the complete poetical works-第69节

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Flanders；

How　with　the　people　of　God　he　had　chosen　to　suffer　affliction；

How；　in　return　for　his　zeal；　they　had　made　him　Captain　of

Plymouth；

He　was　a　gentleman　born；　could　trace　his　pedigree　plainly

Back　to　Hugh　Standish　of　Duxbury　Hall；　in　Lancashire；　England；

Who　was　the　son　of　Ralph；　and　the　grandson　of　Thurston　de

Standish；

Heir　unto　vast　estates；　of　which　he　was　basely　defrauded；

Still　bore　the　family　arms；　and　had　for　his　crest　a　cock　argent

Combed　and　wattled　gules；　and　all　the　rest　of　the　blazon。

He　was　a　man　of　honor；　of　noble　and　generous　nature；

Though　he　was　rough；　he　was　kindly；　she　knew　how　during　the

winter

He　had　attended　the　sick；　with　a　hand　as　gentle　as　woman's；

Somewhat　hasty　and　hot；　he　could　not　deny　it；　and　headstrong；

Stern　as　a　soldier　might　be；　but　hearty；　and　placable　always；

Not　to　be　laughed　at　and　scorned；　because　he　was　little　of

stature；

For　he　was　great　of　heart；　magnanimous；　courtly；　courageous；

Any　woman　in　Plymouth；　nay；　any　woman　in　England；

Might　be　happy　and　proud　to　be　called　the　wife　of　Miles　Standish！



　　But　as　he　warmed　and　glowed；　in　his　simple　and　eloquent

language；

Quite　forgetful　of　self；　and　full　of　the　praise　of　his　rival；

Archly　the　maiden　smiled；　and；　with　eyes　over…running　with

laughter；

Said；　in　a　tremulous　voice；　〃Why　don't　you　speak　for　yourself；

John？〃







IV



JOHN　ALDEN



Into　the　open　air　John　Alden；　perplexed　and　bewildered；

Rushed　like　a　man　insane；　and　wandered　alone　by　the　sea…side；

Paced　up　and　down　the　sands；　and　bared　his　head　to　the　east…wind；

Cooling　his　heated　brow；　and　the　fire　and　fever　within　him。

Slowly　as　out　of　the　heavens；　with　apocalyptical　splendors；

Sank　the　City　of　God；　in　the　vision　of　John　the　Apostle；

So；　with　its　cloudy　walls　of　chrysolite；　jasper；　and　sapphire；

Sank　the　broad　red　sun；　and　over　its　turrets　uplifted

Glimmered　the　golden　reed　of　the　angel　who　measured　the　city。



　　〃Welcome；　O　wind　of　the　East！〃　he　exclaimed　in　his　wild

exultation；

〃Welcome；　O　wind　of　the　East；　from　the　caves　of　the　misty

Atlantic！

Blowing　o'er　fields　of　dulse；　and　measureless　meadows　of

sea…grass；

Blowing　o'er　rocky　wastes；　and　the　grottos　and　gardens　of　ocean！

Lay　thy　cold；　moist　hand　on　my　burning　forehead；　and　wrap　me

Close　in　thy　garments　of　mist；　to　allay　the　fever　within　me！〃



　　Like　an　awakened　conscience；　the　sea　was　moaning　and　tossing；

Beating　remorseful　and　loud　the　mutable　sands　of　the　sea…shore。

Fierce　in　his　soul　was　the　struggle　and　tumult　of　passions

contending；

Love　triumphant　and　crowned；　and　friendship　wounded　and　bleeding；

Passionate　cries　of　desire；　and　importunate　pleadings　of　duty！

〃Is　it　my　fault；〃　he　said；　〃that　the　maiden　has　chosen　between

us？

Is　it　my　fault　that　he　failed；my　fault　that　I　am　the　victor？〃

Then　within　him　there　thundered　a　voice；　like　the　voice　of　the

Prophet：

〃It　hath　displeased　the　Lord！〃and　he　thought　of　David's

