CANTO EIGHTH.

[Scene.The New Home in Seekonk’s Mead.]

ThroughSeekonk’s groves the morning sun once moreFlames in his glory. Waving verdant gold,The boundless forest stands. Wild songsters pour,From every dewy glade and tufted wold,The melody of joy. From shore to shoreThe tranquil waters dream, and soul-like holdA mirrored world below of softest hue,With underhanging vault of cloudless blue.

ThroughSeekonk’s groves the morning sun once more

Flames in his glory. Waving verdant gold,

The boundless forest stands. Wild songsters pour,

From every dewy glade and tufted wold,

The melody of joy. From shore to shore

The tranquil waters dream, and soul-like hold

A mirrored world below of softest hue,

With underhanging vault of cloudless blue.

II.And Williams issued from his humble cot,Not as of late in solitary mood,With cheerless heart and ill-foreboding thought,But with light step and breast of quietude;And by him came the partner of his lot,And their young children, with blithe interludeOf prattling speech, softening the graver talkOf the fond parents in their morning walk.

II.

And Williams issued from his humble cot,Not as of late in solitary mood,With cheerless heart and ill-foreboding thought,But with light step and breast of quietude;And by him came the partner of his lot,And their young children, with blithe interludeOf prattling speech, softening the graver talkOf the fond parents in their morning walk.

And Williams issued from his humble cot,

Not as of late in solitary mood,

With cheerless heart and ill-foreboding thought,

But with light step and breast of quietude;

And by him came the partner of his lot,

And their young children, with blithe interlude

Of prattling speech, softening the graver talk

Of the fond parents in their morning walk.

III.In sooth his buoyant spirits seemed to spreadO’er all about him their enlivening flush;Ne’er was the grass so verdant on the glade,Ne’er did the fountain sparkle with such gush;Ne’er had the stream such lovely music made,Ne’er sang so blithe the robin on the bush;The woodland flowers far brighter hues displayed,More sunny was the lawn, more dark the shade.

III.

In sooth his buoyant spirits seemed to spreadO’er all about him their enlivening flush;Ne’er was the grass so verdant on the glade,Ne’er did the fountain sparkle with such gush;Ne’er had the stream such lovely music made,Ne’er sang so blithe the robin on the bush;The woodland flowers far brighter hues displayed,More sunny was the lawn, more dark the shade.

In sooth his buoyant spirits seemed to spread

O’er all about him their enlivening flush;

Ne’er was the grass so verdant on the glade,

Ne’er did the fountain sparkle with such gush;

Ne’er had the stream such lovely music made,

Ne’er sang so blithe the robin on the bush;

The woodland flowers far brighter hues displayed,

More sunny was the lawn, more dark the shade.

IV.They walked and talked; he told his trials o’er;And often Mary brushed aside the tear,And oft they joined to thank kind Heaven once more,That thus his sufferings were rewarded here;Then they would sit beneath the fountain’s bower,And woo the breeze, or smiling bend the earTo childly mirth, which, in its silver tone,Soothed the rude wilds with music erst unknown.

IV.

They walked and talked; he told his trials o’er;And often Mary brushed aside the tear,And oft they joined to thank kind Heaven once more,That thus his sufferings were rewarded here;Then they would sit beneath the fountain’s bower,And woo the breeze, or smiling bend the earTo childly mirth, which, in its silver tone,Soothed the rude wilds with music erst unknown.

They walked and talked; he told his trials o’er;

And often Mary brushed aside the tear,

And oft they joined to thank kind Heaven once more,

That thus his sufferings were rewarded here;

Then they would sit beneath the fountain’s bower,

And woo the breeze, or smiling bend the ear

To childly mirth, which, in its silver tone,

Soothed the rude wilds with music erst unknown.

V.And all was happiness,—securityIn blest seclusion. The rude storm seemed past,The bow of promise spanned their life’s new sky;No threatening cloud their prospects overcast,—No shadow lowered; but Heaven with gracious eyeLooked smiling down and blest their toils at last.Their Salem friends to join them soon will try,—That they’re not here is all that brings a sigh.

And all was happiness,—securityIn blest seclusion. The rude storm seemed past,The bow of promise spanned their life’s new sky;No threatening cloud their prospects overcast,—No shadow lowered; but Heaven with gracious eyeLooked smiling down and blest their toils at last.Their Salem friends to join them soon will try,—That they’re not here is all that brings a sigh.

And all was happiness,—security

In blest seclusion. The rude storm seemed past,

The bow of promise spanned their life’s new sky;

No threatening cloud their prospects overcast,—

No shadow lowered; but Heaven with gracious eye

Looked smiling down and blest their toils at last.

Their Salem friends to join them soon will try,—

That they’re not here is all that brings a sigh.

VI.Thus for a time did they anticipateThe bliss which Heaven for pilgrims has in store,When their freed souls review their former state,And bygone pains enhance their joys the more;But yet one lingering fear of frowning fate,Our Founder’s bosom lightly brooded o’er—No Indian throng, as promised by the seer,Had bid them welcome with Whatcheer! Whatcheer!

VI.

Thus for a time did they anticipateThe bliss which Heaven for pilgrims has in store,When their freed souls review their former state,And bygone pains enhance their joys the more;But yet one lingering fear of frowning fate,Our Founder’s bosom lightly brooded o’er—No Indian throng, as promised by the seer,Had bid them welcome with Whatcheer! Whatcheer!

Thus for a time did they anticipate

The bliss which Heaven for pilgrims has in store,

When their freed souls review their former state,

And bygone pains enhance their joys the more;

But yet one lingering fear of frowning fate,

Our Founder’s bosom lightly brooded o’er—

No Indian throng, as promised by the seer,

Had bid them welcome with Whatcheer! Whatcheer!

VII.But let it pass;—perchance it was a dream;His thoughts seemed wandering or disturbed at best,When stood or seemed to stand, in doubtful gleam,That form scarce earthly, and his ears addrest;—Ay, let it pass—for ill would it beseemSo staid a man to be at all deprestBy visionary fears or superstitious dread,Whilst Heaven is showering mercies on his head.

VII.

But let it pass;—perchance it was a dream;His thoughts seemed wandering or disturbed at best,When stood or seemed to stand, in doubtful gleam,That form scarce earthly, and his ears addrest;—Ay, let it pass—for ill would it beseemSo staid a man to be at all deprestBy visionary fears or superstitious dread,Whilst Heaven is showering mercies on his head.

But let it pass;—perchance it was a dream;

His thoughts seemed wandering or disturbed at best,

When stood or seemed to stand, in doubtful gleam,

That form scarce earthly, and his ears addrest;—

Ay, let it pass—for ill would it beseem

So staid a man to be at all deprest

By visionary fears or superstitious dread,

Whilst Heaven is showering mercies on his head.

VIII.“Waban,” he said, “a generous feast prepare,We can be cheerful, and yet not be mad;The good man’s smiles may be a praise or prayer;The wicked only should be very sad.God feeds the birds, my Mary, in the air,—Hear how they thank Him with their voices glad.The heart of man should nearer kindred own,Joy in his smiles and sorrow in his frown.”

VIII.

