the complete poetical works-第60部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



but　when　it　was　first　applied；　we　have　been　unable　to　discover。　

It　

would　seem　that　the　first　travellers　were　more　impressed　with　the



novel　and　striking　distribution　of　colors　on　the　surface　than

with　

the　astonishing　variety　of　form　into　which　the　cliffs　themselves　

have　been　worn。　。　。　。



〃Our　voyageurs　had　many　legends　to　relate　of　the　pranks　of　the　

Menni…bojou　in　these　caverns；　and；　in　answer　to　our　inquiries；　

seemed　disposed　to　fabricate　stories；　without　end；　of　the　

achievements　of　this　Indian　deity。〃　



Toward　the　Sun　his　hands　were　lifted。

In　this　manner；　and　with　such　salutations；　was　Father　Marquette　

received　by　the　Illinois。　　See　his　Voyages　et　Decouvertes；

Section　V。　









*************





THE　COURTSHIP　OF　MILES　STANDISH



I



MILES　STANDISH



In　the　Old　Colony　days；　in　Plymouth　the　land　of　the　Pilgrims；

To　and　fro　in　a　room　of　his　simple　and　primitive　dwelling；

Clad　in　doublet　and　hose；　and　boots　of　Cordovan　leather；

Strode；　with　a　martial　air；　Miles　Standish　the　Puritan　Captain。

Buried　in　thought　he　seemed；　with　his　hands　behind　him；　and

pausing

Ever　and　anon　to　behold　his　glittering　weapons　of　warfare；

Hanging　in　shining　array　along　the　walls　of　the　chamber；

Cutlass　and　corselet　of　steel；　and　his　trusty　sword　of　Damascus；

Curved　at　the　point　and　inscribed　with　its　mystical　Arabic

sentence；

While　underneath；　in　a　corner；　were　fowling…piece；　musket；　and

matchlock。

Short　of　stature　he　was；　but　strongly　built　and　athletic；

Broad　in　the　shoulders；　deep…chested；　with　muscles　and　sinews　of

iron；

Brown　as　a　nut　was　his　face；　but　his　russet　beard　was　already

Flaked　with　patches　of　snow；　as　hedges　sometimes　in　November。

Near　him　was　seated　John　Alden；　his　friend；　and　household

companion；

Writing　with　diligent　speed　at　a　table　of　pine　by　the　window；

Fair…haired；　azure…eyed；　with　delicate　Saxon　complexion；

Having　the　dew　of　his　youth；　and　the　beauty　thereof；　as　the

captives

Whom　Saint　Gregory　saw；　and　exclaimed；　〃Not　Angles；　but　Angels。〃

Youngest　of　all　was　he　of　the　men　who　came　in　the　Mayflower。



　　Suddenly　breaking　the　silence；　the　diligent　scribe

interrupting；

Spake；　in　the　pride　of　his　heart；　Miles　Standish　the　Captain　of

Plymouth。

〃Look　at　these　arms；〃　he　said；　〃the　warlike　weapons　that　hang

here

Burnished　and　bright　and　clean；　as　if　for　parade　or　inspection！

This　is　the　sword　of　Damascus　I　fought　with　in　Flanders；　this

breastplate；

Well　I　remember　the　day！　once　saved　my　life　in　a　skirmish；

Here　in　front　you　can　see　the　very　dint　of　the　bullet

Fired　point…blank　at　my　heart　by　a　Spanish　arcabucero。

Had　it　not　been　of　sheer　steel；　the　forgotten　bones　of　Miles

Standish

Would　at　this　moment　be　mould；　in　their　grave　in　the　Flemish

morasses。〃

Thereupon　answered　John　Alden；　but　looked　not　up　from　his

writing：

〃Truly　the　breath　of　the　Lord　hath　slackened　the　speed　of　the

bullet；

He　in　his　mercy　preserved　you；　to　be　our　shield　and　our　weapon！〃

Still　the　Captain　continued；　unheeding　the　words　of　the

stripling：

〃See；　how　bright　they　are　burnished；　as　if　in　an　arsenal　hanging；

That　is　because　I　have　done　it　myself；　and　not　left　it　to　others。

Serve　yourself；　would　you　be　well　served；　is　an　excellent　adage；

