet they nothing in me raise 
 
 But damn'd contempt ; they're but a waste of breath ; 
 
 The drunken spleen of scribbling pharisees." 
 
 "They now," the traitor said, "in legions swarm 
 The hills and coast, all arm'd and resolute 
 For war ; furious all for blood and plunder, 
 By Don Pedro's boastful breath incited, 
 For to vindicate, they say, their laws." 
 
 "Then 
 
 We must stop the treason of Don Pedro," 
 Maximilian answered. " Are you skill'd in war ?" 
 Max said. 
 
 "I am in frontier warfare used; 
 I shall a prudent, watchful leader prove," 
 
OB, LOVE AKD LAKD. 10? 
 
 The renegade replied ; for then he felt 
 No other joy so great as waging war 
 Against his kith and kin, with whom he'd have 
 No mercy in his train. 
 
 Then, soon amid 
 
 A group of native hirelings, Maximilian sat ; 
 They, for state preferment got, did serve him well ; 
 But two assembled high above the rest, 
 Ministers of war and state, glittering in 
 Their own esteem and worth, whose minds matured 
 By years, did teem with wisdom and affairs 
 Of state, soon caught in Maximilian's eye 
 Bad tidings half reveal'd. So they, to glean 
 The thoughts which then the monarch's mind 
 
 perplex'd, 
 
 Approach'd, obsequiously, their reigning prince, 
 Who bow'd responsively, and thus proclaim'd 
 His views: 
 
 " My friends, a messenger hath come 
 With news that nearly all my subjects in 
 
108 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Sonora now are up in arms, equip'd 
 And well commanded by a chief who doth 
 Deny my kingly power, nor homage pay 
 My crown. 'Tis the disloyal work, he says, 
 Of an old man, Don Pedro, whom my bribes 
 And promises, disdaining yet, still find 
 No entrance to his heart, but makes 
 "With brandish'd arms a martial show against 
 My right to rule Sonora's hills so green. 
 What's best to do ?" 
 
 " Be cautious whom you trust," 
 One said. " These realms are, your highness, filFd 
 With spies. The weapons which thy grace 
 
 wouldst lend 
 
 To quell the rash insurgents might be used 
 Against thy crown, for treachery lurketh oft 
 In breasts obtrusive here." 
 
 " Besides, who knows," 
 Another said, " but he may be a spy 
 Sent here to sound the court ? Therefore, your grace. 
 
OE, LOVE AND LAND. 109 
 
 Let weightier thoughts thy mind engage ; but yet, 
 Where is the man, your majesty, who deems 
 Himself so brave ?" 
 
 " He yonder sits," Max said. 
 Then with a searching eye the speaker read 
 The traitor through, and thus to Max resumed : 
 
 " In him we can't confide ; preferment give 
 To noble men. He's some dull fool who would 
 Obtrude his worthless talents on the great 
 A lout, perchance, just fit to drive stray cattle 
 To a pound. Yet stay ; if his brow that frowns 
 Austere, does not misgive, a recreant knave 
 He is, to vice and guilt inured, and ripe, 
 E'en now, for any mode of warfare bold 
 A.mong Sonora's hills ; for no remorse 
 Subdues such men. Their guilt accumulates ; 
 No fear can swerve when darkness lowers to urge 
 Them on their wayward course; therefore, he'll 
 serve 
 
110 THE MEXICAN. 
 
 Our purpose well. So bid him muster force 
 To wage guerrilla warfare on our foes." 
 
 Then Maximilian said : " Thou art, my friend, 
 Commissioned. Go and raise a squad of men ; 
 Speed and organize to quell, as best you can, 
 The traitor foe in arms against my crown." 
 
 At this, the rebel bow'd his thankful head, 
 
 And said : " I shall, your majesty, obey 
 
 The mandate of thy will." Then, turning, took 
 
 His way at evening when the sun went down 
 
 In purple splendor; often muttering 
 
 To himself: " Now storms of wrath impend o'er 
 
 Thee and thine, Don Pedro. A thousand bolts 
 
 Shall fall and shake with dread thy haughty soul, 
 
 And hers also, whom I with confidence 
 
 Hath oft addrest. So time roll on ; speed me 
 
 To my victim. Anger steels my courage 
 
 To revenge." 
 
CHAPTEE V. 
 
 WHE:N" his own native land disappear'd from 
 His view, aloft brave Eafael turn'd his eye 
 And gayly there from mizzen peak beheld 
 High waving in the breeze of ocean fair 
 The flag 'neath which he hoped to live or falL 
 
112 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 So hourly, with an eye that seldom slept, 
 He'd watch the horizon to catch each sail, 
 Which rose and plough'd with cleaving keel the sea; 
 For unremittingly he long'd both night 
 And day to meet the foes of freedom fair. 
 
 At length, far looming on the wave, his eye 
 Descried a cruiser boldly bearing down 
 Toward his bark. With transport high, this fired 
 Bold Kafael's heart ; for he thro' telescope 
 Observed that from the stranger's deck, aloft 
 The Frenchman's tri-barr'd ensign ran. 
 
 So, then, 
 
 Eaf. beckon'd to his crew, and said : " I have 
 At last descried the often sought-for prey, 
 For yonder on the misty li^e, hull down, 
 Ye can, with naked eye, discern a ship 
 This way fast the ocean tide-wave cleaving, 
 Flying aloft the flag of haughty France." 
 
 This news in all the crew fierce courage roused ; 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 113 
 
 Their voices rose in exultations loud 
 
 And long: " We shall oppose, attack, tear down 
 
 That haughty symbol of the usurper." 
 
 "Yes," said Kafael, "if they dare to fight, we 
 
 shall 
 
 Oppose them till the waves on which they glide 
 Are purpled with their blood ; but in our hearts 
 Let justice be. No man with soul humane 
 Will draw his sword upon a foe when down ; 
 He lets the wounded live. Therefore, tho' theirs 
 Be blood, oppression, sin, still let our motto 
 Be, " Sweet Justice, God, and Liberty!" 
 Freedom hath a dwelling-place in heaven ; 
 There our king is God, and Him we all adore. 
 Those who fight and fall in freedom's cause He 
 
 crowns 
 With martyrdom. 
 
 " So now, my heroes, all 
 For valor justly famed, be resolute, 
 Be brave ; once more thy vaunted skill exert, 
 
114 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 And gain in contest fierce new wreathlets 
 
 For thy brows. Let each man to his post repair." 
 
 They done as bid, for every one approved 
 
 The captain's words, and pledged their solemn 
 
 oaths 
 
 The Gallic foe to fight or meet his doom ; 
 For on that deck there were no shuddering hearts. 
 
 So, o'er the foaming deep the Frenchman surged, 
 But 'not obedient to bold Eafael's signal 
 Of surrender, as the Gaul with bold heart swore 
 He ne'er would yield to prowling pirate bold, 
 Nor budge an inch until compell'd by force 
 Of arms and men more valiant than his own 
 To haul his sovereign's standard down, and said 
 Unto his men, that he who flinch'd would be 
 His foe, for naught but valor should decide 
 The contest. 
 
 Then soon upon the turgid wave 
 The fight began. A flash, like lightning swift, 
 
OK, LOVE AKD LAKD. 115 
 
 Volumes of smoke from roaring cannon fierce, 
 Missiles of death from ship to ship were hurlM 
 Across the troubled waters dancing then 
 In all their frantic glee of splash and dirge 
 To the mad antics of the blood-red fiends 
 Upon the waves. 
 
 While there, all courage firm, 
 Bold Eafael, like a valiant god of war, 
 Amid his crew, in all his valor shone. 
 From deck he fearless watch'd the foremost li^es 
 Of the contest ; and mingled with the war 
 Of thund'ring volleys whizzing full hours four 
 From ship to ship, his voice of dire command. 
 
 So, too, the Frenchman, strong and stubborn, well 
 The brunt of battle bore, unswerving yet, 
 With vengeance in his bosom burning, till 
 His ship in flames from Eafael's shot was doom'd ; 
 For then a broadside most tremendous smote 
 His craft and made him haul his ensign down, 
 And stay the scourge of blood. 
 
116 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Then loud hurrahs 
 
 From Rafael's men were heard. Soon on the deck, 
 Among the vanquished dead, the victors trod. 
 
 Ah, what a sight for eyes unused to tears, i 
 
 For hearts an hour before no mercy moved ! 
 There pity from soft feelings sweet arose, 
 And mingled with the dying groan of foes 
 "Who went, ere long, down with the shattered hulk 
 Untb their watery graves below. 
 
 'Twas thus brave 
 
 Rafael humbled Gallia's haughty crest. 
 The triumph fill'd his soul with pride. It was 
 His proudest hour of life. 
 
 So when the ship 
 
 Of France had sunk into the mighty deep, 
 Our Eafael bade his vessel's decks be clear'd 
 Of tackling broken, splints of spars, and all 
 The foul debris of naval war, to tempt 
 With dauntless soul once more the sea, and still 
 
OE, LOVE AND LAND. 117 
 
 Maintain the honor of his suffering land. 
 Then soon the cruiser felt the breeze and flew 
 Across the sea. But mark the sun ; how changed 
 The glare ! it glimmer'd with malignant light, 
 As down behind a lurid cloud it sank, 
 Dread omen of the storm-king's wrath ! 
 
 " There's 
 
 Trouble in that sky," the boatswain said ; 
 " Aye, the sky in frightful aspect on us frowns." 
 " It's awful black," Eafael replied. " Down sail, 
 And furl all fast !" 
 
 Commotion then ensued : 
 The billows from their watery bed awoke ; 
 At twilight hour the howling wind scream'd forth 
 Thro' tackle and thro' shroud ; while headlong o'er 
 Huge foamy steeps of brine, the cruiser plunged 
 And roll'd from side to side, as if a cork 
 She was by tempest tost upon the wave. 
 Yet on before the blast she sped. Her masts, 
 Like weak reeds in a light breeze bent ; but soon 
 
118 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 The strain and torture of the simoon's force, 
 Her mizzen sprung ; and headlong crashing down, 
 Like thunder from a cloud, on deck it fell. 
 
 "Now all seem'd hopeless, all seem'd lost. A cry 
 From some despairing soul on board was heard 
 Amid the crash, that death was on the billow. 
 "Breakers ! rocks! I see their jutting forms ahead," 
 The watch with terror shriek'd. 
 
 All shook with fright, 
 
 All, thro' the dreary, darksome yoid, observed 
 The black'ning rocks, so grim and hideous, stand 
 Like spectral ghosts along the shore, where loud 
 And long the wild, tumultuous surges broke. 
 All saw the bark was doom'd, that soon she'd 
 
 strike 
 
 The flinty headland, dark and grim ; 
 For then, unmindful of her guiding helm, 
 She the fated craft with rapid speed did 
 Wildly from her wonted course drift. A crash 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 119 
 
 Was heard she struck her knotted knees were 
 
 rent 
 
 From stem to stern ; the waves across her decks 
 A clean breach made. She split in two, and all 
 Down in the ocean sank, save one poor soul, 
 Whose voice amid the deaf ning blast was heard: 
 " I'm lost, Fm lost ! Oh, help me heaven, ere 
 I sink down in the ocean's dark abyss !" 
 
 Yet still the drowning man himself did brace 
 With vigor firm and stem'd with straining breast 
 A ridging swell that surged against a rock 
 On him its blackest pinion frowning. 
 Thrice three times he gave a lurch to clutch it, 
 But thrice three times the effort fail'd. Him back 
 The curving billows drew. Oh, what moments 
 Fraught with fear ! Hope fled his heart ! his 
 
 breathing 
 Soon came quick and short! He thought his 
 
 hour 
 
120 THE MEXICAK; 
 
 Had come ! his life from earth would be soon 
 
 gone! 
 Eor then a drowning man he was, 'tween 
 
 Life and death upon the briny balance sway'd. 
 
 
 
 But fear of sinking to a watery graye 
 Doth strength impart to drowning men ; and so, 
 On the engulphing flood once more he stem'd 
 With panting breast the waves, and caught at 
 
 last, 
 
 In his firm grip, a shelving ledge of rock 
 Which Eafael, wet and chill'd by the cold sea, 
 In all his sternest vigor scaled. 
 
 Then soon 
 
 A wave-worn nook he reach'd, and there inlodged, 
 Benumb'd and famish'd thro' that dreary night 
 Of gloom, of storm, and rain, an eye intent 
 He kept upon the sea and sky, to catch 
 The glimmering streak of dawn rise on the 
 
 deep. 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 121 
 
 So there, forlorn and sad, like one of life 
 Grown tired when all looks dark and cheerless in 
 The world, upon the rocky brink he sat, 
 Hoping the roaring wind would tear away 
 The frowning front of clouds which palPd the 
 
 night 
 
 In dismal gloom, to let the stars reflect 
 Their silvery rays upon that awful scene. 
 
 " Oh ! I deplore this stroke of fate, the loss 
 
 Of all my well-earn'd trophies too. Alas 1 
 
 I fear I am alone upon this rock ; 
 
 For 'neath this arch no echoes sad I hear 
 
 Of human voice distressed. Upon the blast, 
 
 From drowning throats no cries despairing come. 
 
