Holiness unto the Lord, in letters of light, on his forehead, 930 This was the wedding morn of Priscilla the Puritan maiden. One with the sanction of earth and one with the blessing of heaven. Speaking of life and of death, and imploring Divine benedictions. 940 Lo! when the service was ended, a form appeared on the threshold, Clad in armor of steel, a sombre and sorrowful figure! Why does the bridegroom start and stare at the strange apparition? Is it a ghost from the grave, that has come to forbid the betrothal ? As when across the sky the driving rack of the rain-cloud 950 But when were ended the troth and the prayer and the last benediction, Into the room it strode, and the people beheld with amazement Bodily there in his armor Miles Standish, the Captain of Plymouth! Grasping the bridegroom's hand, he said with emotion, Forgive me! I have been angry and hurt, too long have I cherished the feeling; 960 I have been cruel and hard, but now, thank God! it is ended. Never so much as now was Miles Standish the friend of John Alden.' All save the dear old friendship, and that shall grow older and dearer !' Then the Captain advanced, and, bowing, saluted Priscilla, 979 Wishing her joy of her wedding, and loudly lauding her husband. Great was the people's amazement, and greater yet their rejoicing, Eager to see him and hear him, forgetful of bride and of bridegroom, He had rather by far break into an Indian encampment, Than come again to a wedding to which he had not been invited. 980 Meanwhile the bridegroom went forth and stood with the bride at the doorway, Breathing the perfumed air of that warm and beautiful morning. There were the graves of the dead, and the barren waste of the seashore, There the familiar fields, the groves of pine, and the meadows; ocean. Soon was their vision disturbed by the noise and stir of depar ture, 990 Friends coming forth from the house, and impatient of longer delay ing, Each with his plan for the day, and the work that was left uncompleted. Then from a stall near at hand, amid exclamations of wonder, Nay, she should ride like a queen, not plod along like a peasant. 1000 Placing her hand on the cushion, her foot in the hand of her husband Onward the bridal procession now moved to their new habitation, Happy husband and wife, and friends conversing together. Pleasantly murmured the brook, as they crossed the ford in the forest, Pleased with the image that passed, like a dream of love, through its bosom, Tremulous, floating in air, o'er the depths of the azure abysses. Down through the golden leaves the sun was pouring his splendors, 1010 Gleaming on purple grapes, that, from branches above them sus pended, Mingled their odorous breath with the balm of the pine and the firtree, Wild and sweet as the clusters that grew in the valley of Eshcol. Fresh with the youth of the world, and recalling Rebecca and Isaac, Love immortal and young in the endless succession of lovers. So through the Plymouth woods passed onward the bridal procession. Yet all bards, whose hearts unblighted Honor and believe the presage, Hold aloft their torches lighted, Gleaming through the realms benighted, Voices single, and in chorus, us In the dark of branches hid den. As they onward bear the mes- Disenchantment! Disillusion! What! are these the guests whose Sweet Pandora! dear Pandora! glances Seemed like sunshine gleaming round me? These the wild, bewildering fancies, That with dithyrambic dances As with magic circles bound me ? Ah! how cold are their caresses! Pallid cheeks, and haggard bosoms! Why did mighty Jove create thee Coy as Thetis, fair as Flora, No, not hate thee! for this feel. ing Of unrest and long resistance Is but passionate appealing, Spectral gleam their snow-white A prophetic whisper stealing |