1832.] 



On the Poetry of Madagascar. 



91 



The following is the translation of another Ode by the same author. 



II. The Great River. 

 Yonder AmbaniAla's* streams go forth, 

 Ambohidrap^tof to the north extends, 

 To the northward also Amb6hitrimanjaka; 

 X " Guide well thy winding course, 

 Nor kill the people's sons with heedless might. 

 Too full, thou'rt like an ill-cut cloak, 

 Smothering the head it should set off. 

 Dried up, thou'rt like an insufficient dress, 

 Leaving the breast and arms naked. 

 And thus from day to day 

 Thou rollest onwards continually. 

 Soon at Iki'opa are thy waters found ; 

 Iki'opa renowned through the world, 

 Devouring all, yet still unsatiated||, 

 Lab'ring ever, and still thy work unaccomplished; 

 Ambohiboanjo from thy bank not far, 

 And southward Soavinimerina ; 

 Behold Antanta abounding in eels, 

 § From whence murmuring sounds are heard ; 

 The soldier here casts round his wandering eye 

 Thinking of distant friends. 

 Here thou art in jeopardy, new-wedded bride, 

 Should a dispute arise towards the evening ; 

 For caprice controls the unsettled heart. 

 Discarded, thou wilt soon retrace thy steps ! 

 But we again pursue the river's course 



Indro ny rano Ambaniala 

 Avaratr' Ambohidrapeto 

 Avaratr' Ambohitrimanjaka 

 Mahaiza mandeha 

 Mahaiza niizotra 

 Aza mamono zana' bahoaka 

 Tondraka, toa misaron' doha 

 Ritra, toa manao sikimbalaka 

 Ka ny azy re toetr' andro ny 

 Ka mivalambalan' indray 

 Koa man kany Ikiopa 



II. Anonibe. 



Ikiopa rano malaza 

 Homambe fa tsy voky 

 Mivalambalan' indray 

 Mivalana dia any Ambohiboanjo 

 Any atsimo ny Soavinimerina 

 Indro koa re any Antonta 

 Ka migodongodom' piteny 

 Mahita anay lavi'kavana 

 Miady, mena masoandro 

 Ka tsy fantatr' ompanavao 

 Tsy vatra n'olona tsy honina 



* This and others are names of villages lying far above the banks of the river. 



f The whole beauty of the poem lies in a hidden allusion running through it to 

 the kingdom ; here perhaps is an admonition to the sovereign. 



X All other streams run into Ikiopa. 



§ That is, the sound of the distant waterfall, and by allusion, the repining of 

 the soldiers going to war. 



N 2 



