"There," cried Endicott, looking triumphantly on his work, "therelies the only Maypole in New England! The thought is strong withinme that, by its fall, is shadowed forth the fate of light and idlemirth makers, amongst us and our posterity. Amen, saith JohnEndicott."*Did Governor Endicott speak less positively, we should suspect amistake here. The Rev. Mr. Blackstone, though an eccentric, is notknown to have been an immoral man. We rather doubt his identity withthe priest of Merry Mount.
"Amen!" echoed his followers.
But the votaries of the Maypole gave one groan for their idol. Atthe sound, the Puritan leader glanced at the crew of Comus, each afigure of broad mirth, yet, at this moment, strangely expressive ofsorrow and dismay.
"Valiant captain," quoth Peter Palfrey, the Ancient of the band,"what order shall be taken with the prisoners?""I thought not to repent me of cutting down a Maypole," repliedEndicott, "yet now I could find in my heart to plant it again, andgive each of these bestial pagans one other dance round their idol. Itwould have served rarely for a whipping-post!""But there are pine-trees enow," suggested the lieutenant.
"True, good Ancient," said the leader. "Wherefore, bind the heathencrew, and bestow on them a small matter of stripes apiece, asearnest of our future justice. Set some of the rogues in the stocks torest themselves, so soon as Providence shall bring us to one of ourown well-ordered settlements, where such accommodations may befound. Further penalties, such as branding and cropping of ears, shallbe thought of hereafter.""How many stripes for the priest?" inquired Ancient Palfrey.
"None as yet," answered Endicott, bending his iron frown upon theculprit. "It must be for the Great and General Court to determine,whether stripes and long imprisonment, and other grievous penalty, mayatone for his transgressions. Let him look to himself! For such asviolate our civil order, it may be permitted us to show mercy. Butwo to the wretch that troubleth our religion!""And this dancing bear," resumed the officer. "Must he share thestripes of his fellows?""Shoot him through the head!" said the energetic Puritan. "Isuspect witchcraft in the beast.""Here be a couple of shining ones," continued Peter Palfrey,pointing his weapon at the Lord and Lady of the May. "They seem tobe of high station among these misdoers. Methinks their dignity willnot be fitted with less than a double share of stripes."Endicott rested on his sword, and closely surveyed the dress andaspect of the hapless pair. There they stood, pale, downcast, andapprehensive. Yet there was an air of mutual support, and of pureaffection, seeking aid and giving it, that showed them to be man andwife, with the sanction of a priest upon their love. The youth, in theperil of the moment, had dropped his gilded staff, and thrown hisarm about the Lady of the May, who leaned against his breast, toolightly to burden him, but with weight enough to express that theirdestinies were linked together, for good or evil. They looked first ateach other, and then into the grim captain's face. There they stood,in the first hour of wedlock, while the idle pleasures, of which theircompanions were the emblems, had given place to the sternest caresof life, personified by the dark Puritans. But never had theiryouthful beauty seemed so pure and high as when its glow was chastenedby adversity.
"Youth," said Endicott, "ye stand in an evil case, thou and thymaiden wife. Make ready presently, for I am minded that ye shallboth have a token to remember your wedding day!""Stern man," cried the May Lord, "how can I move thee? Were themeans at hand, I would resist to the death. Being powerless, Ientreat! Do with me as thou wilt, but let Edith go untouched!""Not so," replied the immitigable zealot. "We are not wont toshow an idle courtesy to that sex, which requireth the stricterdiscipline. What sayest thou, maid? Shall thy silken bridegroom sufferthy share of the penalty, besides his own?""Be it death," said Edith, "and lay it all on me!"Truly, as Endicott had said, the poor lovers stood in a woful case.
Their foes were triumphant, their friends captive and abased, theirhome desolate, the benighted wilderness around them, and a rigorousdestiny, in the shape of the Puritan leader, their only guide. Yet thedeepening twilight could not altogether conceal that the iron manwas softened; he smiled at the fair spectacle of early love; he almostsighed for the inevitable blight of early hopes.
"The troubles of life have come hastily on this young couple,"observed Endicott. "We will see how they comport themselves undertheir present trials ere we burden them with greater. If, among thespoil, there be any garments of a more decent fashion, let them be putupon this May Lord and his Lady, instead of their glistening vanities.
Look to it, some of you."
"And shall not the youth's hair be cut?" asked Peter Palfrey,looking with abhorrence at the love-lock and long glossy curls ofthe young man.
"Crop it forthwith, and that in the true pumpkin-shell fashion,"answered the captain. "Then bring them along with us, but moregently than their fellows. There be qualities in the youth, whichmay make him valiant to fight, and sober to toil, and pious to pray;and in the maiden, that may fit her to become a mother in ourIsrael, bringing up babes in better nurture than her own hath been.
