CANTO NINTH.

[Scenes.Seekonk’s Stream and Banks—Whatcheer Cove and Shore—Mooshausick’s Vale, or Site of Providence.]

’Tisearly morn; Pawtucket’s torrent roar,A solemn bass to Nature’s anthem bold,Alone wakes Williams’ ear; its currents pourAlong with foaming haste, where they have rolledAges on ages, fretting here from shoreThe basin broad, and there ’twixt hill and woldFurrowing their channel deep; far hastening on,Now lost in shades, now glimmering in the sun.

’Tisearly morn; Pawtucket’s torrent roar,

A solemn bass to Nature’s anthem bold,

Alone wakes Williams’ ear; its currents pour

Along with foaming haste, where they have rolled

Ages on ages, fretting here from shore

The basin broad, and there ’twixt hill and wold

Furrowing their channel deep; far hastening on,

Now lost in shades, now glimmering in the sun.

II.No thraldom had they known save winter’s frost;No exile yet had their free bosom borne;Deep in that glade (now to our Founder lost,)Their wave eternal had a basin worn;Oft thence their flow had borne the stealthy host,In light canoes, before the gray of morn,Darkling to strike the foe,—but now no moreThey bear the freight of men athirst for gore.

II.

No thraldom had they known save winter’s frost;No exile yet had their free bosom borne;Deep in that glade (now to our Founder lost,)Their wave eternal had a basin worn;Oft thence their flow had borne the stealthy host,In light canoes, before the gray of morn,Darkling to strike the foe,—but now no moreThey bear the freight of men athirst for gore.

No thraldom had they known save winter’s frost;

No exile yet had their free bosom borne;

Deep in that glade (now to our Founder lost,)

Their wave eternal had a basin worn;

Oft thence their flow had borne the stealthy host,

In light canoes, before the gray of morn,

Darkling to strike the foe,—but now no more

They bear the freight of men athirst for gore.

III.Early that morn, beside the tranquil flood,Where ready trimmed rode Waban’s frail canoe,The banished man, his spouse and children, stood,And bade their lately blooming hopes adieu.The anxious mother had not yet subduedDespondent sorrow, and the briny dewStole often down her cheeks; hers was the smart—The searching anguish of the softer heart.

III.

Early that morn, beside the tranquil flood,Where ready trimmed rode Waban’s frail canoe,The banished man, his spouse and children, stood,And bade their lately blooming hopes adieu.The anxious mother had not yet subduedDespondent sorrow, and the briny dewStole often down her cheeks; hers was the smart—The searching anguish of the softer heart.

Early that morn, beside the tranquil flood,

Where ready trimmed rode Waban’s frail canoe,

The banished man, his spouse and children, stood,

And bade their lately blooming hopes adieu.

The anxious mother had not yet subdued

Despondent sorrow, and the briny dew

Stole often down her cheeks; hers was the smart—

The searching anguish of the softer heart.

IV.And, as she viewed the illimitable shade,The haunt of savage men and beasts of prey,She thought of all the dreadful ills arrayedAgainst her children on their dangerous way;“Ye houseless babes!” in her wild grief she said,“What crimes were yours, what dire offences, say,That even ye should share this cruel doom,Beg of barbarians bread, and savage deserts roam?”

IV.

And, as she viewed the illimitable shade,The haunt of savage men and beasts of prey,She thought of all the dreadful ills arrayedAgainst her children on their dangerous way;“Ye houseless babes!” in her wild grief she said,“What crimes were yours, what dire offences, say,That even ye should share this cruel doom,Beg of barbarians bread, and savage deserts roam?”

And, as she viewed the illimitable shade,

The haunt of savage men and beasts of prey,

She thought of all the dreadful ills arrayed

Against her children on their dangerous way;

“Ye houseless babes!” in her wild grief she said,

“What crimes were yours, what dire offences, say,

That even ye should share this cruel doom,

Beg of barbarians bread, and savage deserts roam?”

V.But Father Williams, to his lot resigned,Now rose to feelings of a loftier tone;For Heaven to vigor had restored his mind,And firmly braced it for the task unknown;He scarcely glanced upon the toils behind;His soul inspired did bolder visions own,That from his breast dispelled each dismal gloom,And cheered him onward to his destined home.

But Father Williams, to his lot resigned,Now rose to feelings of a loftier tone;For Heaven to vigor had restored his mind,And firmly braced it for the task unknown;He scarcely glanced upon the toils behind;His soul inspired did bolder visions own,That from his breast dispelled each dismal gloom,And cheered him onward to his destined home.

But Father Williams, to his lot resigned,

Now rose to feelings of a loftier tone;

For Heaven to vigor had restored his mind,

And firmly braced it for the task unknown;

He scarcely glanced upon the toils behind;

His soul inspired did bolder visions own,

That from his breast dispelled each dismal gloom,

And cheered him onward to his destined home.

VI.As the bold bird that builds her mansion highOn beetling crag or helmlock’s lofty bough,Deep in the desert, far from human eye,And deems herself secure from every foe,—Aloft in overshadowing branches nigh,Perceives the wild-cat’s threatening eye-balls glow,And spurns her eyry, with ascending flightTo some tall ash that crests the mountain’s height;

VI.

As the bold bird that builds her mansion highOn beetling crag or helmlock’s lofty bough,Deep in the desert, far from human eye,And deems herself secure from every foe,—Aloft in overshadowing branches nigh,Perceives the wild-cat’s threatening eye-balls glow,And spurns her eyry, with ascending flightTo some tall ash that crests the mountain’s height;

As the bold bird that builds her mansion high

On beetling crag or helmlock’s lofty bough,

Deep in the desert, far from human eye,

And deems herself secure from every foe,—

Aloft in overshadowing branches nigh,

Perceives the wild-cat’s threatening eye-balls glow,

And spurns her eyry, with ascending flight

To some tall ash that crests the mountain’s height;

VII.So his vain toils he coldly now surveyed;He had but sunk a bolder wing to try;He snatched the weepers from the hated glade,And bore them lightly to the shallop nigh;Then sprang into the stern, and cheerly badeThe dusky pilot his deft paddle ply;—While, shoved from shore, the settling skiff descendsLow in the flood, and with the burden bends.

VII.

So his vain toils he coldly now surveyed;He had but sunk a bolder wing to try;He snatched the weepers from the hated glade,And bore them lightly to the shallop nigh;Then sprang into the stern, and cheerly badeThe dusky pilot his deft paddle ply;—While, shoved from shore, the settling skiff descendsLow in the flood, and with the burden bends.