 If any rise, unheard they float upon 
 
 The deaf ning wind, and hush'd are they to me." 
 
 Then Compassion, supreme of soul, invok'd 
 The tear to gleam in Rafael's eye ; for then 
 
122 
 
 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 He fearM his men had sunk to ocean's depths ; 
 But hoping that the morning would reveal 
 A brighter promise of their secret fates, 
 For God, he felt, would smooth the troubled sea 
 To rest. 
 
 But when the dawn its gray advancement 
 Spread across the gloomy wilderness 
 
OK, LOVE AHD LAKD. 123 
 
 Of water wide, no crew, nor fragment of the hull, 
 Near where he stood, marking with a pensive eye 
 The fatal spot ; nor yet no sign of raft, 
 Nor castaway lash'd to a spar he traced 
 Thro' weary miles along the broad highway 
 Of ocean vast. 
 
 " Poor shipwreck'd souls !" he sigh'd. 
 " Lost, forever lost ! all drown'd are in the sea ! 
 Away from thy own native land, and those 
 Loved ones who live on, hoping yet to see 
 Thee back again ! Ah ! little do they know 
 Thy final task on earth's complete ! thy hands 
 Prom mortal strife are freed ! thy souls have soarM 
 Above to far more happy shores ! But oh, 
 What anguish will their hearts afflict, when they 
 The dreadful news do learn that thou art drown'd ! 
 It may in them fair nature's course convulse ; 
 To wrap their corpse also in the cold earth, 
 From whence their souls, being cleansed from 
 earthly sin, 
 
124 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Would rise to God's bright throne, and there 
 
 with thee 
 In bliss divine, enjoy eternity. 
 
 " Ah, comrades brave, alas ! I can not help 
 Think of thy fate. Oh, let thy conscious 
 
 spirits 
 
 Blame not me. 'Twas not my fault, I vow ; 
 It was the victor Death that trod the gale, 
 And bade the winds and treach'rous waves 
 
 conspire 
 
 To drive my bark against these rocks ; yet there, 
 Down in thy ocean graves in peace repose : 
 From earthly toil secure, sweet be thy sleep !" 
 
 Then Kafael, comfortless yet, slowly quit 
 The fatal rock on which he'd lonely sat, 
 To search the dreary isle for food and drink 
 His famish'd stomach craved. 
 
 So, mournfully 
 There along a stretch of beach unbroken quite 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 125 
 
 With ridge of rock, with inlets, bays, Eafael 
 Wander'd sadly, sighing now and then 
 An answering cadence from his doleful heart 
 Unto the solemn requiem of the wave, 
 Borne by the breeze of the sea to his feet. 
 
 Then there he lingered on the shore and scan'd 
 With straining eye the sea afar; and while 
 He gazed upon the flood, a yearning fond 
 Crept in his heart of home and friends beloved 
 Who dwelt across unnumber'd leagues of brine, 
 Upon an eastern shore far out beyond 
 The roseate beam of morn then quivering 
 On the deep as far as the eye could see. 
 
 
 
 " Ah, yes !" he sigh'd, " my vivid fancy paints, 
 In visionary tints, as pure and clear 
 As doth the sun yon shadowy mist 
 Of morn with mellow light, thy image still ; 
 For here alone upon a barren shore, 
 
126 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 An outcast made by hapless fate I stand 
 Entranced in dalliance with an ideal 
 That makes its charming way Tip from my heart, 
 And bids my duteous tongue pronounce thy name, 
 Morena dear. 
 
 " Ah, love ! yet tho' I'm gazing 
 O'er an ocean wide which keeps me from thee 
 Many miles apart, beholding nothing 
 But a sky of golden hues, and a sea 
 Of greenish shade, my fond eyes turn to thee ; 
 In rapt imagination now I kiss 
 Thy vision with my breath all charged with sighs 
 Which at thy bidding from my inmost soul 
 Ooze forth. 
 
 "Ah, yes, sweet love ! thy image still 
 Is scepter'd in my mind, where thou doth like 
 An angel come and waft about on wings 
 As lightsome as the silvery mist diffused 
 On earth at night from starry zones. 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 1 
 
 "0 tllOU 
 
 Bright sun, draw from the eyes of her who far 
 Away from this lone isle doth dwell in all 
 Her maiden prime so fair, reflection's power, 
 And dart, as thou the morning light in from 
 The ruddy east, their glances down on me ! 
 
 " Fm sure the glim'ring softness in the eyes 
 Of her who oft beneath the mango's shade 
 With me hath sat, and loiter'd in the grots 
 And bowery groves of Montezuma's land, 
 Till evening dews had spangled her dark hair, 
 My darkened soul would lighten now and tell 
 Me with their soft electric flashes fond, to live 
 On, hoping still to see my love's first choice, 
 My dearest friend, my soul's companion. 
 
 " But now, perchance, in faded charms, Morena 
 Doth on yon far continent despairingly 
 A pensive specter lonely stand upon 
 
128 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 A cliff down by the sea, thro' cloud, thro' rain, 
 Thro' sun and storm, from rosy light of morn 
 Till twilight hour, here breathing her sighs from 
 Cliff to crag, from hill to hill, awaiting 
 My return, and chiding, tho' with temp'rate 
 
 breath, 
 
 All adverse winds for keeping me so long 
 Away from her sweet self. 
 
 " Or yet, in groves 
 Where warbling song-birds blithe their notes 
 
 do trill 
 
 Kesponsive cadence to the liquid tones 
 Of babbling rills, she wanders on, with harp 
 In hand, or lingers 'neath a canopy 
 Of vine in bloom, all in the dewy light 
 Of eve, attuning sadly mournful strains 
 That rise in echoes plaintive 'mong the leaves. 
 
 " But stay ; I could go on romancing thus 
 From now thro' winter drear until the spring 
 Diffusive comes enrobed in gayest green ; 
 
OK, LOVE AND LAND. 129 
 
 But now, upon this barren isle, remote 
 
 Prom home, from friends, what will become 
 
 of me, 
 
 Fast doom'd to hunger's slow decay ? Alas ! 
 No hope, sweet wine of life ! I feel to give 
 My poor despairing bosom warmth, nor food, 
 I fear, to stay life's swift receding tide !" 
 
 Then Eafael landward turn'd his face, and took 
 With feeble step a rugged path to seek 
 Some spot, some habitation find where he 
 Might get the needful food and drink to stay, 
 Ere he a famish'd wretch should sink to death 
 In manhood's prime, the pangs of hunger which 
 Then at his vitals gnaw'd. 
 
 So, on he roam'd 
 
 Six tedious hours by mortal eye unseen; 
 Yet hopeless still of succor, Eafael search'd 
 The land : all was a scene of woe a wild, 
 Where mortal man ne'er seem'd to dwell. 
 
130 THE MEXICAK; 
 
 Yet on 
 
 Thro' wild romantic cliffs and paths aslant 
 Huge gorges steep, where horrid sounds below 
 Gave token of the lurid haunt of owls 
 And lair of sprites, he held his tortuous way, 
 Until the sun declined and purpled all 
 The landscape round. Then twilight came, and 
 
 night 
 
 With dusky mantle wrapt the scene in gloom ; 
 Still Rafael's wishes yet were unfulfilled. 
 
 So Rafael, weary, feeble, hopeless, sat 
 Him down to count with frantic mind the fate 
 Of one yet unprepared to bid the world 
 Adieu ; and brooding on the sullen moan 
 Of the night-wind, exclaim'd : 
 
 "How sad I feel! 
 
 My buoyant heart's gone down. All hope is lost ; 
 For here no herds do browse, nor mortal kind 
 Abide. Heaven ! hear my prayer, and deign 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAHD. 
 
 131 
 
 Thy aid ! Oh, send this wretched I unknown 
 From this uncultured isle to scenes less wild, 
 If needs to my own native home, where I 
 Was blest with health and ease, ere war with 
 
 sword 
 Unsheathed, brought death and desolation there 
 
132 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Where Independence dwelt and Liberty 
 Was onrs ! 
 
 " Ah ! well will the usurper smile 
 When he doth learn my life's proud aims 
 
 are lost, 
 
 And doom'd am I to wear no laurel wreath 
 Of fame so proudly earn'd where glory leads 
 The patriot to maintain his peaceful state, 
 And freedom of the hills, the fields, and groves 
 He loves : all these have I resign'd to be, 
 Alas ! by cruel fate condemned to pine 
 Upon this dreary isle 'mid barren wastes, 
 Kegretting all things else save the pure love 
 That hath become my bosom's pain ! 
 
 "If, then, 
 
 'Tis fate's decree that I should here submissive 
 Die a withered wretch, oh ! let my soul 
 In calmness now depart. The time is fix'd 
 For mortals to respire the breath of heaven. 
 Extinction's got to come at last; for death 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 133 
 
 Among the living stealthy stalks around, 
 
 And conquers all." 
 
 Just then, in wonderment 
 
 He starts ! His eye, athwart the darksome shade 
 Discern'd a mystic form in white enrobed, 
 Ascending from a gloomy grot below. 
 Like a being meek, of some superior mold, 
 On it slowly came and stood before 
 His dreamy eyes. 
 
 Awe-struck, he stood amazed ! 
 Conflicting thoughts then fill'd his mind, hope, 
 Wonder, fear. 
 
 He then, upon his knees, 
 With hands upon his bosom cross'd, exclaim'd : 
 "What phantom's this, as bright as looks the 
 
 moon, 
 
 Or like a radiant star in heaven gleaming 
 On the dusky landscape round ? What succor 
 Bringeth thou, fair image from all ruling power ? 
 What miracle to work of heaven, oh, say ! 
 E'en now, when elfin sprites the broad day shun, 
 
134 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 But who at night come forth from mazy depths 
 
 Of earth to stain their hands in crime, and like 
 
 The rav'nous vulture, gorge themselves with blood 
 
 Of man ! Oh, speak ! hath Providence thus deign'd 
 
 To send an angel from above to save 
 
 Me from impending fate, and gladden with 
 
 Thy friendship my sad heart ? Yea, surely thou 
 
 Hast on a mission merciful come down 
 
 From some abode of light with blessings meant 
 
 To cheer my too despairing heart ! 
 
 " Now speak, 
 
 fabulous being ! speak the tidings 
 "Which thy bosom doth conceal ! Art thou here 
 From fairy bowers or ocean's coral caves ? 
 What is thy wish ? Oh, answer me ! speak out, 
 And let me know who hath in mercy heard 
 My murmuring heart and quickly hither come 
 My sufferings to assuage !" 
 
 " Weary of soul ! 
 withering fragment of majestic man, 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 135 
 
 But yet most perfect of creation's sons, 
 Half dead upon the cold, damp ground, the cries 
 Which thou with bosom torn by wild despair 
 Hath plaintive from thy doleful voice poured 
 
 forth 
 
 Upon the moaning wind of night, hath here 
 Me drawn to thee from my abode to soothe 
 With cheering breath the anguish of thy soul, 
 And in thy heart the fire of love enkindle ! 
 
 " Therefore, oh, cease to mourn ! Fear not ; I am 
 
 No spirit of enchanted bowers come here, 
 
 My friend, to haunt thee in the dead of night ; 
 
 Nor yet am I by death commission'd 
 
 To abridge thy breathing span of life. 
 
 Thy friend I am, and more than friend will be 
 
 If thou'lt unite a constant heart with mine. 
 
 So now arise ; come with me to my home, 
 
 A fair estate, befitting one of rank, 
 
 Built on a wild domain, where thou canst eat, 
 
136 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Drink, sleep, and surfeit on rich rural sweets : 
 On flesh of deer, that browse in herds upon 
 My fertile plains and fatten on the grass 
 Of autumn ; or yet thy appetite appease 
 On fishes scaly, glittering silvery white, 
 With speckles tinted golden, 'neath the whirls 
 Of gurgling brooks that leap from rock to rock 
 In crystal cascades bright. Besides all this, 
 stranger, there thou'lt find a pleasure for 
 Each sense : thy ear, the tuneful note of birds ; 
 Thy smell, a thousand blooming flowers ; thy taste, 
 Ambrosial juice by solar heat distill'd ; 
 Thy eyes, with faces strange and picturesque ; 
 Thy lips, with kisses tender, sweet, and pure 
 From holy love that links two hearts and fills 
 The bosom full of sighs ! 
 
 " Come, now, stranger, 
 
 Come and hasten with me from these solitudes. 
 I'll guide thee to my rustic mansion, where 
 With me in studious silence thou canst dwell." 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 137 
 
 " Thy sympathy, fair one, my heart hath touch'd : 
 Thy words of love new hope that I shall live ; 
 But yet if thou from necromantic bowers 
 Hath come with sophistry to play me false, 
 Then I prefer to languish here and perish 
 In these solitudes." 
 
 " Doubt me not," she said. 
 " If I with motives false hath hither come 
 To lure thy wand'ring steps and fancy cheat, 
 May death e'en now curtail my breathing hours P 
 
 " Enough," Rafael replied. " Til go." 
 
 "Then lay 
 
 Thy hand in mine," she said, " that I may raise 
 Thee off the ground." "'Tis well; advance," he 
 said. 
 
CHAPTEK VI. 
 
