"How have you kept your faith with him?
Where now the oaths you swore?
Dost think the white man now will deal
As kindly as before?
"Nay! you and yours have steeled his heart,
And driven pity thence;
Nay, savage foe! your wiles I know;
Depart! and get you hence.
"Upon the borders of the sea,
Your thieving band may roam,
And find some other pleasant land—
This is no more your home."
The savage chieftain heaved a sigh,
Then, turning to his child,
He laid his hand upon her head,
And said in accents mild,
"Poor Amakeya! dost thou hear?
In vain, in vain, we crave;
We have no home! come, let us go
And seek some unknown grave!"
But proudly stepp'd the maiden forth,
And conscious of her charms,
She folded o'er her swelling breast
Her beauteous ebon arms.
And in sad accents, soft and clear,
And sobbing while she spake;
She pray'd so earnestly, then wept,
As if her heart would break.
