Page:Songs from the Southern Seas and Other Poems (1873).djvu/29

Rh Thus long and fixed lie gazed, as one who sees A symbol hidden in a simple thing, And trembles at its meaning: so the King Fell trembling there, and from his breast there broke A cry, part joy, part fear; then to his folk With upraised hands he spoke one guttural word, And said it over thrice; and when they heard, They, too, were stricken with strange fear and joy.

The white-haired King then to the breathless boy Drew closer still, while all the dusky crowd In weird abasement to the earth were bowed. Across his breast the aged ruler wore A leathern thong or belt; whate'er it bore Was hidden 'neath the boka. As he drew Anigh the mother, from his side he threw Far back the skin that made his rich-furred robe, And showed upon the belt a small red globe Of carven wood, bright-polished, as with years: When this they saw, deep grew his people's fears, And to the white sand were their foreheads pressed.