NOTICES OF PERU. 



305 



Come forth, come forth, my maidens, and slumber not away 



The blessed, blessed morning of St. John the Baptist's day ; 



There's trefoil on the meadows, and lilies on the lea. 



And hawthorn blossoms on the bush, which you must pluck with me. 



Come forth, come forth, &c. 



Come forth, come forth, my maidens, the air is calm and cool. 

 And the violet blue far down ye'll view, reflected in the pool ; 

 The violets and the roses, and the jasmines all together, 

 We'll bind in garlands on the brow of the strong and lovely wether. 



Come forth, come forth, &c. 



Come forth, come forth, my maidens, we'll gather myrtle boughs. 

 And we all shall learn, from the dews of the fern, if our lads will keep 

 their vows : 



If the wether be still, as we dance on the hill, and the dew hangs sweet 

 on the flowers. 



Then we'll kiss off the dew, for our lovers are true, and the Baptist's 

 blessing is ours. 



Come forth, come forth, my maidens, 'tis the eve of good St. John, 



It is the Baptist's morning that breaks the hills upon ; 



And let us all go forth together, while the blessed day is new. 



To dress with flowers the snow-white wether, ere the sun has dried the dew.* 



CHAPTER XIV. 



Dia de Santa Rosa — Birth-day customs — Life of Santa Rosa. 



The 30th of August is kept as a festival of the first order in 

 Lima, in honor of Santa Rosa, the patroness of the Indies. At 

 the corners of the plaza were erected temporary altars of saints, 

 dressed gayly and richly ; and from the balconies in the streets 

 through which the procession passed, were hung large ban- 

 ners of silk and satin, beautifully embroidered in gold, or 



. * Every Day Book — 24th June. 

 39 