So his vain toils he coldly now surveyed;

He had but sunk a bolder wing to try;

He snatched the weepers from the hated glade,

And bore them lightly to the shallop nigh;

Then sprang into the stern, and cheerly bade

The dusky pilot his deft paddle ply;—

While, shoved from shore, the settling skiff descends

Low in the flood, and with the burden bends.

VIII.Now with a giddy whirl the wheeling prowVeering around points with the downward tide;Then Waban’s paddle cuts the glassy flow;The mimic whirlpools pass on either side;The surface cleaves, the waters boil below;—The cot, the glade, the forests backward glide;Until the shadows, moving as they flew,Closed round the green and shut the roof from view.

VIII.

Now with a giddy whirl the wheeling prowVeering around points with the downward tide;Then Waban’s paddle cuts the glassy flow;The mimic whirlpools pass on either side;The surface cleaves, the waters boil below;—The cot, the glade, the forests backward glide;Until the shadows, moving as they flew,Closed round the green and shut the roof from view.

Now with a giddy whirl the wheeling prow

Veering around points with the downward tide;

Then Waban’s paddle cuts the glassy flow;

The mimic whirlpools pass on either side;

The surface cleaves, the waters boil below;—

The cot, the glade, the forests backward glide;

Until the shadows, moving as they flew,

Closed round the green and shut the roof from view.

IX.Pawtucket’s murmurs die upon their ears,As through the smooth expanse the swift canoeDrives on; and now the straitened pass appearsWith jutting mounds that lofty forests shew;—Each giant trunk a navy’s timber rears;Their mighty shadows o’er the flood they threw,Shutting the heavens out, till glimmering dayCould scarce the long, dark, winding path display.

IX.

Pawtucket’s murmurs die upon their ears,As through the smooth expanse the swift canoeDrives on; and now the straitened pass appearsWith jutting mounds that lofty forests shew;—Each giant trunk a navy’s timber rears;Their mighty shadows o’er the flood they threw,Shutting the heavens out, till glimmering dayCould scarce the long, dark, winding path display.

Pawtucket’s murmurs die upon their ears,

As through the smooth expanse the swift canoe

Drives on; and now the straitened pass appears

With jutting mounds that lofty forests shew;—

Each giant trunk a navy’s timber rears;

Their mighty shadows o’er the flood they threw,

Shutting the heavens out, till glimmering day

Could scarce the long, dark, winding path display.

X.Deep silence reigned o’er all the sable tide,Broke only by the swarthy pilot’s oar;Under the arching boughs the wanderers glide,And the dark ripplings curl from shore to shore;The startled wood-ducks ’neath the waters hide,Or on fleet pinions through the branches soar;Whilst overhead the rattling boughs, at times,Tell where the streaked raccoon or wild cat climbs.

Deep silence reigned o’er all the sable tide,Broke only by the swarthy pilot’s oar;Under the arching boughs the wanderers glide,And the dark ripplings curl from shore to shore;The startled wood-ducks ’neath the waters hide,Or on fleet pinions through the branches soar;Whilst overhead the rattling boughs, at times,Tell where the streaked raccoon or wild cat climbs.

Deep silence reigned o’er all the sable tide,

Broke only by the swarthy pilot’s oar;

Under the arching boughs the wanderers glide,

And the dark ripplings curl from shore to shore;

The startled wood-ducks ’neath the waters hide,

Or on fleet pinions through the branches soar;

Whilst overhead the rattling boughs, at times,

Tell where the streaked raccoon or wild cat climbs.

XI.Oft on the lofty banks, from jutting rocksThe buck looked wildly on the swift canoe;Oft o’er the bramble leaped the wary fox,With bushy tail and fur of ruddy hue;Or wheeling high and gathering still in flocks,The dark-winged crows did by their clamors shewWhere the lone owl, upon his moss-grown seat,Maintained, unvanquished yet, his drear retreat.

XI.

Oft on the lofty banks, from jutting rocksThe buck looked wildly on the swift canoe;Oft o’er the bramble leaped the wary fox,With bushy tail and fur of ruddy hue;Or wheeling high and gathering still in flocks,The dark-winged crows did by their clamors shewWhere the lone owl, upon his moss-grown seat,Maintained, unvanquished yet, his drear retreat.

Oft on the lofty banks, from jutting rocks

The buck looked wildly on the swift canoe;

Oft o’er the bramble leaped the wary fox,

With bushy tail and fur of ruddy hue;

Or wheeling high and gathering still in flocks,

The dark-winged crows did by their clamors shew

Where the lone owl, upon his moss-grown seat,

Maintained, unvanquished yet, his drear retreat.

XII.Far down the winding pass at length they spyWhere wider currents, bright as liquid gold,Spread glimmering in the sun; and to the eye,Still further down, broad Narraganset rolledHis host of waters azure as the sky;For breezes from the hoary ocean cooledHis heaving breast, and, with rejoicing glance,From shore to shore the wanton waters dance.

XII.

Far down the winding pass at length they spyWhere wider currents, bright as liquid gold,Spread glimmering in the sun; and to the eye,Still further down, broad Narraganset rolledHis host of waters azure as the sky;For breezes from the hoary ocean cooledHis heaving breast, and, with rejoicing glance,From shore to shore the wanton waters dance.

Far down the winding pass at length they spy

Where wider currents, bright as liquid gold,

Spread glimmering in the sun; and to the eye,

Still further down, broad Narraganset rolled

His host of waters azure as the sky;

For breezes from the hoary ocean cooled

His heaving breast, and, with rejoicing glance,

From shore to shore the wanton waters dance.

XIII.And now did Williams in his mind debate;—Should he that night cleave Narraganset’s flood,Or on the Seekonk’s bank till morning wait,And scour the while Mooshausick’s gloomy wood?“Oh, would that Heaven might there predestinateOn earth, Soul-Liberty! thy first abode,”(He often thought) “or where, in ocean’s arms,Aquidnay smiles in her wild virgin charms.”

XIII.

And now did Williams in his mind debate;—Should he that night cleave Narraganset’s flood,Or on the Seekonk’s bank till morning wait,And scour the while Mooshausick’s gloomy wood?“Oh, would that Heaven might there predestinateOn earth, Soul-Liberty! thy first abode,”(He often thought) “or where, in ocean’s arms,Aquidnay smiles in her wild virgin charms.”

And now did Williams in his mind debate;—

Should he that night cleave Narraganset’s flood,

Or on the Seekonk’s bank till morning wait,

And scour the while Mooshausick’s gloomy wood?