So　I　take　care　of　my　arms；　as　you　of　your　pens　and　your　inkhorn。

Then；　too；　there　are　my　soldiers；　my　great；　invincible　army；

Twelve　men；　all　equipped；　having　each　his　rest　and　his　matchlock；

Eighteen　shillings　a　month；　together　with　diet　and　pillage；

And；　like　Caesar；　I　know　the　name　of　each　of　my　soldiers！〃

This　he　said　with　a　smile；　that　danced　in　his　eyes；　as　the

sunbeams

Dance　on　the　waves　of　the　sea；　and　vanish　again　in　a　moment。

Alden　laughed　as　he　wrote；　and　still　the　Captain　continued：

〃Look！　you　can　see　from　this　window　my　brazen　howitzer　planted

High　on　the　roof　of　the　church；　a　preacher　who　speaks　to　the

purpose；

Steady；　straight…forward；　and　strong；　with　irresistible　logic；

Orthodox；　flashing　conviction　right　into　the　hearts　of　the

heathen。

Now　we　are　ready；　I　think；　for　any　assault　of　the　Indians；

Let　them　come；　if　they　like；　and　the　sooner　they　try　it　the

better；

Let　them　come　if　they　like；　be　it　sagamore；　sachem；　or　pow…wow；

Aspinet；　Samoset；　Corbitant；　Squanto；　or　Tokamahamon！〃



　　Long　at　the　window　he　stood；　and　wistfully　gazed　on　the

landscape；

Washed　with　a　cold　gray　mist；　the　vapory　breath　of　the　east…wind；

Forest　and　meadow　and　hill；　and　the　steel…blue　rim　of　the　ocean；

Lying　silent　and　sad；　in　the　afternoon　shadows　and　sunshine。

Over　his　countenance　flitted　a　shadow　like　those　on　the

landscape；

Gloom　intermingled　with　light；　and　his　voice　was　subdued　with

emotion；

Tenderness；　pity；　regret；　as　after　a　pause　he　proceeded：

〃Yonder　there；　on　the　hill　by　the　sea；　lies　buried　Rose　Standish；

Beautiful　rose　of　love；　that　bloomed　for　me　by　the　wayside！

She　was　the　first　to　die　of　all　who　came　in　the　Mayflower！

Green　above　her　is　growing　the　field　of　wheat　we　have　sown　there；

Better　to　hide　from　the　Indian　scouts　the　graves　of　our　people；

Lest　they　should　count　them　and　see　how　many　already　have

perished！〃

Sadly　his　face　he　averted；　and　strode　up　and　down；　and　was

thoughtful。



　　Fixed　to　the　opposite　wall　was　a　shelf　of　books；　and　among　them

Prominent　three；　distinguished　alike　for　bulk　and　for　binding；

Bariffe's　Artillery　Guide；　and　the　Commentaries　of　Caesar；

Out　of　the　Latin　translated　by　Arthur　Goldinge　of　London；

And；　as　if　guarded　by　these；　between　them　was　standing　the　Bible。

Musing　a　moment　before　them；　Miles　Standish　paused；　as　if

doubtful

Which　of　the　three　he　should　choose　for　his　consolation　and

comfort；

Whether　the　wars　of　the　Hebrews；　the　famous　campaigns　of　the

Romans；

Or　the　Artillery　practice；　designed　for　belligerent　Christians。

Finally　down　from　its　shelf　he　dragged　the　ponderous　Roman；

Seated　himself　at　the　window；　and　opened　the　book；　and　in　silence

Turned　o'er　the　well…worn　leaves；　where　thumb…marks　thick　on　the

margin；

Like　the　trample　of　feet；　proclaimed　the　battle　was　hottest。

Nothing　was　heard　in　the　room　but　the　hurrying　pen　of　the

stripling；

Busily　writing　epistles　important；　to　go　by　the　Mayflower；

Ready　to　sail　on　the　morrow；　or　next　day　at　latest；　God　willing！

Homeward　bound　with　the　tidings　of　all　that　terrible　winter；

Letters　written　by　Alden；　and　full　of　the　name　of　Priscilla；

Full　of　the　name　and　the　fame　of　the　Puritan　maiden　Priscilla！







II



LOVE　AND　FRIENDSHIP



Nothing　was　heard　in　the　room　but　the　hurrying　pen　of　the

stripling；

