CANTO THIRD.

[Scenes.The Wigwam—Massasoit and other Chiefs—The Wilderness—A Night in the Wilderness—The Narraganset or Coweset Country—Coweset Height.]

Nopain is keener to the ardent mind,Filled with sublime and glorious intents,Than when strict judgment checks the impulse blind,And bids to watch the pace of slow eventsTo time the action;—for it seems to bindThe ethereal soul upon a fire intense,Lit by herself within the kindling breast,Prompting to act, while she restrains to rest.

Nopain is keener to the ardent mind,

Filled with sublime and glorious intents,

Than when strict judgment checks the impulse blind,

And bids to watch the pace of slow events

To time the action;—for it seems to bind

The ethereal soul upon a fire intense,

Lit by herself within the kindling breast,

Prompting to act, while she restrains to rest.

II.Two nights had passed, and, Waban lingering still,Williams began to doubt his steadfast faith;Quick was his foot o’er forest, vale and hill,His swerveless eyes aye keeping true his path.Why does he tarry? and the doubts instilSuspicions in our Sire of waking wrathAgainst his purpose in the barbarous clan,Whose fears e’en then on future dangers ran.

II.

Two nights had passed, and, Waban lingering still,Williams began to doubt his steadfast faith;Quick was his foot o’er forest, vale and hill,His swerveless eyes aye keeping true his path.Why does he tarry? and the doubts instilSuspicions in our Sire of waking wrathAgainst his purpose in the barbarous clan,Whose fears e’en then on future dangers ran.

Two nights had passed, and, Waban lingering still,

Williams began to doubt his steadfast faith;

Quick was his foot o’er forest, vale and hill,

His swerveless eyes aye keeping true his path.

Why does he tarry? and the doubts instil

Suspicions in our Sire of waking wrath

Against his purpose in the barbarous clan,

Whose fears e’en then on future dangers ran.

III.But on the morrow’s morn, while Williams mused,—Anxious and wondering at the long delay,—The wigwam’s entrance, by the deer-skin closed,Abruptly opened, and a warrior gayGlided within it. To the sight unusedOf Keenomp trimmed as for the battle fray,Williams, recoiling, gazed with fixed surpriseOn the fierce savage and his fearful guise.

III.

But on the morrow’s morn, while Williams mused,—Anxious and wondering at the long delay,—The wigwam’s entrance, by the deer-skin closed,Abruptly opened, and a warrior gayGlided within it. To the sight unusedOf Keenomp trimmed as for the battle fray,Williams, recoiling, gazed with fixed surpriseOn the fierce savage and his fearful guise.

But on the morrow’s morn, while Williams mused,—

Anxious and wondering at the long delay,—

The wigwam’s entrance, by the deer-skin closed,

Abruptly opened, and a warrior gay

Glided within it. To the sight unused

Of Keenomp trimmed as for the battle fray,

Williams, recoiling, gazed with fixed surprise

On the fierce savage and his fearful guise.

IV.The eagle’s plumes waved round his hair of jet,Whose crest-like lock played lightly o’er his head;On breast and face the war-paints harshly met,Down from his shoulders hung his blanket red,With seeming blood his hatchet haft was wet,—Its edge of death was by his girdle stayed;Bright flashed his eyes, and, ready for the strife,Gleamed in his hand the dreadful scalping-knife.

IV.

The eagle’s plumes waved round his hair of jet,Whose crest-like lock played lightly o’er his head;On breast and face the war-paints harshly met,Down from his shoulders hung his blanket red,With seeming blood his hatchet haft was wet,—Its edge of death was by his girdle stayed;Bright flashed his eyes, and, ready for the strife,Gleamed in his hand the dreadful scalping-knife.

The eagle’s plumes waved round his hair of jet,

Whose crest-like lock played lightly o’er his head;

On breast and face the war-paints harshly met,

Down from his shoulders hung his blanket red,

With seeming blood his hatchet haft was wet,—

Its edge of death was by his girdle stayed;

Bright flashed his eyes, and, ready for the strife,

Gleamed in his hand the dreadful scalping-knife.

V.He placed a packet, bound, in Williams’ hands,And fired his pipe, and sitting, curled its smoke,The while our Founder broke the hempen bands,And gave the contents an exploring look.There found he, answered, all his late commandsTo Waban, ere the wigwam he forsook;And from his wife a brief epistle too,Which told her sorrows since their last adieu:

He placed a packet, bound, in Williams’ hands,And fired his pipe, and sitting, curled its smoke,The while our Founder broke the hempen bands,And gave the contents an exploring look.There found he, answered, all his late commandsTo Waban, ere the wigwam he forsook;And from his wife a brief epistle too,Which told her sorrows since their last adieu:

He placed a packet, bound, in Williams’ hands,

And fired his pipe, and sitting, curled its smoke,

The while our Founder broke the hempen bands,

And gave the contents an exploring look.

There found he, answered, all his late commands

To Waban, ere the wigwam he forsook;

And from his wife a brief epistle too,

Which told her sorrows since their last adieu:

VI.How came the messengers with arméd menTo search her mansion for “the heretic;”How his escape provoked their wrath—and thenHow they condemned him for his feigning sick;But with the thought consoled themselves again,That he had perished in the tempest thick;God’s righteous retribution, setting freeTheir Israel from his heinous heresy.

VI.

How came the messengers with arméd menTo search her mansion for “the heretic;”How his escape provoked their wrath—and thenHow they condemned him for his feigning sick;But with the thought consoled themselves again,That he had perished in the tempest thick;God’s righteous retribution, setting freeTheir Israel from his heinous heresy.

How came the messengers with arméd men

To search her mansion for “the heretic;”

How his escape provoked their wrath—and then

How they condemned him for his feigning sick;

But with the thought consoled themselves again,

That he had perished in the tempest thick;

God’s righteous retribution, setting free

Their Israel from his heinous heresy.

VII.But, as he reads, the warrior starting cries,“War! war! my brother.”—Williams drops his hand,And at the voice perceives, in altered guiseTill now unknown, the generous Waban standErect and tall, with fiercely flashing eyes,The while he pressed the hatchet in its band;“Brother, there’s war!” “With whom?” our Founder said;“Have I not friends among my brothers red?”

VII.

But, as he reads, the warrior starting cries,“War! war! my brother.”—Williams drops his hand,And at the voice perceives, in altered guiseTill now unknown, the generous Waban standErect and tall, with fiercely flashing eyes,The while he pressed the hatchet in its band;“Brother, there’s war!” “With whom?” our Founder said;“Have I not friends among my brothers red?”

But, as he reads, the warrior starting cries,

“War! war! my brother.”—Williams drops his hand,

And at the voice perceives, in altered guise

Till now unknown, the generous Waban stand

Erect and tall, with fiercely flashing eyes,

The while he pressed the hatchet in its band;

“Brother, there’s war!” “With whom?” our Founder said;

“Have I not friends among my brothers red?”

VIII.“Haup’s valiant Sachem is my brother’s friend,”Red Waban answered; “and I come beforeHim, and the train of Keenomps who attendHim, coming here—our mightiest Sagamore—To ask my brother that his aid he lend’Gainst Narraganset’s hatchet stained with gore;Miantonomi lifts it o’er his head,Gives the loud whoop, and names our valiant dead.”

