92 



On the Poetry of Madagascar. 



[March, 



At Farahantsana next abide : 



The people there with noisy long guns fire,* 



And cannons, longer, and still more noisy : 



Spitting the frothy foam and rising phlegm 



Writhing in restless agony and painf 



Let each unwept forsake his best beloved'. 



For all partake the bitter curse. J 



III. Paraphrase of a poem called Ny Momba, or the Barren. By the same Author. 



1 To thee who dost all childless live, 



Thou barren, this advice I give ; 

 ' In place secure thy wealth with foresight lay ;' 

 For then a thousand tongues thoult find to say, 

 " Kind father, dearest mother, thou to me :" 

 No space their coming stays, 

 No rugged road delays. 

 But if thou pine in wretched poverty ; 

 Not thine gay robes to wear, 

 No flattery soothes thine ear, 

 No prattling babes entwine, 

 No equal portion thine. 



Izahay re dia handeha 

 Ka tonga tany Ifarahantsana 

 Ka ny ao mepoa' basy lava 

 Ny ao mipoa' tafondro lava 



III. 



1 Izany Rakala momba, 



Tehirizo trara ny harena ; 



Fa raha misy ireny, 

 Atao nyhoe, ikiaky nao, ineny; 



Tsy mahalavitra ny tany, 



Tsy mahasasa' mandeha, 

 Fa raha tsy manana ireny, 



Lany haingio, 



Lany laingia, 



Lany zanaka. 



Lany zara. 



Mitsipidrora mivalana 

 Mamoizany mana' malala 

 Fa samy efa nozoi'ny. 



Ny Momba. 

 2 



Momla lany havena, 

 Ny maso no apitrapitra ; 

 Tsy misy havan' kamangy, 

 Tsy misy zaza hitomany. 

 Noana, tsy manan' kangatahana • 

 Voky, tsy manan' kotolorana ; 



Marary, tsy manan' 'kitsabo, 

 Sasatra, tsy manan' kitsetra. 

 Eny Ramomba, 

 Maty, tsy manan* kitomany. 



* Literally true of the Sakalava enemy, and figuratively of the water-fall 

 Ifarahantsana. 



t Under the figure of the dashing of the water, alluding to the death of soldiers 

 through war, fever, and famine. 



J Every family has lost some relations in the devastating wars, and all must 

 submit without repining. 



