Queen Moo's Talisman: The Fall of the Maya Empire

								

Restraint his outraged subjects planned. ’T was not
Their wish, e’en now, to slay the wilful man
Whose being throbbed with blood of honored Can.


Aac towered there amid his fallen men,
Defiant, raging, livid, and ’twas then
That one named Pacab flung his arms aside,
Approached the Prince, and as he neared him cried—
“Now yield thyself; we would not do thee wrong;
Full well we know all rights to thee belong.
Thy safety we desire and not thy life,
Tho’ thou hast filled our land with grief and strife.”


With one fell blow Aac struck the speaker dead,
Then shook the dripping axe above his head.
But scarce the deed was done when from the crowd
An elder man leaped forth and wailed aloud—
“My son! my son! avenged thou now shalt be;
Thy life destroyed, no Prince is there for me!”


This said, he sprang upon the stalwart Aac
Like maddened brute and roared—“Thy soul is black!
Defend thy life; strike swift or breathe thy last!”
While yet he spake his blows fell thick and fast;
Then Aac, in flaming wrath, stabbed deep his foe;
Their blood in mingling stream was quick to flow.
’Twas fierce and brief, the Prince was first to fall,
But wounded unto death, beyond recall,
Was he who thus avenged his country’s woes
And brought the reign of Aac to tragic close.
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VII.

  Where flows the river Nile, the Queen found rest;
There once again her days with peace were blest.
Upon that soil where welcome frank was found,
Did Móo a giant Sphinx from out the ground
Cause to arise, and thus Coh’s fame renew?
Did she immortalize her consort true?


As child of Can the natives called her Queen;
Their ancestors Cans’ subjects all had been.
Móo reigned again, and many a year she dwelt
In Chem, the Land of Boats. There too she felt
Her call to liberty, and passed away,
Rejoiced at last the summons to obey.


“Now cometh bliss! the flesh doth loose its hold;
Death’s tender kiss will leave it still and cold.
Upon my weary brow the veil of Night
Descends; my soul leaps forth to joyous flight!
O touch my heart with thy all-healing balm
Oblivion sweet! now lull me in thy calm,”
Móo yearned for this. Then fell upon her ear
A voice—“Blessèd are they who know not fear!
The Heart of Heaven e’er radiates love’s light,
And soul released finds nothing to affright
Save visions false of terror, bred by creeds,
And deep remorse that gnaws at evil deeds.”


Soul stirred, awoke and saw! Herself Móo found.
Was this the law, tho’ not to body bound,
To still live on? What time in nothingness
Had fled? Since she besought unconsciousness
Had ages sped? And now appeared her guide,
Cay, whom long she mourned when he had died.