Chapter 4
chapter four of irasema the honey lips a legend of brazil by jos de alencar translated by isabel burton this libravox recording is in the public domain chapter four the paget shook the maraca rattle and left the cabin but the stranger remained not alone irasema returned with the maidens summoned to serve the guests of araquen and the warriors who came to obey him may happiness rock the white warrior's hammock during the night and may the sun bring light to his eyes and joy to his soul thus saying irasema's lip trembled and the tears stood in her eye thou leavest me then asked martin the most beautiful virgins of the great taba remain with the warrior the daughter of araken was mistaken in bringing them here for the guest of the paget irasema may not wait upon the stranger it is she who guards the secret of the jurema and the mystery of dreams her hand prepares for the paget the drink of tupin
the christian warrior crossed the wigwam and disappeared in the darkness the great village lay in the bottom of the valley which was illuminated by bonfires loud rattled the maracas the savages were dancing and beating time to their slow surging of the savage song the inspired pajé headed the sacred rejoicing and taught to the believers the secrets of tupan the principal chief of the tabajada nation irapuan had descended from the highest point of the biapaba serra to lead the inland tribes against the pitiguara foe the warriors of the valley celebrate the arrival of the chief and the coming fight the christian youth saw from afar the glare of the feast-fire and walked on gazing at the deep blue cloudish sky the dead star glittered upon the dome of the forest and guided his firm step towards the fresh banks of the acaraou when he crossed the valley as if about to enter the forest the figure of irasema arose before him the virgin had followed the stranger like the soft and subtle breeze which passes through the tangled wood without stirring a leaf
wherefore she murmured has the stranger left the wigwam of hospitality without taking with him the gift of return who harmed the pale-faced warrior in the land of the tabajadas the christian felt the justice of her complaint and his own ingratitude daughter of aracain no one hurt thy guest it was a longing to see his friends which made him leave the prairies of the tabajadas he did not take the return gift but he carries in his heart the memory of irasema if the memory of irasema dwelt in the heart of the stranger it would not suffer him to depart the wind blows not away the sand of the desert when the sand has drank deep of the waters of rain and the virgin side the pale-faced warrior should wait till kalbi returns from hunting the brother of irasema has quick ears he can hear the boisininga amidst all the noises of the forest he has the eyes of the oichibo which sees best in the dark caubi will guide him to the banks of the river of the herons how long will it be before the brother of irasema returns to the wigwam of araquen the rising sun will bring the warrior caubi to the plains of the ipu thy guest will wait daughter of araquen
but if the returning sun bring not the brother of irasema it will take the pale-faced warrior to the taba of the pitiguaras and martin returned to the cabin of the pagay the white hammock perfumed by irasema with bejoin gave the guest a calm and sweet sleep the christian was lullabied to sleep by the murmurs of the forest and the low tender song of the indian maid chapter four
