AN INDIAN LEGEND. 147 



of any secret power in her simple offering, the hunter ate of the 

 honey, and raising the folded leaf to the lips of his beloved, he 

 bade her share the feast with him. A sweet interchange of 

 love-language now followed, — gentle words almost meaningless, 

 and tender looks far more expressive, until the lovers were in a 

 sort of delirium of joy ; when suddenly a voice was heard as if 

 rising from the earth beneath their feet : 



Now his heart is thine forever, 

 By a bond no hand may sever, 

 In the laurel flowrets lie 

 Dews that dim the human eye, 

 And the honey-bee may sip 

 Sweets that seal the human lip. 



Ere the words had ceased to vibrate in their ears, a strange 

 and terrific change had come upon the maiden. Her feet grew 

 rooted to the earth, her graceful form became attenuated in its 

 fair proportions, the arms which she strove to raise toward her 

 lover, retained their position while they lost all semblance to 

 humanity, and as she bowed her head towards her bosom, her 

 delicate features became as it were blurred by the deep yellow 

 tint which overspread her face. The maiden was lost forever ; 

 and in the place where she had sate appeared the flower which 

 still bears her name. In vain did her lover call upon her ; in 

 vain did he seek to clasp the rapidly changing form of his 

 mistress. A transformation equally frightful was doing its work 

 with him. The tones in which he pronounced her name grew 

 plaintive and querulous, his outstretched arms were clothed 