VIII.

“Haup’s valiant Sachem is my brother’s friend,”Red Waban answered; “and I come beforeHim, and the train of Keenomps who attendHim, coming here—our mightiest Sagamore—To ask my brother that his aid he lend’Gainst Narraganset’s hatchet stained with gore;Miantonomi lifts it o’er his head,Gives the loud whoop, and names our valiant dead.”

“Haup’s valiant Sachem is my brother’s friend,”

Red Waban answered; “and I come before

Him, and the train of Keenomps who attend

Him, coming here—our mightiest Sagamore—

To ask my brother that his aid he lend

’Gainst Narraganset’s hatchet stained with gore;

Miantonomi lifts it o’er his head,

Gives the loud whoop, and names our valiant dead.”

IX.No time there was for Williams to replyEre near the lodge there rose a trampling sound,And warriors entered, stained with every dye,Crested and plumed, with—to their girdles bound—The knife and hatchet; whilst the battle cryBurst from the crowds that flocked the lodge around,And lighted up, in every Keenomp’s eyeThat stared within, a dreadful sympathy.

IX.

No time there was for Williams to replyEre near the lodge there rose a trampling sound,And warriors entered, stained with every dye,Crested and plumed, with—to their girdles bound—The knife and hatchet; whilst the battle cryBurst from the crowds that flocked the lodge around,And lighted up, in every Keenomp’s eyeThat stared within, a dreadful sympathy.

No time there was for Williams to reply

Ere near the lodge there rose a trampling sound,

And warriors entered, stained with every dye,

Crested and plumed, with—to their girdles bound—

The knife and hatchet; whilst the battle cry

Burst from the crowds that flocked the lodge around,

And lighted up, in every Keenomp’s eye

That stared within, a dreadful sympathy.

X.Amid the train came Massasoit old,But not too old for direst battle fray;Strong was his arm as was his spirit bold;His judgment, bettered by experience gray,The wildest passions of his tribe controlled,And checked their fury in its headlong way;Still with the whites his peace he had maintained,The terror of whose aid his foes restrained.

Amid the train came Massasoit old,But not too old for direst battle fray;Strong was his arm as was his spirit bold;His judgment, bettered by experience gray,The wildest passions of his tribe controlled,And checked their fury in its headlong way;Still with the whites his peace he had maintained,The terror of whose aid his foes restrained.

Amid the train came Massasoit old,

But not too old for direst battle fray;

Strong was his arm as was his spirit bold;

His judgment, bettered by experience gray,

The wildest passions of his tribe controlled,

And checked their fury in its headlong way;

Still with the whites his peace he had maintained,

The terror of whose aid his foes restrained.

XI.There too came Corbitant, austere of mood,And Annawan, who saw, in after times,Brave Metacom, and all of kindred blood,Slain, or enslaved and sold to foreign climes;And strong Appanow, of Pocasset’s wood,And other chiefs of names unmeet for rhymes;And round our Father, in the fearful trimOf savage war, they gathered, wroth and grim.

XI.

There too came Corbitant, austere of mood,And Annawan, who saw, in after times,Brave Metacom, and all of kindred blood,Slain, or enslaved and sold to foreign climes;And strong Appanow, of Pocasset’s wood,And other chiefs of names unmeet for rhymes;And round our Father, in the fearful trimOf savage war, they gathered, wroth and grim.

There too came Corbitant, austere of mood,

And Annawan, who saw, in after times,

Brave Metacom, and all of kindred blood,

Slain, or enslaved and sold to foreign climes;

And strong Appanow, of Pocasset’s wood,

And other chiefs of names unmeet for rhymes;

And round our Father, in the fearful trim

Of savage war, they gathered, wroth and grim.

XII.Each fired his pipe, and seat in silence took;Around the room a dreadful ring they made;—Their eyes stared fiercely through the wreathing smoke,And luridly their gaudy plumage played,The while, obscured, they did scarce earthly look,But seemed like fiends in their infernal shade;And still the vapors rose and naught they spoke,Till Massasoit thus the silence broke:

XII.

Each fired his pipe, and seat in silence took;Around the room a dreadful ring they made;—Their eyes stared fiercely through the wreathing smoke,And luridly their gaudy plumage played,The while, obscured, they did scarce earthly look,But seemed like fiends in their infernal shade;And still the vapors rose and naught they spoke,Till Massasoit thus the silence broke:

Each fired his pipe, and seat in silence took;

Around the room a dreadful ring they made;—

Their eyes stared fiercely through the wreathing smoke,

And luridly their gaudy plumage played,

The while, obscured, they did scarce earthly look,

But seemed like fiends in their infernal shade;

And still the vapors rose and naught they spoke,

Till Massasoit thus the silence broke:

XIII.“And is my brother here? What does he seek?Tow’rd Wamponand, upon the passing wing,A singing bird there went; its opening beakWas by Namasket’s wigwam heard to singThat thou art friendless, homeless, poor and weak,Seeking protection from an Indian King.Do the white Sagamores their vengeance wreak,E’en as the red ones, on their brethren?—Speak.”

XIII.

“And is my brother here? What does he seek?Tow’rd Wamponand, upon the passing wing,A singing bird there went; its opening beakWas by Namasket’s wigwam heard to singThat thou art friendless, homeless, poor and weak,Seeking protection from an Indian King.Do the white Sagamores their vengeance wreak,E’en as the red ones, on their brethren?—Speak.”

“And is my brother here? What does he seek?

Tow’rd Wamponand, upon the passing wing,

A singing bird there went; its opening beak

Was by Namasket’s wigwam heard to sing

That thou art friendless, homeless, poor and weak,

Seeking protection from an Indian King.

Do the white Sagamores their vengeance wreak,

E’en as the red ones, on their brethren?—Speak.”

XIV.Sire Williams answered: “’Twas no idle songSung by that bird which passed Namasket near;I am an exile these drear wilds among,And hope for kindness from the red men here.Oft had thy friendship to the pale-faced throng,That first Patuxet[13]peopled, reached my ear;And a whisper told me thou wouldst still be kindTo those who fly, and leave their all behind.”[13]Patuxet is the Indian name for Plymouth.

XIV.

Sire Williams answered: “’Twas no idle songSung by that bird which passed Namasket near;I am an exile these drear wilds among,And hope for kindness from the red men here.Oft had thy friendship to the pale-faced throng,That first Patuxet[13]peopled, reached my ear;And a whisper told me thou wouldst still be kindTo those who fly, and leave their all behind.”

Sire Williams answered: “’Twas no idle song

Sung by that bird which passed Namasket near;

I am an exile these drear wilds among,

And hope for kindness from the red men here.

Oft had thy friendship to the pale-faced throng,

That first Patuxet[13]peopled, reached my ear;

And a whisper told me thou wouldst still be kind

To those who fly, and leave their all behind.”

[13]Patuxet is the Indian name for Plymouth.

