BALLADS

THE SONG OF RAHÉRO

TO ORI A ORI.

Ori, my brother in the island mode,

In every tongue and meaning much my friend,

This story of your country and your clan,

In your loved house, your too much honoured guest,

I made in English. Take it, being done;
And let me sign it with the name you gave.

TERIITERA.

THE SONG OF RAHÉRO:

A LEGEND OF TAHITI

I. THE SLAYING OF TÁMATÉA

T fell in the days of old, as the men of Taiárapu tell, A youth went forth to the fishing, and fortune favoured him well.

Támatéa his name: gullible, simple, and kind,
Comely of countenance, nimble of body, empty of mind,
His mother ruled him and loved him beyond the wont
of a wife,

Serving the lad for eyes and living herself in his life.

Alone from the sea and the fishing came Tâmatéa the fair,

Urging his boat to the beach, and the mother awaited him there,

-"Long may you live!" said she. "Your fishing has sped to a wish.

And now let us choose for the king the fairest of all 10 your fish.

For fear inhabits the palace and grudging grows in the

land,

Marked is the sluggardly foot and marked the niggardly

hand,