transgression；

Bathsheba's　beautiful　face；　and　his　friend　in　the　front　of　the

battle！

Shame　and　confusion　of　guilt；　and　abasement　and

self…condemnation；

Overwhelmed　him　at　once；　and　he　cried　in　the　deepest　contrition：

〃It　hath　displeased　the　Lord！　　It　is　the　temptation　of　Satan！〃



　　Then；　uplifting　his　head；　he　looked　at　the　sea；　and　beheld

there

Dimly　the　shadowy　form　of　the　Mayflower　riding　at　anchor；

Rocked　on　the　rising　tide；　and　ready　to　sail　on　the　morrow；

Heard　the　voices　of　men　through　the　mist；　the　rattle　of　cordage

Thrown　on　the　deck；　the　shouts　of　the　mate；　and　the　sailors'　〃Ay；

ay；　Sir！〃

Clear　and　distinct；　but　not　loud；　in　the　dripping　air　of　the

twilight。

Still　for　a　moment　he　stood；　and　listened；　and　stared　at　the

vessel；

Then　went　hurriedly　on；　as　one　who；　seeing　a　phantom；

Stops；　then　quickens　his　pace；　and　follows　the　beckoning　shadow。

〃Yes；　it　is　plain　to　me　now；〃　he　murmured；　〃the　hand　of　the　Lord

is

Leading　me　out　of　the　land　of　darkness；　the　bondage　of　error；

Through　the　sea；　that　shall　lift　the　walls　of　its　waters　around

me；

Hiding　me；　cutting　me　off；　from　the　cruel　thoughts　that　pursue

me。

Back　will　I　go　o'er　the　ocean；　this　dreary　land　will　abandon；

Her　whom　I　may　not　love；　and　him　whom　my　heart　has　offended。

Better　to　be　in　my　grave　in　the　green　old　churchyard　in　England；

Close　by　my　mother's　side；　and　among　the　dust　of　my　kindred；

Better　be　dead　and　forgotten；　than　living　in　shame　and　dishonor！

Sacred　and　safe　and　unseen；　in　the　dark　of　the　narrow　chamber

With　me　my　secret　shall　lie；　like　a　buried　jewel　that　glimmers

Bright　on　the　hand　that　is　dust；　in　the　chambers　of　silence　and

darkness；

Yes；　as　the　marriage　ring　of　the　great　espousal　hereafter！〃



　　Thus　as　he　spake；　he　turned；　in　the　strength　of　his　strong

resolution；

Leaving　behind　him　the　shore；　and　hurried　along　in　the　twilight；

Through　the　congenial　gloom　of　the　forest　silent　and　sombre；

Till　he　beheld　the　lights　in　the　seven　houses　of　Plymouth；

Shining　like　seven　stars　in　the　dusk　and　mist　of　the　evening。

Soon　he　entered　his　door；　and　found　the　redoubtable　Captain

Sitting　alone；　and　absorbed　in　the　martial　pages　of　Caesar；

Fighting　some　great　campaign　in　Hainault　or　Brabant　or　Flanders。

〃Long　have　you　been　on　your　errand；〃　he　said　with　a　cheery


demeanor；

Even　as　one　who　is　waiting　an　answer；　and　fears　not　the　issue。

〃Not　far　off　is　the　house；　although　the　woods　are　between　us；

But　you　have　lingered　so　long；　that　while　you　were　going　and

coming

I　have　fought　ten　battles　and　sacked　and　demolished　a　city。

Come；　sit　down；　and　in　order　relate　to　me　all　that　has　happened。〃



　　Then　John　Alden　spake；　and　related　the　wondrous　adventure；

From　beginning　to　end；　minutely；　just　as　it　happened；

How　he　had　seen　Priscilla；　and　how　he　had　sped　in　his　courtship；

Only　smoothing　a　little；　and　softening　down　her　refusal。

But　when　he　came　at　length　to　the　words　Priscilla　had　spoken；