 HATH love despairing changed Morena so, 
 Since Rafael crowded sail upon his bark, 
 And in the misty gray of ocean, onward 
 Like a sea-bird flew, far out on the dim waste 
 
140 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Of brine, beyond her tearful sight ? Why hath 
 Absence touch'd her tender heart so hopeful, 
 Since daring Kafael brave, went forth and left 
 The Spanish maiden fair in beauty's pride ? 
 
 Alas I for her, before that day had drawn 
 Its light from land and sea, pale grief began 
 Its blighting with her oliye cheek so fair ! 
 
 Like frost from icy poles blown south to nip 
 
 The tender buds that from their vernal cells 
 
 Peep forth to kiss the early flush of spring, 
 
 So fear, as biting, came into her breast 1 
 
 So warm, and chill'd her young heart's glowing fire : 
 
 For oft she wonder'd why her lover tarried 
 
 Listlessly, unsated with the freedom 
 
 Of the seas ; or yet, perchance, she thought 
 
 His bark against a rock had split in two, 
 
 And he, poor soul, had with it sunk upon 
 
 The ocean floor, near where vile lobsters creep. 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 141 
 
 The soft and silent light that sadly shone 
 
 In her dim eye, too plainly told the tale 
 
 Of racking thoughts and dreams of wild unrest, 
 
 Both night and day, her heart and mind 
 
 distracting. 
 
 " Ah, here, alas !" she sigh'd, " I count the hours, 
 The days, the weeks ; but yet to me the hours 
 Seem days, the days seem weeks, and weeks seem 
 
 months : 
 
 For hourly, daily, my fond thoughts revert 
 To time long past, when Eafael, 'neath this porch, 
 Would sit from noon to set of sun, from rise 
 To wane of moon, with me his dear, and breathe 
 Out blissful tones of love most passionate, 
 Most true ! 
 
 " But now, alas ! It seems that all 
 Those joys were but illusive, and as fleeting 
 As the moments bright that fly like clouds 
 In moonshine from a lover's sight away 
 Thro' space, and casting down upon the earth, 
 
142 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 As onward they in curling freedom roll, 
 Shadows dismal in their trail, remindful 
 Of what darksome scenes thro' life may come. 
 
 " Ah, Eafael ! once thou wert the sun that shed 
 A mantling ray of friendly warmth and love 
 On my poor heart, so broke and chill'd by frost 
 Of absence cold ; but yet, if thou wert here, 
 Thy presence would destroy the canker-worm 
 Of care that gnaws my drooping life away ; 
 Aye, be my blissful antidote of woe ; 
 My sallow cheek with vital rouge bespread, 
 And make my heart again leap high with joy 
 In loving warmth to mount in luster there, 
 And to the world proclaim how Death for once 
 Had been deprived of me in maidenhood, 
 For whom he had the silent bier prepared. 
 
 " Oh, would to God thy work were done, and thou 
 All safe to me returned across the main ! 
 
OB, LOVE A tf D LAKD. 143 
 
 How quick my own would beat to press the 
 
 heart 
 
 That I love of my sweet Eafael dear 
 Who hath flown from my side o'er the wayes 
 Par away ! But I fear such hopes are vain, 
 For he, by war's imperious mandate dread, 
 Hath from my side been call'd to scour the deep 
 In search of foes, and leave his lady-love 
 Neglected here alone, annoy'd by those 
 Who hate him for his love of me ! 
 
 "Ah, grief 
 
 Is mine ! Nothing here can soothe me : nor tones 
 Of melting music fond, nor friendship's joys ! 
 All indifferent are and vain to cheer me. 
 For when among the proud and great I sit, 
 Or with the gay and thoughtless mingle, 
 Thy manly form and graceful air, Eafael, 
 Still looms up in my mind in retrospect 
 Admiringly, for none there are but I 
 Who doth imagine what mishap betides thee, 
 
144 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 And none but I who doth so deeply feel 
 Thy loss! 
 
 " Ah me ! how vain another one 
 My love may emulate, as none can feel 
 Fond absent love-pangs half so keenly, nor, 
 I'm sure, with the same force can feel such aches 
 As throb the livelong day at my sad heart. 
 
 " Ah, false he could not be ! How pitiful 
 My lot, were I from him estranged ! Ah, no ! 
 This can not be ; for the sweet tongue that pledged 
 Thro' life its troth to me, now surely would not 
 Condescend love's cadence soft to whisper 
 In a strange one's ear. No, no ; thy vignette 
 Is true voucher for the heart that murmur'd 
 Love at parting hour. 
 
 " Now, come from my breast 
 Thou fac-simile of his own sweet self. 
 See how true to the life ! Oh ! I can't refrain 
 From kissing thy sweet portraiture, brave Raf. ; 
 
OB, LOVE AKD LAND. 145 
 
 Thy image doth charm me so ; thy face I love, 
 
 Revere ; it tells me that thy heart doth dwell 
 
 In faith's abiding-place the lover's seat. 
 
 Yes, love, I'll hope. I press thee to my heart. 
 
 'Tis better that affection bringeth light 
 
 And joy, than foul suspicion darken worse 
 
 One's life. Aye, Rafael dear! I've done thee 
 
 wrong, 
 
 Thy honest face a faithful heart portrays. 
 Oh, see his tresses dark as when the day 
 Hath lost its light, how coyly from his brow, 
 So smooth, they in their curling freedom revel I 
 While his eyes, so archly 'neath their lashes 
 Shaded, gleam as lustrous as twin stars do 
 In a summer's evening bright. 
 
 "Oh, that face, 
 
 In pride of manliness how handsome ! 
 Perfect as an artist could with pencil sketch ! 
 Or charming nature mold with beauty's hand ! 
 Now its loveliness no shade of sorrow mars ; 
 
146 THE MEXICAN". 
 
 It wears the pleasing smile I oft hath seen, 
 When thou, dear youth, the friend and pride of all 
 "Who knew thee, would approach with cheerful air 
 My father's halls when merry-making high 
 Around the social board would ring ! 
 
 " Oh, why 
 
 Didst thou for distant seas their friendship shun, 
 And adverse tempests brave ! Oh ! 'twas cruel, 
 E'en sad, to have fled from the home of thy 
 
 fathers, 
 
 Leaving me desolate, quite broken-hearted! 
 Oh, confound the cause that sever'd thee from me, 
 And made the space that lies between each heart, 
 Meant only now to try thy love with mine! 
 
 But I'll 
 
 Be patient, Eafael dear, as something tells 
 Me we'll yet meet again ; that brighter days 
 Are set apart for you and I to bask 
 Thro' all the hours which may hereafter roll 
 In sunny splendor o'er our heads. Yet p'rhaps 
 
OE, LOVE AND LAND. 147 
 
 My woe in golden hopes I'm gilding, 
 
 For 'tis so strange that these few months of gloom 
 
 Hath all my bright days darken'd ! Still, when I 
 
 pause, 
 
 I think how yain this maiden fantasy ! 
 It seems like waking from a spell of death, 
 With mind unconscious still of things about 
 The world, ne'er heeding once how oft they come 
 Thro' ever-changing time, then go ! 
 
 "But soft; 
 
 I dread to tell the tale that awes my breath, 
 Fearful lest the truth might pain ! Yet, still why 
 
 doubt ? 
 
 'Twere better, p'rhaps, that I ivere dead and laid 
 Down in earth's narrow cell, than hopeless pine 
 And murmur thus both night and day ! 
 
 "Oh, fie! 
 
 What mean these tears I weep upon thy form, 
 Beloved of other days ? Now enter thy case 
 Of pearl and gold, with velvet interlaced ; 
 
148 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 There in thy azure-tinted richness dwell. 
 I'll to the scenes of early days, among 
 Yon hills and rocks that skirt the sea. 
 The clouds do lightly pass beneath a sky 
 Of blue ; the breeze doth murmur wildly sweet 
 This noon in from the ever-rolling sea, where, 
 Foaming the pebbly shore, its gleeful waves 
 To ocean's music move. There solace I 
 May find for my unhappy reverie." 
 
 Morena then, in woeful love absorb'd, 
 
 Her hand reach'd out and took a book of prayer ; 
 
 Her lone heart's ease when fetter'd so with woe ; 
 
 For as the days roll'd round on sunlit wheels 
 
 Of time, her matins to Almighty God 
 
 She with her sighs thro' lips commingled. 
 
 Then out, obedient to the chapel bell, 
 Forth from its belfry pealing tones to come 
 And offer up her daily prayer to Him, 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 149 
 
 Demure she walked along a narrow path 
 That widen'd to a broad and level way 
 Where stood the consecrated shrine to Christ. 
 
 Soon near the altar stone in special pew, 
 Devout, near other worshipers, sho knelt. 
 The vail that hid her rueful face she raised, 
 And meekly fix'd her eyes upon the cross 
 Of Jesus blest, and Him adoring, bow'd. 
 Then oft the tumult of blest feelings 
 Bade her tongue speak out devotions to her God, 
 And vent in softest tones her thoughts sublime 
 Of him whose spirit next her God she loved. 
 
 There some relief this pious fervor gave 
 To her wrung heart, so hopeless then of bliss ; 
 For when her prayers were done, she rose from 
 Knees, devout and thankful, bow'd her sorrowing 
 
 head 
 
 " To God the Father, God the Son, and God 
 The Holy Ghost." 
 
150 THE MEXICAN"; 
 
 This said, then down the aisle, 
 From out the holy shrine, she journey'd forth 
 Thro' paths that sloped to the "broad sea. 
 
 Before 
 
 The pensive eyes of the lone maid, soon full 
 In view with pride, its placid bosom heaved. 
 Awhile in mournful gaze the surf she watch'd, 
 Which from the smiling green of ocean roll'd 
 In braids of misty brine along the shore. 
 
 Then from the ruffling waves so playful 
 
 In their foamy pride upon the glittering sands, 
 
 Her eyes she raised and measured with a glance, 
 
 From where she stood, the ocean round 
 
 To where it seem'd the verging sky to touch ; 
 
 But there upon her view no sail appear'd. 
 
 "Ah! who," she sigh'd, "can tell what evil there, 
 On yonder deep, which now so tranquilly 
 Beposeth, hath befallen my young man ? 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 151 
 
 Alas ! upon its placid bosom, oft 
 
 Much treachery there lurketh ; for when itfs by 
 
 A gentle whiff of wind awaken'd 
 
 From its briny slumber, it will murmur 
 
 First, then roar, then madly leapeth, ready 
 
 To engulph its victims in its mighty depths ! 
 
 " ocean dread ! what means thy summer sighing 
 Which so dolefully doth in my ears ring 
 Complainings sadly sweet, perchance, of him ? 
 Here, due west, I've seen thee five months, last 
 
 Void of vessels bounding thy horizon dim. 
 Once thou wert to me romantic, charming ; 
 But I feel that pleasure now no more ; for 
 Those days hath come and flown when I would sit 
 Upon this rock and let thy gentle breeze 
 Thus gambol with my raven hair. Alas ! 
 'Tis chiding now hath ta'en the place of 
 praising. 
 
152 
 
 Oh, fie upon thy cruel winds that blew 
 Across thy depths my darling love from me ! 
 
 " Oh, shame ! what haye I said ? Forgive me ; 'tis 
 My heart and not my temper that upbraids. 
 Yea, thou wilt safely homeward from thy tempests 
 Wing my Rafael back from sea. Canst tell me 
 Why he lingers ? Oh, so long it seems since 
 He hath left me lonely ! Alas! can death have 
 Claim'd him, say? I fear he hath been wreck'd 
 
 and thrown 
 
 A lifeless corpse on some wild desert shore ; 
 For in my dreams one night methought I heard 
 Upon the wind his cry of wild despair, 
 As he, poor soul I immersed in the salt sea, 
 Did bravely grasp thy mad'ning waves for aid !" 
 
 This said, Morena paused. 'Twas then the hour 
 The glowing sun, far on its western course, 
 By slow degrees beneath the ocean verge, 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 153 
 
 Dipt down and quench'd its fiery beam, while 
 
 bronzing 
 
 With its rays a crest of cloudlets high 
 Above Sonera's hills. 
 
 Then the evening dew 
 In glittering jets began to fall ; and night 
 O'er earth and sea intrusive came, and wrapt 
 In faded tints of dying day, the maid 
 Whose fancy at that silent hour began 
 Illusive fears to shape. 
 
 So, with drooping head 
 And listless step, then homeward straightway 
 In the twilight from those scenes she wander'd. 
 
 Arrived, she took, as was her wont at eve, 
 
 When Venus brightly shone o'er bower anc 
 
 stream, 
 
 Her sweet guitar, whose dulcet strains she deem'd 
 Would solace bring to her distracted heart 
 And mind. Then looking up, she thus began : 
 
154 
 
 " O lucid star of eve, I see thy glance 
 Resplendent, beaming down on sea and plain, 
 
 And in thy sheen the sportive wavelets dance ; 
 Oh that thy gleam could brighten my dark brain ! 
 
 " Ah, pure, pale star, thou hast the benign power 
 To shed a gleam o'er sorrow's gloomiest hue ; 
 
 But thou this eve on me doth sickly lower, 
 As if his loss also now grieveth you ! 
 