“Oh, would that Heaven might there predestinate

On earth, Soul-Liberty! thy first abode,”

(He often thought) “or where, in ocean’s arms,

Aquidnay smiles in her wild virgin charms.”

XIV.While thus he ponders, down the stream he sees,Where from th’ encroaching cove the wood retires,Dark wreaths of smoke rise o’er the lofty trees,And deems that there some village wakes its fires.“Waban,” he says, “seest thou yon dusky breeze?Say, from what town that curling smoke aspires?What valiant sachem holds dominion there?And what the number that he leads to war?”

XIV.

While thus he ponders, down the stream he sees,Where from th’ encroaching cove the wood retires,Dark wreaths of smoke rise o’er the lofty trees,And deems that there some village wakes its fires.“Waban,” he says, “seest thou yon dusky breeze?Say, from what town that curling smoke aspires?What valiant sachem holds dominion there?And what the number that he leads to war?”

While thus he ponders, down the stream he sees,

Where from th’ encroaching cove the wood retires,

Dark wreaths of smoke rise o’er the lofty trees,

And deems that there some village wakes its fires.

“Waban,” he says, “seest thou yon dusky breeze?

Say, from what town that curling smoke aspires?

What valiant sachem holds dominion there?

And what the number that he leads to war?”

XV.“No town—the feast of peace!”—the red man cried,And still with brawny arms impelled the oar;“The clans from Narraganset far and wide,And every tribe from Pokanoket’s shore,There smoke the pipe, and lay the axe aside,—The pipe my chief to Potowomet bore;Much they rejoice—their ancient hate forego,And deem the White Chief a good Manittoo.”

XV.

“No town—the feast of peace!”—the red man cried,And still with brawny arms impelled the oar;“The clans from Narraganset far and wide,And every tribe from Pokanoket’s shore,There smoke the pipe, and lay the axe aside,—The pipe my chief to Potowomet bore;Much they rejoice—their ancient hate forego,And deem the White Chief a good Manittoo.”

“No town—the feast of peace!”—the red man cried,

And still with brawny arms impelled the oar;

“The clans from Narraganset far and wide,

And every tribe from Pokanoket’s shore,

There smoke the pipe, and lay the axe aside,—

The pipe my chief to Potowomet bore;

Much they rejoice—their ancient hate forego,

And deem the White Chief a good Manittoo.”

XVI.A secret joy o’er Father Williams’ breastStole like the fragrance of a balmy morn,That breathes on sleep with fearful dreams opprest,And wakes to its delights the wretch forlorn;His toils and wanderings were not all unblest;Some joy to others had his sufferings borne;—But promised good brings doubt to the distrest,And thus still dubious he his guide addrest:

XVI.

A secret joy o’er Father Williams’ breastStole like the fragrance of a balmy morn,That breathes on sleep with fearful dreams opprest,And wakes to its delights the wretch forlorn;His toils and wanderings were not all unblest;Some joy to others had his sufferings borne;—But promised good brings doubt to the distrest,And thus still dubious he his guide addrest:

A secret joy o’er Father Williams’ breast

Stole like the fragrance of a balmy morn,

That breathes on sleep with fearful dreams opprest,

And wakes to its delights the wretch forlorn;

His toils and wanderings were not all unblest;

Some joy to others had his sufferings borne;—

But promised good brings doubt to the distrest,

And thus still dubious he his guide addrest:

XVII.“What singing bird has on the wandering wingBorne these strange tidings to my hunter’s ear?Where, on her pinions poising, did she sing,And with her faithless song his bosom cheer?”Waban replied, that he, while journeyingUnto the white man’s town, through forests drear,Had on Cohannet’s banks his brethren met,Bound to the banquet of the calumet.

XVII.

“What singing bird has on the wandering wingBorne these strange tidings to my hunter’s ear?Where, on her pinions poising, did she sing,And with her faithless song his bosom cheer?”Waban replied, that he, while journeyingUnto the white man’s town, through forests drear,Had on Cohannet’s banks his brethren met,Bound to the banquet of the calumet.

“What singing bird has on the wandering wing

Borne these strange tidings to my hunter’s ear?

Where, on her pinions poising, did she sing,

And with her faithless song his bosom cheer?”

Waban replied, that he, while journeying

Unto the white man’s town, through forests drear,

Had on Cohannet’s banks his brethren met,

Bound to the banquet of the calumet.

XVIII.And now hoarse murmurs reach our Founder’s ear,Rising behind a cape from crowds unseen;Then by the eastern marge they swiftly steer,Till shows a tufted isle its welcome screen;Veering to this, they gain a prospect nearOf the red hosts that throng the opposing green;—Hundreds on hundreds did the fires surround,Ran on the shores or verdant banks embrowned.

XVIII.

And now hoarse murmurs reach our Founder’s ear,Rising behind a cape from crowds unseen;Then by the eastern marge they swiftly steer,Till shows a tufted isle its welcome screen;Veering to this, they gain a prospect nearOf the red hosts that throng the opposing green;—Hundreds on hundreds did the fires surround,Ran on the shores or verdant banks embrowned.

And now hoarse murmurs reach our Founder’s ear,

Rising behind a cape from crowds unseen;

Then by the eastern marge they swiftly steer,

Till shows a tufted isle its welcome screen;

Veering to this, they gain a prospect near

Of the red hosts that throng the opposing green;—

Hundreds on hundreds did the fires surround,

Ran on the shores or verdant banks embrowned.

XIX.Along the strand their speed the racers try,And with their flying feet scarce touch the ground;From goal to goal the nimble hunters fly,Crowds shout above them, and the woods resound;Here their lithe limbs the swarthy wrestlers ply,—They tug, they writhe, they sweat, crowds shout around;And there the circles watch the doubtful game,Or greet the victor with their loud acclaim.

XIX.

Along the strand their speed the racers try,And with their flying feet scarce touch the ground;From goal to goal the nimble hunters fly,Crowds shout above them, and the woods resound;Here their lithe limbs the swarthy wrestlers ply,—They tug, they writhe, they sweat, crowds shout around;And there the circles watch the doubtful game,Or greet the victor with their loud acclaim.

Along the strand their speed the racers try,

And with their flying feet scarce touch the ground;

From goal to goal the nimble hunters fly,

Crowds shout above them, and the woods resound;

Here their lithe limbs the swarthy wrestlers ply,—

They tug, they writhe, they sweat, crowds shout around;

And there the circles watch the doubtful game,

Or greet the victor with their loud acclaim.

