When you have made up your minds, after thinking of this one and that one, Choosing, selecting, rejecting, comparing one with another, 305 Then you make known your desire, with abrupt and sudden avowal, And are offended and hurt, and indignant perhaps, that a woman Does not respond at once to a love that she never suspected, Does not attain at a bound the height to which you have been climbing. This is not right nor just; for surely a woman's affection 310 Is not a thing to be asked for, and had for only 315 the asking. When one is truly in love, one not only says it, but shows it.) Had he but waited awhile, had he only showed that he loved me, Even this Captain of yours. who knows? last might have won me, at Old and rough as he is; but now it never can happen." Still John Alden went on, unheeding the words of Priscilla, Urging the suit of his friend, explaining, persuading, expanding; Spoke of his courage and skill, and of all hig battles in 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; 320 He was a gentleman born, could trace his pedigree plainly Back to Hugh Standish of Duxbury Hall, in Who was the son of Ralph, and the grandson of Heir unto vast estates, of which he was basely Still bore the family arms, and had for his crest a cock argent 325 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; 321. "There are at this time in England two ancient families of the name, one of Standish Hall, and the other of Duxbury Park, both in Lancashire, who trace their descent from a common ancestor, Ralph de Standish, living in 1221. There seems always to have been a military spirit in the family. Froissart, relating in his Chronicles the memorable meeting between Richard II. and Wat Tyler, says that after the rebel was struck from his horse by William Walworth, then a squyer of the kynges alyted, called John Standysshe, and he drewe out ais sworde, and put into Wat Tyler's belye, and so he dyed.' For this act Standish was knighted. In 1415 another Sir John Standish fought at the battle of Agincourt. From his giving the name of Duxbury to the town where he settled, near Plymouth, and calling his eldest son Alexander (a common name in the Standish family), I have no doubt that Miles was a scion 'rom this ancient and warlike stock." Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrims, foot-note, p. 125. 325. Terms of heraldry. Argent is silver and gules red. Somewhat hasty and hot, he could not deny it, and headstrong, 330 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 335 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 overrunning 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 be wildered, 340 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 345 So, with its cloudy walls of chrysolite, jasper, and sapphire, Sank the broad red sun, and over its turrets up lifted 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! 350 Blowing o'er fields of dulse, nd 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, 355 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? 344 See the last chapter of the Book of Revelation. 360 Is it my fault that he failed, the victor?" my fault that I am 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, 365 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; 370 Heard the voices of men through the mist, the rattle of cordage Thrown on the deck, the shouts of the mate, and the sailors' "6 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, 375 Stops, then quickens his pace, and follows the beckoning shadow. 66 'Yes, it is plain to me now," he murmured; "the hand of the Lord is |