 " Even as the eye of him whom I deplore, 
 Was my soul's orb as lustrous as thy beam, 
 
 Oh, say ! hath gales adverse him toss'd ashore, 
 
 Or sunk him 'neath the waves deep from thy gleam ?" 
 
 " In yain you sigh for him whom hither oft 
 Thy kindness drew/' 
 
 This hush'd her mournful strain ; 
 A thousand fears upon her features played. 
 Fright its pallor o'er her beauty cast. 
 She shook as if in icy fetters bound ; 
 Like falling stars, her eyes shot thro' the gloom. 
 About she wildly stared. Whom did she see, 
 Vague, indistinct ? for there her keen eye scan'd 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 155 
 
 A form with hair and features that awoke 
 Upon her sight resemblance of a man. 
 Thrice three times she tried to speak, but could not, 
 Nor even stir from her soft-cushion'd seat. 
 
 At length alarm gave way. Her voice regain'd 
 Its speech ; then with unfettered tongue she spoke : 
 
 " Who at this silent hour, when night enwraps 
 
 In sable folds of air both hill and dale 
 
 With darkling step, perchance from some foul den, 
 
 Into my room himself obtrudes ? Hast thou 
 
 Come here a tale of grief to cite, or fear 
 
 To add to my sad heart now rack'd by dread 
 
 Of thee ? I know not whom thou art ! whence 
 
 from: 
 
 Perchance thou art some midnight imp who from 
 Dark haunts now prowleth round in guise thus 
 
 foul!" 
 
 Noiseless, then, the form glid nearer where she stood 
 
156 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 " Keep back !" Morena cried. " Who art thou ? 
 
 speak 
 
 Thy wish ! Why standeth boldly there, as if 
 My life were now dependent on thy will ? 
 What wouldst thou ask ? What frantic deed 
 
 bent on ? 
 
 I know not what Fye done that could offend 
 The Sovereign Judge of all, much less the whims 
 Of vain, perfidious man ! what law divine 
 Infringed, no mercy conscience could reclaim I" 
 
 " thou capricious jade ! Til let thee know, 
 
 To thy regret, who makes thee quake with 
 
 fear! 
 
 Thou vain, inconstant one ! the first and last 
 To whisper to my heart, bright hopes that 
 
 raised 
 
 It soaring far on gracious wings to heaven, 
 And fill'd my bosom with that passion warm 
 Which yet torments me still ! 
 
OB, LOVE AHD LAND. 157 
 
 " All ! well mayst thou look 
 Distrustful on the face thou once admired ! 
 I once thy lover was, thy dearest friend, 
 But now thy foe am I ; for here I've come 
 To hurl thee from thy height of fancied bliss 
 With him my rival." 
 
 "Art thou Gandora?" 
 
 " Yes, he am I, whom oft thou hast despised ! 
 Ha ! ha ! this makes thee flutter like a frighten'd 
 
 bird 
 From ravenous hawk ! Thy conscience fears 
 
 my wrath. 
 
 Nay, shrink not from me. I for many an hour, 
 With weary limbs, hath rugged paths traversed 
 To tell thee of the ills which my pain'd heart 
 Endures. A tale of wrong it is, whose venom now 
 Shall sting thy ears, and make with fright thy 
 
 tongue, 
 
 Ere thou can speak, cling to thy mouth. Now well 
 My story mark. 
 
158 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 " Tho' I thro' you hath been 
 Outlaw'd (thou know'st it well), yet I in morn 
 Of life serene, for honor and for deeds 
 Of virtue firm, did rank in name, in praise, 
 Distinction, with the noblest of mankind. 
 Those virtues from the purest source I drew, 
 Thro' honesty and truth, whose streams glid by 
 In righteous ways of life to honor bright, 
 Until I hoped my sun of day would set 
 In heaven with thee, if fate so will'd that thou 
 Wouldst form thy nuptial yoke on earth with me I 
 
 " Oh ! had it then the will of heaven been 
 That I by death had lost my fond heart's choice, 
 I should then have been spared the license 
 Which I've used to harm my fellow-kind ! 
 
 Ah, theo* 
 
 Thou wert transcendent, aye, so chastely mild ! 
 I wooed thee as the stars woo heaven ; for in 
 My gaze thou wert divine. No coolness then 
 
OB, LOVE AKD LAHD. 159 
 
 I thought would quench my bosom's fire; for as 
 The ebb and flow of tides obey the moon, 
 So my heart's blood, unerringly, from day 
 To day by thee was moved to come and go, 
 Obedient to its joyful measure. 
 
 "'Twas then you heard with willing ears my 
 
 vows, 
 
 And wreathed in smiles thy lips that gave assent 
 Of faith, of heart, of hand. This gave me 
 
 hope 
 
 That you and I together, hand in hand, 
 Would gladly roam united mates thro' life, 
 As I the vows you pledged alone 
 Preferr'd ; but thou, whom I loved more than life 
 Itself, did make a vile return for those 
 To thee I gave ! thou base perjurer 
 Of oaths ! I swear mine was an honest love I 
 
 * 
 " But soon you cast a longing eye on one 
 
160 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Who had more wealth but far less heart 
 
 than me ; 
 
 For then I saw by slow degrees you tried 
 By every scheme thy fancy could contrive 
 To shake me ; for thy greedy ears had from 
 A recreant's guileful lips already suck'd 
 Effusive strains of flattery ! 
 
 " For a time 
 
 In doubt I trembled, half bewilder'd, scarce 
 My senses knowing; but oft and long 
 That painful anguish bore, days, aye, weeks, 
 Without a murmur or complaint. Alas ! 
 What woes ! how wretched, sad at heart was 1 1 
 
 " Yet still, I then by reason tried to feel 
 
 Submission to what? fete ordain'd ; to feed 
 
 My cherish'd grief and cool my frenzy ! 
 
 Boldly then o'er wave I sail'd, o'er land I 
 
 roam'd, 
 Casting, where'er I went, an ardent glance, 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 161 
 
 In hope that I another one would find 
 As fair, but far more true than thou. But all 
 In vain ; I saw no glimpse of prospect bright : 
 It put my mind in deepest gloom. Despair 
 Loom'd up. I thought amid the flood to plunge, 
 And there yield up my soul unto the God 
 Who me it gave ! 
 
 " But when I sought my couch, 
 My thoughts on thee would dwell. Thy image, 
 Like an angel in my dreams, would come 
 To me with balm my fitful sleep to soothe. 
 Again with love these visions fired my heart ; 
 Again, with hopes the fairest, at thy feet 
 I sought thy hand to ease the pain that burn'd 
 Convulsive in my heart ; but yet again 
 You on my pious suit did frown, and from 
 Thine eye disdainful drove deep in my soul 
 The slow, consuming fire of hate. Those smarts 
 Of thy disdain I felt ; the keenest pangs 
 Of mortal agony endured ; despair, 
 
162 THE MEXICAK; 
 
 Kage, grief, my bosom rankled ; revenge 
 
 Stole in upon my thoughts. I then resolved 
 
 To strew thy path thro' life with thorns, and 
 
 laid 
 
 My plans for tny abduction, on the day 
 Thy father cast me in a prison dark. 
 May heaven's wrath upon his hoary head 
 Descend ! for I've since then by him been urged 
 To crimes my sober reason now condemns ! 
 
 "Now hearken further to my tale: 
 
 " When I 
 
 Within that dungeon thrown, my fate outside 
 The prison walls ran rife, and mingled with 
 The busy tongues of slander's foul-mouth'd crew, 
 Who on my friends, the buzzing, waspish race 
 Of thoughtless things did meanly with their 
 
 venom 
 
 Try to sting the virtuous hearts they could not 
 Emulate. 
 
OE, LOVE AND LAND. 163 
 
 " Meanwhile, tho' lock'd up in a cell, 
 Yet night and day my hands were rasping of 
 The clanking shackles which my feet and wrist 
 Then bound. 
 
 "At length, I from my hands them wrench'd. 
 Again upon my brow the wind of heaven 
 Freely blew ; then to the mountains quick I took 
 My way, to violate the laws I once 
 Myself so well observed. 
 
 "There, full numberM 
 By the score, a gang of hardened men I've 
 Banded for to rob and ruin all who 
 Cross their path. There, no laws can circum- 
 scribe 
 
 Their freedom, nor can righteousness reclaim : 
 "When first they harken'd to my tale of wrongs, 
 With execrations loud they swore, in all 
 Their bitterness of heart, what they'd have done 
 Had they been me. 
 
164 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 " Ha ! this makes thee tremble. 
 'Tis thy turn now to stoop before my power; 
 For the tortures which you scornfully did 
 Give to me, I now for you prepare. 
 
 "Nay, 
 
 Look not now regretful on me, for no 
 Fervent zeal of thine can stir in my wrong'd heart 
 One thought of mercy more ! 
 
 " thou false promiser 
 Of love ! what pity now expect from him 
 Whom thou hast wrong'd, aye, vilely wrong'd, 
 
 false one ! 
 
 Aye, thou who with unyielding soul, my vows 
 And fond petitions answer'd with disdain ! 
 
 " But notwithstanding thou thy worst hath done 
 
 To injure me, yet still no oaseness now 
 
 Hath brought me here to do thee wrong ; for tho' 
 
 A renegade I am, scorn'd by the world 
 
 And thee, yet not to kill, but foster life, 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 165 
 
 My aim hath always been ; so, thine is safe 
 If I once more do gain the love I crave/' 
 
 " No ! never, never can I link my fate 
 With thee !" Morena scream'd. 
 
 " 'Twas always thus 
 
 I found thee full of cynic sneer, thou jade," 
 Gandora said. " Thus, once before, you spurn'd 
 Me from thy hateful gaze, although I loved 
 Thee then as never man loved woman more. 
 
 "So now, thou fickle goddess of deceit! 
 
 Tho' grief for him I hate hath warp'd thy heart 
 
 And crazed thy brain, thou must to me succumb." 
 
 Just then, a sudden bound Gandora gave, 
 And with his arm the fair one's waist entwin'd. 
 But thrice her struggles his firm grip relax'd. 
 " most abused, most helpless of my kind !" 
 She cried. " father, father, where art thou ?" 
 
166 THE MEXICAN. 
 
 Yet, still unmindful of her tears and cries, 
 Again the dear, defenceless maid he clutch'd, 
 And brought her in the gloom of night away 
 Thro' wild and dreary paths of rocky waste, 
 And lodg'd her in a stronghold firm, hard by 
 the sea. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 JUST when the sun down thro' the ambient blue 
 Of heaven high diffused its morning glow 
 O'er verdant scenes most wildly grand, within 
 A rustic temple, Rafael there, half dead, 
 
168 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 SequesterM with the island beauty, 
 On a rosy couch reclined. 
 
 With balm in hand, 
 
 She o'er him bent, his soul to cordialize. 
 " Take this/' with sweet, soft voice she said ; 
 
 "'twill do 
 
 Thee good ; it strengthens while it cheers, and from 
 Oppression's load, the bosom frees." 
 
 He then 
 
 His eye roll'd up, as if imploring aid, 
 And with a shuddering motion of his lips, 
 He drank the nectar'd draught she gave. 
 
 Soon it roused 
 
 His faint and fluttering pulse from mortal swoon, 
 And sent thro' each chill limb of his weak frame, 
 A speedy transport warm and soothing, which 
 In sleep's mesmeric trance his senses shut 
 From the external world. 
 
 So, while Eafael 
 Oblivious there in dreamy realms lay, 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 169 
 
 Admiringly, the island beauty saw 
 He yet was in the robust time of life, 
 So handsome, blithe, and fair, all manly grace : 
 " A fit companion for a queen," she said, 
 " Of all the sons of men, I'm sure he is 
 The fairest, aye, no doubt, the noblest of 
 His race remaining ! See how majestic 
 In distress he looketh, with his life almost 
 Extinct ! Ah, may refreshing dreams attend 
 Thy slumbers here, secure in peace, dear one 
 Near me !" 
 
 Then down she stoop'd, and from his lips 
 Inbreathed, in amative caress, soft tones 
 Fresh from his soul, while oft, meantime, she 
 
 there 
 His raven locks with dalliance coy did braid. 
 
 But Rafael soon from sleep awoke, and said, 
 As he his charming friend observed : " Art thou 
 The one who like an angel came and led 
 
170 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Me here just when I thought all help in vain, 
 All human hope was lost ?" 
 
 "I am," she said. 
 
 With grateful ardor, then, her hand he press'd ; 
 
 It to his lips he raised and bless'd the skill 
 
 It wrought with sovereign balm within his 
 
 frame 
 That once scarce lived, scarce breathed. 
 
 So for that skill 
 
 Displayed, he lauded her with praises sweet 
 She mostly liked to hear. " Oh, what a mind ! 
 How wonderful ! Can goodness in a face 
 Beam from a warmer heart than thine ?" 
 
 Meanwhile, 
 
 She, like an artful syren, there unveil'd 
 Her beauties to his wondrous gaze. His heart 
 To social softness then inclined, for oh ! 
 He felt his bosom touch'd with passion soft, 
 And, kneeling down, exclaim'd : 
 
OE, LOVE AND LAND. 171 
 
 " Oh, stay my heart I 
 Why beating sigh impassion'd tribute 
 To her will?" 
 