XX.Then Williams saw, beneath a shady bower,Miantonomi, Sachem young and brave,And Massasoit, Haup’s kind Sagamore,And old Canonicus, so wise and grave,Known by his peaceful pipe and tresses hoar,And by the scarlet coat our Founder gave;Round them their captains intermingled stood,All friendly now, though lately fierce for blood.

XX.

Then Williams saw, beneath a shady bower,Miantonomi, Sachem young and brave,And Massasoit, Haup’s kind Sagamore,And old Canonicus, so wise and grave,Known by his peaceful pipe and tresses hoar,And by the scarlet coat our Founder gave;Round them their captains intermingled stood,All friendly now, though lately fierce for blood.

Then Williams saw, beneath a shady bower,

Miantonomi, Sachem young and brave,

And Massasoit, Haup’s kind Sagamore,

And old Canonicus, so wise and grave,

Known by his peaceful pipe and tresses hoar,

And by the scarlet coat our Founder gave;

Round them their captains intermingled stood,

All friendly now, though lately fierce for blood.

XXI.From chief to chief the calumet they past,Sitting, in silent solemn council, round;Each thrice inhaled, thrice forth the vapors cast,—First to the power that bids the thunder sound,Then to the gods that ride the angry blast,Then to the fiends that dwell beneath the ground;These made propitious, they the hatchet gave,The bloody hatchet, to a peaceful grave.

XXI.

From chief to chief the calumet they past,Sitting, in silent solemn council, round;Each thrice inhaled, thrice forth the vapors cast,—First to the power that bids the thunder sound,Then to the gods that ride the angry blast,Then to the fiends that dwell beneath the ground;These made propitious, they the hatchet gave,The bloody hatchet, to a peaceful grave.

From chief to chief the calumet they past,

Sitting, in silent solemn council, round;

Each thrice inhaled, thrice forth the vapors cast,—

First to the power that bids the thunder sound,

Then to the gods that ride the angry blast,

Then to the fiends that dwell beneath the ground;

These made propitious, they the hatchet gave,

The bloody hatchet, to a peaceful grave.

XXII.“Waban,” said Williams, “we may venture now,But pause ye short of the sure arrow’s flight;”Instant the red man drove the foaming prowAlong the cleaving flood, and, at the sightOf the red hosts of men, the rose’s glowFading at once left Mary’s cheek all white;And sudden fears her children’s breasts surprise,And, with their little hands, they veil their eyes.

XXII.

“Waban,” said Williams, “we may venture now,But pause ye short of the sure arrow’s flight;”Instant the red man drove the foaming prowAlong the cleaving flood, and, at the sightOf the red hosts of men, the rose’s glowFading at once left Mary’s cheek all white;And sudden fears her children’s breasts surprise,And, with their little hands, they veil their eyes.

“Waban,” said Williams, “we may venture now,

But pause ye short of the sure arrow’s flight;”

Instant the red man drove the foaming prow

Along the cleaving flood, and, at the sight

Of the red hosts of men, the rose’s glow

Fading at once left Mary’s cheek all white;

And sudden fears her children’s breasts surprise,

And, with their little hands, they veil their eyes.

XXIII.Full in the front of that vast multitude,Beyond an arrow’s flight their skiff they stayed;A sudden silence hushed the listening wood;The crowds all paused, and with wild eyes surveyedThe pale-faced group, which in like stillness viewedThe wondering throngs. At length the woodland gladeMoves with their numbers; down the banks they pour,Swarming and gathering on the dark’ning shore.

XXIII.

Full in the front of that vast multitude,Beyond an arrow’s flight their skiff they stayed;A sudden silence hushed the listening wood;The crowds all paused, and with wild eyes surveyedThe pale-faced group, which in like stillness viewedThe wondering throngs. At length the woodland gladeMoves with their numbers; down the banks they pour,Swarming and gathering on the dark’ning shore.

Full in the front of that vast multitude,

Beyond an arrow’s flight their skiff they stayed;

A sudden silence hushed the listening wood;

The crowds all paused, and with wild eyes surveyed

The pale-faced group, which in like stillness viewed

The wondering throngs. At length the woodland glade

Moves with their numbers; down the banks they pour,

Swarming and gathering on the dark’ning shore.

XXIV.As when some urchin, with a heedless blow,The insect nations of the hive alarms,Down from their cells the watchful myriads flow,And earth and air grow black with murmuring swarms;So from the woods the wondering warriors go,So o’er the dark’ning strand their concourse forms;None save their haughty chiefs remain behind,And they the lofty banks and forest margin lined.

XXIV.

As when some urchin, with a heedless blow,The insect nations of the hive alarms,Down from their cells the watchful myriads flow,And earth and air grow black with murmuring swarms;So from the woods the wondering warriors go,So o’er the dark’ning strand their concourse forms;None save their haughty chiefs remain behind,And they the lofty banks and forest margin lined.

As when some urchin, with a heedless blow,

The insect nations of the hive alarms,

Down from their cells the watchful myriads flow,

And earth and air grow black with murmuring swarms;

So from the woods the wondering warriors go,

So o’er the dark’ning strand their concourse forms;

None save their haughty chiefs remain behind,

And they the lofty banks and forest margin lined.

XXV.Then silence reigned again—but still they stared;Some claspt their knives, and some their arrows drew;Then from his seat his form our Founder reared,The while beneath him rocked the frail canoe;His hand he raised and manly forehead bared,And straight their former friend the Sachems knew;“Netop, Whatcheer!” broke on the listening air;“Whatcheer! Whatcheer!” re-echoed here and there.

XXV.

Then silence reigned again—but still they stared;Some claspt their knives, and some their arrows drew;Then from his seat his form our Founder reared,The while beneath him rocked the frail canoe;His hand he raised and manly forehead bared,And straight their former friend the Sachems knew;“Netop, Whatcheer!” broke on the listening air;“Whatcheer! Whatcheer!” re-echoed here and there.

Then silence reigned again—but still they stared;

Some claspt their knives, and some their arrows drew;

Then from his seat his form our Founder reared,

The while beneath him rocked the frail canoe;

His hand he raised and manly forehead bared,

And straight their former friend the Sachems knew;

“Netop, Whatcheer!” broke on the listening air;

“Whatcheer! Whatcheer!” re-echoed here and there.