XV.Then rose the tawny monarch of the woodTo speak his memory, as became a chief;And back he cast his crimson robes, and stoodWith naked arm outstretched a moment brief;Commanding silence by that attitude,And to his words attention and belief.Often he paused, his eyes on Williams fixt,Whilst rang applause his weighty words betwixt.

XV.

Then rose the tawny monarch of the woodTo speak his memory, as became a chief;And back he cast his crimson robes, and stoodWith naked arm outstretched a moment brief;Commanding silence by that attitude,And to his words attention and belief.Often he paused, his eyes on Williams fixt,Whilst rang applause his weighty words betwixt.

Then rose the tawny monarch of the wood

To speak his memory, as became a chief;

And back he cast his crimson robes, and stood

With naked arm outstretched a moment brief;

Commanding silence by that attitude,

And to his words attention and belief.

Often he paused, his eyes on Williams fixt,

Whilst rang applause his weighty words betwixt.

XVI.“Brother,” he said, “full many a rolling yearHas cast its leaves and fruitage on the ground,And many a Keenomp, to his country dear,Has sate in death beneath his grassy mound,Since first the pale Awanux kindled hereHis council blaze, and so began to foundHis tribes and villages, and far and near,With thundering arms, to wake the red man’s fear.

XVI.

“Brother,” he said, “full many a rolling yearHas cast its leaves and fruitage on the ground,And many a Keenomp, to his country dear,Has sate in death beneath his grassy mound,Since first the pale Awanux kindled hereHis council blaze, and so began to foundHis tribes and villages, and far and near,With thundering arms, to wake the red man’s fear.

“Brother,” he said, “full many a rolling year

Has cast its leaves and fruitage on the ground,

And many a Keenomp, to his country dear,

Has sate in death beneath his grassy mound,

Since first the pale Awanux kindled here

His council blaze, and so began to found

His tribes and villages, and far and near,

With thundering arms, to wake the red man’s fear.

XVII.“Brother, attend! When first Awanux came,He was a child, not higher than my knee;Hunger and cold consumed and pinched his frame;Houseless on yonder naked shore was he;Waves roared between him and his corn and game,Snows clad the wilds, and winter vexed the sea;His big canoe shrunk from the angry flood,And death was on the barren strand he trod.

XVII.

“Brother, attend! When first Awanux came,He was a child, not higher than my knee;Hunger and cold consumed and pinched his frame;Houseless on yonder naked shore was he;Waves roared between him and his corn and game,Snows clad the wilds, and winter vexed the sea;His big canoe shrunk from the angry flood,And death was on the barren strand he trod.

“Brother, attend! When first Awanux came,

He was a child, not higher than my knee;

Hunger and cold consumed and pinched his frame;

Houseless on yonder naked shore was he;

Waves roared between him and his corn and game,

Snows clad the wilds, and winter vexed the sea;

His big canoe shrunk from the angry flood,

And death was on the barren strand he trod.

XVIII.“Brother, attend! I gave the infant food;My lodge was open and my fire was warm;He gathered strength, and felt a richer bloodRenew the vigor of his wasted arm;He grew—waxed strong—the trees began to bud;He asked for lands a little town to form;I gave him lands, and taught him how to plant,To fish and hunt,—for he was ignorant.

XVIII.

“Brother, attend! I gave the infant food;My lodge was open and my fire was warm;He gathered strength, and felt a richer bloodRenew the vigor of his wasted arm;He grew—waxed strong—the trees began to bud;He asked for lands a little town to form;I gave him lands, and taught him how to plant,To fish and hunt,—for he was ignorant.

“Brother, attend! I gave the infant food;

My lodge was open and my fire was warm;

He gathered strength, and felt a richer blood

Renew the vigor of his wasted arm;

He grew—waxed strong—the trees began to bud;

He asked for lands a little town to form;

I gave him lands, and taught him how to plant,

To fish and hunt,—for he was ignorant.

XIX.“Brother, attend! Still did Awanux grow;Still did he ask for land;—I gave him more—And more—and more, till now his hatchet’s blowIs at Namasket heard, with crash and roarOf falling oaks, and, like the whit’ning snow,His growing numbers spread my borders o’er;Scarce do they leave a scant and narrow placeWhere we may spread the blanket of our race.”

XIX.

“Brother, attend! Still did Awanux grow;Still did he ask for land;—I gave him more—And more—and more, till now his hatchet’s blowIs at Namasket heard, with crash and roarOf falling oaks, and, like the whit’ning snow,His growing numbers spread my borders o’er;Scarce do they leave a scant and narrow placeWhere we may spread the blanket of our race.”

“Brother, attend! Still did Awanux grow;

Still did he ask for land;—I gave him more—

And more—and more, till now his hatchet’s blow

Is at Namasket heard, with crash and roar

Of falling oaks, and, like the whit’ning snow,

His growing numbers spread my borders o’er;

Scarce do they leave a scant and narrow place

Where we may spread the blanket of our race.”

XX.Here paused the chief, as if to ask reply;Of thankless guests he spoke, and seemed to sayThat the white strangers grasped too eagerly,Nor heeded aught their benefactor’s sway.Ne’er to the Indian did our Sire denyHis share of Heaven’s free gifts; and, to allayThe ominous mistrust, he answered mildThe dusky king of Pokanoket’s wild:

XX.

Here paused the chief, as if to ask reply;Of thankless guests he spoke, and seemed to sayThat the white strangers grasped too eagerly,Nor heeded aught their benefactor’s sway.Ne’er to the Indian did our Sire denyHis share of Heaven’s free gifts; and, to allayThe ominous mistrust, he answered mildThe dusky king of Pokanoket’s wild:

Here paused the chief, as if to ask reply;

Of thankless guests he spoke, and seemed to say

That the white strangers grasped too eagerly,

Nor heeded aught their benefactor’s sway.

Ne’er to the Indian did our Sire deny

His share of Heaven’s free gifts; and, to allay

The ominous mistrust, he answered mild

The dusky king of Pokanoket’s wild:

XXI.“Brother, I know that all these lands are thine,These rolling rivers, and these waving trees,—From the Great Spirit came the gift divine;And who would trespass upon boons like these?I would take nothing, if the power were mine,Of all thy lands, lest it should Him displease;But for just meed shouldst thou some part resign,Would the Great Spirit blame the deed benign?”

XXI.

“Brother, I know that all these lands are thine,These rolling rivers, and these waving trees,—From the Great Spirit came the gift divine;And who would trespass upon boons like these?I would take nothing, if the power were mine,Of all thy lands, lest it should Him displease;But for just meed shouldst thou some part resign,Would the Great Spirit blame the deed benign?”

“Brother, I know that all these lands are thine,

These rolling rivers, and these waving trees,—

From the Great Spirit came the gift divine;

And who would trespass upon boons like these?

I would take nothing, if the power were mine,

Of all thy lands, lest it should Him displease;

But for just meed shouldst thou some part resign,

Would the Great Spirit blame the deed benign?”

XXII.“’Tis not the peäg,” said the sagamore,“Nor knives, nor guns, nor garments red as blood,That buy the lands I hold dominion o’er—Lands that were fashioned by the red man’s God;But to my friend I give, and take no moreThan to his generous bosom seemeth good;But still we pass the belt, and for the lands,He strengthens mine, and I make strong his hands.”

