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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Ballads by Robert Louis Stevenson: And on all the men of Vaiau imprecate instant death;
And tempt her kings - for Vaiau was a rich and prosperous land,
And flatter - for who would attempt it but warriors mighty of hand?
And change in a breath again and rise in a strain of song,
Invoking the beaten drums, beholding the fall of the strong,
Calling the fowls of the air to come and feast on the dead.
And they held the chin in silence, and heard her, and shook the head;
For they knew the men of Taiarapu famous in battle and feast,
Marvellous eaters and smiters: the men of Vaiau not least.
To the land of the Namunu-ura, (10) to Paea, at length she came,
To men who were foes to the Tevas and hated their race and name.
Ballads |