XXVI.Then o’er and the o’er the words burst loud and clear,In shouts that seemed to seek the joyous sky;With open arms and greetings of “Whatcheer,”Lived all the shores, and banks, and summits high;“Whatcheer! Whatcheer!” resounded far and near,“Whatcheer! Whatcheer!” the echoing woods reply;“Whatcheer! Whatcheer!” swells the exulting gales,Sweeps o’er the laughing hills and trembles thro’ the vales.

XXVI.

Then o’er and the o’er the words burst loud and clear,In shouts that seemed to seek the joyous sky;With open arms and greetings of “Whatcheer,”Lived all the shores, and banks, and summits high;“Whatcheer! Whatcheer!” resounded far and near,“Whatcheer! Whatcheer!” the echoing woods reply;“Whatcheer! Whatcheer!” swells the exulting gales,Sweeps o’er the laughing hills and trembles thro’ the vales.

Then o’er and the o’er the words burst loud and clear,

In shouts that seemed to seek the joyous sky;

With open arms and greetings of “Whatcheer,”

Lived all the shores, and banks, and summits high;

“Whatcheer! Whatcheer!” resounded far and near,

“Whatcheer! Whatcheer!” the echoing woods reply;

“Whatcheer! Whatcheer!” swells the exulting gales,

Sweeps o’er the laughing hills and trembles thro’ the vales.

XXVII.“Speed! Waban, speed!” with haste our Founder cried,Soon as the hollow echoes died afar;With lusty arm the hunter clove the tide,The swift canoe seemed moving through the air;One instant more and Williams, from her side,Sprang on a rock, (thence giving it to shareHis deathless fame,) and straight around him stood,In cheerful throngs, the Indian multitude.

XXVII.

“Speed! Waban, speed!” with haste our Founder cried,Soon as the hollow echoes died afar;With lusty arm the hunter clove the tide,The swift canoe seemed moving through the air;One instant more and Williams, from her side,Sprang on a rock, (thence giving it to shareHis deathless fame,) and straight around him stood,In cheerful throngs, the Indian multitude.

“Speed! Waban, speed!” with haste our Founder cried,

Soon as the hollow echoes died afar;

With lusty arm the hunter clove the tide,

The swift canoe seemed moving through the air;

One instant more and Williams, from her side,

Sprang on a rock, (thence giving it to share

His deathless fame,) and straight around him stood,

In cheerful throngs, the Indian multitude.

XXVIII.Miantonomi, stepping from the crowd,Stretched forth his brawny hand, and cried “Whatcheer!Welcome, my brother! say, what lowering cloud,O’er Seekonk’s eastern marge, impels thee here?Be it the Pequot in his numbers proud,I hold his greeting in this glittering spear;But oh! perchance my brother seeks this place,To share with us the sacred rites of peace?”

XXVIII.

Miantonomi, stepping from the crowd,Stretched forth his brawny hand, and cried “Whatcheer!Welcome, my brother! say, what lowering cloud,O’er Seekonk’s eastern marge, impels thee here?Be it the Pequot in his numbers proud,I hold his greeting in this glittering spear;But oh! perchance my brother seeks this place,To share with us the sacred rites of peace?”

Miantonomi, stepping from the crowd,

Stretched forth his brawny hand, and cried “Whatcheer!

Welcome, my brother! say, what lowering cloud,

O’er Seekonk’s eastern marge, impels thee here?

Be it the Pequot in his numbers proud,

I hold his greeting in this glittering spear;

But oh! perchance my brother seeks this place,

To share with us the sacred rites of peace?”

XXIX.“Not so, brave chief; it is to seek a home,By seer announced, by Heaven to me assigned;Yonder abode lies wrapt in sable gloom,Not of the Pequot, but the Plymouth kind;My promised harvest blighted in the bloom,My voiceless roof,—all, all have I resigned,And hither come to seek Mooshausick’s plain,And beg the gift once proffered me in vain.”

XXIX.

“Not so, brave chief; it is to seek a home,By seer announced, by Heaven to me assigned;Yonder abode lies wrapt in sable gloom,Not of the Pequot, but the Plymouth kind;My promised harvest blighted in the bloom,My voiceless roof,—all, all have I resigned,And hither come to seek Mooshausick’s plain,And beg the gift once proffered me in vain.”

“Not so, brave chief; it is to seek a home,

By seer announced, by Heaven to me assigned;

Yonder abode lies wrapt in sable gloom,

Not of the Pequot, but the Plymouth kind;

My promised harvest blighted in the bloom,

My voiceless roof,—all, all have I resigned,

And hither come to seek Mooshausick’s plain,

And beg the gift once proffered me in vain.”

XXX.Good Massasoit, who did these accents hear,Would now our Founder greet,—and with a face,That spoke a sorrow deep and most sincere:“Long have I strove,” he said, “in thought to traceWhat Manit most my Plymouth friends revere;For aye their deeds their better words efface,Their tongues much speak of Spirit good and great,Their hands much do the work of Chepian’s hate.”

XXX.

Good Massasoit, who did these accents hear,Would now our Founder greet,—and with a face,That spoke a sorrow deep and most sincere:“Long have I strove,” he said, “in thought to traceWhat Manit most my Plymouth friends revere;For aye their deeds their better words efface,Their tongues much speak of Spirit good and great,Their hands much do the work of Chepian’s hate.”

Good Massasoit, who did these accents hear,

Would now our Founder greet,—and with a face,

That spoke a sorrow deep and most sincere:

“Long have I strove,” he said, “in thought to trace

What Manit most my Plymouth friends revere;

For aye their deeds their better words efface,

Their tongues much speak of Spirit good and great,

Their hands much do the work of Chepian’s hate.”

XXXI.Here grave Canonicus came from the throng,—“Welcome, my son!” exclaimed the aged chief,“Bear thou the inflictions of thy kindred’s wrongWith man’s stout courage, not with woman’s grief;The lands thou seëst shall to thee belong,And for thy comforts lost, a moment briefShall all the loss repair;—o’er yonder heightIs where till lately Chepian reigned in might.

XXXI.

Here grave Canonicus came from the throng,—“Welcome, my son!” exclaimed the aged chief,“Bear thou the inflictions of thy kindred’s wrongWith man’s stout courage, not with woman’s grief;The lands thou seëst shall to thee belong,And for thy comforts lost, a moment briefShall all the loss repair;—o’er yonder heightIs where till lately Chepian reigned in might.

Here grave Canonicus came from the throng,—

“Welcome, my son!” exclaimed the aged chief,

“Bear thou the inflictions of thy kindred’s wrong

With man’s stout courage, not with woman’s grief;

The lands thou seëst shall to thee belong,

And for thy comforts lost, a moment brief

Shall all the loss repair;—o’er yonder height

Is where till lately Chepian reigned in might.

