[h] But how the scene pourtray?
‘This country excels all others, as far as the day surpasses the night in splendour.—Nor is there a better people in the world. They love their neighbour as themselves; their conversation is the sweetest imaginable, their faces always smiling; and so gentle, so affectionate are they, that I swear to your highnesses,’ &c. F. COL. c. 30, 33.
[] Nymphs of romance,
Dryades formosissimas, aut nativas fontium nymphas, de quibus fabulatur antiquitas, se vidisse arbitrati sunt. P. MARTYR, dec. i. lib. 5.
[j] Youths graceful as the Faun,
An eminent Painter, when he first saw the Apollo of the Belvidere, was struck with its resemblance to an American warrior. West’s discourse in the Royal Academy, 1794.
[k] But see, the regal plumes, the couch of state!
‘The Cacique came down to the shore in a sort of palanquin—attended by his antient men.—The gifts, which he received from me, were afterwards carried before him.’ F. COLUMBUS, c. 32.
[l] The wondrous ring, and lamp, and horse of brass.
The ring of Gyges, the lamp of Aladdin, and the horse of the Tartar king.
[m] Ceiba,
The wild cotton tree, often mentioned in History. ‘Cortes,’ says
Bernal Diaz, ‘took possession of the Country in the following manner.
Drawing his sword, he gave three cuts with it into a great Ceiba
and said———’
[n] Half bird, half fly,
Here are birds so small, says Herrera, that, though they are birds, they are taken for bees or butterflies.
[o] Reigns there, and revels, &c.
There also was heard the wild cry of the Flamingo.
What clarion winds along the yellow sands?
Far in the deep the giant-fisher stand,
Folding his wings of flame.
[p] Who now danc’d forth, &c.
Their dances, which continued from evening to the dawn, were accompanied with singing. P. MARTYR, dec. iii. 7.