Original Poetrn.

Colonist, Issue 19, 25 December 1857, Page 4

Original Poetrn.

THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF DE SOTO, THE DISCOVERER OF THE MISSISSIPPI. The golden flag.of old Castile One sultry even drooped, Amidst five hundred men of steel, Whose heads in sorrow stooped; For he who led their valour's tramp Far through the trackless West, By ague swamp, And fatal damp, Was doomed to deadly rest. Incessaut.marches, toil, and pain Had thinned the dauntless ranks Of proudest chivalry of Spain, On Mississippi's banl's; When he, whose valour first descried That flood of thousand streams, His conquering pride Slow-turned aside-, Reft of ambition's dreams. An Indian maid bent o'er the chief.-i The red rose of the wild-* And with her locks in still, deep grief, She fanned him-^-till he smiled :— Was it her beauty's matchless flow'r Revived his wasted face"? Or in that hour Heroic pow'r Shone out with dying grace ? Her love it was which brightly there *!',.''•• Unearthly pleasure spread,—- ---■'/:... Such radiance as no Spanish fair Could o'er his spirit shed !....■■ For she had left her own fierce race, Toi shield him with her form ,— In. war, or ..chase, . ' '• : "O71 death's fell place, From alitheir wrath's hot storms But now the great, urtconquered foe Has pierced him in his tent, And she but lives to share the blow> : -,..; ••.-:-. Her life with his all blent. , She calmly said,—"With thee I'll die, My heart's De Soto brave;— . To thy own sky My love I'll sigh, ' Then join tliee in the grave!" Up rose the warrior gaunt and pale, . Girt by her faithful arm, . And called for hia good sword and mail, For still he felt their charm. With these arrayed, then ordered he ■ Hi* foll'wers staunch and dear, Once more to be As victory, His funeral to cheer! " I yield to God my soul and breath, — " Unvanqiiished yet by man : " Then crowtf Jjhe form with triumph's wreath " You loved in danger's van! 11 Around me wrap that banner gay " Of bright"Castile and Spain; " And you shall lay " My shrunken clay " Where flows my own amain: -~;. " In glorious Mississippi's deep " Your leaders grave shall be; " And none for me weak tears shall weep; " But bravely bury me:— " Sing high Te Daum by my tomb, " And shout my battle-cry; " let cannon boom " Through midnight's gloom, x " Till shades below reply! "Ournative shores fond welcome sweet "To your return will rii;g; " But I Castile shall never, greet, " Nor hear what fame can sing: *' Yet while my river pours sublime " Its vast impi'oving song,— "Throughout all time, " My name shall chime " Its peopled course along !*' He spake and died. Then, as he bid* , They bore him forth that night; In martial guise the dead was hid, And marched in torches' light, Shrill trumpets sang, war's thunders rolled^ Guns, cheers full honours paid :— Then sunk the bold, In dark waves cold, Claspt by that loving maid! . ■■■ \ RECTUS.