🧚 In the Measure of Hiawatha, part 1 · page 2

Ah, the tail and tawny Panther!54 Ah, the brave and brawny Panther!55 Son of Waub-Ojeeg, the warrior!56 With a slender hair she led him, With a slender hair he drew him, Drew him often to her wigwam; There she bound him, there she held him Tangled in her raven tresses, Tied and tangled in her tresses.57 Ah, the best of men are tangled-- Sometime tangled in the tresses Of a fair and crafty woman.58

So the Panther wed the Red Fox, And she followed to his wigwam.59 Young again he seemed and gladsome, Glad as Raven when the father Made his first bow from the elm-tree, From the ash tree made his arrows, Taught him how to aim his arrows, How to shoot Wabóse--the rabbit.60

Then again the brawny hunter Brought the black bear and the beaver, Brought the haunch of elk and red-deer, Brought the rabbit and the pheasant-- Choicest bits of all for Red Fox.61 For her robes he brought the sable, Brought the otter and the ermine, Brought the black-fox tipped with silver.62

But the Sea-Gull murmured never, Not a word she spoke in anger, Went about her work as ever, Tanned the skins of bear and beaver, Tanned the hides of moose and red deer, Gathered fagots for the lodge-fire, Gathered rushes from the marches; Deftly into mats she wove them; Kept the lodge as bright as ever.63 Only to herself she murmured, All alone with Waub-omeé-meé, On the tall and toppling highland, O'er the wilderness of waters; Murmured to the murmuring waters, Murmured to the Nébe-nâw-baigs-- To the spirits of the waters; On the wild waves poured her sorrow, Save the infant on her bosom With her dark eyes wide with wonder, None to hear her but the spirits, And the murmuring pines above her.64 Thus she cast away her burdens, Cast her burdens on the waters; Thus unto the Mighty Spirit, Made her lowly lamentation: "Wahonówin!--Wahonówin!"65 [1013] Gitchee Mânito, benâ nin!66 Nah, Ba-bâ, showâin neméshin! "67 Wahonówin!--Wahonówin!"68

Ka-be-bón-ík-ka, the mighty, [109] He that sends the cruel winter, From the distant Thunder-mountain, On the shore of Gitchee Gumee-- On the rugged northern limit, Sent his solemn, final warning, Sent the white wolves of the Nor'land [1014] Like the dust of stars in ether-- In the Pathway of the Spirits.69 [1015] Like the sparkling dust of diamonds, Fell the frost upon the forest, On the mountains and the meadows, On the wilderness of woodland.70 On the wilderness of waters.71 All the lingering fowls departed-- All that seek the South in winter, All but Shingebís, the diver.72 [1016] He defies the Winter-maker, Sits and laughs at Winter-maker.73

Ka-be-bón-ík-ka, the mighty, From his wigwam called Kewáydin,-- From his home among the ice-bergs, From the sea of frozen waters, Called the swift and hungry North-wind.74 Then he spread his mighty pinions Over all the land and shook them, Like the white down of Wâubésè [1017] Fell the feathery snow and covered, All the marshes and the meadows, All the hill-tops and the highlands.75 Then old Péboân--the winter--[1018] Laughed along the stormy waters, Danced upon the windy headlands, On the storm his white hair streaming,-- And his steaming breath, ascending, On the pine-tops and the cedars Fell in frosty mists refulgent, Sprinkling somber shades with silver, Sprinkling all the woods with silver.76

By the lodge-fire all the winter Sat the Sea-Gull and the Red Fox, Sat and kindly spoke and chatted, Till the twain seemed friends together.77 Friends they seemed in word and action, But within the breast of either Smouldered still the baneful embers-- Fires of jealousy and hatred,--78

Like a camp-fire in the forest Left by hunters and deserted; Only seems a bed of ashes, But the East-wind, Wâbun noódin, Scatters through the woods the ashes, Fans to flame the sleeping embers, And the wild-fire roars and rages, Roars and rages through the forest.79 So the baneful embers smouldered, Smouldered in the breast of either.80

From the far-off Sunny Islands, From the pleasant land of Summer, Where the spirits of the blessèd Feel no more the fangs of hunger, Or the cold breath of Kewâydin, Came a stately youth and handsome, Came Según the foe of Winter.81 [1019] Like the rising sun his face was, Like the shining stars his eyes were, Light his footsteps as the Morning's.82 In his hand were buds and blossoms, On his brow a blooming garland.83 Straightway to the icy wigwam Of old Péboân, the Winter, Strode Según and quickly entered.84 There old Péboân sat and shivered, Shivered o'er his dying lodge-fire.85

"Ah, my son, I bid you welcome; Sit and tell me your adventures; I will tell you of my power; We will pass the night together."86 Thus spake Péboân--the Winter; Then he filled his pipe and lighted; Then by sacred custom raised it To the spirits in the ether; To the spirits in the caverns Of the hollow earth he lowered it.87 Thus he passed it to the spirits, And the unseen spirits puffed it.88 Next himself old Péboân honored; Thrice he puffed his pipe and passed it, Passed it to the handsome stranger.89

"Lo I blow my breath," said Winter, "And the laughing brooks are silent; Hard as flint become the waters, And the rabbit runs upon them."90

Then Según, the fair youth, answered: "Lo I breathe upon the hill-sides, On the valleys and the meadows, And behold, as if by magic-- By the magic of the Spirits, Spring the flowers and tender grasses."91

Then old Péboân replying: "Nah!92 [1020] I breathe upon the forests, And the leaves fall sere and yellow; Then I shake my locks and snow falls, Covering all the naked landscape."93

Then Según arose and answered: "Nashké!94 [1020]--see!--I shake my ringlets; On the earth the warm rain falleth, And the flowers look up like children Glad-eyed from their mother's bosom.95 Lo my voice recalls the robin, Brings the bobolink and blue-bird, And the woods are full of music.96 With my breath I melt their fetters, And the brooks leap laughing onward."97

Then old Péboân looked upon him, Looked and knew Según, the Summer, From his eyes the big tears started And his boastful tongue was silent.98

Now Keezís [1021]--the great life-giver, From his wigwam in Waubú-nong [1021] Rose and wrapped his shining blanket Round his giant form and started; Westward started on his journey, Striding on from hill to hill-top.99 Upward then he climbed the ether-- On the Bridge of Stars [1022] he traveled, Westward traveled on his journey To the far-off Sunset Mountains-- To the gloomy land of shadows.100

On the lodge-poles sang the robin,-- And the brooks began to murmur.101 On the South wind floated fragrance Of the early buds and blossoms.102 From old Péboân's eyes the teardrops Down his pale face ran in streamlets; Less and less he grew in stature Till he melted doun to nothing; And behold, from out the ashes, From the ashes of his lodge-fire, Sprang the Miscodeed [1023] and, blushing, Welcomed Según to the North-land.103