 Harmless, then, she smiled and bent 
 Her ear to catch his breathing tones of love. 
 
 " Heaven ! hast thou here on earth an angel 
 Sent to charm my soul and teach me love, 
 Or that I might in this fair form divine 
 Thy beauteous work behold ? 
 
 " With thee I'm charm'd, 
 Aye, love, and am delighted ; kiss the lips 
 That gave me hope, when I, forlorn and weak, 
 And unbefriended, hopeless, pined in exile 
 On this isle. 
 
 " Yes, thou hast made me captive ; 
 Thy melting eyes reflect the flame that burns 
 My heart, and bids me kneel a willing slave 
 To thee, I fain for life my own would call." 
 
 Then Rafael at her feet swore endless troth, 
 
172 
 
 And said, thro' sighs warm from his heart : 
 
 " maiden fair, you've charm'd my soul I 
 
 thy face 
 
 And loye hath bound me captive ! Thy votary 
 Now am I. Ah, yes, thy humblest slave ! Do 
 "With me what thou wilt. I am myself no more ! 
 
 Then he her lily hand with fervor press'd. 
 He felt that life was nothing without love ; 
 "With it his soul was gorged ; in conflict sweet 
 Thro' all his frame it burn'd : love his valor 
 Conquered, his ambitious ardor cool'd. 
 
 So, 
 
 There, upon the isle which seem'd enchanted, 
 Rafael, with the island beauty would, 'mid 
 Glades and flowery plains, oft and again 
 His passport take to the Elysian ground, 
 A garden beautified with monthly blooms 
 Of rose, and crocus golden as the sun 
 At set of day, with purple cloudlets fring'd. 
 Then sylvan nymphs from vale and hill, from rock 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAKD. 173 
 
 To rock migrating, came and trip'd the grass 
 Where blade ne'er droopM and danced to strains 
 Of mirthful pipe around that mystic court 
 Of revelry, where Eafael and his queen 
 Of love and beauty, all in gold and rich 
 In gems adorn'd, down by his side did sit. 
 
 Amazed, he wonder'd what fantastic show 
 Before his view, her agency had wrought ; 
 For they, unlike in form, in feature, mien, 
 Yet breathed like mortal shapes of heaven born. 
 
 " What tiny things are these," he said, " live 
 
 here? 
 
 Are superhuman agencies at work 
 Upon this isle, attesting hidden things 
 Of nature to the learned world unknown ? 
 For here reigns one supreme, man's mortal life 
 To crown with endless scenes of bliss unask'd ! 
 But in the land where I came from no power 
 
174 THE MEXICAN. 
 
 Reveals to human eyes the perfect form 
 Of man wrought by our Maker's hand ; for there, 
 Man's but a thing of reason, struggling on, 
 Thro' his short life, to gain a knowledge vast 
 Of earthly things to give him human power, 
 Or lead on virtuous paths a blameless life, 
 So blent is he from birth with error, vice, 
 And sin. But here, remote upon an isle, 
 Omnipotence the mystic veil lifts up 
 And shows to my astonish'd eye, such shapes 
 With due proportion fair of things that creep, 
 And walk, and wing, and swim, as are the height 
 Of all creative thought ! Ah ! nature hath 
 Strange ways on lands where southern seas 
 do roll." 
 
 So, week in and week out, there Rafael pass'd 
 Thro' scenes most strange, but yet unvaried still, 
 Feasting on music, love, and wine ; but soon 
 "With music, wine, and love his appetite 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 175 
 
 Was gorged, for wine, and Iqve, and music all 
 Upon his senses pall'd ; for then desire 
 Had turn'd to loathing what he first so fondly 
 There admired. 
 
 Again, sweet thoughts came crowding 
 In his mind of fair Morena, dreaming 
 P'rhaps in groves ambrosial skirting the shore, 
 The native shore of him so far away estranged 
 From her, frpm parent, friend. 
 
 " Oh, why am I 
 
 So foolish here to fondly loiter with 
 A syren who delights in naught but love, 
 And who in many ways doth scheme to melt 
 My resolution to her will, to bind 
 Me down obedient to her every wish ? 
 Her I do abhor, detest. All I see is 
 Vain illusion here, man's outward senses 
 Mocking. I must free me from her power, 
 Aye, break the spell the artful jade hath wove, 
 With cunning skill, to force from out my mind 
 
176 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 The object which my soul with sacred ties 
 Holds dear. Far better die a wretch unknown, 
 Than link my life with hers. 
 
 "So, I'll bide my time, 
 To coldly bid adieu to her I dare 
 Disdain, e'en tho' I suffer a few days, 
 Counting the rapid flight of time, until 
 From passing ship I'm seen forlorn upon 
 This isle. 
 
 " So, moment opportune, roll round 
 For me to dare the fatal pass, or else 
 I may for years, from human face, amid 
 These savage scenes, be barr'd." 
 
 Just then the nymph, 
 
 With wreath in hand, to Eafael turn'd, and said : 
 " Eafael, all is fair, serene. In this place 
 Love reigns triumphant ; here with beauty dwell. 
 Now raise thy head. The promised hour hath 
 come 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 177 
 
 To solemnize our nuptials. Here's the wreath 
 With which thy future bride now crown ; come, fix 
 It on my brow." 
 
 But Rafael yet remain'd 
 Disconsolate, with spirits down. 
 
 " Why art 
 Thou sad?" she said; "what doubtful conflict 
 
 hast 
 
 Thou in thy mind ? Come, raise thy downcast eye, 
 And say 'tis loye, fond love that makes thee 
 
 pensive." 
 
 " You've truly said, 'tis love indeed, Irene, 
 That makes me sad ; but yet no sigh of thine 
 Need heave thy breast for me I" 
 
 " Disdain flash'd in 
 
 The quick glance of her eye. " thou false man 
 My love you scorn, my beauty rare despise !" 
 " Nay, well I do thy charms admire ; but fair 
 And comely as thou seemst, yet still my love 
 Is far away from thee. Morena is 
 
178 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 To me dear as the blood that warms my heart : 
 To her Fin bound by every tie that faith 
 And honor hold most dear. Her gentle soul 
 I feel is urging me in thought to change 
 My course of life in this domain. Ah, yes ! 
 One smile of mine she values more than all 
 The wealth and love of thy bestowing. Wealth 
 She values not ; 'tis heart she prizes more ; 
 For she herself hath been in fortune's lap 
 Profusive nursed ; hath ample means 
 For both of us to bask in luxury, 
 If meanness like a selfish niggard, bade 
 Me sponge upon her love and opulence." 
 
 " thou false one ! how little hath thou deem'd 
 My pious love and tender care of thee ! 
 'Tis what I fear'd, my suit would be repell'd 
 By thee, most hard of heart, of woman's love 
 Unworthy ! Oh, shame ! Shame's a term too 
 Mild for thy disgrace ; perfidy is meet ! 
 
OK, LOVE AND LAND. 179 
 
 " So thus tliou hast my love with wrong repaid ! 
 I, who saved thee, else thou wouldst have 
 
 sicken'd, 
 
 Died, and lain a prey to beasts that prowl 
 From lairs the isle about !" 
 
 "Tis true, I vow, 
 
 Thee much I owe for that kind act, and would 
 The debt repay, did fate so place thee in 
 My stead, and I in thine ; but love I can't 
 Bestow ; honor, truth, forbid : 'twas plighted, 
 Ere I cross'd the wave, to one as noble 
 As she's fair." 
 
 " Good heaven, how he talks ! you love, 
 Forsooth ! thy bosom ne'er hath felt the least 
 Emotion soft ! thine eye the sanctity 
 Of tears ! thy mind no thought to fondly urge 
 Thee to the hovels of the poor, for vain 
 Thou art. Thy thoughts are of the world ; 
 Thy boast of fams and trophies won, but sound 
 As empty as the passing wind. 
 
180 THE MEXICAN. 
 
 " Oh, shame 
 
 Upon thee, thou capricious man ! Begone ! 
 Eemorse can't melt thy heart, nor make it feel 
 Compassion due the slighted soul you've wrong'd ! 
 
 " Now go, frail man, to woman false ! thee I scorn. 
 Hence, and find thy future days all clouded. 
 May cureless be thy woes ! thy life from joys 
 Debarred ! midst revelry, thy heart forget 
 Its mirthful beat ! thy flesh with endless colds 
 Be chilFd ! the flush of health to leave thy cheek ! 
 Thy nights no soft repose, but sleepless toss 
 On bed of thorns ; and when distress'd thou art, 
 And writhing from thy aches, I hope thy tongue 
 To speak thy pains will be restrain'd ! 
 
 " Now hence, 
 
 Unto the rock where you I found," she said, 
 With hatred fix'd and fierce ; "and there repine, 
 Unpitied, helpless, and unheard base wretch I" 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 LONELY, past a swift and winding river, 
 Boiling from the mountains to the sea, 
 Kafael, from the syren's habitation, 
 Wander'd sadly when the moon had waned, 
 The stars grew pale before the dawn of day. 
 
182 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Up bringing from his heart the contrite sigh, 
 Which frequently upon the wind he pour'd, 
 He said : 
 
 " Alas ! the hours I thought delightful 
 Were but moments of delusion ; vile arts 
 Affected, useless, hollow, vain pretense, 
 That lured my too confiding nature, 
 And my heart enslaved to love. Oh, error 
 Past regret ! what have I" done ? whom have I 
 wrong'd ? 
 
 " To calm my soul, I needs must tell the truth 
 To her who listened to my woes and tales 
 Of love, when I amid the citron groves 
 At home would pluck the bud so pure, so fair, 
 Sweet emblem of her cheek, that crimson'd oft 
 When I with tender touch her hand would press 
 To snatch the stolen kiss, soft magic power, 
 That drew my soul from earth to heaven high." 
 This said, there voices strange, before unheard, 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 183 
 
 Arose upon his ears. He paused to cast 
 A look down in a rocky glen, where fast 
 A current, rippling, seaward ran. 
 
 Then brief, 
 
 From where he stood, upon a knoll of rock 
 Which crop'd its barren head above the vale, 
 Intent, with hands uplifted to his brow, 
 Awhile he gazed, and half exultingly, 
 Then cried : " By all my lucky stars, they're men 
 Born of the land, but who live on the seas, 
 Casking water from yon brook ! Ill speed me 
 Quick along this downward path, and greet them." 
 
 But scarce the path he travers'd, ere he came 
 Upon a score of swarthy seamen eyeing 
 Him with eager looks in fix'd uncertainty. 
 
 "Oh, heaven help us! who comes here?" they 
 
 cried, 
 Half in wonder, half in fright. 
 
184 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Then each one 
 
 From his girdle drew a sheathing-knife, 
 And, springing forward, cried aloud: "Stand off! 
 Who dare intrude?" 
 
 " A lonely castaway," 
 
 Eafael replied, " who hath been thrown by stress 
 Of weather on this isle." 
 
 "Ha! ha! that's cool," 
 Was their laconic answer. " What know we 
 Of you ? What Christian, civilized, can live 
 A week amid these dismal solitudes ? 
 You shan't come here until by word of mouth 
 You tell us who you are, whence from ; and be 
 About it quick, as we must get aboard 
 Our ship, just under the lee of this land." 
 
 Then each to each the space between their voices 
 Bridged with colloquy, in which our hero 
 Briefly told them all about his pilgrimage : 
 How he was wreck'd ; how saved ; how fared, since 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 185 
 
 He on conquest bent, to foster freedom 
 
 "With tried arm and true against his country's foes, 
 
 Had quit Sonora's sunny hills so green. 
 
 " My eyes !" one cried, " why he's a Mexican ! 
 And Spaniards, bound for Guaymas, are we. 
 Come, friend, give us your hand. There, brave boy, 
 You'll do. Come, join our mess. We this eve 
 The anchor weigh. "We haven't much time to 
 
 spare. 
 
 The sun is low, and will be down the sea 
 Ere we the vessel with our water reach." 
 
 So, when the moon in her pale beauty rose 
 Full-orb'd above the sea, upon the tide, 
 In mist of eve the bark close-haul'd to wind 
 Ahead, careening on the glitt'ring wave, 
 Made tacks full three from the mainland, 
 Then sped away upon the starboard stretch. 
 Eapidly o'er the deep'ning waters wide. 
 
186 
 
 Stiff was the breeze, and fair abeam ; it bulged 
 Her canvass fore and aft, and forced, at times, 
 Her prow to dip beneath the heaving wave. 
 
 Yet speeding on, ne'er heeding clouds of spray 
 That from the angry sea flew round, rejoice 
 Did Kafael's heart. Up from the wave arising, 
 Each dash of brine was music to his ear. 
 He knew each plunge she made the distance 
 
 shortened 
 
 To the land where dwelt his pent-up lady-love. 
 How glad she'd be, he thought, if then she knew 
 That he was homeward sailing swiftly in 
 The mellow luster of the moon, or yet, 
 Perchance, how vex'd her heart would be, if then 
 She knew that he was to the dear one back 
 Eeturning home not ouite so pure to her. 
 
