THE ISLE OF FOUNTS. AN INDIAN TRADITION. ["The river St Mary has its source from a vast lake or marsh, which lies between Flint and Oakmulge rivers, and occupies a space of near three hundred miles in circuit. This vast accumulation of waters, in the wet season, appears as a lake, and contains some large islands or knolls of rich high land; one of which the present generation of the Creek Indians represent to be a most blissful spot of earth: they say it is inhabited by a peculiar race of Indians, whose women are incomparably beautiful. They also tell you that this terrestrial paradise has been seen by some of their enterprising hunters, when in pursuit of game; but that in their endeavours to approach it, they were involved in perpetual labyrinths, and, like enchanted land, still as they imagined they had just gained it, it seemed to fly before them, alternately appearing and disappearing. They resolved, at length, to leave the delusive pursuit, and to return; which, after a number of difficulties, they effected. When they reported their adventures to their countrymen, the young warriors were inflamed with an irresistible desire to invade, and make a conquest of so charming a country; but all their attempts have hitherto proved abortive, never having been able again to find that enchanting spot."-BERTRAM's Travels through North and South Carolina, &c. The additional circumstances in the "Isle of Founts" are merely imaginary.] SON of the stranger! wouldst thou take To reach the still and shining lake Along whose banks the west winds play ?— Let no vain dreams thy heart beguile, Oh! seek thou not the Fountain Isle! Lull but the mighty serpent king,* 'Midst the grey rocks, his old domain; Ward but the cougar's deadly spring,Thy step that lake's green shore may gain; And the bright Isle, when all is pass'd, Shall vainly meet thine eye at last! Yes! there, with all its rainbow streams, And lovely will the shadows be And breathings from their sunny flowers, Or hast thou heard the sounds that rise *The Cherokees believe that the recesses of their mountains, overgrown with lofty pines and cedars, and covered with old mossy rocks, are inhabited by the kings or chiefs of rattlesnakes, whom they denominate the "bright old inhabitants." They represent them as snakes of an enormous size, and which possess the power of drawing to them every living creature that comes within the reach of their eyes. Their heads are said to be crowned with a carbuncle of dazzling brightness.-See Notes to LEYDEN's Scenes of Infancy. The wild and wondrous melodies To which the ancient rocks gave birth? Like that sweet song of hidden caves The emerald waves!—they take their hue And image from that sunbright shore; But wouldst thou launch thy light canoe, And wouldst thou ply thy rapid oar,Before thee, hadst thou morning's speed, The dreamy land should still recede ! Yet on the breeze thou still wouldst hear And ever should the sound be near Of founts that ripple through its glades; But woe for him who sees them burst * With their bright spray-showers to the lake! For ever pouring through his dreams, Bright, bright in many a rocky urn, *The stones on the banks of the Oronoco, called by the South American missionaries Laxas de Musica, and alluded to in a former note. Yet at their source his lip shall burn, Parch'd with the fever's agony! From the blue mountains to the main, Our thousand floods may roll in vain. E'en thus our hunters came of yore Back from their long and weary quest ;— Had they not seen th' untrodden shore, And could they 'midst our wilds find rest? The lightning of their glance was fled, They dwelt amongst us as the dead! They lay beside our glittering rills, Where elk and deer before us fly; They bent no more the forest-bow, They arm'd not with the warrior-band, The moons waned o'er them dim and slowThey left us for the spirits' land! Beneath our pines yon greensward heap Shows where the restless found their sleep. Son of the stranger! if at eve Silence be 'midst us in thy place, THE BENDED BOW. [It is supposed that war was anciently proclaimed in Britain by sending messengers in different directions through the land, each bearing a bended bow; and that peace was in like manner announced by a bow unstrung, and therefore straight.-See the Cambrian Antiquities.] THERE was heard the sound of a coming foe, "Heard you not the battle-horn ?— And the reaper arm'd, like a freeman's son; "Hunter! leave the mountain-chase! Let the wolf go free to-day, Leave him for a nobler prey ! Let the deer ungall'd sweep by, Arm thee! Britain's foes are nigh!" And the hunter arm'd ere the chase was done; |