XXII.

“’Tis not the peäg,” said the sagamore,“Nor knives, nor guns, nor garments red as blood,That buy the lands I hold dominion o’er—Lands that were fashioned by the red man’s God;But to my friend I give, and take no moreThan to his generous bosom seemeth good;But still we pass the belt, and for the lands,He strengthens mine, and I make strong his hands.”

“’Tis not the peäg,” said the sagamore,

“Nor knives, nor guns, nor garments red as blood,

That buy the lands I hold dominion o’er—

Lands that were fashioned by the red man’s God;

But to my friend I give, and take no more

Than to his generous bosom seemeth good;

But still we pass the belt, and for the lands,

He strengthens mine, and I make strong his hands.”

XXIII.“Weak is my hand, brave chief,” our Sire replied;“Aid do I need, but none can I bestow;Yet on the vacant plain, by Seekonk’s tide,I fain would build, and peaceful neighbors know;But if my brother has that plain denied,Far tow’rds the setting sun will Williams go,And on the lands of other chiefs abide,Whose blankets are with ampler room supplied.”

XXIII.

“Weak is my hand, brave chief,” our Sire replied;“Aid do I need, but none can I bestow;Yet on the vacant plain, by Seekonk’s tide,I fain would build, and peaceful neighbors know;But if my brother has that plain denied,Far tow’rds the setting sun will Williams go,And on the lands of other chiefs abide,Whose blankets are with ampler room supplied.”

“Weak is my hand, brave chief,” our Sire replied;

“Aid do I need, but none can I bestow;

Yet on the vacant plain, by Seekonk’s tide,

I fain would build, and peaceful neighbors know;

But if my brother has that plain denied,

Far tow’rds the setting sun will Williams go,

And on the lands of other chiefs abide,

Whose blankets are with ampler room supplied.”

XXIV.As thus our Founder spake, this murmur lowCircled that savage group of warriors round,“The stranger will to Narraganset go!”“A hungry wolf shall in his path be found!”Rejoined stern Corbitant, whose eyes did glowWith kindling wrath;—then from his belt unboundHis hatchet and beneath his blanket hid;—Warrior to warrior glanced, as this he did.

XXIV.

As thus our Founder spake, this murmur lowCircled that savage group of warriors round,“The stranger will to Narraganset go!”“A hungry wolf shall in his path be found!”Rejoined stern Corbitant, whose eyes did glowWith kindling wrath;—then from his belt unboundHis hatchet and beneath his blanket hid;—Warrior to warrior glanced, as this he did.

As thus our Founder spake, this murmur low

Circled that savage group of warriors round,

“The stranger will to Narraganset go!”

“A hungry wolf shall in his path be found!”

Rejoined stern Corbitant, whose eyes did glow

With kindling wrath;—then from his belt unbound

His hatchet and beneath his blanket hid;—

Warrior to warrior glanced, as this he did.

XXV.Again Haup’s Sachem broke the fearful pause:“Brother, be wise; I gave thy brethren lands;They smoked my pipe, and they espoused my cause;They made me strong; and all the neighboring bandsForsook the Narraganset Sachem’s laws[14]And mine obeyed.—We weakened hostile hands;All dropt their arms and looked, but looked in vain,For my white friends to measure back the main.[14]Seenotes to Canto Fourth.

XXV.

Again Haup’s Sachem broke the fearful pause:“Brother, be wise; I gave thy brethren lands;They smoked my pipe, and they espoused my cause;They made me strong; and all the neighboring bandsForsook the Narraganset Sachem’s laws[14]And mine obeyed.—We weakened hostile hands;All dropt their arms and looked, but looked in vain,For my white friends to measure back the main.

Again Haup’s Sachem broke the fearful pause:

“Brother, be wise; I gave thy brethren lands;

They smoked my pipe, and they espoused my cause;

They made me strong; and all the neighboring bands

Forsook the Narraganset Sachem’s laws[14]

And mine obeyed.—We weakened hostile hands;

All dropt their arms and looked, but looked in vain,

For my white friends to measure back the main.

[14]Seenotes to Canto Fourth.

XXVI.“This leaf, which budded of their hope, now dies;The Narraganset warriors crest their hair;Their hatchets keen from troubled slumber riseAnd through Coweset make their edges glare;Chiefs strike the war-post,—blood is in their cries,And fierce their yells cleave Pokanoket’s air;They count already with revengeful eyesThe future scalps of vanquished enemies;—

XXVI.

“This leaf, which budded of their hope, now dies;The Narraganset warriors crest their hair;Their hatchets keen from troubled slumber riseAnd through Coweset make their edges glare;Chiefs strike the war-post,—blood is in their cries,And fierce their yells cleave Pokanoket’s air;They count already with revengeful eyesThe future scalps of vanquished enemies;—

“This leaf, which budded of their hope, now dies;

The Narraganset warriors crest their hair;

Their hatchets keen from troubled slumber rise

And through Coweset make their edges glare;

Chiefs strike the war-post,—blood is in their cries,

And fierce their yells cleave Pokanoket’s air;

They count already with revengeful eyes

The future scalps of vanquished enemies;—

XXVII.“And all for Wampanoag’s life-blood crave.On Seekonk’s marge the storm of war will burst;Lands might I give thee there but that the waveWill there run red with human slaughter first.And yet my brother and his friends are brave;His bulwarks there with guardian thunders pierced,Might frown on harm;—for surely he would fightBoth for his own and for the giver’s right.

XXVII.

“And all for Wampanoag’s life-blood crave.On Seekonk’s marge the storm of war will burst;Lands might I give thee there but that the waveWill there run red with human slaughter first.And yet my brother and his friends are brave;His bulwarks there with guardian thunders pierced,Might frown on harm;—for surely he would fightBoth for his own and for the giver’s right.

“And all for Wampanoag’s life-blood crave.

On Seekonk’s marge the storm of war will burst;

Lands might I give thee there but that the wave

Will there run red with human slaughter first.

And yet my brother and his friends are brave;

His bulwarks there with guardian thunders pierced,

Might frown on harm;—for surely he would fight

Both for his own and for the giver’s right.

XXVIII.“And when the Narragansets by our armsAre from the Seekonk driven far away,No more molested by the wild alarmsOf scalping knife and tomahawk’s affray,We may together sit, secure from harms,And smoke the calumet from day to day;And our descendants, all the years to come,Have but one fire—one undivided home.”

XXVIII.

“And when the Narragansets by our armsAre from the Seekonk driven far away,No more molested by the wild alarmsOf scalping knife and tomahawk’s affray,We may together sit, secure from harms,And smoke the calumet from day to day;And our descendants, all the years to come,Have but one fire—one undivided home.”

“And when the Narragansets by our arms

Are from the Seekonk driven far away,

No more molested by the wild alarms

Of scalping knife and tomahawk’s affray,

We may together sit, secure from harms,

And smoke the calumet from day to day;

And our descendants, all the years to come,

Have but one fire—one undivided home.”

