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By the green shade of the palm trees, Where the river flows along To be wedded to the calm seas, Dwell the people of my song. With a languid step they wander Thro' the forest or the grove, And with listless eyes they ponder On the glories poets love. They have little joy in beauty, Little joy in virtue high, Honour, mercy, truth, and duty, Or the creeds for which men die. But their lives are calm and peaceful, And they ask for nothing more Save some happy, listless, easeful Years, and peace from strife and war. |
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Tales I tell of women wailing, Cruel wrong and bitter strife, Shrieking souls that pass, and quailing Hearts that shrink beneath the knife. Tales I tell of evil passions, Men that suffer, men that slay, All the tragedy that fashions Life and death for such as they. Yet these things are but as fleeting Shadows, that more lightly pass Than the sunlight, which retreating Leaves no stain upon the grass. O my friends! I judge ye lightly, Listen to the tales I tell. Answer, have I spoken rightly? Judge me, have I loved ye well? |
THE END
Printed by R. R. Clark, Limited, Edinburgh.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
"SINCE THE BEGINNING." A Tale of an Eastern Land. Crown 8vo, Cloth. 6s.
The Sun.—"The author deals skilfully with a people still uncivilised, still swayed by primeval passions. His characters are well defined, and the tragedy which underlies the lives of the three principals is poignant and impressive by reason of his simple directness."
St. James's Gazette.—"Mr. Hugh Clifford's knowledge of Malay life and of the Malay land is undoubtedly great, and makes his story 'Since the Beginning' very interesting."
Daily Chronicle.—"Those who read the story will learn a good deal and learn it pleasantly of the Malay Peninsula, its inhabitants, their customs and their manners."
Pall Mall Gazette.—"Altogether a book of quite unusual ability, displaying exceptional powers of observation and description."