1“How still!” cried Babbalanja. “This calm is like unto Oro’s everlasting serenity, and like unto man’s last despair.”

2But now the silence was broken by a strange, distant, intermitted melody in the water.

3Gazing over the side, we saw naught but a far-darting ray in its depths.

4Then Yoomy, before buried in a reverie, burst forth with a verse, sudden as a jet from a Geyser.

5Like the fish of the bright and twittering fin,

6Bright fish! diving deep as high soars the lark,

7So, far, far, far, doth the maiden swim,

8Wild song, wild light, in still ocean’s dark.

9“What maiden, minstrel?” cried Media.

10“None of these,” answered Yoomy, pointing out a shallop gliding near.

11“The damsels three:—Taji, they pursue you yet.” That still canoe drew nigh, the Iris in its prow.

12Gliding slowly by, one damsel flung a Venus-car, the leaves yet fresh.

13Said Yoomy—“Fly to love.”

14The second maiden flung a pallid blossom, buried in hemlock leaves.

15Said Yoomy, starting—“I have wrought a death.”

16Then came showering Venus-cars, and glorious moss-roses numberless, and odorous handfuls of Verbena.

17Said Yoomy—“Yet fly, oh fly to me: all rosy joys and sweets are mine.”

18Then the damsels floated on.

19“Was ever queen more enigmatical?” cried Media—“Love,—death,—joy,—fly to me? But what says Taji?”

20“That I turn not back for Hautia; whoe’er she be, that wild witch I contemn.”

21“Then spread our pinions wide! a breeze! up sails! ply paddles all! Come, Flora’s flute, float forth a song.”

22To pieces picking the thorny roses culled from Hautia’s gifts, and holding up their blighted cores, thus plumed and turbaned Yoomy sang, leaning against the mast:—

23Oh! royal is the rose,

24But barbed with many a dart;

25Beware, beware the rose,

26’Tis cankered at the heart.

27Sweet, sweet the sunny down,

28Oh! lily, lily, lily down!

29Sweet, sweet, Verbena’s bloom!

30Oh! pleasant, gentle, musky bloom!

31Dread, dread the sunny down;

32Lo! lily-hooded asp;

33Blooms, blooms no more Verbena;

34White-withered in your clasp.