 These moods in Eafael oft the sailors saw, 
 And thought, time and again, that in his breast 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 187 
 
 He harbor'd some fond hope he fain would 
 
 breathe, 
 
 Or p'rhaps some loss endured, or fame overthrown 
 In evil hour, so much that he with sword 
 Would ne'er provoke ambition more. 
 
 So, in 
 
 A month, just when the morn o'er misty space 
 The veil of night from ocean's bed withdrew, 
 And the red sun thro' rifted clouds was seen, 
 A sailor from the mizzen-top cried out : 
 "Below! there's land ahead!" With cheers the 
 
 crew 
 
 The news received, but Kafael hail'd it with 
 A shriek of joy. 
 
 Then casting from the deck 
 An anxious look, he shortly thro' the haze 
 Of distant space the darkling headland 
 Of his native hills descried. 
 
 Oh, what transport 
 Then his bosom fill'd ! How with new life 
 
188 THE MEXICAN"; 
 
 And bliss ecstatic Iris rapt heart rebounded 1 
 
 So, when the vessel, by a calm retarded, 
 Did at anchor in the offing lay, a boat 
 Was from its davits lower'd upon the wave, 
 And pull'd ashore with muscle firm of men 
 Bronzed with the briny tan of many a sea. 
 
 So, then, each with their roving friend shook 
 
 hands, 
 
 And in their breath rapt, fond adieus commingled, 
 When they at parting cast adrift, once more, 
 The yawl, which in the beam of noon soon cut 
 Across the sea's gray waste away to where 
 The ship, as if by fate ordain'd to bring 
 The rover from the isle, in calmness lay. 
 
 Eafael, then, gazing awhile on the wave 
 Boiling in foam from the sea to his feet, 
 Often there, thought they again and again, 
 In their blissful commotion, repeated : 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 189 
 
 " Hail to the wanderer from strange lands across 
 The seas ! Long lost, yet loved Kafael, oh, thanks 
 To God you're with us once again !" 
 
 So, then, 
 
 From off the deep his eye yet darkly bright 
 He raised and mark'd the day in purpling tints 
 Fast settling down the western sky. This warn'd 
 Him not upon the beach to longer tarry, 
 As was his wont when he an idle youth 
 From rise of morn till eve closed round the day, 
 But to the night the breezy ocean leave, 
 Then darkening eastward on his view. 
 
 He then 
 
 Toward the northern star his visage turn'd, 
 And there, as on he roam'd the surging strand, 
 He saw with gladsome eye each old landmark : 
 The rocks on which in youth his name he carved 
 Long ere his heart high valor yearn'd ; the spot, 
 Also, where he'd in months gone by embark'd, 
 And which the parting tear of sorrow from 
 
190 
 
 His love-lorn bosom wrung, until a bluff, 
 High ridging to the sea's broad brink, he gain'd. 
 
 So there, once more upon his own green hills, 
 Down Eafael bent and kiss'd his native sod, 
 Look'd here and there, yet roaming still, and said : 
 
 " Where'er my face I turn, relics sad 
 Of war's red havoc meet my gaze. Alas ! 
 I fear the despot who hath hither come 
 To stifle Freedom's voice, is unsubdued 
 And that the blasting flames of war are still 
 Unquench'd. Ah, yes ! methinks I hear upon 
 The sighing gale the groans of dying men, 
 Who, struggling to maintain their rights, hath 
 Given nerve and blood in strife, ere they 
 Would kneel base abject slaves to dupe of kings ; 
 Bravely spurning all his titles, pomp, and pride, 
 And giving to the land they love their strength, 
 Their truth, their faith, their valor and their lives, 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 191 
 
 " Oh, how my heart doth yearn to march in line 
 
 Of complete files an army firm, well drilPd, 
 
 The combat on the field of war to wage, 
 
 If yet the bold invading foe hath his 
 
 Eed flag unfurl'd, till victory thro' these hills 
 
 Resounds, and Echo rings the note of joy 
 
 That Liberty, dear mistress of our soil, 
 
 Was right, and Tyranny, the scourge of blood, 
 
 Was wrong !" 
 
 This said, awhile in dumb suspense 
 He stood to breathe within the shadow span 
 Of old Don Pedro's mansion. There he gave 
 A sigh for his fair bride, his heart, his life, 
 His joy, his dream of youth. 
 
 " Ah ! how will she, 
 Poor frighten'd thing," he sigh'd, "me greet 
 
 this eve ? 
 
 Ah, yes ! I feel she'll hail me with the joy 
 The plains of winter do the flowers of summer ; 
 The fish the mountain stream ; the leaves 
 
192 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Of morn that open out to drink the ray 
 Of solar light ; and birds with thrilling songs 
 The dawn. Ah, yes ! Ill hasten now inside, 
 And draw Morena to my heart so glad." 
 
 But oh ! what tumult there broke on his ear ! 
 All was confusion dire ! The father, when 
 That night of agony Morena shriek'd 
 For help, amazed from slumber calm awoke, 
 And breathless starting from his couch, alarm'd, 
 He wildly gazed with startled eye about 
 His room, and out beyond in dusky space, 
 But ne'er a soul he saw. 
 
 " What noise was that 
 
 Which roused me up from sleep ? " he said; " again 
 Those cries heart-rending, on my ears break I" 
 
 Then forth upon his feet he staggering strut, 
 And rush'd, with limbs convulsed by fear, down 
 stairs, 
 
OR, L V J] A X D I, A X D 
 
 193 
 
 Where he, awe-struck, that fatal hour observed 
 Gandora, thro' the darkness of the night, 
 His abducted daughter bearing. 
 
 "Oh, shame! 
 
 Of man's high race !" he cried ; what wouldst 
 Thou with my child ? Oh, rise ! attendants, rise 
 
194 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Here mischief stalketh round and threatens all 
 With dire misfortune ! God ! God ! what 
 
 shall 
 
 I do the foulest fiend of hell to stop ? 
 righteous Heaven ! burst thy thunder on 
 His head and hurl him to the fiery depths 
 Of earth below 1 
 
 "Ah! wretched me, of her 
 Bereft ! her loss will kill me quite ; e'en now 
 My life this hour may close ; for what remains 
 For me but grief, which will, I feel, ere long 
 Me to the dreary grave consign. God ! 
 
 God ! my child, my life, is from me torn ! 
 "Without her all seems blank ! Oh, what is life 
 Without my daughter dear, my wealth of soul 
 With patience raised, with fond indulgence rear'd ? 
 
 1 her dear, fond, doting father watch'd her growth 
 With jealous care, and taught her mind to read 
 The chequerM page of life, that she might learn 
 The wily schemes and perfidy of man. 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND 195 
 
 But oh, how vain ! how futile all my care 
 And watchfulness of her my fondest hope, 
 Who would, ere long, my utmost wishes crown 
 With roving Rafael brave, the warrior whom 
 She next her God doth love! But he, alas ! 
 From her is wide apart. Oh, if here he were, 
 I know he'd boldly to her rescue fly V 
 
 " Speak, Don Pedro ! speak ! what outrage hath 
 
 been 
 Done thy daughter ?" 
 
 "0 Rafael! is that you, 
 
 My friend, come back this moment opportune ? 
 Ah, yes ! I know thy voice. Oh, hear me speak, 
 If speak I can, with voice nigh choked with grief ! 
 
 " A fatal foe, Rafael, with heart to shame 
 And honor lost, awhile ago came here. 
 And like a phantom thro' the gloom, 
 He to his mountain lair Morena drag'd ! 
 
196 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Hence, Rafael; go forth and check the wretch's 
 
 flight. 
 
 I have not power enough in these clutch'd hands 
 To grapple with the monster, for age, 
 Long since, hath reft me of my youthful strength." 
 
 But Rafael silent stood unmoved, with eyes 
 Upon the floor fix'd in hopeless gaze ; for then 
 Contending doubt and hope his soul oppressed : 
 Some snare, he thought, or ruse, perchance, to test 
 His love. 
 
 " Rafael, look up," Don Pedro said. 
 " Why let fear above thy better sense prevail ? 
 Come, Rafael, stir ; let prouder feeling move thee. 
 Oh, how unlike a soldier brave you stand ! 
 A chief ordain'd by heaven to check the course 
 Of those who mean our overthrow ! Oh ! wert 
 Thou, Rafael, conscious of the poignant pang 
 Which thy Morena feels, thou wouldst not 
 Falter thus to seek the foe, but run 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 19? 
 
 "With utmost speed my darling child to save ! 
 Courage once I thought was thine, but now, 
 Alas ! I fear that courage hath thy heart 
 Forsook!" 
 
 Yet Eafael spaketh not, although 
 The old man's keen reproach his bosom stung. 
 
 Again Don Pedro's grieving heart gave vent 
 
 To words, with intermingling sighs deep fraught : 
 
 " Eafael ! pardon my unguarded tongue, 
 
 Which tauntingly of cowardice unmeet, 
 
 Thee hath accused. It was, I vow, the fault 
 
 Of my decrepit age and sympathy 
 
 For her whose fate lies in thy hands. Therefore, 
 
 Forgive what I have said to thee, and rouse 
 
 Up from this mood. Oh, stir ! and think of her, 
 
 My child ! Let pity move thee for her sake ! 
 
 To thee her troth was faithful to the last ; 
 
 For night and day, her heart, by love of thee 
 
 Sustain'd, hath beat as constantly as tides 
 
198 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Do ebb and flow ; her hand and dower await 
 Thee now/' 
 
 From doubtful mood these words Rafael 
 Aroused : awhile he firmly stood. He felt 
 He had a heart to love, a willing hand 
 To save from cruelty Morena fair, 
 And vengeance hurl upon the dastard foe, 
 Or, failing, share her fate, nor deem his life 
 Too dearly bought ; then said : 
 
 " Don Pedro, tell me 
 "When this dire event occurr'd." 
 
 " This eve, 
 
 Eafael, he came, the savage brute, just when 
 Her sweet refrain of love and constancy 
 To thee she sung, and when at rest I scarce 
 Repeated my devotions o'er. In haste, 
 From 'neath my roof, he drag'd Morena hence 
 Away, unmindful of her criers and tears, 
 To some foul den, where she, perchance, will scarce 
 "With bleeding heart her pangs an hour survive." 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 199 
 
 Then Eafael look'd above and said, " God ! 
 Have I the perils of the deep survived 
 To hear my only hope of heaven is lost, 
 Her, my pledge of faith, my loved Morena ! 
 But I can and will her wrongs avenge : 
 My mind is now to desperation wrought. 
 Valor nerves my arm the sword to wield, 
 And cause the dastard's overthrow aye ! make 
 The traitor kiss the ground ; for heaven bids 
 Me strike him dead, and God, I'm sure, the deed 
 Will sanctify." 
 
 Then far and near, thro' hill 
 And dale, the news from lusty throats rang out. 
 Inured to toil, Sonora's hardy sons, 
 Brave youths, all courage, firm and fearless, came 
 And rallied round the house in dashing style, 
 To dare the traitor's force, and rescue 
 The fair captive. 
 
 All arm'd, then on thro' wood 
 And mountain gorge they took their darksome way, 
 
200 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 By Rafael led to the dread scene a place 
 Of weird and solemn gloom, a chasm wild 
 And terrible, thro' which a mountain stream 
 Had there its tortuous passage delved, and rush'd 
 In gurgling rapids to the sea. A view 
 More near reveal'd its broad extent, and on 
 Its lofty brink a tower, half in ruins, 
 Gandora's loath'd retreat. 
 
 " This is the place 
 
 Where the marauding ruffians refuge find. 
 But now the time forewarns. Let's wait till morn, 
 Ere we attempt to force our way in there ; 
 For if we now in darkness strike the blow, 
 It may our plans frustrate. Besides, to strike 
 At dawn will dignify the deed," said Rafael. 
 
 So, near the tower awhile they slept ; no sound 
 The stillness broke, till faint, yet fainter still, 
 The stars by dim degrees became, and all 
 Around them brighter grew ; for then the dawn 
 Along the sky beam'd forth its friendly light. 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 201 
 
 Then Rafael gave the word to rise. The men, 
 Obedient to the call, arose and donn'd 
 Their arms. In line he them arranged from plans 
 Of his own skill ; then at his word they march'd, 
 With strength renewed, in warlike file, and storm'd 
 The tower, which seem'd impregnable. 
 
 Now, quick 
 
 Attendant on the dismal din of strife, 
 Gandora fierce upon the rampart sprang, 
 And there, indignant frown'd in brutal scorn 
 From the high summit down on Eafael's men. 
 
 " The maiden yield from thralldom vile," Raf. cried, 
 " Ere we upon thy heads destruction hurl." 
 
 But he the chief received the summons with 
 Disdain, and answer'd back exultingly 
 That he a braggart's boast unfearM 
 
 At this, 
 Bold Rafael to his men then turn'd and said : 
 
202 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 " My gallant sons, ye know the right. Be firm 
 And resolute. Now, charge \" 
 
 No sooner said, 
 
 Than showers of bullets whizzing swiftly flew 
 Along the smoky air. 
 