XXXII.“Abandoned by his Priest his land now lies,—Left by that Priest’s own slaves,—for slaves had heWho tilled his field and made his mansion rise,Adorned with mats and colors fair to see;The Priest is gone,—how, nothing care the wise;His timid followers from their labors flee,—All fear within the fiend’s control to stay;For who but Chepian’s Priest can Chepian sway?”

XXXII.

“Abandoned by his Priest his land now lies,—Left by that Priest’s own slaves,—for slaves had heWho tilled his field and made his mansion rise,Adorned with mats and colors fair to see;The Priest is gone,—how, nothing care the wise;His timid followers from their labors flee,—All fear within the fiend’s control to stay;For who but Chepian’s Priest can Chepian sway?”

“Abandoned by his Priest his land now lies,—

Left by that Priest’s own slaves,—for slaves had he

Who tilled his field and made his mansion rise,

Adorned with mats and colors fair to see;

The Priest is gone,—how, nothing care the wise;

His timid followers from their labors flee,—

All fear within the fiend’s control to stay;

For who but Chepian’s Priest can Chepian sway?”

XXXIII.So spake Canonicus, the wise and old,—While shouts on shouts a full accordance shewed,—Then turned and sought the late forsaken hold;Our Sire, the matron, and her charge pursued;The ready tribes, behind them forming, rolledIn march triumphant onward through the wood,Cheering the exile’s home; and as they sped,Earth rumbled under their far-thundering tread.

XXXIII.

So spake Canonicus, the wise and old,—While shouts on shouts a full accordance shewed,—Then turned and sought the late forsaken hold;Our Sire, the matron, and her charge pursued;The ready tribes, behind them forming, rolledIn march triumphant onward through the wood,Cheering the exile’s home; and as they sped,Earth rumbled under their far-thundering tread.

So spake Canonicus, the wise and old,—

While shouts on shouts a full accordance shewed,—

Then turned and sought the late forsaken hold;

Our Sire, the matron, and her charge pursued;

The ready tribes, behind them forming, rolled

In march triumphant onward through the wood,

Cheering the exile’s home; and as they sped,

Earth rumbled under their far-thundering tread.

XXXIV.The forest branches, woven overhead,Shut out the day and cast a twilight gloom;—For where long since extends the verdant mead,Shines the fair palace, beauteous gardens bloom,One vault of green o’er-roofed a palisadeOf trunks and brambles, boscage, brake and broom;—Amid which chafed the warriors’ surly mood,And cracked and crashed the thickets as they trod.

XXXIV.

The forest branches, woven overhead,Shut out the day and cast a twilight gloom;—For where long since extends the verdant mead,Shines the fair palace, beauteous gardens bloom,One vault of green o’er-roofed a palisadeOf trunks and brambles, boscage, brake and broom;—Amid which chafed the warriors’ surly mood,And cracked and crashed the thickets as they trod.

The forest branches, woven overhead,

Shut out the day and cast a twilight gloom;—

For where long since extends the verdant mead,

Shines the fair palace, beauteous gardens bloom,

One vault of green o’er-roofed a palisade

Of trunks and brambles, boscage, brake and broom;—

Amid which chafed the warriors’ surly mood,

And cracked and crashed the thickets as they trod.

XXXV.They gained the height where now the Muses reign—Where now Brown’s bounty[21]to the human mindLinks earth and heaven; the fruit of honest gainMoulding the youthful soul, by taste refined,To truth’s eternal quest.—How poor and vain,To such high bounty, seems a meaner kind;—But this in after times;—for forests thenMantled the height and swarmed with savage men.[21]Brown University.

XXXV.

They gained the height where now the Muses reign—Where now Brown’s bounty[21]to the human mindLinks earth and heaven; the fruit of honest gainMoulding the youthful soul, by taste refined,To truth’s eternal quest.—How poor and vain,To such high bounty, seems a meaner kind;—But this in after times;—for forests thenMantled the height and swarmed with savage men.

They gained the height where now the Muses reign—

Where now Brown’s bounty[21]to the human mind

Links earth and heaven; the fruit of honest gain

Moulding the youthful soul, by taste refined,

To truth’s eternal quest.—How poor and vain,

To such high bounty, seems a meaner kind;—

But this in after times;—for forests then

Mantled the height and swarmed with savage men.

[21]Brown University.

XXXVI.Thence, in the vale below, our Founder seesWhere dark Mooshausick rolls, and seaward casts,Its waters,—rolling under lofty treesWith crossing branches, thick as e’er the mastsThat shall, thereafter, on the wanton breezeDisplay their banners, when, in sounding blasts,The cannon utters its triumphant voice,And bids the land through all its States rejoice.

XXXVI.

Thence, in the vale below, our Founder seesWhere dark Mooshausick rolls, and seaward casts,Its waters,—rolling under lofty treesWith crossing branches, thick as e’er the mastsThat shall, thereafter, on the wanton breezeDisplay their banners, when, in sounding blasts,The cannon utters its triumphant voice,And bids the land through all its States rejoice.

Thence, in the vale below, our Founder sees

Where dark Mooshausick rolls, and seaward casts,

Its waters,—rolling under lofty trees

With crossing branches, thick as e’er the masts

That shall, thereafter, on the wanton breeze

Display their banners, when, in sounding blasts,

The cannon utters its triumphant voice,

And bids the land through all its States rejoice.

XXXVII.And thence, with prescient eye, he gazes farO’er the rude sites of palaces and shrines,Where Grecian beauty to the buxom airShall rise resplendent in its shapely lines;Ay, almost hears the future pavements jarBeneath a people’s wealth, and half divinesFrom thee, Soul-Liberty! what glories waitThy earliest altars—thy predestined State.

XXXVII.

And thence, with prescient eye, he gazes farO’er the rude sites of palaces and shrines,Where Grecian beauty to the buxom airShall rise resplendent in its shapely lines;Ay, almost hears the future pavements jarBeneath a people’s wealth, and half divinesFrom thee, Soul-Liberty! what glories waitThy earliest altars—thy predestined State.

And thence, with prescient eye, he gazes far

O’er the rude sites of palaces and shrines,

Where Grecian beauty to the buxom air

Shall rise resplendent in its shapely lines;

Ay, almost hears the future pavements jar

Beneath a people’s wealth, and half divines

From thee, Soul-Liberty! what glories wait

Thy earliest altars—thy predestined State.

