ILLUSTRATIONS (12). PARXOT OF ATURES. 189 



charming poem by my friend Professor Ernst Curtius, the tutor 

 of the promising young Prince Friedrick Wilhelm of Prussia. 

 The author will forgive me for closing the present section of 

 the " Views of Nature" with this poem, which was not de- 

 signed for publication, and was communicated to me by 

 letter. 



THE PARROT OF ATURES. 



Where, through deserts wild and dreary, 



Orinoco dashes on, 

 Sits a Parrot old and weary, 



Like a sculptured thing of stone. 



Through its rocky barriers flowing, 

 Onward rolls the foaming stream ; 



Waving palms on high are glowing 

 In the sun's meridian beam. 



Ceaselessly the waves are heaving, 



Sparkling up in antic play; 

 While the sunny rays are weaving 



Rainbows in the feathery spray. 



Where yon billows wild are breaking, 



Sleeps a tribe tor evermore, 

 Who, their native land forsaking, 



Refuge sought 011 this lone shore. 



As they lived, free, dauntless ever, 



So the brave Aturians died; 

 And the green banks of the river 



All their mortal relics hide. 



Yet the Parrot, ne'er forgetting 



Those who loved him, mourns them still; 

 On the stone his sharp beak whetting, 



While the air his wailings fill. 



Where are now the youths who bred him, 

 To pronounce their mother tongue, 



Where the gentle maids who fed him, 

 And who built his nest when young? 



