 Americas: Vol. XXX.  1876–79. South America: Guiana Sir Walter
Raleigh Charlotte Fiske Bates (1838–1916) In 1617  GUIANA’S
opulence of bloom and fruit, Its clustering pyramids of solid
rock, Its cataracts’ might and beauty of cascade, Its glimpses
of sierras meeting heaven, The wonders of its forests and its
streams,—        5 All these Sir Walter’s eyes had looked upon
Full twenty years before. His vivid pen Had pictured this great
kingdom, far and fair, When in his noon of power;—this is his
night. There wait no more his queen’s all-pardoning
smiles,        10 But a dark sentence and a fatal frown, Since
promised gold he cannot win for James; If aught there be—safe in
Spain’s iron clutch, No chance remains of wrenching it away. The
poor discoverer knows, alas! too well        15 That gold alone
can lengthen out the glow Of life’s fast narrowing day,—that
gold alone Can light the hard, cold face of Tyranny; Yet, lo!
gray, worn, and desolate, he turns— With Disappointment only,
and a crew        20 In whose