“Waban,” he said, “a generous feast prepare,We can be cheerful, and yet not be mad;The good man’s smiles may be a praise or prayer;The wicked only should be very sad.God feeds the birds, my Mary, in the air,—Hear how they thank Him with their voices glad.The heart of man should nearer kindred own,Joy in his smiles and sorrow in his frown.”

“Waban,” he said, “a generous feast prepare,

We can be cheerful, and yet not be mad;

The good man’s smiles may be a praise or prayer;

The wicked only should be very sad.

God feeds the birds, my Mary, in the air,—

Hear how they thank Him with their voices glad.

The heart of man should nearer kindred own,

Joy in his smiles and sorrow in his frown.”

IX.Then forth fared Waban to the winding shore,And quickly laid its shelly treasure bare,Nor failed the woody dingles to explore,And trap the partridge or the nimble hare;And soon beneath a beech, beside the door,On marshalled stones the blazing fagots are;And when with heat the pristine oven glows,Waban his tribute gives, and covers close.

IX.

Then forth fared Waban to the winding shore,And quickly laid its shelly treasure bare,Nor failed the woody dingles to explore,And trap the partridge or the nimble hare;And soon beneath a beech, beside the door,On marshalled stones the blazing fagots are;And when with heat the pristine oven glows,Waban his tribute gives, and covers close.

Then forth fared Waban to the winding shore,

And quickly laid its shelly treasure bare,

Nor failed the woody dingles to explore,

And trap the partridge or the nimble hare;

And soon beneath a beech, beside the door,

On marshalled stones the blazing fagots are;

And when with heat the pristine oven glows,

Waban his tribute gives, and covers close.

X.Meanwhile our Founder went from place to place,And did each plan of village grandeur name;This rising mound the future church should grace,Yon little dell the village school should claim;That sloping lawn the council hall should base,Where freemen’s voices should the law proclaim,And ne’er to bigot yield the civil rod,But save the Church by leaving her to God.

Meanwhile our Founder went from place to place,And did each plan of village grandeur name;This rising mound the future church should grace,Yon little dell the village school should claim;That sloping lawn the council hall should base,Where freemen’s voices should the law proclaim,And ne’er to bigot yield the civil rod,But save the Church by leaving her to God.

Meanwhile our Founder went from place to place,

And did each plan of village grandeur name;

This rising mound the future church should grace,

Yon little dell the village school should claim;

That sloping lawn the council hall should base,

Where freemen’s voices should the law proclaim,

And ne’er to bigot yield the civil rod,

But save the Church by leaving her to God.

XI.So pass the hours, till westward through the skiesThe sun begins to turn, and, savory grown,From Waban’s ready feast the vapors rise;The group beneath the beech then sit them down;“Thou kind and generous man,” our Founder cries,“Our brave defender! thy complexion brownBars not thy presence;—sit thou at the board,—Of these bright lands God made thy kind the lord.

XI.

So pass the hours, till westward through the skiesThe sun begins to turn, and, savory grown,From Waban’s ready feast the vapors rise;The group beneath the beech then sit them down;“Thou kind and generous man,” our Founder cries,“Our brave defender! thy complexion brownBars not thy presence;—sit thou at the board,—Of these bright lands God made thy kind the lord.

So pass the hours, till westward through the skies

The sun begins to turn, and, savory grown,

From Waban’s ready feast the vapors rise;

The group beneath the beech then sit them down;

“Thou kind and generous man,” our Founder cries,

“Our brave defender! thy complexion brown

Bars not thy presence;—sit thou at the board,—

Of these bright lands God made thy kind the lord.

XII.“My valliant warrior like a Keenomp fought,And Chepian’s priest before his valor fell!But his white Sachem in the battle wroughtToo little for a chief he loves so well.”“The dog—the dog! that had the children caught,”Exclaimed the red man, “does his valor tell;A manit-dog he was, for well he knewWhate’er the priest of Chepian bade him do.

XII.

“My valliant warrior like a Keenomp fought,And Chepian’s priest before his valor fell!But his white Sachem in the battle wroughtToo little for a chief he loves so well.”“The dog—the dog! that had the children caught,”Exclaimed the red man, “does his valor tell;A manit-dog he was, for well he knewWhate’er the priest of Chepian bade him do.

“My valliant warrior like a Keenomp fought,

And Chepian’s priest before his valor fell!

But his white Sachem in the battle wrought

Too little for a chief he loves so well.”

“The dog—the dog! that had the children caught,”

Exclaimed the red man, “does his valor tell;

A manit-dog he was, for well he knew

Whate’er the priest of Chepian bade him do.

XIII.“The priest of Chepian and his comrade cameTo fight the white man and his warrior brave;The fox-eared demon sought for other game,And went to filch it from the rocky cave;My Sachem white a manittoo o’ercame,To demon dark a fatal wound he gave;Brave is my Sachem, for he nobly slewWhat Waban dreaded most,—that fearful manittoo!”

XIII.

“The priest of Chepian and his comrade cameTo fight the white man and his warrior brave;The fox-eared demon sought for other game,And went to filch it from the rocky cave;My Sachem white a manittoo o’ercame,To demon dark a fatal wound he gave;Brave is my Sachem, for he nobly slewWhat Waban dreaded most,—that fearful manittoo!”

“The priest of Chepian and his comrade came

To fight the white man and his warrior brave;

The fox-eared demon sought for other game,

And went to filch it from the rocky cave;

My Sachem white a manittoo o’ercame,

To demon dark a fatal wound he gave;

Brave is my Sachem, for he nobly slew

What Waban dreaded most,—that fearful manittoo!”

XIV.“Brother,” said Williams, “under Power Divine,That shields the just man in dark peril’s hour,Thine was the victory, and the glory thineTo quell Apollyon’s priest—a demon’s power!Henceforth the demon must his lands resign,And thou must be Mooshausick’s Sagamore,The right of conquest will do very well,When Hell assails us, and we conquer Hell.

XIV.

“Brother,” said Williams, “under Power Divine,That shields the just man in dark peril’s hour,Thine was the victory, and the glory thineTo quell Apollyon’s priest—a demon’s power!Henceforth the demon must his lands resign,And thou must be Mooshausick’s Sagamore,The right of conquest will do very well,When Hell assails us, and we conquer Hell.

“Brother,” said Williams, “under Power Divine,

That shields the just man in dark peril’s hour,

Thine was the victory, and the glory thine

To quell Apollyon’s priest—a demon’s power!

Henceforth the demon must his lands resign,

And thou must be Mooshausick’s Sagamore,

The right of conquest will do very well,

When Hell assails us, and we conquer Hell.

XV.“But might the choice of either blameless go,Mary! these fruits of suffering and of toils,And racking cares through fourteen weeks of woe,I’d prize far higher than the reeking spoilsOf all the nations laid by Cæsar low,When he, the victor in Rome’s civil broils,Sate, like the Jove he worshipped, o’er a worldWhose crowns were offered, and whose incense curled.

XV.

“But might the choice of either blameless go,Mary! these fruits of suffering and of toils,And racking cares through fourteen weeks of woe,I’d prize far higher than the reeking spoilsOf all the nations laid by Cæsar low,When he, the victor in Rome’s civil broils,Sate, like the Jove he worshipped, o’er a worldWhose crowns were offered, and whose incense curled.

