The Knight Of The Golden Melice, John Turvill Adams [the reading list TXT] 📗

Few Small Vessels

Lying At Anchor. He Who Viewed The Region That Morning, Must Have Had

A Brilliant Imagination To Dream Of The Magnificent Cities Destined To

Stud Those Coasts, And Of The Millions To Fill Those Extensive Forests

Within Two Hundred Years. Westward, Indeed, The Star Of Empire Had

Taken Its Way, And The Wise Men Of The East Were Following Its

Heavenly Guidance; But Who Knew It Then?

 

  

At Last, Excited By The View And His Thoughts, The Rider Rose In His

Stirrups, And Stretching Out His Arms, Gave Expression, In A Low

Voice, To His Feelings-- 

 

 

"Well May These Men, Who Hope To Found A New Dynasty, Be Proud Of The

Lovely Land Which They Have Chosen For A Refuge! If Iron Resolution,

Scorn Of Delights And Contempt Of Death Could Do It, They Would

Accomplish The Emprise--_Mais L'homme Propose Et Dieu Dispose_.

Without The Directing Mind And Sustaining Arm Of The Source Of All

Wisdom And Power, In Vain Is The Labor Of Man. Ruin And Disgrace Shall

Overwhelm All Undertakings Not Founded On The Rock Of Ages. With What

Great Events Teems The Bosom Of Futurity? O, That My Eyes Could Pierce

The Misty Distance; That My Dim Presaging Soul Could Behold The

Stately Advance Of The Coming Centuries, Whose Sounding Feet I Fancy

That I Can Hear! Bear They In Their Hands Weal Or Woe To Humanity?

Hath The Creative Energy Set A Limit, Beyond Which The Tide Of Human

Accomplishment, Like The Hidden Power In Yonder Heaving Ocean, May Not

Rise; But, Having Reached Its Destined Apex, Must, With Hoarse

Murmurs, Recoil Back Upon Itself In Disordered Fragments?--Or In These

Later Times, When Men Were Ripe For The Blessing, Revealed To The

World These Virgin Regions, Separated From The Vices Of Europe And Of

The East By A Mighty Sea, Here To Recommence That Experiment Which

Hath Partially Failed Elsewhere, And Imparted Sufficient Measure Of

His Spirit To Chosen Instruments To Work Out The Problem Of Human

Happiness, And To Conduct Mankind To Heights Of Felicity, Beginning

Here And Never Ending?--The Bare Contemplation Whereof Causes My Flesh

To Quiver With Delight." 

 

 

As He Uttered These Words, Forgetful Of His Situation, He Stuck The

Spurs Into His Horse's Flanks, And The Astonished Animal Started With

A Bound. It Was Then The Consummate Address Wherewith The Stranger

Sat, His Horse Specially Exhibited Itself. As If The Feeling Of The

Startled Steed Were Instantly Communicated To Himself; And One Spirit

Animated Both, His Body Bent Gently Forward In The Saddle, Catching At

Once The Motion, And Accommodating Itself Thereto, So That The Rider

Appeared As Firmly Fastened, And As Much At His Ease, As Though He

Were A Part Of The Animal. After Half A Dozen Plunges, And Some

Soothing Words, The Excited Horse Having Expressed His Displeasure By

Snorts, Frequent And Loud At First, But Gradually Decreasing In

Rapidity And Loudness, Yielded To The Strong Arm Of His Master, And

Reduced His Pace To The Long Trot At Which He Had Before Proceeded.

  

 

"My Noble Mourad," Said The Rider, Patting The Steed's Neck, And

Addressing Him As If Capable Of Understanding Language--"I Wonder Not

At Thine Astonishment; But When These Thoughts Possess Me, I Am

Oblivious Of Everything Else. I Will Be More Heedful Henceforth, Nor

Allow Splendid Imaginations To Prick Thine Innocent Sides."

 

  

The Flexible Ears Of Mourad Moved Backward And Forward While His Rider

Was Speaking, His Dilated Eyes Glanced Repeatedly Back At Him, And He

Shook His Head As If Not Half Satisfied With The Apology.