Or　an　occasional　sigh　from　the　laboring　heart　of　the　Captain；

Reading　the　marvellous　words　and　achievements　of　Julius　Caesar。

After　a　while　he　exclaimed；　as　he　smote　with　his　hand；　palm

downwards；

Heavily　on　the　page：　〃A　wonderful　man　was　this　Caesar！

You　are　a　writer；　and　I　am　a　fighter；　but　here　is　a　fellow

Who　could　both　write　and　fight；　and　in　both　was　equally　skilful！〃

Straightway　answered　and　spake　John　Alden；　the　comely；　the

youthful：

〃Yes；　he　was　equally　skilled；　as　you　say；　with　his　pen　and　his

weapons。

Somewhere　have　I　read；　but　where　I　forget；　he　could　dictate

Seven　letters　at　once；　at　the　same　time　writing　his　memoirs。〃

〃Truly；〃　continued　the　Captain；　not　heeding　or　hearing　the　other；

〃Truly　a　wonderful　man　was　Caius　Julius　Caesar！

Better　be　first；　he　said；　in　a　little　Iberian　village；

Than　be　second　in　Rome；　and　I　think　he　was　right　when　he　said　it。

Twice　was　he　married　before　he　was　twenty；　and　many　times　after；

Battles　five　hundred　he　fought；　and　a　thousand　cities　he

conquered；

He；　too；　fought　in　Flanders；　as　he　himself　has　recorded；

Finally　he　was　stabbed　by　his　friend；　the　orator　Brutus！

Now；　do　you　know　what　he　did　on　a　certain　occasion　in　Flanders；

When　the　rear…guard　of　his　army　retreated；　the　front　giving　way

too；

And　the　immortal　Twelfth　Legion　was　crowded　so　closely　together

There　was　no　room　for　their　swords？　　Why；　he　seized　a　shield　from

a　soldier；

Put　himself　straight　at　the　head　of　his　troops；　and　commanded　the

captains；

Calling　on　each　by　his　name；　to　order　forward　the　ensigns；

Then　to　widen　the　ranks；　and　give　more　room　for　their　weapons；

So　he　won　the　day；　the　battle　of　something…or…other。

That's　what　I　always　say；　if　you　wish　a　thing　to　be　well　done；

You　must　do　it　yourself；　you　must　not　leave　it　to　others！〃



　　All　was　silent　again；　the　Captain　continued　his　reading。

Nothing　was　heard　in　the　room　but　the　hurrying　pen　of　the

stripling

Writing　epistles　important　to　go　next　day　by　the　Mayflower；

Filled　with　the　name　and　the　fame　of　the　Puritan　maiden

Priscilla；

Every　sentence　began　or　closed　with　the　name　of　Priscilla；

Till　the　treacherous　pen；　to　which　he　confided　the　secret；

Strove　to　betray　it　by　singing　and　shouting　the　name　of

Priscilla！

Finally　closing　his　book；　with　a　bang　of　the　ponderous　cover；

Sudden　and　loud　as　the　sound　of　a　soldier　grounding　his　musket；

Thus　to　the　young　man　spake　Miles　Standish　the　Captain　of

Plymouth：

〃When　you　have　finished　your　work；　I　have　something　important　to

tell　you。

Be　not　however　in　haste；　I　can　wait；　I　shall　not　be　impatient！〃

Straightway　Alden　replied；　as　he　folded　the　last　of　his　letters；

Pushing　his　papers　aside；　and　giving　respectful　attention：

〃Speak；　for　whenever　you　speak；　I　am　always　ready　to　listen；

Always　ready　to　hear　whatever　pertains　to　Miles　Standish。〃

Thereupon　answered　the　Captain；　embarrassed；　and　culling　his

phrases：

〃'T　is　not　good　for　a　man　to　be　alone；　say　the　Scriptures。

This　I　have　said　before；　and　again　and　again　I　repeat　it；

Every　hour　in　the　day；　I　think　it；　and　feel　it；　and　say　it。

Since　Rose　Standish　died；　my　life　has　been　weary　and　dreary；

Sick　at　heart　have　I　been；　beyond　the　healing　of　friendship。

Oft　in　my　lonely　hours　have　I　thought　of　the　maiden　Priscilla。

She　is　alone　in　the　world；　her　fat