Page:A Treasury of South African Poetry.djvu/208

 "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.