XXIX.“Brother,” said Williams, “these thou seëst areHands that the blood of man ne’er crimsoned yet;Oft do I lift them to the God of prayer—Ah! how unseemly if with slaughter wet!But to the hostile Sachems I could bearThe pipe of peace, thy snow-white calumet,And quench the flame of strife—how better farThan win thy lands by all-devouring war!

XXIX.

“Brother,” said Williams, “these thou seëst areHands that the blood of man ne’er crimsoned yet;Oft do I lift them to the God of prayer—Ah! how unseemly if with slaughter wet!But to the hostile Sachems I could bearThe pipe of peace, thy snow-white calumet,And quench the flame of strife—how better farThan win thy lands by all-devouring war!

“Brother,” said Williams, “these thou seëst are

Hands that the blood of man ne’er crimsoned yet;

Oft do I lift them to the God of prayer—

Ah! how unseemly if with slaughter wet!

But to the hostile Sachems I could bear

The pipe of peace, thy snow-white calumet,

And quench the flame of strife—how better far

Than win thy lands by all-devouring war!

XXX.“With Waban for my guide, in friendly guise,Sachem, I would the arduous task essayTo heal those ancient feuds by counsel wise,And quell the wrath begotten long away;Were this not better than the sacrificeOf armies slain in many a bloody fray?Then may I plant, and, in each neighboring clan,Meet with a friend where’er I meet a man.

XXX.

“With Waban for my guide, in friendly guise,Sachem, I would the arduous task essayTo heal those ancient feuds by counsel wise,And quell the wrath begotten long away;Were this not better than the sacrificeOf armies slain in many a bloody fray?Then may I plant, and, in each neighboring clan,Meet with a friend where’er I meet a man.

“With Waban for my guide, in friendly guise,

Sachem, I would the arduous task essay

To heal those ancient feuds by counsel wise,

And quell the wrath begotten long away;

Were this not better than the sacrifice

Of armies slain in many a bloody fray?

Then may I plant, and, in each neighboring clan,

Meet with a friend where’er I meet a man.

XXXI.“Ha! Yengee,” said the Sachem, “wouldst thou goTo soothe the hungry panther scenting blood?Say, canst thou bid Pawtucket’s downward flowTurn and run backward to Woonsocket’s wood?The path to peace is shut;—the eager foeSharpens his darts, and treads his dances rude,And through the trembling groves the war-whoop trillsFrom bleak Manisses[15]to the Nipnet hills.[15]Manisses—Block Island.

XXXI.

“Ha! Yengee,” said the Sachem, “wouldst thou goTo soothe the hungry panther scenting blood?Say, canst thou bid Pawtucket’s downward flowTurn and run backward to Woonsocket’s wood?The path to peace is shut;—the eager foeSharpens his darts, and treads his dances rude,And through the trembling groves the war-whoop trillsFrom bleak Manisses[15]to the Nipnet hills.

“Ha! Yengee,” said the Sachem, “wouldst thou go

To soothe the hungry panther scenting blood?

Say, canst thou bid Pawtucket’s downward flow

Turn and run backward to Woonsocket’s wood?

The path to peace is shut;—the eager foe

Sharpens his darts, and treads his dances rude,

And through the trembling groves the war-whoop trills

From bleak Manisses[15]to the Nipnet hills.

[15]Manisses—Block Island.

XXXII.“Yengee! thou seest these Wampanoags brave—They are my Keenomps in the battle fray;Would it become Haup’s sagamore to craveInglorious rest for warriors strong as they?They shrink from nothing but a dastard’s grave:Bound to the stake, upon their lips would playThe smile of scorn. How can they crouch and cryFor peace?”—he said; and Williams made reply:

XXXII.

“Yengee! thou seest these Wampanoags brave—They are my Keenomps in the battle fray;Would it become Haup’s sagamore to craveInglorious rest for warriors strong as they?They shrink from nothing but a dastard’s grave:Bound to the stake, upon their lips would playThe smile of scorn. How can they crouch and cryFor peace?”—he said; and Williams made reply:

“Yengee! thou seest these Wampanoags brave—

They are my Keenomps in the battle fray;

Would it become Haup’s sagamore to crave

Inglorious rest for warriors strong as they?

They shrink from nothing but a dastard’s grave:

Bound to the stake, upon their lips would play

The smile of scorn. How can they crouch and cry

For peace?”—he said; and Williams made reply:

XXXIII.“The Great Spirit, almighty o’er the Whole,Wields earth at will and moulds the hearts of men;At his command torrents may backward roll,The hare may gambol in the panther’s den;In Him I trust, and in His strength my soulIs more than armies.—Let your brother thenAsk for himself, if not for thee or thine,That on these lands the sky of peace may shine.

XXXIII.

“The Great Spirit, almighty o’er the Whole,Wields earth at will and moulds the hearts of men;At his command torrents may backward roll,The hare may gambol in the panther’s den;In Him I trust, and in His strength my soulIs more than armies.—Let your brother thenAsk for himself, if not for thee or thine,That on these lands the sky of peace may shine.

“The Great Spirit, almighty o’er the Whole,

Wields earth at will and moulds the hearts of men;

At his command torrents may backward roll,

The hare may gambol in the panther’s den;

In Him I trust, and in His strength my soul

Is more than armies.—Let your brother then

Ask for himself, if not for thee or thine,

That on these lands the sky of peace may shine.

XXIV.“How could your brother plant, where all aroundWar’s tempest raging pours its showers of blood?Where from each thicket bursts the war-whoop’s sound,And death in ambush lurks in every wood?When would the feet of his dear friends be foundTo pass along the blood-stained solitude,And bring their all—their dearer far than life—Beneath uplifted axe and scalping knife?”

XXIV.

“How could your brother plant, where all aroundWar’s tempest raging pours its showers of blood?Where from each thicket bursts the war-whoop’s sound,And death in ambush lurks in every wood?When would the feet of his dear friends be foundTo pass along the blood-stained solitude,And bring their all—their dearer far than life—Beneath uplifted axe and scalping knife?”

“How could your brother plant, where all around

War’s tempest raging pours its showers of blood?

Where from each thicket bursts the war-whoop’s sound,

And death in ambush lurks in every wood?

When would the feet of his dear friends be found

To pass along the blood-stained solitude,

And bring their all—their dearer far than life—

Beneath uplifted axe and scalping knife?”

XXXV.Upon our Father’s words to meditate,That wise old chief kept silence for a space;Thus far he had prolonged the shrewd debate,And inly striven his bounties to retrace—Not, as it seemed at first, from growing hate,But so to magnify his purposed grace,That what he gave should be right worthy thoughtOf the much needed succor that he sought.

XXXV.

Upon our Father’s words to meditate,That wise old chief kept silence for a space;Thus far he had prolonged the shrewd debate,And inly striven his bounties to retrace—Not, as it seemed at first, from growing hate,But so to magnify his purposed grace,That what he gave should be right worthy thoughtOf the much needed succor that he sought.

Upon our Father’s words to meditate,

That wise old chief kept silence for a space;

Thus far he had prolonged the shrewd debate,

And inly striven his bounties to retrace—

Not, as it seemed at first, from growing hate,

But so to magnify his purposed grace,

That what he gave should be right worthy thought

Of the much needed succor that he sought.