 But long and fierce 
 The traitor and his miscreants 
 Kept Eafael and' his valiant men at bay, 
 Yet less and less the ruffian's numbers grew ; 
 For when the daring men of Rafael did 
 Encounter them with volleys swift of lead, 
 They brought them wounded down to rise no more. 
 
 At last a portion of the tower caved in ; 
 
 Then shouts of joy from Rafael's men arose. 
 
 He gave, with lithe foot, sure and swift, a bound, 
 
 And at their head dash'd on to where the villain 
 
 Scowling then in anger stood, and quick with aim 
 
 Unerringly of trusty blade, he dealt 
 
 With vengeful arm the chief a blow right thro' 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 203 
 
 His breast, which forced the life-blood from his heart. 
 When down, Gandora clutch'd the outstretched 
 
 hand 
 
 That laid him low. A long-drawn sigh he gave, 
 And hoped that death would grant him some 
 
 reprieve, 
 
204 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 So that lie could, ere from this earth his life 
 Forever more deep in oblivion sank, 
 Awhile atone his headlong course of sin, 
 And then, with dying breath, spoke out these 
 words : 
 
 " Kafael, to me thou wert a friend, ardent, 
 Kind, always sincere ; ah, yes ! none I knew 
 Among these hills more noble-hearted. 
 Oh ! fie upon the cruel war that made 
 A rogue of me- ; for when this land you quit 
 To fight thy country's foes upon the sea, 
 Faithless I to thee became. With perfidy 
 I tried to win thy heart's espousal ; 
 But all in vain. I for my artifice 
 And pains to gain Morena's hand and wealth 
 Eeceived her father's ire ; this stung my soul : 
 Earth had no sunlit ray of hope for me. 
 I felt that I by all the earth was spurn'd, 
 And thought my only freedom was among 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 205 
 
 These hills, where I have injured thee and thine. 
 Oh ! if repentance hath not come too late, 
 I with my dying breath thy pardon crave." 
 
 He then his voice to heaven raised and pray'd 
 That God, compassionate would look upon 
 His erring soul ; forgive the sins he'd done 
 Since he the devil let, in evil hour, 
 Seduce him from the righteous ways of life. 
 " Oh, the hour, that fatal hour ! when I from 
 Virtue fell ! A fool ! a fool ! I was to stray 
 From paths of righteousness with rogues to dwell 1 
 Unheeding my indulgent parents, who 
 With tearful eyes forewarned and hade me oft 
 My wayward course of life to shun ! Oh, shame ! 
 I feel it now. 'Twas wrong to raise the sword 
 Against the land that gave me birth. But I, 
 God ! regret that e'er I raised a hand 
 Against the freest laws yet framed to rule 
 Mankind. So now thy wrath appease. 
 
206 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Lord ! my life is ebbing fast; the beam 
 
 Of day shines not for me. The sky looks black 
 
 My hour is come I'm sinking down down to 
 
 death 
 All all is d r k." 
 
 Then when the chieftain lay 
 Outstretched a lifeless bulk upon the ground, 
 Rafael slightly felt a touch of grief 
 Pulsating softly in his heart, and said : 
 " Alas ! when man, majestic man, departs 
 From grace, he doth no glory earn in sin : 
 'Tis thus the wicked meet their fate !" 
 
 He then 
 Took from the chieftain's vest the keys, and 
 
 search'd 
 
 With haste along each darksome corridor, 
 The dingy room for pent Morena sad. 
 
 There, she thro' grated bars that morn look'd out, 
 With weak eyes worn from want of needful sleep, 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 207 
 
 Upon the neighb'ring flood. 
 
 For she the captive 
 
 Lonely, faint, with all her strength nigh spent, 
 Languidly, like a gleeful bird just caught and 
 
 barr'd 
 
 In cage from boughs of green and rustling leaf, 
 Pined in that dingy cell, not knowing what 
 Would be her fate. 
 
 So when the tumult wild 
 Upon her ears its utmost fury woke, 
 She raised her head, so sunk in grief, and cried : 
 " My God ! I heard the clink of clashing steel ! 
 The snap of hostile musket near ! God spare 
 The brave, and nerve the valiant to be free 1" 
 
 But brief the fight. Those sounds had come and 
 
 gone. 
 
 " I wonder where it was ? not far it could 
 Have been, I'm sure ! Ah ! p'rhaps I dreamt : 
 
 all else 
 
208 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 But dreammgs of rude war forgot ; yet, nay, 
 
 I do not dream. These hands I touch, the doubt 
 
 Gainsay. My eyes, out yonder thro' these "bars, 
 
 See clouds of battle smoke, yon hills ascending 
 
 Like a fog-bank rising from the sea. 
 
 I hear the birds their dulcet cadence thrill 
 
 In rapt vibrations on the stilly air, 
 
 The sound of rippling waters near. 
 
 " But hark ! 
 
 What voice is that which on my ears just fell 
 In wailings faint, yet wild and weird in tone ? 
 It conies this way ! Oh, how with fear I tremble ! 
 Alas ! I thought no one would e'er disturb 
 Me more. Yet still, I feel unconsciously 
 A strange relief inspiring me with hope. 
 And why? Because I think I've heard those 
 Tones before. 
 
 " Again that voice ! what do I hear ?" 
 "'Tis I, Morena love, my soul's sweet pledge, 
 
OB, LOYE AND LAND. 209 
 
 That calls thee. Speak; where art thou, love? 
 
 Oh, say, 
 If yet in life ?" 
 
 " That voice ! ah, well I know ! 
 My dread suspense 'tween joy and doubt hath 
 
 flown !" 
 She said. 
 
 " 'Tis he ! oh, yes ! 'tis he himself, 
 My own fond Rafael, calling me by name !" 
 
 " Here am I, Rafael, a captive lock'd up 
 In this cell!" 
 
 " Then the key which hath confined you 
 Love," he answer'd back, "will now release thce 
 
 too." 
 
 This said, then wide the portals of her prison 
 Open flew. 
 
 A shout of joy burst from 
 Each throat as they together fondly rush'd, 
 Embraced, and kiss'd. 
 
210 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Alas ! how brief her bliss! 
 For she, in Rafael's arms, unconscious there, 
 Quite overcome from joy, soon fainting sank. 
 Then out he to the noon-day blaze her brought, 
 And there a tear stood in the eye that look'd 
 On her loved face so changed. 
 
 " Come, darling, speak ! 
 Thy lungs have breath. Look up. No more 
 
 complain. 
 
 Upon thy face the wind of heaven breathes. 
 "Warm o'er thee shines the sun." 
 
 'Twas then her lips 
 
 Began to move with fitful undertones of 
 "'Reft of him and kindred gone gone. Oh, 
 
 where ? 
 
 Haply great he was to me. He's there ! see ! 
 He runs to aid distress like mine. To thee, 
 Rafael, I fly my anguish to impart I" 
 
 A pause ensued. Then Eafael said : " How strange 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 211 
 
 That joy should wound the mind, and pity cause 
 The heart to bleed ! 
 
 Awake, Morena love, 
 
 Out of thy trance. No longer let thine eye 
 The cheerful light disdain. Belief to thee 
 I bring." 
 
 She then her eyes unclosed, and said : 
 " Who's he doth press his cheek to mine ?" 
 
 "'TisI, 
 
 Morena, breathing comfort in thine ear. 
 Don't you know me, love ? Eafael's near thee now !" 
 
 Again he drank the incoherent sighs 
 Her grateful soul effused. 
 
 "What place is this? 
 I feel the sun upon my cheek ! My eyes 
 Seem blinded with excess of light ! Am I 
 On earth ? Oh ! can this be my love ? Hath he 
 Returned to live and me ?" 
 
 "Wherefore this doubt, 
 
212 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 My love ? Alone his eyes are on thee fix'd." 
 Then joy her gladsome bosom moved. She look'd 
 About the verdant scenes around, then said : 
 
 " I hear 
 
 The merry song of birds ! Oh, how serene 
 The day! Ah, yes! in open air I breathe 
 Can this be Eafael smiling on me now ? Yes, yes, 
 'Tis he, indeed, whom I have lost so long 1" 
 
 Oh, who can count the kisses she upon 
 
 His lips imprinted, when with joy she flung 
 
 Her arms around his neck and bless'd the wind 
 
 Of heaven which so fair and free had blown 
 
 Him safely o'er the deep again to her ! 
 
 How joyful she to think he'd back return'd 
 
 In time to make her soul and body free ! 
 
 How winsome, too, her grateful tongue breathed 
 
 forth, 
 
 In words of softest thankfulness, her heart's 
 Rapt melody in sweetest phrases strung ! 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 213 
 
 " 'Twas hope alone, Rafael, of seeing thee 
 
 My darken'd soul sustain'd. From new to wane 
 
 Of moons, I pray'd for thy return. Alone, 
 
 In meditation wrapt, my fancy would 
 
 Into my mind bright visions bring of thee. 
 
 And when I'd ramble on the shore, I'd 
 
 Look with eager gaze across the briny wave 
 
 For thee, my loved, departed mariner ; 
 
 Thinking each craft that arose on the verge 
 
 Of the sea in the day's golden light, 
 
 And the silvery sheen of the evening star, 
 
 Was thy swift bark in gayest trim returning. 
 
 There, day after day, I would linger, 
 
 Hopeful, despairing, alternately glad, 
 
 Till the shades of the night came along in 
 
 Drab pinions and darken'd the face of the flood. 
 
 Then sadly I'd turn my two eyes away 
 
 From the swell of the turbulent ocean, 
 
 Weeping, the while, with the dews of the twilight; 
 
 As homeward I went disappointed again ; 
 
214 THE MEXICAN. 
 
 For I could not restrain the soft impulse 
 Of nature from Tenting its anguish in tears, 
 When I'd think that I never would more 
 On this earth my long absent Kafael behold." 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Soox Rafael found himself once more a swain 
 Amid new pleasing scenes with his fair bride, 
 Who then alone with him enraptured sat 
 Never feeling joy more lightly bounding 
 
216 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 In her heart so glad. His presence to her cheek, 
 
 Ah ! once so pale, the healthful color brought, 
 
 And o'er her face its former beauty spread ; 
 
 Her sunken spirits raised ; her heart- wounds heal'd : 
 
 In brief, but one eternal spring of bliss, 
 
 As they sat in the evening's dewy shade, 
 
 In both their hearts then flow'd. 
 
 "Nay, let thy hand," 
 
 Here Eafael said, " in mine, Morena, linger ; 
 I've three fair claims against thee, love." 
 
 "What are they?" 
 She replied. 
 
 " Thy beauty, heart, and hand." 
 "What for? "she said. 
 
 " Why, surely, you forget," 
 He said, all blithe of tongue of aspect free, 
 " Thou by me, you know, wert saved. Hence my 
 reward." 
 
 So with gentlest joy, laughter then inlaid 
 Her cheeks with blushing dimples. " A kiss," 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 217 
 
 She smiling, said, " shall be the only gift 
 From me. E'en this I should refuse until 
 I know thy heart's from blot and blemish free ; 
 For when away, mayhap, you did conspire 
 To break the sacred tie of love from me." 
 
 " But once, my dear," he said, " thy image ceased 
 My heart and fancy to inspire with love 
 Of thee." 
 
 " Ah ! then thou hast my plighted love," 
 She said, " betray'd. An ill exchange for mine !" 
 
 " 'Twas but a scheme of pure, romantic fun 
 I'd with an island princess," Rafael said. 
 
 " Alas ! how true hath my suspicion been ; 
 'Twas what I fear'd, Rafael, time and again, 
 Thou wert upon an isle remote, and there 
 Had pledged unto a maiden, rich but vain, 
 Thy heart and hand for life. Oh, perfidy ! 
 How couldst thou to thy vows thus prove untrue ?" 
 
218 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Then, when he heard her fond complaint, he sat 
 There mute awhile in doubt, scarce knowing what 
 To say to quiet Morena's jealous fears ; 
 But brief awhile he thus soliloquized : 
 " Shall I thus sit and let my silence prove 
 I'm tarnish'd with the foulest obloquy ? 
 No, no ; that will not do. I'll tell her all ; 
 'Twill soothe her heart, now rent with sorest 
 
 doubt." 
 He then began : 
 
 " Have done, Morena ; dry 
 Thy tears. I would not if I could prove 
 False to thee, whose heart I prize above 
 All mortal fame. "What ! I forget the fair one true 
 I left behind, the best that God's yet made ? 
 Not until I sleep eternal 'neath the mound, 
 Shall I forget thee, love : till then, thy face 
 And form shall live engraven on my mind. 
 Now listen, love, and from my lips youll hear 
 How much I have thee wrong'd." 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 219 
 
 But ere a word 
 
 He spoke, the father came with reverend step 
 And slow to where the loving couple sat, 
 Contesting each their vows of absent love. 
 
 " Rafael ! how with joy my heart pulsates," 
 Don Pedro said, " to see thee home again ! 
 But the crew, thy hardy crew, where are they ?" 
 
 Alas ! Sefior, they're lost, forever lost !" 
 Rafael replied. 
 
 " God bless us ! is that true P 
 'Tis, indeed! Senor." 
 
 " Oh, tell us, Rafael, 
 Where are they entomb'd ? Speak I" 
 
 "Alas! Sefior, 
 
 Their bones lie bleaching on the ocean floor." 
 " God ! then you've been wreck'd ?" 
 
