APPENDIX. A Florida. THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH. A DREAM OF PONCE DE LEON. I. STORY of Ponce de Leon, So thick were the birds on the trees; And so deep and so pure was the sky That the jasper-walled city seemed shining Just out of the reach of the eye. By day his light canvas he shifted, And rounded strange harbors and bars; By night, on the full tides he drifted, 'Neath the low-hanging lamps of the stars. Near the glimmering gates of the sunset, In the twilight empurpled and dim, The sailors uplifted their voices, And sang to the Virgin a hymn. "Thank the Lord!" said De Leon, the sailor, At the close of the rounded refrain; "Thank the Lord, the Almighty, who blesses The ocean-swept banner of Spain ! The shadowy world is behind us, The shining Cipango, before; Each morning the sun rises brighter On ocean, and island, and shore. And still shall our spirits grow lighter, As prospects more glowing enfold; Then on, merry men! to Cipango, To the west, and the regions of gold!" II. There came to De Leon, the sailor, Were sprinkled with islands of gold. Who set but their foot on its shores!" Then answered De Leon, the sailor: "I am withered, and wrinkled, and old; I would rather discover that fountain, Than a country of diamonds and gold.” III. Away sailed De Leon, the sailor; Till the birds were more rare in the azure, Over waters no sailor had seen, 66 More fair than the shady Azores. Thank the Lord!" said De Leon, the sailor, As feasted his eye on the shores, "We have come to a region, my brothers, More lovely than earth, of a truth; And here is the life-giving fountain, IV. Then landed De Leon, the sailor, Unfurled his old banner, and sung; But he felt very wrinkled and withered, 'Tis a fair, a delectable country, More lovely than earth, of a truth; I soon shall partake of the fountain, The beautiful fountain of youth!" V. But wandered De Leon, the sailor, He was borne on the storm-smitten waters His footsteps enfeebled gave proof, Still he thirsted in dreams for the fountain, One day the old sailor lay dying “Thank the Lord!" said De Leon, the sailor, "Thank the Lord for the light of the truth, I now am approaching the fountain, The beautiful fountain of youth." VII. The cabin was silent: at twilight They heard the birds singing a psalm, And the wind of the ocean low sighing Through groves of the orange and palm. The sailor still lay on his pallet, 'Neath the low-hanging vines of the roof; His soul had gone forth to discover The beautiful fountain of youth. Hezekiah Butterworth. |