XXXVIII.Then down the steep, by paths scored in its side,Where frequent deer had sought the floods below,He past, still following his dusky guideAnd stooping often under drooping bough,To a broad cultured field, expanding wideBetwixt dense thickets and Mooshausick’s flow.Its deep green rows of waving maize foretoldAbundant harvest from a fertile mould.

XXXVIII.

Then down the steep, by paths scored in its side,Where frequent deer had sought the floods below,He past, still following his dusky guideAnd stooping often under drooping bough,To a broad cultured field, expanding wideBetwixt dense thickets and Mooshausick’s flow.Its deep green rows of waving maize foretoldAbundant harvest from a fertile mould.

Then down the steep, by paths scored in its side,

Where frequent deer had sought the floods below,

He past, still following his dusky guide

And stooping often under drooping bough,

To a broad cultured field, expanding wide

Betwixt dense thickets and Mooshausick’s flow.

Its deep green rows of waving maize foretold

Abundant harvest from a fertile mould.

XXXIX.The Priest’s forsaken lodge rose thereamid,Beside a fountain on a verdant lawn,Spacious as some great Sachem’s, and half-hidIn mantling vines wherewith it was o’ergrown;And Williams thought of what his warrior didOn that dark bloody night, so direly known,—Mourning the fate that caused the Sorcerer’s doom;Yet sees its fruit, a temporary home.

XXXIX.

The Priest’s forsaken lodge rose thereamid,Beside a fountain on a verdant lawn,Spacious as some great Sachem’s, and half-hidIn mantling vines wherewith it was o’ergrown;And Williams thought of what his warrior didOn that dark bloody night, so direly known,—Mourning the fate that caused the Sorcerer’s doom;Yet sees its fruit, a temporary home.

The Priest’s forsaken lodge rose thereamid,

Beside a fountain on a verdant lawn,

Spacious as some great Sachem’s, and half-hid

In mantling vines wherewith it was o’ergrown;

And Williams thought of what his warrior did

On that dark bloody night, so direly known,—

Mourning the fate that caused the Sorcerer’s doom;

Yet sees its fruit, a temporary home.

XL.But some last scruples still his mind assail;For, ah! what rites had made the place profane!When thus the chief:—“No more my son bewailThy comforts lost; let the Great Spirit reignWhere Chepian reigned; ay, let thy God prevail;Be thou His Priest, and this thine own domain;From wild Pawtucket to Pawtuxet’s boundsTo thee and thine be all the teeming grounds.”

XL.

But some last scruples still his mind assail;For, ah! what rites had made the place profane!When thus the chief:—“No more my son bewailThy comforts lost; let the Great Spirit reignWhere Chepian reigned; ay, let thy God prevail;Be thou His Priest, and this thine own domain;From wild Pawtucket to Pawtuxet’s boundsTo thee and thine be all the teeming grounds.”

But some last scruples still his mind assail;

For, ah! what rites had made the place profane!

When thus the chief:—“No more my son bewail

Thy comforts lost; let the Great Spirit reign

Where Chepian reigned; ay, let thy God prevail;

Be thou His Priest, and this thine own domain;

From wild Pawtucket to Pawtuxet’s bounds

To thee and thine be all the teeming grounds.”

XLI.High thanks Sire Williams paid;—but as he spake,Came over him a feeling passing strange;A prophet’s rapture in his breast did wake;For, at that moment, down the boundless rangeOf heavenly spheres did some bright being takeWing to his soul, and wrought to suited changeThe visual nerve, and straight in outward spaceStood manifest in its celestial grace.[22][22]Seenote.

XLI.

High thanks Sire Williams paid;—but as he spake,Came over him a feeling passing strange;A prophet’s rapture in his breast did wake;For, at that moment, down the boundless rangeOf heavenly spheres did some bright being takeWing to his soul, and wrought to suited changeThe visual nerve, and straight in outward spaceStood manifest in its celestial grace.[22]

High thanks Sire Williams paid;—but as he spake,

Came over him a feeling passing strange;

A prophet’s rapture in his breast did wake;

For, at that moment, down the boundless range

Of heavenly spheres did some bright being take

Wing to his soul, and wrought to suited change

The visual nerve, and straight in outward space

Stood manifest in its celestial grace.[22]

[22]Seenote.

XLII.At once he cried, “I see! I see the seer!His very form, his very shape and air!By yonder fount;—the same his robes appear;The same his radiant eyes and flowing hair;Mary! my children! come! his accents hear;See age and youth one heavenly beauty share!”They with him moved, (yet ne’er the vision saw,)Until the father paused, transfixed in sacred awe.

XLII.

At once he cried, “I see! I see the seer!His very form, his very shape and air!By yonder fount;—the same his robes appear;The same his radiant eyes and flowing hair;Mary! my children! come! his accents hear;See age and youth one heavenly beauty share!”They with him moved, (yet ne’er the vision saw,)Until the father paused, transfixed in sacred awe.

At once he cried, “I see! I see the seer!

His very form, his very shape and air!

By yonder fount;—the same his robes appear;

The same his radiant eyes and flowing hair;

Mary! my children! come! his accents hear;

See age and youth one heavenly beauty share!”

They with him moved, (yet ne’er the vision saw,)

Until the father paused, transfixed in sacred awe.

XLIII.For strange to tell, youth’s lingering light beganTo spread fresh glories o’er that aged face;Till over beard, and hair, and visage wan,Burst the full splendor of angelic grace;A lambent flame about the forehead ran,And rainbow hues the earthly robes displace;The curling locks, like beams of living light,Streamed back and glowed insufferably bright.

XLIII.

For strange to tell, youth’s lingering light beganTo spread fresh glories o’er that aged face;Till over beard, and hair, and visage wan,Burst the full splendor of angelic grace;A lambent flame about the forehead ran,And rainbow hues the earthly robes displace;The curling locks, like beams of living light,Streamed back and glowed insufferably bright.

For strange to tell, youth’s lingering light began

To spread fresh glories o’er that aged face;

Till over beard, and hair, and visage wan,

Burst the full splendor of angelic grace;

A lambent flame about the forehead ran,

And rainbow hues the earthly robes displace;

The curling locks, like beams of living light,

Streamed back and glowed insufferably bright.

XLIV.The figure seemed to grow; its dazzling eyesWere for a while upon Sire Williams bent,Then upward turned, and, looking to the skies,Spake hope in God with silence eloquent.Still did it brighten, still its stature rise,With Heaven’s own grandeur seeming to augment;—The pilgrim staff no longer did it hold,But on an Anchor leant that blazed ethereal gold.