“But might the choice of either blameless go,

Mary! these fruits of suffering and of toils,

And racking cares through fourteen weeks of woe,

I’d prize far higher than the reeking spoils

Of all the nations laid by Cæsar low,

When he, the victor in Rome’s civil broils,

Sate, like the Jove he worshipped, o’er a world

Whose crowns were offered, and whose incense curled.

XVI.“And there is cause, I trow.—Who cannot seeThat a dark cloud o’er our New England lowers?The tender conscience struggles to be free;The tyrant struggles, and retains his powers.O, whither shall the hapless victims flee,Where be their shelter when the tempest roars?May it be here—may it be Heaven’s decree,To make its builder of a worm like me.”

XVI.

“And there is cause, I trow.—Who cannot seeThat a dark cloud o’er our New England lowers?The tender conscience struggles to be free;The tyrant struggles, and retains his powers.O, whither shall the hapless victims flee,Where be their shelter when the tempest roars?May it be here—may it be Heaven’s decree,To make its builder of a worm like me.”

“And there is cause, I trow.—Who cannot see

That a dark cloud o’er our New England lowers?

The tender conscience struggles to be free;

The tyrant struggles, and retains his powers.

O, whither shall the hapless victims flee,

Where be their shelter when the tempest roars?

May it be here—may it be Heaven’s decree,

To make its builder of a worm like me.”

XVII.While thus he spake, the neighboring thickets shook,And from them issued one of mien austere;And Williams knew a Plymouth elder’s look,In doctrines stern—in practice most severe;His gait was slow, and loath he seemed to brookSuch signs of comfort and of earthly cheer;And up he came, they scarce could reason why,Like a dark cloud along a cheerful sky.

XVII.

While thus he spake, the neighboring thickets shook,And from them issued one of mien austere;And Williams knew a Plymouth elder’s look,In doctrines stern—in practice most severe;His gait was slow, and loath he seemed to brookSuch signs of comfort and of earthly cheer;And up he came, they scarce could reason why,Like a dark cloud along a cheerful sky.

While thus he spake, the neighboring thickets shook,

And from them issued one of mien austere;

And Williams knew a Plymouth elder’s look,

In doctrines stern—in practice most severe;

His gait was slow, and loath he seemed to brook

Such signs of comfort and of earthly cheer;

And up he came, they scarce could reason why,

Like a dark cloud along a cheerful sky.

XVIII.The gloom that gathered o’er our Father’s breast,He strove with heavy effort to dispel;“Elder!” he said, “thou art an honored guest;To see our ancient friends should please us well;Thy journey long must give the banquet zest;Come and partake our sylvan meal, and tellThe while what word or tidings thou mayst bearFrom Plymouth’s rulers and our brethren there.”

XVIII.

The gloom that gathered o’er our Father’s breast,He strove with heavy effort to dispel;“Elder!” he said, “thou art an honored guest;To see our ancient friends should please us well;Thy journey long must give the banquet zest;Come and partake our sylvan meal, and tellThe while what word or tidings thou mayst bearFrom Plymouth’s rulers and our brethren there.”

The gloom that gathered o’er our Father’s breast,

He strove with heavy effort to dispel;

“Elder!” he said, “thou art an honored guest;

To see our ancient friends should please us well;

Thy journey long must give the banquet zest;

Come and partake our sylvan meal, and tell

The while what word or tidings thou mayst bear

From Plymouth’s rulers and our brethren there.”

XIX.“Williams,” he said, “I need no food of thine—The wilds I thread not without store my own;But I would fain beneath that roof reclineTo-night, and rest my limbs till morn be shown;—And there this eve some reasoning, I opine,(For all may err,) a weighty theme upon,May not be deemed amiss.—Perchance a lightWill on thee break and set thy feet aright.”

XIX.

“Williams,” he said, “I need no food of thine—The wilds I thread not without store my own;But I would fain beneath that roof reclineTo-night, and rest my limbs till morn be shown;—And there this eve some reasoning, I opine,(For all may err,) a weighty theme upon,May not be deemed amiss.—Perchance a lightWill on thee break and set thy feet aright.”

“Williams,” he said, “I need no food of thine—

The wilds I thread not without store my own;

But I would fain beneath that roof recline

To-night, and rest my limbs till morn be shown;—

And there this eve some reasoning, I opine,

(For all may err,) a weighty theme upon,

May not be deemed amiss.—Perchance a light

Will on thee break and set thy feet aright.”

XX.“Elder, whatever themes,” our Founder said,“My scant attainments fit me to essay,Shall not avoidance have from any dreadThat thy strict logic may my faults betray;That ‘all may err,’ means that our friends have strayed,And not that we have wandered from the way;It is a maxim to perversion grown,And points to others’ faults to hide our own.

XX.

“Elder, whatever themes,” our Founder said,“My scant attainments fit me to essay,Shall not avoidance have from any dreadThat thy strict logic may my faults betray;That ‘all may err,’ means that our friends have strayed,And not that we have wandered from the way;It is a maxim to perversion grown,And points to others’ faults to hide our own.

“Elder, whatever themes,” our Founder said,

“My scant attainments fit me to essay,

Shall not avoidance have from any dread

That thy strict logic may my faults betray;

That ‘all may err,’ means that our friends have strayed,

And not that we have wandered from the way;

It is a maxim to perversion grown,

And points to others’ faults to hide our own.

XXI.“But as my Plymouth visitor requests,We’ll seek that cottage; I have called it mine,These hands have built it; but all friendly guestsMay call it theirs, and, Elder, it is thineWhile thou sojournest here. Whoever restsBeneath its roof may not expect a fine,A dungeon, scourge, or even banishment,For heresy avowed, or doubted sentiment.”

XXI.

“But as my Plymouth visitor requests,We’ll seek that cottage; I have called it mine,These hands have built it; but all friendly guestsMay call it theirs, and, Elder, it is thineWhile thou sojournest here. Whoever restsBeneath its roof may not expect a fine,A dungeon, scourge, or even banishment,For heresy avowed, or doubted sentiment.”

“But as my Plymouth visitor requests,

We’ll seek that cottage; I have called it mine,

These hands have built it; but all friendly guests

May call it theirs, and, Elder, it is thine

While thou sojournest here. Whoever rests

Beneath its roof may not expect a fine,

A dungeon, scourge, or even banishment,

For heresy avowed, or doubted sentiment.”

XXII.They sought the cottage.—Its apartments rude,But still a shelter from the cold and heat,A cheerful fire and fur-clad settles shewed,And other comforts, simple, plain, and neat.The Elder paused, and all the mansion viewed,Then, with a long-drawn sigh, he took his seat,And briefly added—“Thou hast labored, friend,Hard—very hard! I hope for worthy end.”

XXII.

They sought the cottage.—Its apartments rude,But still a shelter from the cold and heat,A cheerful fire and fur-clad settles shewed,And other comforts, simple, plain, and neat.The Elder paused, and all the mansion viewed,Then, with a long-drawn sigh, he took his seat,And briefly added—“Thou hast labored, friend,Hard—very hard! I hope for worthy end.”

They sought the cottage.—Its apartments rude,

But still a shelter from the cold and heat,

A cheerful fire and fur-clad settles shewed,

And other comforts, simple, plain, and neat.

