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Mazelli； and Other Poems
Mazelli； and Other
Poems
By George W。 Sands
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Mazelli； and Other Poems
Canto I。
I。
〃Stay； traveller； stay thy weary steed； The sultry hour of noon is
near； Of rest thy way…worn limbs have need； Stay； then； and； taste its
sweetness here。 The mountain path which thou hast sped Is steep； and
difficult to tread； And many a farther step 'twill cost； Ere thou wilt find
another host； But if thou scorn'st not humble fare； Such as the pilgrim
loves to share； Not luxury's enfeebling spoil； But bread secured by
patient toil Then lend thine ear to my request； And be the old man's
welcome guest。 Thou seest yon aged willow tree； In all its summer
pomp arrayed； 'Tis near； wend thither； then； with me； My cot is built
beneath its shade； And from its roots clear waters burst To cool thy lip； and
quench thy thirst： I love it； and if harm should； come To it； I think that
I should weep； 'Tis as a guardian of my home； So faithfully it seems to
keep Its watch above the spot where I Have lived so long； and mean to die。
Come； pardon me for prating thus； But age； you know； is garrulous； And in
life's dim decline； we hold Thrice dear whate'er we loved of old； The
stream upon whose banks we played； The forest through whose shades we
strayed； The spot to which from sober truth We stole to dream the dreams
of youth； The single star of all Night's zone； Which we have chosen as our
own； Each has its haunting memory Of things which never more may be。〃
II。
Thus spake an aged man to one Who manhood's race had just begun。
His form of manhood's noblest length Was strung with manhood's stoutest
strength； And burned within his eagle eye The blaze of tameless energy
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Mazelli； and Other Poems
Not tameless but untamedfor life Soon breaks the spirit with its strife
And they who in their souls have nursed The brightest visions； are the first
To learn how Disappointment's blight Strips life of its illusive light； How
dreams the heart has dearest held Are ever first to be dispelled； How hope；
and power； and love； and fame； Are each an idly sounding name； A
phantom； a deceit； a wile； That woos and dazzles to beguile。 But time had
not yet tutored him； The youth of hardy heart and limb； Who quickly drew
his courser's bit； For though too haughty to submit； In strife for mastery
with men； Yet to a prayer； or a caress； His soul became all
gentleness； An infant's hand might lead him then： So answered he；〃In
sooth the way My steed and I have passed to…day； Is of such weary；
winding length； As sorely to have tried our strength； And I will bless the
bread and salt Of him who kindly bids me halt。〃 Then springing lightly to
the ground； His girth and saddle he unbound； And turning from the path
aside； The steed and guest； the host and guide； Sought where the old man's
friendly door Stood ever open to the poor： The poorfor seldom came the
great； Or rich； the apers of their state； That simple； rude abode to see； Or
claim its hospitality。
III。
From where the hermit's cottage stood； Beneath its huge old
guardian tree； The gazer's wand'ring eye might see； Where； in its maze
of field and wood； And stretching many a league away； A broad and
smiling valley lay： Lay stilly calm； and sweetly fair； As if Death had not
entered there； As if its flowers； so bright of bloom； Its birds； so gay of
song and wing； Would never lose their soft perfume； Would never；
never cease to sing。 Fat flocks were in its glens at rest； Pure waters
wandered o'er its breast； The sky was clear； the winds were still； Rich
harvests grew on every hill； The sun in mid…day glory smiled； And nature
slumbered as a child。
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Mazelli； and Other Poems
IV。
And now； their rustic banquet done； And sheltered from the noontide
sun By the old willow's pleasant shade； The guest and host the scene
surveyed； Marked how the mountain's mighty base The valley's course
was seen to trace； Marked how its graceful azure crest Against the sky's
blue arch was pressed； And how its long and rocky chain Was parted
suddenly in twain； Where through a chasm； wide and deep； Potomac's
rapid waters sweep； While rocks that press the mountain's brow； Nod o'er
his waves far； far below；（1） Marked how those waves； in one broad blaze；
Threw back the sun's meridian rays； And； flashing as they rolled along；
Seemed all alive with light and song； Marked how green bower and
garden showed Where rose the husbandman's abode； And how the village
walls were seen To glimmer with a silvery sheen； Such as the Spaniard
saw； of yore； Hang over Tenuchtitlan's walls； When maddened with the
lust of gore； He came to desecrate her halls； To fire her temples； towers；
and thrones； And turn her songs of peace to groans。 They gazed； till from
the hermit's eye A tear stole slow and silently； A tear； which Memory's
hand had taken From a deep fountain long congealed； A tear； which
showed how strongly shaken The heart must be； which thus revealed；
Through time's dim shadows； gathering fast； Its recollections of the past；
Then； as a sigh escaped his breast； Thus spake the hermit to his guest。
V。
〃Thou seest how fair a scene is here； It seems as if 'twere planned
above； And fashioned from some happier sphere； To be the home of
peace and love。 Yet man； too fond of strife； to dwell In meek
contentment's calm repose； Will turn an Eden to a hell； And triumph in
his brother's woes！ And passion's lewd and lawless host； Delight to rave
and revel most Where generous Nature stamps and strews Her fairest
forms； and brightest hues： And Discord here has lit her brand； And
Hatred nursed her savage brood； And stern Revenge； with crimson hand；
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Mazelli； and Other Poems
Has written his foul deeds in blood。 But those who loved and suffered then；
Have given place to other men： Of all who live； to me alone The story； of
their fate is known； Give heed； and I will tell it thee； Tho' mournful must
the story be。
VI。
I mind as if 'twere yesterday； The hour when first I stood beside
The margin of yon rushing tide； And watched its wild waves in their play；
These locks that now are thin and gray； Then clustered thick and dark as
thine； And few had strength of arm like mine。 Thou seest how many a
furrow now Time's hand hath ploughed athwart my brow： Well； then it was
without a line； And I had other treasures too； Of which 'tis useless
now to vaunt； Friends； who were kind； and warm； and true； A heart；
that danger could not daunt； A soul； with wild dreams wildly stirred； And
hope that had not been deferred。 I cannot count how many years Have
since gone by； but toil and tears； And the lone heart's deep agony； I feel
have sadly altered me； Yet mourn I not the change； for those I loved or
scorned； my friends or foes； Have fallen and faded； one by one； As
time's swift current hurried by； Till I； of all my kith alone； Am left to
wait； and wish to die。
VII。
How strong a hand hath T