WHATCHEER. CANTO FIRST. [SCENES. The Fireside at Salem-The Wilderness-The Wigwam.] I SING of trials, toils and sufferings great, Which FATHER WILLIAMS in his exile bore, That he the conscience-bound might liberate, And to the soul her sacred rights restore; How, after flying persecution's hate, And roving long by Narraganset's shore, In lone Mooshausick's vale at last he sate, And gave soul-liberty her Guardian State. II. He was a man of spirit true and bold; Fearless to speak his thoughts whate'er they were; His frame, though light, was of an iron mould, And fitted well fatigue and change to bear; For God ordained that he should breast the cold And wet of northern wilds in winter drear, And of red savages protection pray From Christians, but-more savage still than they. III. Midwinter reigned; and Salem's infant town, The school-boys left the slippery hillock's crown, So keen the blast came o'er the eastern bay; And pale in vapors thick the sun went down, And the glassed forest cast a sombre frown. IV. The busy house-wife guarded well the door, That night, against the gathering winter storm Did well the walls of all the cot explore Where'er the snow-gust might a passage form ; And to the couch of age and childhood bore With anxious care the mantle thick and warm; And then of fuel gathered ample store, And bade the blaze up the rude chimney roar. V. That night sate Williams, with his children, by Did often brush the starting tear aside; For they at Spring the savage wilds must try,— 'Twas so decreed by ruthless bigotry. VI. Beside the good-man lay his Bible's fair Of Israel wandering o'er the desert's sand, And each assurance he had marked with care, Made by Jehovah, of the promised land; And from the sacred page had learned to dare The exile's peril, and his ills to bear. VII. And, while the holy book he pondered o'er, The exile's wanderings and the dungeon's pest, And some one, opening, instant entrance prest: A well-known elder was he, strict and sour, Strong in a church ensphered in civil power. VIII. "I come," he said in accents hard and stern, "The Governor's and Council's word to bear : That still thou dost thy specious tenets share IX. "Till spring we gave; and thou wast not to teach Of which condition thou committest breach, And dost her saints from Salem's church beguile; And plan, 'tis said, to found in easy reach A State where Antichrist himself may preach. X. "From such a State our blessed elders see The church may, even here, the infection share; And therefore have the Council made decree, That to the wilderness thou shalt not fare; But have their mandate hither sent by me, XI. Williams replied, "Thy message is unkind, — Nor are my nerves in their robuster mood; XII. "A voyage to England, and to start to-night Much less my consort and these pledges dear. XIII. "Much do I grieve," the elder then replied, "To bear this answer to the Governor ; ' Twill show that thou hast Church and State defied, And will I ween make not a little stir; And should a pinnace, on the morn espied O'er yonder waters speeding, bring with her A squad of soldiers, Underhill their guide, Be not surprised, but — Williams, quell thy pride!" XIV. This said, he turned and hastily withdrew, XV. "O! for a friend," still as he paced the floor, By which my glorious purpose may succeed; Yet there is one who is a friend indeed, XVI. Here dropt the friend of conscience on his knees, And prayed, with hand and heart to Heaven upreared; "O, thou, the God who parted Egypt's seas, And cloud or fire in Israel's van appeared, Send down thine angel now, if so it please, That forth from Church within the State ensphered XVII. Our Father ceased. The tempest roared around The cottage trembled, and the very ground |