The Elder paused, and all the mansion viewed,

Then, with a long-drawn sigh, he took his seat,

And briefly added—“Thou hast labored, friend,

Hard—very hard! I hope for worthy end.”

XXIII.He paused again, then solemnly beganA sad relation of the Church’s state;O’er many a schism and false doctrine ran,That had obtruded on its peace of late;But most alarming was our Founder’s plan,To leave things sacred to the free debate;To make faith bow to erring reason’s shrine,And mortal man a judge of creeds divine.

XXIII.

He paused again, then solemnly beganA sad relation of the Church’s state;O’er many a schism and false doctrine ran,That had obtruded on its peace of late;But most alarming was our Founder’s plan,To leave things sacred to the free debate;To make faith bow to erring reason’s shrine,And mortal man a judge of creeds divine.

He paused again, then solemnly began

A sad relation of the Church’s state;

O’er many a schism and false doctrine ran,

That had obtruded on its peace of late;

But most alarming was our Founder’s plan,

To leave things sacred to the free debate;

To make faith bow to erring reason’s shrine,

And mortal man a judge of creeds divine.

XXIV.“This simple truth no Christian man denies,”He thus continued, “that the natural mindIs prone to evil as the sparks to rise,And to the good is obstinately blind;Who then sees not, that looks with wisdom’s eyes,That God’s elect should rule the human kind?The good should govern, and the bad submit,And saints alone are for dominion fit?”

XXIV.

“This simple truth no Christian man denies,”He thus continued, “that the natural mindIs prone to evil as the sparks to rise,And to the good is obstinately blind;Who then sees not, that looks with wisdom’s eyes,That God’s elect should rule the human kind?The good should govern, and the bad submit,And saints alone are for dominion fit?”

“This simple truth no Christian man denies,”

He thus continued, “that the natural mind

Is prone to evil as the sparks to rise,

And to the good is obstinately blind;

Who then sees not, that looks with wisdom’s eyes,

That God’s elect should rule the human kind?

The good should govern, and the bad submit,

And saints alone are for dominion fit?”

XXV.Our Founder answered, “Art thou from the pit?Get thee behind me, if such thoughts be thine;Did Christ his gospel to the world commit,That his meek followers might in purple shine?He spurned the foul temptation, it is writ,And the Great Tempter felt his power divine;Art thou far wiser than thy Master grown,And spurn’st a heavenly for an earthly crown?”

XXV.

Our Founder answered, “Art thou from the pit?Get thee behind me, if such thoughts be thine;Did Christ his gospel to the world commit,That his meek followers might in purple shine?He spurned the foul temptation, it is writ,And the Great Tempter felt his power divine;Art thou far wiser than thy Master grown,And spurn’st a heavenly for an earthly crown?”

Our Founder answered, “Art thou from the pit?

Get thee behind me, if such thoughts be thine;

Did Christ his gospel to the world commit,

That his meek followers might in purple shine?

He spurned the foul temptation, it is writ,

And the Great Tempter felt his power divine;

Art thou far wiser than thy Master grown,

And spurn’st a heavenly for an earthly crown?”

XXVI.“Nay—nay, friend Williams!” the grave elder cried,“It is that crown of glory to secureThat the True Church should for her saints provideThe shield of law ’gainst heresy impure;Quell every schism—crush the towering prideOf the dark Tempter, ere his reign is sure;For many finds he who are servants meetTo sow for him the tares among the wheat.

XXVI.

“Nay—nay, friend Williams!” the grave elder cried,“It is that crown of glory to secureThat the True Church should for her saints provideThe shield of law ’gainst heresy impure;Quell every schism—crush the towering prideOf the dark Tempter, ere his reign is sure;For many finds he who are servants meetTo sow for him the tares among the wheat.

“Nay—nay, friend Williams!” the grave elder cried,

“It is that crown of glory to secure

That the True Church should for her saints provide

The shield of law ’gainst heresy impure;

Quell every schism—crush the towering pride

Of the dark Tempter, ere his reign is sure;

For many finds he who are servants meet

To sow for him the tares among the wheat.

XXVII.“Men ever busy, searching for the new,Scanning our creed as if it doubtful were,These would we hold perforce our doctrines to,And the vain labor to convert them spare;God may in time their restless souls renew,And give them of his grace a saving share;—Meanwhile our Church their errors would restrain,And to her creed their wayward minds enchain.”

XXVII.

“Men ever busy, searching for the new,Scanning our creed as if it doubtful were,These would we hold perforce our doctrines to,And the vain labor to convert them spare;God may in time their restless souls renew,And give them of his grace a saving share;—Meanwhile our Church their errors would restrain,And to her creed their wayward minds enchain.”

“Men ever busy, searching for the new,

Scanning our creed as if it doubtful were,

These would we hold perforce our doctrines to,

And the vain labor to convert them spare;

God may in time their restless souls renew,

And give them of his grace a saving share;—

Meanwhile our Church their errors would restrain,

And to her creed their wayward minds enchain.”

XXVIII.“A mortal thou!” our Founder here replied,“Yet judge of conscience,—searcher of the heartThou, the elect?—but if it be denied,How wilt thou prove it, or its proofs impart?God gave to man that bright angelic guide,A reasoning soul, his being’s better part;—He gave her freedom; but thou wouldst confineAnd cramp her action to that creed of thine.

XXVIII.

“A mortal thou!” our Founder here replied,“Yet judge of conscience,—searcher of the heartThou, the elect?—but if it be denied,How wilt thou prove it, or its proofs impart?God gave to man that bright angelic guide,A reasoning soul, his being’s better part;—He gave her freedom; but thou wouldst confineAnd cramp her action to that creed of thine.

“A mortal thou!” our Founder here replied,

“Yet judge of conscience,—searcher of the heart

Thou, the elect?—but if it be denied,

How wilt thou prove it, or its proofs impart?

God gave to man that bright angelic guide,

A reasoning soul, his being’s better part;—

He gave her freedom; but thou wouldst confine

And cramp her action to that creed of thine.

XXIX.“Who binds the soul extends the reign of hell;She’s formed to err, but, erring, truth to find;Pity her wanderings, but, O never quellThe bold aspirings of this angel blind!God is her strength within, and bids her spell,By outward promptings, the eternal Mind:Long may she wander still in quest of light,But day will dawn at last upon a polar night.”

XXIX.

“Who binds the soul extends the reign of hell;She’s formed to err, but, erring, truth to find;Pity her wanderings, but, O never quellThe bold aspirings of this angel blind!God is her strength within, and bids her spell,By outward promptings, the eternal Mind:Long may she wander still in quest of light,But day will dawn at last upon a polar night.”

“Who binds the soul extends the reign of hell;

She’s formed to err, but, erring, truth to find;

Pity her wanderings, but, O never quell

The bold aspirings of this angel blind!

God is her strength within, and bids her spell,

By outward promptings, the eternal Mind:

Long may she wander still in quest of light,

But day will dawn at last upon a polar night.”

XXX.“A dangerous tenet that!” the Elder said;“A fallen angel doubtless she may be;If truth she find by natural reason’s aid,It ever leads her to some heresy;Indeed, the truth too often is betrayedTo minds ill-fitted for inquiry free;From bad to worse, from worse to worst we go,And end our being in eternal woe.