 " I have, Senor, 
 And all but me the raging sea devourM." 
 
220 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 " Astounding ! Oh, calamity most strange ! 
 Oh, tell us all what hath befallen thee!" 
 
 Kafael then told of the fight, and his prize, 
 And where he was wreck'd, and how saved. 
 
 "'Tis true!" 
 
 Morena cried. " Alas ! how true ! just what 
 I said, foresaw, oft fear'd, surmised, his bark 
 Was wreck'd !" 
 
 " Thou hast, indeed !" the father said. 
 " Don't stop, Kafael ; go on ; let's hear thee thro'." 
 
 " So, when upon the deep the morning dawn'd, 
 I quit the rock on which thro' all that night 
 Of intense gloom I sat disconsolate, 
 And search'd the isle a barren, dreary place, 
 Tor substance fit to stay my rav'nous greed, 
 Even on fruit to fare, on berries feed, 
 But none I found. Alas ! what agony 
 Of mind I then endured ! no food, no fire, 
 
BANCROFT LIBRARY 
 
 OK, LOVE AND LAND. 221 
 
 No bed, 'mid rocks with summits bleak and bare, 
 My strength nigh gone, and night above my head ! 
 
 " Then cheerless down against a rock I lay, 
 And thought in my despair of thee, and scenes 
 Far in the shadow-land beyond this life ; 
 Which ere the morn's soft hues would on me dawn, 
 Death, I fear'd, would joyful come, and there 
 Unveil to me the blissful scenes of heaven. 
 
 " But while I lonely sat there shiv'ring, starved, 
 Slow hunger's victim, pond'ring o'er my fate, 
 In vestment white as snow a gracious form, 
 As if down then from heaven descending there, 
 In pity near me gazed compassionate 
 With eye of softest tenderness. 
 
 "At first 
 
 I scarce my senses could believe, as hope 
 Of seeing human kind on that lone isle, 
 Mj heart despairing fled. Yet, tho' I saw, 
 
222 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Yet doubting, unbelieving still, half dumb, 
 Afraid to speak my joy of seeing on 
 That dreamy isle the faintest trace of man, 
 She herself, with plaintive voice compassionate, 
 Breath'd in my ears condoling accents kind : 
 
 " ' thou most perfect of majestic man, 
 
 In sea- worn garb bedeck'd ! what hath induced 
 
 Thy steps from scenes of social life to stray 
 
 And pace these pathless tracts of forest drear ? 
 
 'Tis but an hour ago thy groans I heard 
 
 Commingling with the moaning wind of eve ; 
 
 Thy prayers for mercy in affliction's hour. 
 
 Arise, poor famish'd wretch ! and come with me ; 
 
 111 bring thee to my own abode, aslant 
 
 Yon grot, where I my doors ne'er shut against 
 
 A wayworn wretch forlorn. Give me thy hand.' 
 
 " So, when with cheering breath she told me that, 
 I felt so glad, the woes of my distress 
 Fled swiftly 'fore soft pity's moving breath. 
 
OB, LOVE AND LAND. 223 
 
 te ( Thou surely art,' I said, ' an angel fair 
 Come hither down from thy high limits, gem'd 
 With stars ; or, p'rhaps, a goodly sprite of earth 
 Hath in the blast my wailing language heard, 
 And feeling moved, in hunger's trying hour, 
 By pity cordial sweet of feeling souls 
 Hath come to succor me all comfortless/ 
 Then her I gave my hand ; she led the way ; 
 When soon attendant on her steps so lithe, 
 I found myself a guest at her abode. 
 There me she food and drink the rarest gave, 
 A dainty meal so rich it was, I ne'er 
 Till then enjoy'd a savory morsel more. 
 This kindness moved my heart to murmur forth 
 My thanks and hopes that God her gen'rous deed 
 Would bless. Naught else but thanks my bosom 
 moved. 
 
 " But scarce had I the food partaken, ere 
 A spell of mischief she began to cast 
 
224 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Within my mind to bend it to her will. 
 With dulcet tones of praise and sighs of love, 
 She tried to charm and triumph o'er my heart. 
 Awhile I felt the cursed effects infused 
 My reason blind ; then cringing there, I, like 
 A craven dupe to her feign'd passion knelt. 
 
 " But soon I traced the artful wiles she used 
 With others' pains, and that she feign'd the woes 
 They felt by shedding tears when they did weep ; 
 And thus her words, her actions, looks, she shaped 
 A thousand ways to make me think there dwelt 
 Affinity of soul between us both. 
 But as remark'd, she bound me for a time 
 In her bewitching spells. 
 
 " Yet soon I broke 
 The charm she wrought to make my heart 
 
 accordant 
 
 Beat to hers, and draw my love from thee, 
 From honor, truth, and faith seduce; but no, 
 
BANCROFT LIBRARY 
 
 OE, LOVE AND LAND. 225 
 
 Her tricks fantastic I disdain'd. No smile 
 
 Bewitchingly of hers, however shaped, 
 
 Nor lyric notes from her impassion'd tongue, 
 
 Nor bribes of wealth, could bend me to her will. 
 
 In vain her songs, her smiles, her bribes, did prove 
 
 To lure me from thy blameless self, to whom 
 
 My thoughts full oft on that strange coast, would 
 
 there, 
 On fancy's wings to thee, Morena, fly." 
 
 This said, Morena's face a pleasing look 
 Assumed. She could no longer doubt his word ; 
 For joy at hearing all was fair and good 
 Her doubts repress'd, and there, delighted, hung 
 Upon his arm. 
 
 So then, with thankful heart, 
 Don Pedro said : 
 
 " I've mark'd, Eafael, thy force 
 Of mind. A head and heart like thine, so good 
 And just, are seldom found. To thee, my friend, 
 
226 THE MEXICAN; 
 
 Be granted length of days. Give me thy hand. 
 
 Now let our happy greeting give new birth 
 
 To joy, and blissful thoughts the future shape. 
 
 No more thy hand need wield the sword ; our land 
 
 Is now from stormy battle freed. We've triumph'd 
 
 O'er the foe, and all the glory won. 
 
 So here's the fairest trophy I can give 
 
 To one defender of our native land. 
 
 My daughter's hand is thine, fit recompense, 
 
 I hope, Eafael, for thy unswerving skill : 
 
 But yet thy country owes thee more." 
 
 " No more, 
 
 Sefior. Morena's heart a priceless boon 
 Is due requital fair of all I crave," 
 Brave Eafael, bowing said. 
 
 " Soon, then," the Don 
 Replied, " thy nuptials shall be solemnized." 
 
 So, in a few days, at the hour of noon, 
 Before the altar, hand in hand, among 
 
OR, LOVE AND LAND. 227 
 
 A group of friends, the bride and bridegroom stood . 
 Each heart with fond emotion panting : 
 Each mind the blissful future reading. 
 
 Then the priest approach'd the happy twain, and 
 
 said: 
 " Rafael, wilt thou make the bride thy lawful 
 
 wife?" 
 
 " My lawful wife ! Nay," Rafael, smiling, said, 
 Kissing her meantime ; " ask me if I could 
 Refuse the soul whom I've adored at home, 
 Revered in absence with affection true." 
 
 " 'Tis well. Let each, then, in the future feel 
 An equal share of joy and grief." So, then, 
 He joined their hands in wedlock holy. 
 
 " Thou 
 
 From this hour," he said, " art man and wife ; 
 Go and love each other, heart and soul. 
 Enjoy in future all the bliss kind heaven 
 May bestow. " 
 
228 THE MEXICAN. 
 
 " And may ye thro' this ample sphere," 
 The father said, " where'er thou art, at home, 
 Or far away in distant climes, dispense 
 New luster on thy names. May beauties rare 
 In nuptial bliss from out thy loving souls 
 Awaken into birth, fair rosy youth, 
 To crown thy age and cares with joy, till ye 
 Be summon'd late in life to dwell above 
 In heaven eternal." 
 
DAISY SWAIN, 
 
 A TALE OF THE REBELLION. 
 
 By JOHN M. DAGNALL. 
 
 Ono volume, 12mo ; 167 pages. Printed on thick paper, from new 
 type. Extra cloth binding. Contains twenty-six illustrations by first- 
 rate artists. 
 
 PKICE $1 25. 
 
A SYNOPSIS OF THE POEM. 
 
 The story of Daisy Swain most vividly and truthfully por- 
 trays the incidents in the life of a young maiden, who, from 
 the day of her birth to her sixteenth summer, bloomed as fresh 
 and pure as arose in her childhood's home in the Shenandoah 
 Valley, where her contented father lived in peace. It tells 
 of her pious mother who cradled her infant form. It depicts 
 the fanatic and the demagogue, and describes how freemen 
 were made foes, stating how they fought, bled, and died, min- 
 gling their blood upon the gory field. It paints in glowing 
 terms the youthful volunteer ; how his soldier heart beat high 
 with pride at the sound of martial drum and fife ; and why he 
 left his Northern home, the spot where his ancestors slept, 
 and in his youth and strength how he bore, amid the roar 
 of cannon on the battle-field, the flag of freedom through the 
 thickest of the fight. It details his thoughts of home and 
 distant friends, as he, wounded, lay upon the margin of a 
 stream, bleeding out his patriot blood and musing in the 
 despair of death. It tells how Daisy, fair and tender, came 
 like an angel clothed in white, and found him in the twi- 
 light by the rivulet, all helpless and dying, wrapt up in the 
 riven standard which he'd borne through blood and fire. It 
 describes how the light of heaven in her face, so fine in 
 beauty, cheered him, and how beside his sick couch she 
 ministered to his pains. It tells of the hopes she cherished 
 in her young heart's love for him ; and how those blissful 
 hopes on earth were blighted in her bloom when her soul 
 was in its pride of freshness ; and of her faith and tears ; her 
 wailings and weary watchings, after a gang of bold guerril- 
 las, who, in their despotic pride, came to her peaceful home 
 
3 
 
 and with their traitor hands conveyed her lover and her 
 father far away. It states how she was made an orphan, 
 and how within her desolate home, during many hours of 
 solitude, she would mourn her lover dead. It narrates the 
 trials and hardships she endured ; how in her adversity she 
 never faltered, while searching for her lover, who had es- 
 caped from his vile prison, and was then once more fighting 
 the battles of his country ; setting forth how strangely they 
 met, and how upon the battle-plain her lover fell ; but not 
 until he had with strength of valiant arm and Union bullet 
 killed the bold guerrilla chief who no mercy showed the 
 innocent, whose agony could wring no tear of pity from out 
 his callous heart. Finally recounting how Daisy and her 
 patriot lover, enshrined in death upon the battle-field, sleep 
 the peaceful sleep that knows no waking. 
 
 No tongue has spoken nor pen recorded a patriotic story 
 so touching in its incidents which from the beginning never 
 flags an instant, but holds the reader spell-bound to the end. 
 
 For sale by the American News Company, No. 121 Nassau 
 Street, New York. 
 
 REVIEWS OF THE POEM. 
 
 If any Englishman should contemptuously ask, now, 
 " Who writes an American poem ?" we should triumphantly 
 answer, " John M. Dagnall." Boston Transcript. 
 
 Mr. Dagnall has displayed real power in his present work. 
 His genius will yet earn him an enviable position and fame 
 as a poet. Peterson's Magazine, Phila. 
 
 One reads the poem from beginning to end with a feeling 
 of satisfaction, and seems to have traveled through the val- 
 
ley of the Slienandoali the scene of the story without 
 fatigue. The tone of the poem is elevated, and its sentiments 
 thoroughly loyal. We unhesitatingly commend it. Qua/r* 
 terly Journal, Vt. 
 
 We admire the spirit of this remarkable poem. It is an 
 inspired poem, breathing the purest sentiments of patriot- 
 ism. Providence Journal. 
 
 That Mr. Dagnall has produced a remarkable work is 
 beyond all doubt. Byron wrote Don Juan ; Shelley, Prome- 
 theus Bound ; and Coleridge, Christobel ; but neither of the 
 three had the genius to produce " Daisy Swain." Long may 
 its distinguished author write, and may he never, like one 
 of his own heroes, pass his time 
 
 In moldy dungeon vilely smeared 
 
 With damps infectious. [N. T. Day-Book. 
 
 The author of " Daisy Swain" has shown in his lines so 
 forcible, musical, and clear, that he possesses all the human 
 moods, the very qualities of heart and soul, of the true poet. 
 Nothing in the work is stilted. His thoughts spring spon- 
 taneously from the subject, and his verse is unaffected, and 
 free from the restraints of mechanical mannerism on which 
 so many poets solely rely for their reputation. For lifelike 
 portraitures of character, for force, rugged grandeur, sweet 
 and elegant expressions of language ; for depth of thought, 
 invention, soul-stirring events, and absorbing pathos, ap- 
 pealing to the loyalty of her sons and the virtue of her 
 daughters, nothing has reached us from America equal to 
 it. Columbia may well feel proud of the author of this ex- 
 traordinary poem. We shall look forward with consider- 
 able pleasure for any fresh installments of verse from the 
 odfted author of " Daisy Sw&in." English paper.