1832.] On the Poetry of Madagascar. 95 



He. I love you as the fountain pure, 

 Which yields a sure supply 

 Of that, without whose aid secure 

 My frame would quickly die. 

 She. Ah no ! not so thy love to me, 

 For that, when dirt adheres 

 Which others scornfully may see, 

 Desirable appears. 



Then tell me, &c. 

 He. The lamba* which around I fold 

 To guard life's vital flame, 

 Is that, which, next to thee I hold 

 Most needful to my frame. 

 She. Ah no ! for that when older grown, 

 Disdain'd, thou wilt reject ; 

 And ne'er again will it be known, 

 But lie in long neglect. 



Then tell me, &c. 

 He. I love thee like the luscious taste 

 Of a new honey-comb, 

 , Whose precious fruit is seized with haste, 



And borne in triumph home. 

 She. Ah no ! for there amidst the sweets, 

 Though luscious they be found ; 

 The goodness not unmingled meets, 

 But dregs impure abound. 



Then tell me, &c. 

 He. I love thee as the sov'reign king 

 Of this our native land ; 

 Whose endless praises all can sing, 

 Whose word moves every hand. 

 She. To this, in truth, thy love compare, 

 Whose merely passing by, 

 Rebuking every vulgar stare, 

 Abashes every eye. 

 «»— ^— .— — ^ — — — — ■ — — ~« — »^— — ^ 



IV, On Courtship. 

 Tia nao tahaky n'inona angaha alio ? Tia ko tahaky ny vany hianao. — Tsy 

 tia nao alio izany, fa atao nao famoujy fo raha noana. Tia nao tahaky n'inena 

 angaha alio ? — Tia ko tahaky ny rano hianao. — Tsy tia nao izany aho fa atao nad 

 fitia momba tseroka. Tia nao tahaky n'inona ary aho ? Tia ko tahaky ny lamba 

 hianao. — Tsy tia nao aho izany fa raha tonta afindra nao ka tsy tsaroa 'nao 

 intsony. Tia nao tahaky n'inona angaha alio ? Tia ko tahaky ny tantely hianao. 

 Tsy nia nao aho izany, fa misy faikana. Tia nao tahaky n'inona angaha aho ? 

 Tia ko tahaky ny Andriamanjaka hianao. Tia nao tokoa aho izany, mandalo, 

 mahamena' maso niijery, mahamenatra : — Tia nao takoa aho izany, fa tapi'java* 

 nirina aho, tapi' Java' naleha. — Tia ko tahaky ny kiaky sy neny hianao : velena, 

 iray trano ; — maty, iray hazo. 



* The garment which a Malagasy wraps round his body, and which constitutes 

 his only clothing, except what is wrapped round the loins j and without which he 

 is called naked. 