XXX.

“A dangerous tenet that!” the Elder said;“A fallen angel doubtless she may be;If truth she find by natural reason’s aid,It ever leads her to some heresy;Indeed, the truth too often is betrayedTo minds ill-fitted for inquiry free;From bad to worse, from worse to worst we go,And end our being in eternal woe.

“A dangerous tenet that!” the Elder said;

“A fallen angel doubtless she may be;

If truth she find by natural reason’s aid,

It ever leads her to some heresy;

Indeed, the truth too often is betrayed

To minds ill-fitted for inquiry free;

From bad to worse, from worse to worst we go,

And end our being in eternal woe.

XXXI.“Nature’s own truths do oft the mind mislead;From partial glimpses men will judge the whole;And it were better if our Church’s creedWere learning’s object and its utmost goal;Reason would then no higher purpose need,Than, by it, point the yet erratic soulTo her high hope and everlasting rest!”Williams this heard, and spake with kindling breast:

XXXI.

“Nature’s own truths do oft the mind mislead;From partial glimpses men will judge the whole;And it were better if our Church’s creedWere learning’s object and its utmost goal;Reason would then no higher purpose need,Than, by it, point the yet erratic soulTo her high hope and everlasting rest!”Williams this heard, and spake with kindling breast:

“Nature’s own truths do oft the mind mislead;

From partial glimpses men will judge the whole;

And it were better if our Church’s creed

Were learning’s object and its utmost goal;

Reason would then no higher purpose need,

Than, by it, point the yet erratic soul

To her high hope and everlasting rest!”

Williams this heard, and spake with kindling breast:

XXXII.“God gave man reason, that his soul might beFree as his glance that spans the universe;All things around him prompt inquiry free,All do his reason to research coerce;The Heavens, the Earth, the many breeding sea,All have their shapes and qualities to nurseThe soul’s aspirings, and, from blooming youthTo ripe old age, provoke the quest of truth.

XXXII.

“God gave man reason, that his soul might beFree as his glance that spans the universe;All things around him prompt inquiry free,All do his reason to research coerce;The Heavens, the Earth, the many breeding sea,All have their shapes and qualities to nurseThe soul’s aspirings, and, from blooming youthTo ripe old age, provoke the quest of truth.

“God gave man reason, that his soul might be

Free as his glance that spans the universe;

All things around him prompt inquiry free,

All do his reason to research coerce;

The Heavens, the Earth, the many breeding sea,

All have their shapes and qualities to nurse

The soul’s aspirings, and, from blooming youth

To ripe old age, provoke the quest of truth.

XXXIII.“Truth! I would know thee wert thou e’er so bad,Bad as thy persecutors deem or fear,Wert thou in more than Gorgon terrors clad,Thy glance a death to every feeling dear;Taught thou that God a demon’s passions had,That Earth is Hell, and that the damned dwell here,And death the end of all;—still would I knowThe total Curse—the sum of being’s woe.

XXXIII.

“Truth! I would know thee wert thou e’er so bad,Bad as thy persecutors deem or fear,Wert thou in more than Gorgon terrors clad,Thy glance a death to every feeling dear;Taught thou that God a demon’s passions had,That Earth is Hell, and that the damned dwell here,And death the end of all;—still would I knowThe total Curse—the sum of being’s woe.

“Truth! I would know thee wert thou e’er so bad,

Bad as thy persecutors deem or fear,

Wert thou in more than Gorgon terrors clad,

Thy glance a death to every feeling dear;

Taught thou that God a demon’s passions had,

That Earth is Hell, and that the damned dwell here,

And death the end of all;—still would I know

The total Curse—the sum of being’s woe.

XXXIV.“Yet fear not this, for each new truth revealsOf God a nearer and a brighter view;Anticipation lags behind, and feelsHow mean her thought at each discovery new;Her stars were stones fired in revolving wheels—Truth! thine are worlds self-moved the boundless throughWho checks man’s Reason in her heavenward flight,Would shroud, O God! thy glorious works in night!

XXXIV.

“Yet fear not this, for each new truth revealsOf God a nearer and a brighter view;Anticipation lags behind, and feelsHow mean her thought at each discovery new;Her stars were stones fired in revolving wheels—Truth! thine are worlds self-moved the boundless throughWho checks man’s Reason in her heavenward flight,Would shroud, O God! thy glorious works in night!

“Yet fear not this, for each new truth reveals

Of God a nearer and a brighter view;

Anticipation lags behind, and feels

How mean her thought at each discovery new;

Her stars were stones fired in revolving wheels—

Truth! thine are worlds self-moved the boundless through

Who checks man’s Reason in her heavenward flight,

Would shroud, O God! thy glorious works in night!

XXXV.“Whence didst thou learn that the Almighty’s planRequired thy wisdom to protect and save,That, when he sent his Gospel down to man,Thou to defend it must the soul enslave,Enthrone deceit, and place beneath its banThe honest heart, that dares its sentence brave?Full well I trow the Prince of Darkness fitsThe blood of martyrs shed by hypocrites.

XXXV.

“Whence didst thou learn that the Almighty’s planRequired thy wisdom to protect and save,That, when he sent his Gospel down to man,Thou to defend it must the soul enslave,Enthrone deceit, and place beneath its banThe honest heart, that dares its sentence brave?Full well I trow the Prince of Darkness fitsThe blood of martyrs shed by hypocrites.

“Whence didst thou learn that the Almighty’s plan

Required thy wisdom to protect and save,

That, when he sent his Gospel down to man,

Thou to defend it must the soul enslave,

Enthrone deceit, and place beneath its ban

The honest heart, that dares its sentence brave?

Full well I trow the Prince of Darkness fits

The blood of martyrs shed by hypocrites.

XXXVI.“Hearken for once; just as the conscience pureIs here God’s presence to my wayward will—Not to constrain it, but to kindly lureIt on by duty’s path, from every ill;So to the State the Christian Church, secureFrom human thrall, should be a conscience, stillNe’er to constrain, save by that heavenly lightWhich bares the Wrong, and maketh plain the Right.”

XXXVI.

“Hearken for once; just as the conscience pureIs here God’s presence to my wayward will—Not to constrain it, but to kindly lureIt on by duty’s path, from every ill;So to the State the Christian Church, secureFrom human thrall, should be a conscience, stillNe’er to constrain, save by that heavenly lightWhich bares the Wrong, and maketh plain the Right.”

“Hearken for once; just as the conscience pure

Is here God’s presence to my wayward will—

Not to constrain it, but to kindly lure

It on by duty’s path, from every ill;

So to the State the Christian Church, secure

From human thrall, should be a conscience, still

Ne’er to constrain, save by that heavenly light

Which bares the Wrong, and maketh plain the Right.”

XXXVII.“No more, friend Williams,” said the Elder here,“No more will we on this grave theme delay;My hopes were high, and ’twas an object dearTo shed some light on thy benighted way;But still wilt thou with sinful purpose steerThy little bark against the tempest’s sway;On mayst thou go—I cannot say God speed!But would thy object were some better deed.

XXXVII.