XXXVI.“Keenomps!” at length thus spake the Sagamore,“Shall our white brother, not for me or mine,But for himself, seek Narraganset’s shore,Disperse the clouds, and let the sunlight shineFrom the blue sky of peace?—Our wounds are soreBut hatchets none too keen; and our designMay profit by delay, if he will lightHis council fire and gathering friends invite.

XXXVI.

“Keenomps!” at length thus spake the Sagamore,“Shall our white brother, not for me or mine,But for himself, seek Narraganset’s shore,Disperse the clouds, and let the sunlight shineFrom the blue sky of peace?—Our wounds are soreBut hatchets none too keen; and our designMay profit by delay, if he will lightHis council fire and gathering friends invite.

“Keenomps!” at length thus spake the Sagamore,

“Shall our white brother, not for me or mine,

But for himself, seek Narraganset’s shore,

Disperse the clouds, and let the sunlight shine

From the blue sky of peace?—Our wounds are sore

But hatchets none too keen; and our design

May profit by delay, if he will light

His council fire and gathering friends invite.

XXXVII.“His bow’s now broken, and his knife now dull,—But when his warriors shall around him throng—Its sharpened edge will thirst to peel the skullOf Narraganset foe;—and he, more strong,Will wield a mightier weapon, and, more fullOf valor, help us guard ourselves from wrong;Whilst many a soul he sends to join the ghostsThat cry for vengeance round Sowaniu’s coasts.

XXXVII.

“His bow’s now broken, and his knife now dull,—But when his warriors shall around him throng—Its sharpened edge will thirst to peel the skullOf Narraganset foe;—and he, more strong,Will wield a mightier weapon, and, more fullOf valor, help us guard ourselves from wrong;Whilst many a soul he sends to join the ghostsThat cry for vengeance round Sowaniu’s coasts.

“His bow’s now broken, and his knife now dull,—

But when his warriors shall around him throng—

Its sharpened edge will thirst to peel the skull

Of Narraganset foe;—and he, more strong,

Will wield a mightier weapon, and, more full

Of valor, help us guard ourselves from wrong;

Whilst many a soul he sends to join the ghosts

That cry for vengeance round Sowaniu’s coasts.

XXXVIII.“On Seekonk’s marge—our battle-stained frontier—His town will rise, and warlike will he feel;The foe must pass him if he strike us here;Our brother then will hang upon his heel,Hinder his progress, and salute his earWith the big thunders and the muskets’ peal;Lo! from the east the Tarrateen no moreDare pass the Yengee by the ocean shore.”

XXXVIII.

“On Seekonk’s marge—our battle-stained frontier—His town will rise, and warlike will he feel;The foe must pass him if he strike us here;Our brother then will hang upon his heel,Hinder his progress, and salute his earWith the big thunders and the muskets’ peal;Lo! from the east the Tarrateen no moreDare pass the Yengee by the ocean shore.”

“On Seekonk’s marge—our battle-stained frontier—

His town will rise, and warlike will he feel;

The foe must pass him if he strike us here;

Our brother then will hang upon his heel,

Hinder his progress, and salute his ear

With the big thunders and the muskets’ peal;

Lo! from the east the Tarrateen no more

Dare pass the Yengee by the ocean shore.”

XXXIX.As ceased the chief, a fierce smile lit the eyesAnd curled the muscles of those men of blood;They feared the number of their enemies;This hope was cheering, and all answered—good!All save stern Corbitant, whose visage isDark and portentous as a slumbering flood,Whose silent bosom holds the imaged storm,And seems the tempest that the skies deform.

XXXIX.

As ceased the chief, a fierce smile lit the eyesAnd curled the muscles of those men of blood;They feared the number of their enemies;This hope was cheering, and all answered—good!All save stern Corbitant, whose visage isDark and portentous as a slumbering flood,Whose silent bosom holds the imaged storm,And seems the tempest that the skies deform.

As ceased the chief, a fierce smile lit the eyes

And curled the muscles of those men of blood;

They feared the number of their enemies;

This hope was cheering, and all answered—good!

All save stern Corbitant, whose visage is

Dark and portentous as a slumbering flood,

Whose silent bosom holds the imaged storm,

And seems the tempest that the skies deform.

XL.Then rose each Keenomp, in his turn, and spake:Each said his knife was sharp, his hands were strong;But still such counsel as his chief might takeHe should deem wise, and so advise his throng.At length stern Corbitant did silence break;—But first unloosened from its leathern thongHis scalping knife, and then a circle trueWith its bare point upon the earth he drew.

XL.

Then rose each Keenomp, in his turn, and spake:Each said his knife was sharp, his hands were strong;But still such counsel as his chief might takeHe should deem wise, and so advise his throng.At length stern Corbitant did silence break;—But first unloosened from its leathern thongHis scalping knife, and then a circle trueWith its bare point upon the earth he drew.

Then rose each Keenomp, in his turn, and spake:

Each said his knife was sharp, his hands were strong;

But still such counsel as his chief might take

He should deem wise, and so advise his throng.

At length stern Corbitant did silence break;—

But first unloosened from its leathern thong

His scalping knife, and then a circle true

With its bare point upon the earth he drew.

XLI.“So move the hunters,” the grim sachem said,Then near the centre made of scores a few;“Here do the moose and deer the thickets threadTo certain death from them whose feet pursue;Do not the Yengees thus around us spread?Are we not hunted thus our forests through?Will Haup’s brave Sachem yield Awanux aid,While weep the spirits of his kindred dead?”

XLI.

“So move the hunters,” the grim sachem said,Then near the centre made of scores a few;“Here do the moose and deer the thickets threadTo certain death from them whose feet pursue;Do not the Yengees thus around us spread?Are we not hunted thus our forests through?Will Haup’s brave Sachem yield Awanux aid,While weep the spirits of his kindred dead?”

“So move the hunters,” the grim sachem said,

Then near the centre made of scores a few;

“Here do the moose and deer the thickets thread

To certain death from them whose feet pursue;

Do not the Yengees thus around us spread?

Are we not hunted thus our forests through?

Will Haup’s brave Sachem yield Awanux aid,

While weep the spirits of his kindred dead?”

XLII.“Go! thou dark Corbitant!” the old chief cried,“Unarmed, the stranger seeks our vacant land,—Far from his friends would plant by Seekonk’s tide,His blood within the hollow of our hand.When to the stranger has a chief deniedFood, fire, and space his blanket to expand?Hunted by him!—when come his friends he may,If timid deer we are, turn off the beasts of prey.

XLII.

“Go! thou dark Corbitant!” the old chief cried,“Unarmed, the stranger seeks our vacant land,—Far from his friends would plant by Seekonk’s tide,His blood within the hollow of our hand.When to the stranger has a chief deniedFood, fire, and space his blanket to expand?Hunted by him!—when come his friends he may,If timid deer we are, turn off the beasts of prey.

“Go! thou dark Corbitant!” the old chief cried,

“Unarmed, the stranger seeks our vacant land,—

Far from his friends would plant by Seekonk’s tide,

His blood within the hollow of our hand.

When to the stranger has a chief denied

Food, fire, and space his blanket to expand?

