Page:Queen Moo's talisman; the fall of the Maya empire (IA queenmoostalisma00leplrich).djvu/58

'Neath holy Ceiba tree, upon the ground,
Struck down by one unknown, Coh had been found.
Whence came the treacherous foe? From foreign land?
Beloved by all was Coh—Whose then the hand?
With brother's blood would Aac himself imbrue?
This thought in vain she struggled to subdue.
"I rave!" she cried; her mind with doubt was torn;
Those brothers royal were from one womb born.
"O wretched man! O cruel, monstrous fate!
Our Prince was sacrificed to mortal hate!
Unarmed was he when came the stealthy foe
Behind, to strike unseen the vengeful blow.
Thrice stabbed, Coh reeled and fell. Then turned to flee
His slayer, who rejoiced alive and free!"

With passion's anguish riven, loud she moaned—
Could she forgive? Must this crime be condoned?
A deed so foul by her own brother base—
What act could e'er such deep-set blot efface?
For brother-consort by a brother slain
Must she herself with bloody vengeance stain?

To dark despair the Queen bereft gave way,
Nor heeded anyone who tried to stay
Her grief, until the Pontiff Cay came—
Successor to the Sage who'd borne that name.
Alone with Móo he groaned, "'Tis Aac I see!
His life is ours to take; but this would be