XLIV.

The figure seemed to grow; its dazzling eyesWere for a while upon Sire Williams bent,Then upward turned, and, looking to the skies,Spake hope in God with silence eloquent.Still did it brighten, still its stature rise,With Heaven’s own grandeur seeming to augment;—The pilgrim staff no longer did it hold,But on an Anchor leant that blazed ethereal gold.

The figure seemed to grow; its dazzling eyes

Were for a while upon Sire Williams bent,

Then upward turned, and, looking to the skies,

Spake hope in God with silence eloquent.

Still did it brighten, still its stature rise,

With Heaven’s own grandeur seeming to augment;—

The pilgrim staff no longer did it hold,

But on an Anchor leant that blazed ethereal gold.

XLV.Our Father gazed, and, from that heavenward eye,Beheld the clear angelic radiance flow;And saw that figure, as it towered on high,With inward glory fill, dilate and growTranslucent,—and then fade,—as from the skyThe sunset fades or fades the radiant bow;Until, dissolving in transparent air,It disappeared and left no traces there.

XLV.

Our Father gazed, and, from that heavenward eye,Beheld the clear angelic radiance flow;And saw that figure, as it towered on high,With inward glory fill, dilate and growTranslucent,—and then fade,—as from the skyThe sunset fades or fades the radiant bow;Until, dissolving in transparent air,It disappeared and left no traces there.

Our Father gazed, and, from that heavenward eye,

Beheld the clear angelic radiance flow;

And saw that figure, as it towered on high,

With inward glory fill, dilate and grow

Translucent,—and then fade,—as from the sky

The sunset fades or fades the radiant bow;

Until, dissolving in transparent air,

It disappeared and left no traces there.

XLVI.Then low, on bended knees, he drops to ownThe Heaven-born vision, and his soul declare;His wife and children, near him kneeling down,Send up their hearts upon the wings of prayer;The dusky tribes, in crescent round them shown,Give ear;—hill, vale and forest listeners are;Force to each word their faithful echoes lend,And with their Ruler’s prayers their own ascend.

XLVI.

Then low, on bended knees, he drops to ownThe Heaven-born vision, and his soul declare;His wife and children, near him kneeling down,Send up their hearts upon the wings of prayer;The dusky tribes, in crescent round them shown,Give ear;—hill, vale and forest listeners are;Force to each word their faithful echoes lend,And with their Ruler’s prayers their own ascend.

Then low, on bended knees, he drops to own

The Heaven-born vision, and his soul declare;

His wife and children, near him kneeling down,

Send up their hearts upon the wings of prayer;

The dusky tribes, in crescent round them shown,

Give ear;—hill, vale and forest listeners are;

Force to each word their faithful echoes lend,

And with their Ruler’s prayers their own ascend.

XLVII.“Mysterious Power! who dost in wonders speak,We note thy tokens and their import spell;Let Persecution still its vengeance wreak—Let its fierce billows roll with mountain swell,Here must we Anchor, and their force repel.Here, more securely, shall our bannered StateBlazon the conscience sacred—ever free;Here shall she breast the coming storms of fateAnd ride triumphant o’er the raging sea,Her well-cast Anchor here, her lasting Hope in Thee!

XLVII.

“Mysterious Power! who dost in wonders speak,We note thy tokens and their import spell;Let Persecution still its vengeance wreak—Let its fierce billows roll with mountain swell,Here must we Anchor, and their force repel.Here, more securely, shall our bannered StateBlazon the conscience sacred—ever free;Here shall she breast the coming storms of fateAnd ride triumphant o’er the raging sea,Her well-cast Anchor here, her lasting Hope in Thee!

“Mysterious Power! who dost in wonders speak,

We note thy tokens and their import spell;

Let Persecution still its vengeance wreak—

Let its fierce billows roll with mountain swell,

Here must we Anchor, and their force repel.

Here, more securely, shall our bannered State

Blazon the conscience sacred—ever free;

Here shall she breast the coming storms of fate

And ride triumphant o’er the raging sea,

Her well-cast Anchor here, her lasting Hope in Thee!

XLVIII.“Here, thy assurance gives our wanderings rest,And shows where all our future toils must be;Lord! be our labors by thy mercies blest,And send their fruits to far posterity;Let our example still the Conscience free,Where’er she is by tyrant force enchained,And while the thraldom lasts, Oh! let her seeHer safety here, where, ever unprofanedBy persecution, her free altars are maintained.

XLVIII.

“Here, thy assurance gives our wanderings rest,And shows where all our future toils must be;Lord! be our labors by thy mercies blest,And send their fruits to far posterity;Let our example still the Conscience free,Where’er she is by tyrant force enchained,And while the thraldom lasts, Oh! let her seeHer safety here, where, ever unprofanedBy persecution, her free altars are maintained.

“Here, thy assurance gives our wanderings rest,

And shows where all our future toils must be;

Lord! be our labors by thy mercies blest,

And send their fruits to far posterity;

Let our example still the Conscience free,

Where’er she is by tyrant force enchained,

And while the thraldom lasts, Oh! let her see

Her safety here, where, ever unprofaned

By persecution, her free altars are maintained.

XLIX.“Accept, O Lord! our thanks for mercies past;Thou wast our cloud by day, our fire by night,While yet we journeyed through the dreary vast;Thou Canaan more than givest to our sight;—Lord! ’tis possessed, not seen from Pisgah’s height.We deeply feel this high beneficence;And ages hence our children shall reciteOf Thy protecting grace their Father’s sense,And, when they name their Home, Proclaim ThyProvidence!”

XLIX.

“Accept, O Lord! our thanks for mercies past;Thou wast our cloud by day, our fire by night,While yet we journeyed through the dreary vast;Thou Canaan more than givest to our sight;—Lord! ’tis possessed, not seen from Pisgah’s height.We deeply feel this high beneficence;And ages hence our children shall reciteOf Thy protecting grace their Father’s sense,And, when they name their Home, Proclaim ThyProvidence!”

“Accept, O Lord! our thanks for mercies past;

Thou wast our cloud by day, our fire by night,

While yet we journeyed through the dreary vast;

Thou Canaan more than givest to our sight;—

Lord! ’tis possessed, not seen from Pisgah’s height.

We deeply feel this high beneficence;

And ages hence our children shall recite

Of Thy protecting grace their Father’s sense,

And, when they name their Home, Proclaim ThyProvidence!”

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