The Austral edition of the selected works of Marcus Clarke, together with a biography and monograph of the deceased author / compiled and edited by Hamilton Mackinnon.

  • Kell, Derwent
Date:
1890
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Austral edition of the selected works of Marcus Clarke, together with a biography and monograph of the deceased author / compiled and edited by Hamilton Mackinnon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    536/558 (page 494)
    THE SONG OF TIGILAU. Tigilau le alo o Tui Viti. Tigilau the son of Tui Viti. [The following is an attempt to paraphrase a legend of Samoa, remarkable inasmuch as it gives evidence of direct intercourse between Samoa and Fiji, and shows by the use of the term “ Tui Viti,” that a king once reigned over all Fiji. The singularly poetic and rythmical original will be found in a paper contributed by Mr. Pritchard, F.A.S.L., &c., to the Anthropological Society of London.] '^HE song of Tigilau the brave, Sina’s wild lover, Who across the heaving wave From Samoa came over : Came over, Sina, at the setting moon ! The moon shines round and bright ; She, with her dark-eyed maidens at her side, Watches the rising tide. While balmy breathes the starry southern night. While languid heaves the lazy southern tide ; The rising tide, O Sina, and the setting moon ! The night is past, is past and gone. The moon sinks to the west. The sea-heart beats opprest. And Sina’s passionate breast Heaves like the sea, when the pale moon has gone. Heaves like the passionate sea, Sina, left by the moon alone ! Silver on silver sands, the rippling waters meet— Will he come soon ? The rippling waters kiss her delicate feet. The rippling waters, lisping low and sweet. Ripple with the tide. The rising tide. The rising tide, O Sina, and the setting moon ! He comes ! —her lover ! Tigilau, the son of Tui Viti. Her maidens round her hover. The rising waves her white feet cover. O Tigilau, son of Tui Viti, Through the mellow dusk thy proas glide. So soon ! So soon by the rising tide, The rising tide, my Sina, and the setting moon