Hunted by him!—when come his friends he may,

If timid deer we are, turn off the beasts of prey.

XLIII.“He goes, and goes but for himself alone,To ask that peace between the nations be,And if the belt of Narraganset wonHe bring to Haup, ’twill be received by me.Now do I charge you, Keenomps, all as one,That on his path no lurking wolves ye be.Who dares with purpose fell his way to haunt,Dies by this hand—e’en were he Corbitant.

XLIII.

“He goes, and goes but for himself alone,To ask that peace between the nations be,And if the belt of Narraganset wonHe bring to Haup, ’twill be received by me.Now do I charge you, Keenomps, all as one,That on his path no lurking wolves ye be.Who dares with purpose fell his way to haunt,Dies by this hand—e’en were he Corbitant.

“He goes, and goes but for himself alone,

To ask that peace between the nations be,

And if the belt of Narraganset won

He bring to Haup, ’twill be received by me.

Now do I charge you, Keenomps, all as one,

That on his path no lurking wolves ye be.

Who dares with purpose fell his way to haunt,

Dies by this hand—e’en were he Corbitant.

XLIV.“Do thou, swift Waban, with the Yengee go,And point the way to Narraganset’s clan;If thou dar’st walk before the bended bow,Bring back the talks, that we the words may scan;In all things else to him obedience show—He is thy sachem—be thou Winiams’[16]man.But it were safe that thou the pipe should’st bearWithout that painted face and pluméd hair.”[16]The Wampanoags could not sayl, but usednin place of it.

XLIV.

“Do thou, swift Waban, with the Yengee go,And point the way to Narraganset’s clan;If thou dar’st walk before the bended bow,Bring back the talks, that we the words may scan;In all things else to him obedience show—He is thy sachem—be thou Winiams’[16]man.But it were safe that thou the pipe should’st bearWithout that painted face and pluméd hair.”

“Do thou, swift Waban, with the Yengee go,

And point the way to Narraganset’s clan;

If thou dar’st walk before the bended bow,

Bring back the talks, that we the words may scan;

In all things else to him obedience show—

He is thy sachem—be thou Winiams’[16]man.

But it were safe that thou the pipe should’st bear

Without that painted face and pluméd hair.”

[16]The Wampanoags could not sayl, but usednin place of it.

XLV.Then Williams brought his strings of wampum bright,And to the Keenomps each a present made,Which each received, and, mimicking the white,His thanks returned, and uncouth bow essayed;And Corbitant’s grim visage seemed to lightWith something like a smile that o’er it strayed,To see the wampum wreath our Founder flung,Where glittering on his breast the bauble hung.

XLV.

Then Williams brought his strings of wampum bright,And to the Keenomps each a present made,Which each received, and, mimicking the white,His thanks returned, and uncouth bow essayed;And Corbitant’s grim visage seemed to lightWith something like a smile that o’er it strayed,To see the wampum wreath our Founder flung,Where glittering on his breast the bauble hung.

Then Williams brought his strings of wampum bright,

And to the Keenomps each a present made,

Which each received, and, mimicking the white,

His thanks returned, and uncouth bow essayed;

And Corbitant’s grim visage seemed to light

With something like a smile that o’er it strayed,

To see the wampum wreath our Founder flung,

Where glittering on his breast the bauble hung.

XLVI.To Haup’s old chief a belt, with tinselryEnchased, he gave, and trimmed with gilded wire;Which when he donned, the warriors gazed in gleeUpon their Sachem in such brave attire;Then filing singly, each in his degree,They leave the lodge, and through the woods retire;The chief appointing Haup, whereat to beTo hear the issue of the embassy.

XLVI.

To Haup’s old chief a belt, with tinselryEnchased, he gave, and trimmed with gilded wire;Which when he donned, the warriors gazed in gleeUpon their Sachem in such brave attire;Then filing singly, each in his degree,They leave the lodge, and through the woods retire;The chief appointing Haup, whereat to beTo hear the issue of the embassy.

To Haup’s old chief a belt, with tinselry

Enchased, he gave, and trimmed with gilded wire;

Which when he donned, the warriors gazed in glee

Upon their Sachem in such brave attire;

Then filing singly, each in his degree,

They leave the lodge, and through the woods retire;

The chief appointing Haup, whereat to be

To hear the issue of the embassy.

XLVII.Waban and Williams only tarried there,And for the journey soon began to trim;The red man doft his plumes, and loosed his hair,And cleansed his visage of its colors grim;Our Founder chose his Indian gifts to bear,And pipe of peace, as well becoming him;And forth they sallied, as from middle skyThe sun looked down between the branches high.

XLVII.

Waban and Williams only tarried there,And for the journey soon began to trim;The red man doft his plumes, and loosed his hair,And cleansed his visage of its colors grim;Our Founder chose his Indian gifts to bear,And pipe of peace, as well becoming him;And forth they sallied, as from middle skyThe sun looked down between the branches high.

Waban and Williams only tarried there,

And for the journey soon began to trim;

The red man doft his plumes, and loosed his hair,

And cleansed his visage of its colors grim;

Our Founder chose his Indian gifts to bear,

And pipe of peace, as well becoming him;

And forth they sallied, as from middle sky

The sun looked down between the branches high.

XLVIII.Waban went foremost, upon nimble feet,Through ancient grove and over woodland glade;—His long black hair and blanket red, so fleetHe went, streamed backward in the breeze he made;Often his form did out of sight retreatBehind the crag—behind the thicket’s shade—And then his voice, along the echoing wood,Told when he paused, or where his way pursued.

XLVIII.

Waban went foremost, upon nimble feet,Through ancient grove and over woodland glade;—His long black hair and blanket red, so fleetHe went, streamed backward in the breeze he made;Often his form did out of sight retreatBehind the crag—behind the thicket’s shade—And then his voice, along the echoing wood,Told when he paused, or where his way pursued.

Waban went foremost, upon nimble feet,

Through ancient grove and over woodland glade;—

His long black hair and blanket red, so fleet

He went, streamed backward in the breeze he made;

Often his form did out of sight retreat

Behind the crag—behind the thicket’s shade—

And then his voice, along the echoing wood,

Told when he paused, or where his way pursued.

XLIX.At length upon Pawtucket’s marge they stood;They heard the thunder of his falls below;Though narrow was the pass, yet deep the flood,And frail the ice to bridge its dangerous flow;But on the bank a giant of the wood,A towering hemlock, waved its lofty bough;Waban his keen-edged hatchet promptly plied;It bowed, it fell, and bridged the sounding tide.

XLIX.

At length upon Pawtucket’s marge they stood;They heard the thunder of his falls below;Though narrow was the pass, yet deep the flood,And frail the ice to bridge its dangerous flow;But on the bank a giant of the wood,A towering hemlock, waved its lofty bough;Waban his keen-edged hatchet promptly plied;It bowed, it fell, and bridged the sounding tide.

At length upon Pawtucket’s marge they stood;

They heard the thunder of his falls below;

Though narrow was the pass, yet deep the flood,

And frail the ice to bridge its dangerous flow;

But on the bank a giant of the wood,

A towering hemlock, waved its lofty bough;

Waban his keen-edged hatchet promptly plied;

It bowed, it fell, and bridged the sounding tide.

