Where the great green combers break in thunder on the barrier reefs,-- Where, unceasing, sounds the mighty diapason of the deep,-- Ringed in bursts of wild wave-laughter, ringed in leagues of flying foam,-- Long lagoons of softest azure, curving beaches white as snow, Lap in sweetness and in beauty all the isles of Owhyhee. Land more lovely sun ne'er shone on than these isles of Owhyhee, Spendthrift Nature's wild profusion fashioned them like fairy bowers; Yet behind--below the sweetness,--underneath the passion-flowers, Lurked grim deeds, and things of horror, grisly Deaths, and ceaseless Fears, Fears and Deaths that walked in Darkness, grisly Deaths and ceaseless Fears. NOTE.--Kapiolani--pronounced Kah-pee-o-lah-ny, with slight accent on second syllable. Mauna Loa--Mona Lo-ah. Kilauea--Kil-o-ee-ah. Hale-Mau-Mau--Ha-lee-Mah-oo-Mah-oo. On the slope of Mauna Loa, in the pit of Kilauea, In the lake of molten lava, in the sea of living fire, In the place of Ceaseless Burnings, in her home of Wrath and Terror, Dwelt the dreadful goddess Pele--Pele of the Lake of Fire; Pele of the place of torment, Pele of the Lake of Fire. In the dim far-off beginnings, Pele flung the islands up From the bottom of the ocean, from the darksome underworld; Built them for a house to dwell in, built them for herself alone, So she claimed them and their people, claimed them as her very own, And they feared her, and they worshipped-- Pele, the Remorseless One. But, at times, when she lay sleeping, underneath the lake of fire, They forgot to do her reverence, they forgot the fiery one; Then in wrath the goddess thundered from the Lake of Ceaseless Burnings, Flamed and thundered in her anger, till the very skies were red, Poured black ruin on the island, shook it to its rocky bed. Then in fear the people trembled and bethought them of their sins, And the great high priest of Pele came like Death down Mauna Loa, Came to soothe the awful goddess, came to choose the sacrifice, Chose the fairest youth or maiden, pointed with a deadly finger, Led them weeping up the mountain, victims to the Lake of Fire. On the snowy beach of coral, youths and maidens full of laughter, Flower-bedecked and full of laughter, sported gaily in the sun; Up above, the slender palm-trees swung and shivered in the trade-wind, All around them flowers and spices,--red hibiscus, sweet pandanus, And behind, the labouring mountain groaned and growled unceasingly. "_Sea and sunshine, Care is moonshine, All our hearts are light with laughter. We are free As sun and sea, What care we for what comes after?" Bride. "Life was sweet before Love found her, In his faery bowers. Life is sweeter, And completer, Since he found her, There, and crowned her With his fadeless flowers."