Words　so　tender　and　cruel：　〃Why　don't　you　speak　for　yourself；

John？〃

Up　leaped　the　Captain　of　Plymouth；　and　stamped　on　the　floor；　till

his　armor

Clanged　on　the　wall；　where　it　hung；　with　a　sound　of　sinister

omen。

All　his　pent…up　wrath　burst　forth　in　a　sudden　explosion；

Even　as　a　hand…grenade；　that　scatters　destruction　around　it。

Wildly　he　shouted；　and　loud：　〃John　Alden！　you　have　betrayed　me！

Me；　Miles　Standish；　your　friend！　have　supplanted；　defrauded；

betrayed　me！

One　of　my　ancestors　ran　his　sword　through　the　heart　of　Wat　Tyler；

Who　shall　prevent　me　from　running　my　own　through　the　heart　of　a

traitor？

Yours　is　the　greater　treason；　for　yours　is　a　treason　to

friendship！

You；　who　lived　under　my　roof；　whom　I　cherished　and　loved　as　a

brother；

You；　who　have　fed　at　my　board；　and　drunk　at　my　cup；　to　whose

keeping

I　have　intrusted　my　honor；　my　thoughts　the　most　sacred　and

secret；

You　too；　Brutus！　ah　woe　to　the　name　of　friendship　hereafter！

Brutus　was　Caesar's　friend；　and　you　were　mine；　but　henceforward

Let　there　be　nothing　between　us　save　war；　and　implacable　hatred！〃



　　So　spake　the　Captain　of　Plymouth；　and　strode　about　in　the

chamber；

Chafing　and　choking　with　rage；　like　cords　were　the　veins　on　his

temples。

But　in　the　midst　of　his　anger　a　man　appeared　at　the　doorway；

Bringing　in　uttermost　haste　a　message　of　urgent　importance；

Rumors　of　danger　and　war　and　hostile　incursions　of　Indians！

Straightway　the　Captain　paused；　and；　without　further　question　or

parley；

Took　from　the　nail　on　the　wall　his　sword　with　its　scabbard　of

iron；

Buckled　the　belt　round　his　waist；　and；　frowning　fiercely；

departed。

Alden　was　left　alone。　　He　heard　the　clank　of　the　scabbard

Growing　fainter　and　fainter；　and　dying　away　in　the　distance。

Then　he　arose　from　his　seat；　and　looked　forth　into　the　darkness；

Felt　the　cool　air　blow　on　his　cheek；　that　was　hot　with　the

insult；

Lifted　his　eyes　to　the　heavens；　and；　folding　his　hands　as　in

childhood；

Prayed　in　the　silence　of　night　to　the　Father　who　seeth　in　secret。



　　Meanwhile　the　choleric　Captain　strode　wrathful　away　to　the

council；

Found　it　already　assembled；　impatiently　waiting　his　coming；

Men　in　the　middle　of　life；　austere　and　grave　in　deportment；

Only　one　of　them　old；　the　hill　that　was　nearest　to　heaven；

Covered　with　snow；　but　erect；　the　excellent　Elder　of　Plymouth。

God　had　sifted　three　kingdoms　to　find　the　wheat　for　this

planting；

Then　had　sifted　the　wheat；　as　the　living　seed　of　a　nation；

So　say　the　chronicles　old；　and　such　is　the　faith　of　the　people！

Near　them　was　standing　an　Indian；　in　attitude　stern　and　defiant；

Naked　down　to　the　waist；　and　grim　and　ferocious　in　aspect；

While　on　the　table　before　them　was　lying　unopened　a　Bible；

Ponderous；　bound　in　leather；　brass…studded；　printed　in　Holland；

And　beside　it　outstretched　the　skin　of　a　rattle…snake　glittered；

Filled；　like　a　quiver；　with　arrows；　a　signal　and　challenge　of

warfare；

Brought　by　the　Indian；　and　speaking　with　arrowy　tongues　of

defiance。

T