L.Upstayed thereon from bank to bank they past,And now they travel under hostile sway:The night around them gathers thick and fast,Till, as more doubtful grows their devious way.Their blankets on the frozen earth they cast,And light the fire, and wait the coming day;—When safely they their journey may pursue,And greet the chiefs they seek in season due.

Upstayed thereon from bank to bank they past,And now they travel under hostile sway:The night around them gathers thick and fast,Till, as more doubtful grows their devious way.Their blankets on the frozen earth they cast,And light the fire, and wait the coming day;—When safely they their journey may pursue,And greet the chiefs they seek in season due.

Upstayed thereon from bank to bank they past,

And now they travel under hostile sway:

The night around them gathers thick and fast,

Till, as more doubtful grows their devious way.

Their blankets on the frozen earth they cast,

And light the fire, and wait the coming day;—

When safely they their journey may pursue,

And greet the chiefs they seek in season due.

LI.Williams that night lay on the snow-clad ground,With nothing o’er him but the starry blue;In parchéd maize and water pure he foundA sweet repast, that woke devotion true;For while he saw the soul constrained and bound,With wings enthralled, but not her eagle view,One pious prayer made every suffering light,—That he might free and speed her heavenward flight.

LI.

Williams that night lay on the snow-clad ground,With nothing o’er him but the starry blue;In parchéd maize and water pure he foundA sweet repast, that woke devotion true;For while he saw the soul constrained and bound,With wings enthralled, but not her eagle view,One pious prayer made every suffering light,—That he might free and speed her heavenward flight.

Williams that night lay on the snow-clad ground,

With nothing o’er him but the starry blue;

In parchéd maize and water pure he found

A sweet repast, that woke devotion true;

For while he saw the soul constrained and bound,

With wings enthralled, but not her eagle view,

One pious prayer made every suffering light,—

That he might free and speed her heavenward flight.

LII.The red man smoked his pipe, or trimmed the fire,And to our Father many a story toldOf barbarous battles and of slaughter direThat on Pawtucket’s marge befell of old;—How always son inherited from sireThe same fierce passions in like bosom bold;And wondered that his pale-faced chief could dareThe pipe between such angry Sachems bear.

LII.

The red man smoked his pipe, or trimmed the fire,And to our Father many a story toldOf barbarous battles and of slaughter direThat on Pawtucket’s marge befell of old;—How always son inherited from sireThe same fierce passions in like bosom bold;And wondered that his pale-faced chief could dareThe pipe between such angry Sachems bear.

The red man smoked his pipe, or trimmed the fire,

And to our Father many a story told

Of barbarous battles and of slaughter dire

That on Pawtucket’s marge befell of old;—

How always son inherited from sire

The same fierce passions in like bosom bold;

And wondered that his pale-faced chief could dare

The pipe between such angry Sachems bear.

LIII.“Ten summers since, on yonder margin green,”He thus continued in a sadder tone,“A strong old hunter—Keenomp he had beenOf many deeds—dwelt with his daughter lone:She, like the bright-eyed fawn, whose beauteous mienSo charms the hunter that he stands like stone;He, like the brawny stag, with burning eyeAnd antlers broad, and sinews that defy

LIII.

“Ten summers since, on yonder margin green,”He thus continued in a sadder tone,“A strong old hunter—Keenomp he had beenOf many deeds—dwelt with his daughter lone:She, like the bright-eyed fawn, whose beauteous mienSo charms the hunter that he stands like stone;He, like the brawny stag, with burning eyeAnd antlers broad, and sinews that defy

“Ten summers since, on yonder margin green,”

He thus continued in a sadder tone,

“A strong old hunter—Keenomp he had been

Of many deeds—dwelt with his daughter lone:

She, like the bright-eyed fawn, whose beauteous mien

So charms the hunter that he stands like stone;

He, like the brawny stag, with burning eye

And antlers broad, and sinews that defy

LIV.“The well-aimed shaft. Then Waban was a boy;And, lonely, loved to go, by moonlight dimOr dewy morn, to see, all life and joy,The Bright-Eyed Fawn. But ah! it chanced to himOne morn to seek her at her home’s employ—And, O! what havoc there!—what horrors grim!The old man lay in gore!—his daughter gone!His lodge in ashes! But the dewy lawn

LIV.

“The well-aimed shaft. Then Waban was a boy;And, lonely, loved to go, by moonlight dimOr dewy morn, to see, all life and joy,The Bright-Eyed Fawn. But ah! it chanced to himOne morn to seek her at her home’s employ—And, O! what havoc there!—what horrors grim!The old man lay in gore!—his daughter gone!His lodge in ashes! But the dewy lawn

“The well-aimed shaft. Then Waban was a boy;

And, lonely, loved to go, by moonlight dim

Or dewy morn, to see, all life and joy,

The Bright-Eyed Fawn. But ah! it chanced to him

One morn to seek her at her home’s employ—

And, O! what havoc there!—what horrors grim!

The old man lay in gore!—his daughter gone!

His lodge in ashes! But the dewy lawn

LV.“Showed prints of hostile feet. Waban is true—He followed on the trail—a devious route;Far up the winding stream the morning dewBetrayed their steps, and hers with theirs; here outThey turned—leaping from rock to rock, they drewStill onward far, until a thrilling shout,From far Woonsocket, died on Waban’s ears:He pauses—listens—and again he hears—

LV.

“Showed prints of hostile feet. Waban is true—He followed on the trail—a devious route;Far up the winding stream the morning dewBetrayed their steps, and hers with theirs; here outThey turned—leaping from rock to rock, they drewStill onward far, until a thrilling shout,From far Woonsocket, died on Waban’s ears:He pauses—listens—and again he hears—

“Showed prints of hostile feet. Waban is true—

He followed on the trail—a devious route;

Far up the winding stream the morning dew

Betrayed their steps, and hers with theirs; here out

They turned—leaping from rock to rock, they drew

Still onward far, until a thrilling shout,

From far Woonsocket, died on Waban’s ears:

He pauses—listens—and again he hears—

LVI.“ThePequot’syell! My Sachem sure has seenThe well-drawn arrow leave the red man’s bow;So Waban went—the steps he made betweenHim and his foes no memory left—e’en nowWaban is there; and, from behind a screen,Formed by the leaf of bush and bending bough,He saw the Bright-Eyed Fawn, bound to the stake—The fagots heaped around—the flames awake!

LVI.

“ThePequot’syell! My Sachem sure has seenThe well-drawn arrow leave the red man’s bow;So Waban went—the steps he made betweenHim and his foes no memory left—e’en nowWaban is there; and, from behind a screen,Formed by the leaf of bush and bending bough,He saw the Bright-Eyed Fawn, bound to the stake—The fagots heaped around—the flames awake!

“ThePequot’syell! My Sachem sure has seen

The well-drawn arrow leave the red man’s bow;

So Waban went—the steps he made between

Him and his foes no memory left—e’en now

Waban is there; and, from behind a screen,

Formed by the leaf of bush and bending bough,

He saw the Bright-Eyed Fawn, bound to the stake—

The fagots heaped around—the flames awake!

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