“No more, friend Williams,” said the Elder here,“No more will we on this grave theme delay;My hopes were high, and ’twas an object dearTo shed some light on thy benighted way;But still wilt thou with sinful purpose steerThy little bark against the tempest’s sway;On mayst thou go—I cannot say God speed!But would thy object were some better deed.

“No more, friend Williams,” said the Elder here,

“No more will we on this grave theme delay;

My hopes were high, and ’twas an object dear

To shed some light on thy benighted way;

But still wilt thou with sinful purpose steer

Thy little bark against the tempest’s sway;

On mayst thou go—I cannot say God speed!

But would thy object were some better deed.

XXXVIII.“Couldst thou renounce thy purpose here to baseA State where heretics may refuge find,I do not doubt that to some little graceThe Plymouth rulers would be well inclined;But as it is, perhaps some other place,Still more remote, may better suit thy mind;But till the morn as may a guest befit,My message hither do I pretermit.”

XXXVIII.

“Couldst thou renounce thy purpose here to baseA State where heretics may refuge find,I do not doubt that to some little graceThe Plymouth rulers would be well inclined;But as it is, perhaps some other place,Still more remote, may better suit thy mind;But till the morn as may a guest befit,My message hither do I pretermit.”

“Couldst thou renounce thy purpose here to base

A State where heretics may refuge find,

I do not doubt that to some little grace

The Plymouth rulers would be well inclined;

But as it is, perhaps some other place,

Still more remote, may better suit thy mind;

But till the morn as may a guest befit,

My message hither do I pretermit.”

XXXIX.Our Founder pondered on the Elder’s word;What could this dark portentous message be,With its delivery until morn deferred,Lest it should mar night’s hospitality.The wrath of Plymouth he had not incurred,He with her Winslow was in amity;Then what strange message had the Elder borne,That utterance sought, and yet was hushed till morn!

XXXIX.

Our Founder pondered on the Elder’s word;What could this dark portentous message be,With its delivery until morn deferred,Lest it should mar night’s hospitality.The wrath of Plymouth he had not incurred,He with her Winslow was in amity;Then what strange message had the Elder borne,That utterance sought, and yet was hushed till morn!

Our Founder pondered on the Elder’s word;

What could this dark portentous message be,

With its delivery until morn deferred,

Lest it should mar night’s hospitality.

The wrath of Plymouth he had not incurred,

He with her Winslow was in amity;

Then what strange message had the Elder borne,

That utterance sought, and yet was hushed till morn!

XL.This cause, mysterious, darkling, undefined,Did by degrees each cheerful thought efface,And poured portentous glooms along his mind,That seemed reflected by each friendly face;The matron sighed, and childhood disinclinedTo mirth or sport, sought slumber’s soft embrace,And soon the gathered night did all dispose,To shun their boding thoughts in dull repose.

XL.

This cause, mysterious, darkling, undefined,Did by degrees each cheerful thought efface,And poured portentous glooms along his mind,That seemed reflected by each friendly face;The matron sighed, and childhood disinclinedTo mirth or sport, sought slumber’s soft embrace,And soon the gathered night did all dispose,To shun their boding thoughts in dull repose.

This cause, mysterious, darkling, undefined,

Did by degrees each cheerful thought efface,

And poured portentous glooms along his mind,

That seemed reflected by each friendly face;

The matron sighed, and childhood disinclined

To mirth or sport, sought slumber’s soft embrace,

And soon the gathered night did all dispose,

To shun their boding thoughts in dull repose.

XLI.Morn comes again;—the inmates of the cotRise from scant slumber, and their guest they greet;“Williams,” he said, “it is my thankless lot,Thee with no pleasant message now to meet;Nor hath our Winslow in his charge forgot(For his behest I bear and words repeat)His former friendship, but right loth is heTo vex his neighbors by obliging thee.

XLI.

Morn comes again;—the inmates of the cotRise from scant slumber, and their guest they greet;“Williams,” he said, “it is my thankless lot,Thee with no pleasant message now to meet;Nor hath our Winslow in his charge forgot(For his behest I bear and words repeat)His former friendship, but right loth is heTo vex his neighbors by obliging thee.

Morn comes again;—the inmates of the cot

Rise from scant slumber, and their guest they greet;

“Williams,” he said, “it is my thankless lot,

Thee with no pleasant message now to meet;

Nor hath our Winslow in his charge forgot

(For his behest I bear and words repeat)

His former friendship, but right loth is he

To vex his neighbors by obliging thee.

XLII.“In short, thou art on Plymouth’s own domain;Beyond the Seekonk is the forest free,—This must thou leave, but there thou mayst maintainThy State unharmed, and still our neighbor be;Fain had I spared thee this deep searching pain,By showing thee thy dangerous heresy;It may not be; hence, therefore, must thou speed;The Narragansets may protect thy creed.”

XLII.

“In short, thou art on Plymouth’s own domain;Beyond the Seekonk is the forest free,—This must thou leave, but there thou mayst maintainThy State unharmed, and still our neighbor be;Fain had I spared thee this deep searching pain,By showing thee thy dangerous heresy;It may not be; hence, therefore, must thou speed;The Narragansets may protect thy creed.”

“In short, thou art on Plymouth’s own domain;

Beyond the Seekonk is the forest free,—

This must thou leave, but there thou mayst maintain

Thy State unharmed, and still our neighbor be;

Fain had I spared thee this deep searching pain,

By showing thee thy dangerous heresy;

It may not be; hence, therefore, must thou speed;

The Narragansets may protect thy creed.”

XLIII.To breathless statues turned the listeners stood,Silent as marble and as cold and pale;With vacant gaze our Sire the Elder viewed,O’erwhelmed, confounded by this sudden bale;As when some swain, deep in the sheltering wood,Ere he has seen the tempest on the gale,Marks the bright flash; the smitten senses reel;He stands confounded ere he learns to feel.

XLIII.

To breathless statues turned the listeners stood,Silent as marble and as cold and pale;With vacant gaze our Sire the Elder viewed,O’erwhelmed, confounded by this sudden bale;As when some swain, deep in the sheltering wood,Ere he has seen the tempest on the gale,Marks the bright flash; the smitten senses reel;He stands confounded ere he learns to feel.

To breathless statues turned the listeners stood,

Silent as marble and as cold and pale;

With vacant gaze our Sire the Elder viewed,

O’erwhelmed, confounded by this sudden bale;

As when some swain, deep in the sheltering wood,

Ere he has seen the tempest on the gale,

Marks the bright flash; the smitten senses reel;

He stands confounded ere he learns to feel.

XLIV.At length reviving from the stunning shock,His thoughts returning in a broken train,Our Founder thus the speechless stupor broke:—“I to my ancient friend may yet explain;Just is my title here; the lands I tookAre part of Massasoit’s wide domain,And fairly purchased; mine they dearly are;Make this but known, and Plymouth must forbear.”

XLIV.

At length reviving from the stunning shock,His thoughts returning in a broken train,Our Founder thus the speechless stupor broke:—“I to my ancient friend may yet explain;Just is my title here; the lands I tookAre part of Massasoit’s wide domain,And fairly purchased; mine they dearly are;Make this but known, and Plymouth must forbear.”

At length reviving from the stunning shock,

His thoughts returning in a broken train,

Our Founder thus the speechless stupor broke:—

“I to my ancient friend may yet explain;

Just is my title here; the lands I took

Are part of Massasoit’s wide domain,

And fairly purchased; mine they dearly are;

Make this but known, and Plymouth must forbear.”

