Page:A New Zealand verse (1906).pdf/167

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The Coming of Te Rauparaha.
131
Lo, a sudden rumour from the edgesOf the silent concourse, where the humblestOf the village couched in utter baseness—There among the outcasts one leapt upright,Clean-limbed, straight and comely as a sunbeam,Eager muscles clad in tawny velvet,Eyes aflash with prescience of his power,Yet a boy, untried in warriors’ warfare,
Virgin to the battle! And untroubledRang a daring voice across the darkness,“Yes, my people, one there is to lead you;I dare point you on to fame and victory,I dare tread where Hipe’s feet have trodden.Yea,” and prouder rang the voice above them,“I can promise mightier fame unending;I shall lead where Hipe dared not tempt you;I shall make new footprints through the future—I, the youth Te Rauparaha, have spoken!”
On the boy who braved them stormed the people,Swept with fear and anger, and they clamoured,“Who so proudly speaks, though not a chieftain?Rank and name and fame he has none; how thenDare he lead when sons of chieftains falter!”
But the boy leapt forward to the whare,Clean-limbed, straight and comely as a sunbeam,Eager muscles clad in tawny velvet,Eyes aflash with prescience of his power,Swinging high the mere he had fashionedOut of wood, and carven like a chieftain’s—Ay, and with the toy had slain a foeman!Flinging fiery speech out like a hailstorm,
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