Page:The Five Nations.djvu/108

88 "My speech is clean and single,

I talk of common things—

Words of the wharf and the market-place

And the ware the merchant brings:

Favour to those I favour,

But a stumbling-block to my foes.

Many there be that hate us,"

Said our Lady of the Snows.

"I called my chiefs to council

In the din of a troubled year;

For the sake of a sign ye would not see,

And a word ye would not hear.

This is our message and answer;

This is the path we chose:

For we be also a people,"

Said our Lady of the Snows.

"Carry the word to my sisters—

To the Queens of the East and the South.

I have proven faith in the Heritage

By more than the word of the mouth.