XLV.“And didst thou think,” the Elder cried, “to winOf Pagan chief a title here secure?Why not derive it from that man of sinAt papal Rome,—the Antichrist impure?Our Church of Truth, against the Heathen thin,Asserts her Canaan, and will make it sure.Thy purchase feigned was by the Prophet shownTo Dudley, and by him to us made known.”

XLV.

“And didst thou think,” the Elder cried, “to winOf Pagan chief a title here secure?Why not derive it from that man of sinAt papal Rome,—the Antichrist impure?Our Church of Truth, against the Heathen thin,Asserts her Canaan, and will make it sure.Thy purchase feigned was by the Prophet shownTo Dudley, and by him to us made known.”

“And didst thou think,” the Elder cried, “to win

Of Pagan chief a title here secure?

Why not derive it from that man of sin

At papal Rome,—the Antichrist impure?

Our Church of Truth, against the Heathen thin,

Asserts her Canaan, and will make it sure.

Thy purchase feigned was by the Prophet shown

To Dudley, and by him to us made known.”

XLVI.“My purchase feigned!” our Founder quickly cried—“God made that Pagan, and to Him He gaveBreath of this air, drink from yon crystal tide,Food from these forest lawns and yonder wave:Yea, He ordained this region, far and wide,To be his home in life, in death his grave.Is thy claim better? Canst thou trace thy rightFrom one superior to the God of might?”

XLVI.

“My purchase feigned!” our Founder quickly cried—“God made that Pagan, and to Him He gaveBreath of this air, drink from yon crystal tide,Food from these forest lawns and yonder wave:Yea, He ordained this region, far and wide,To be his home in life, in death his grave.Is thy claim better? Canst thou trace thy rightFrom one superior to the God of might?”

“My purchase feigned!” our Founder quickly cried—

“God made that Pagan, and to Him He gave

Breath of this air, drink from yon crystal tide,

Food from these forest lawns and yonder wave:

Yea, He ordained this region, far and wide,

To be his home in life, in death his grave.

Is thy claim better? Canst thou trace thy right

From one superior to the God of might?”

XLVII.The Elder answered: “Thinkest thou this landFor demons foul and their red votaries made?Did not Jehovah, with his own right hand,Tempest for Israel when the Heathen fled?Does Plymouth’s Church less in his favor stand?Or spares he devils for the savage red?As to our title, then, we trace it thus:God gave James Stuart this, and James gave us.”

XLVII.

The Elder answered: “Thinkest thou this landFor demons foul and their red votaries made?Did not Jehovah, with his own right hand,Tempest for Israel when the Heathen fled?Does Plymouth’s Church less in his favor stand?Or spares he devils for the savage red?As to our title, then, we trace it thus:God gave James Stuart this, and James gave us.”

The Elder answered: “Thinkest thou this land

For demons foul and their red votaries made?

Did not Jehovah, with his own right hand,

Tempest for Israel when the Heathen fled?

Does Plymouth’s Church less in his favor stand?

Or spares he devils for the savage red?

As to our title, then, we trace it thus:

God gave James Stuart this, and James gave us.”

XLVIII.“God gave James Stuart this!” our Founder cried,Up-starting from his seat as he began,“God gave James Stuart this!”—a choking tideOf kindling feeling through his bosom ran,To which his better part free speech denied,Since all the Christian strove against the man,And strove not all in vain;—yet, bursting forth,His soul came big with grief that stifled half her wrath.

XLVIII.

“God gave James Stuart this!” our Founder cried,Up-starting from his seat as he began,“God gave James Stuart this!”—a choking tideOf kindling feeling through his bosom ran,To which his better part free speech denied,Since all the Christian strove against the man,And strove not all in vain;—yet, bursting forth,His soul came big with grief that stifled half her wrath.

“God gave James Stuart this!” our Founder cried,

Up-starting from his seat as he began,

“God gave James Stuart this!”—a choking tide

Of kindling feeling through his bosom ran,

To which his better part free speech denied,

Since all the Christian strove against the man,

And strove not all in vain;—yet, bursting forth,

His soul came big with grief that stifled half her wrath.

XLIX.“God gave James Stuart this!—I marvel when!Fain would I see the deed Omniscience wrote;Elder! there are commandments counting ten,Which Great Jehovah upon Sinai taught;Has He of late exempted Plymouth’s men—Reversed his justice and made sin no fault?Taught them to covet of their neighbor’s store,And licensed robbery of the weak and poor?

XLIX.

“God gave James Stuart this!—I marvel when!Fain would I see the deed Omniscience wrote;Elder! there are commandments counting ten,Which Great Jehovah upon Sinai taught;Has He of late exempted Plymouth’s men—Reversed his justice and made sin no fault?Taught them to covet of their neighbor’s store,And licensed robbery of the weak and poor?

“God gave James Stuart this!—I marvel when!

Fain would I see the deed Omniscience wrote;

Elder! there are commandments counting ten,

Which Great Jehovah upon Sinai taught;

Has He of late exempted Plymouth’s men—

Reversed his justice and made sin no fault?

Taught them to covet of their neighbor’s store,

And licensed robbery of the weak and poor?

L.“Behold these hands, which labor has made hard,—Look at this weather-beaten brow and face,—And ask yourself if to be thus debarredAnd hunted from their fruits like beast of chase,Demands not meekness more than God has sparedTo human hearts in his abundant grace!Followed e’en here!—Again compelled to flee!As if this desert were too good for me!

“Behold these hands, which labor has made hard,—Look at this weather-beaten brow and face,—And ask yourself if to be thus debarredAnd hunted from their fruits like beast of chase,Demands not meekness more than God has sparedTo human hearts in his abundant grace!Followed e’en here!—Again compelled to flee!As if this desert were too good for me!

“Behold these hands, which labor has made hard,—

Look at this weather-beaten brow and face,—

And ask yourself if to be thus debarred

And hunted from their fruits like beast of chase,

Demands not meekness more than God has spared

To human hearts in his abundant grace!

Followed e’en here!—Again compelled to flee!

As if this desert were too good for me!

LI.“But I can go.—Oh, yes! I can submit;—God in his mercy will give shelter still;Go—tell your Dudley in the book ’tis writThat the oppressor shall hereafter feel;Yet, gracious Lord, grant that repentance fitHim to receive the everlasting sealOf thy salvation—that his lost estateBe yet revealed, ere it is all too late!

LI.

“But I can go.—Oh, yes! I can submit;—God in his mercy will give shelter still;Go—tell your Dudley in the book ’tis writThat the oppressor shall hereafter feel;Yet, gracious Lord, grant that repentance fitHim to receive the everlasting sealOf thy salvation—that his lost estateBe yet revealed, ere it is all too late!

“But I can go.—Oh, yes! I can submit;—

God in his mercy will give shelter still;

Go—tell your Dudley in the book ’tis writ

That the oppressor shall hereafter feel;

Yet, gracious Lord, grant that repentance fit

Him to receive the everlasting seal

Of thy salvation—that his lost estate

Be yet revealed, ere it is all too late!

LII.“Grieve not, my Mary!—Children, do not weep!Though yonder verdant lawns, and opening flowers,And groves whose shades the murmuring streamlets sweep,All perish for us now,—yet on far shores,Perchance by yon blue bay or rolling deep,Far from white brethren, mid barbarian powers,Your father’s hands another glade may form,—Another roof to shield you from the storm.”

LII.

“Grieve not, my Mary!—Children, do not weep!Though yonder verdant lawns, and opening flowers,And groves whose shades the murmuring streamlets sweep,All perish for us now,—yet on far shores,Perchance by yon blue bay or rolling deep,Far from white brethren, mid barbarian powers,Your father’s hands another glade may form,—Another roof to shield you from the storm.”

“Grieve not, my Mary!—Children, do not weep!

Though yonder verdant lawns, and opening flowers,

And groves whose shades the murmuring streamlets sweep,

All perish for us now,—yet on far shores,

Perchance by yon blue bay or rolling deep,

Far from white brethren, mid barbarian powers,

Your father’s hands another glade may form,—

Another roof to shield you from the storm.”

LIII.As here he ceased, in all the agonyOf mental pain he paced the cottage floor;Absorbed in his own woes scarce did he seeThe Elder pass, and leave his humble door;His toils, cares, hopes, all lost; and povertySudden, gaunt, naked, spread its glooms once more.A clashing sound first broke this mental strife;’Twas Waban, edging sharp his scalping knife.

LIII.

As here he ceased, in all the agonyOf mental pain he paced the cottage floor;Absorbed in his own woes scarce did he seeThe Elder pass, and leave his humble door;His toils, cares, hopes, all lost; and povertySudden, gaunt, naked, spread its glooms once more.A clashing sound first broke this mental strife;’Twas Waban, edging sharp his scalping knife.

As here he ceased, in all the agony

Of mental pain he paced the cottage floor;

Absorbed in his own woes scarce did he see

The Elder pass, and leave his humble door;

His toils, cares, hopes, all lost; and poverty

Sudden, gaunt, naked, spread its glooms once more.

A clashing sound first broke this mental strife;

’Twas Waban, edging sharp his scalping knife.

LIV.And such an ireful look, (his eyes so bright,So played his muscles and so gnashed his teeth)—Red warrior ne’er did show, save when in fightHis weapon makes the hostile heart a sheath,And forces out the soul. He looked a spriteKindling a hell within!—Recoiling ’neathThe horrid feelings that the image woke,Our Founder shrank, and thus the form bespoke:

LIV.

And such an ireful look, (his eyes so bright,So played his muscles and so gnashed his teeth)—Red warrior ne’er did show, save when in fightHis weapon makes the hostile heart a sheath,And forces out the soul. He looked a spriteKindling a hell within!—Recoiling ’neathThe horrid feelings that the image woke,Our Founder shrank, and thus the form bespoke:

And such an ireful look, (his eyes so bright,

So played his muscles and so gnashed his teeth)—

Red warrior ne’er did show, save when in fight

His weapon makes the hostile heart a sheath,

And forces out the soul. He looked a sprite

Kindling a hell within!—Recoiling ’neath

The horrid feelings that the image woke,

Our Founder shrank, and thus the form bespoke:

LV.“What fiend, O Waban! thus inflames thy breast?”The spell of frenzy at the accents broke;The red man paused, his hand the bosom pressed,His eyes still flashing fire, and thus he spoke:“My chief was angry with his pale-faced guest,And at my sachem’s ire my own awoke;I can pursue,—for viewless pinions liftMy nimble feet to speed thy vengeance swift.”

LV.

“What fiend, O Waban! thus inflames thy breast?”The spell of frenzy at the accents broke;The red man paused, his hand the bosom pressed,His eyes still flashing fire, and thus he spoke:“My chief was angry with his pale-faced guest,And at my sachem’s ire my own awoke;I can pursue,—for viewless pinions liftMy nimble feet to speed thy vengeance swift.”

“What fiend, O Waban! thus inflames thy breast?”

The spell of frenzy at the accents broke;

The red man paused, his hand the bosom pressed,

His eyes still flashing fire, and thus he spoke:

“My chief was angry with his pale-faced guest,

And at my sachem’s ire my own awoke;

I can pursue,—for viewless pinions lift

My nimble feet to speed thy vengeance swift.”

LVI.A freezing horror crept through every vein,As Williams heard the son of Nature speak;And humbled stood he, for that ire profaneWas but his own that did new semblance takeIn that wild man;—there stood the ancient CainAnd here the modern, better skilled to checkThe wayward passions, and how dark soe’erThe mirror there might be, the real form was here.

LVI.

A freezing horror crept through every vein,As Williams heard the son of Nature speak;And humbled stood he, for that ire profaneWas but his own that did new semblance takeIn that wild man;—there stood the ancient CainAnd here the modern, better skilled to checkThe wayward passions, and how dark soe’erThe mirror there might be, the real form was here.

A freezing horror crept through every vein,

As Williams heard the son of Nature speak;

And humbled stood he, for that ire profane

Was but his own that did new semblance take

In that wild man;—there stood the ancient Cain

And here the modern, better skilled to check

The wayward passions, and how dark soe’er

The mirror there might be, the real form was here.

LVII.“Waban!” at length he said, “I grieve to seeThat all I sowed fell on a barren rock;How could my brother hope to gladden meBy such a deed? Thou dost thy sachem shock!O! from thy savage nature try to flee;—Lay down thy murderous knife and tomahawk,And dwell on better themes. New toils invite,And high rewards my brother shall requite.

LVII.

“Waban!” at length he said, “I grieve to seeThat all I sowed fell on a barren rock;How could my brother hope to gladden meBy such a deed? Thou dost thy sachem shock!O! from thy savage nature try to flee;—Lay down thy murderous knife and tomahawk,And dwell on better themes. New toils invite,And high rewards my brother shall requite.

“Waban!” at length he said, “I grieve to see

That all I sowed fell on a barren rock;

How could my brother hope to gladden me

By such a deed? Thou dost thy sachem shock!

O! from thy savage nature try to flee;—

Lay down thy murderous knife and tomahawk,

And dwell on better themes. New toils invite,

And high rewards my brother shall requite.

LVIII.“Oft have I heard my hunter name with prideHis long, deep, hollow, arrow-winged canoe;Now drag her from the fern to Seekonk’s tide,And bid her skim once more the waters blue;She loves to rove, and we must far and wideSeek other forests for a dwelling new;Our toils here end; a cloud from WamponandHangs o’er our glade, and blackens all the land.”

LVIII.

“Oft have I heard my hunter name with prideHis long, deep, hollow, arrow-winged canoe;Now drag her from the fern to Seekonk’s tide,And bid her skim once more the waters blue;She loves to rove, and we must far and wideSeek other forests for a dwelling new;Our toils here end; a cloud from WamponandHangs o’er our glade, and blackens all the land.”

“Oft have I heard my hunter name with pride

His long, deep, hollow, arrow-winged canoe;

Now drag her from the fern to Seekonk’s tide,

And bid her skim once more the waters blue;

She loves to rove, and we must far and wide

Seek other forests for a dwelling new;

Our toils here end; a cloud from Wamponand

Hangs o’er our glade, and blackens all the land.”

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