 

  

And Now The Stranger, Leisurely Advancing, Soon Reached The Little

Collection Of Houses. Guiding His Horse Carefully Through The Unpaved

Streets, And Avoiding The Stumps Of Trees Which Were Occasionally To

Be Met, He Stopped At A House Of Somewhat More Imposing Appearance

Than The Rest. It Was Of Wood, Like Most Of The Other Dwellings, And

Differed From Them Principally In Being Larger. It Could Not Be Said

To Belong To Any Order Or Style Of Architecture, But Bore A General

Resemblance To Buildings Erected In England At The Time. It Stood With

Its Gable-Ends, Three In Number, To The Street, The Roof Rising Up

Steeply, And Making A Considerable Garret, The Side Of The Gable-Ends

Projecting Over The Second Story, As Did Also That Over The First. The

Windows Were Of A Square Form, With Small Diamond-Shaped Panes,

Opening By Hinges At The Sides, And There Was But One Entrance In

Front, To Protect Which A Small Verandah Or Porch Was Thrown Across

The Building. Two Men, In The Ordinary Dress And Equipments Of

Soldiers Of The Period, Their Clumsy Muskets Leaning Against The Side,

Were Seated On A Bench Near The Entrance, And By Their Presence

Indicated The Residence Of Governor Winthrop.

  

 

"Is The Right Worshipful Governor At Home So That He May Be Seen?"

Inquired The Stranger, As He Dismounted From The Horse, Whose Bridle

Was Held By One Of The Soldiers.

  

 

"He Is At Home, And May Be Seen, Sir Christopher," Replied One Of The

Men, "I Will Conduct You To His Presence."

  

 

So Saying, The Soldier Opened The Door, And Preceding The Visitor,

Ushered Him Into A Hall Some Ten Feet Wide, And Thence Into A Small

Ante-Room, Or Room Of Reception, Where He Was Entreated To Be Seated,

While His Arrival Should Be Announced. It Required But A Moment, Which

Was The Whole Time Of The Soldier's Absence, For The Stranger To Take

A Survey Of The Room Wherein He Sat.

  

 

It Was Not More Than Twelve Or Fifteen Feet Square, And Destitute Of

Paper Or Hangings, And The Floor, Like That Of The Hall, Was Bare, And

Made Of Coarsely-Planed Boards. It Had Two Doors, One Opening Into The

Hall And Another Into An Adjoining Room, And Was Lighted By A Single

Window. Its Furniture Consisted Of Only A Few Wooden Chairs And

Benches.

 

  

"The Right Worshipful Governor Directs Me To Invite You To Him," Said

The Messenger, Throwing Open The Second Door Above Mentioned.

  

 

The Stranger Rose, And Crossing With A Stately Step The Ante-Chamber,

Followed The Soldier Into The Adjoining Apartment. 

 

 

"Welcome, Sir Christopher," Exclaimed The Governor, Rising From A

Desk, At Which He Had Been Writing, And Advancing With Extended Hand

To His Visitor, "I Am Honored In Seeing You Again In My Poor House."

  

 

"He May Deem Himself A Minion Of Fortune," Courteously Replied The

Stranger Addressed As Sir Christopher, Grasping The Offered Hand, "Who

Either In This Far Wilderness Or In The Proud Streets Of London, Is

Privileged To Exchange Salutations Of Friendship With So Worthy And

Every Way Accomplished A Gentleman As The Honored Chief Magistrate Of

This Colony."

  

 

"Alas! I Fear," Rejoined Winthrop, Taking A Seat, After First Formally

Seating The Other, "Alas! I Fear That My Shoulders Are Too Weak For So

Great A Burden. Were It Not For The Prize Of The High Calling Set

Before Me, And The Sweet Refreshment Sometimes Breathed Into Me By The

Spirit, I Should Faint Beneath Its Weight."

  

 

"We Are Commanded Neither To Faint Nor To Be Weary Of Well-Doing,"

Said Sir Christopher, "With Comfortable Assurances That As Is Our

Need, So Shall Our Strength Be. But, Honored Sir, I Much Mistake The

Nobility Of Your Mind, If You Would Be Willing To Exchange Your High

Place For A Meaner Lot. I Thank God That You Are Placed Upon An

Eminence To Be A Tower Of Strength To Those Who Do Well, And A Terror

To The Evil."

 

  

"Better," Replied Winthrop, "Is The Humble Cottage Than The Lordly

Structure Whereunto Your Poetical And Extravagant Politeness Hath

Likened Me. Remember," He Added, With A Smile, Wherein There Was Some

Bitterness Mingled With Its Melancholy, For He Had Of Late Been

Annoyed By The Rougher Nature Of Dudley, And The Jealousy Of Some Of

The Assistants, "_Altoe Turres Cadunt Dum Humiles Casoe Stant_."

 

 

 

"Noble Sir," Said Sir Christopher, "Be Not Cast Down. The Foundations

Of Your House Are Built Upon A Basis Too Broad And Firm To Be Blown

Down By The Disorderly Breaths Of Lackeys And Trencher-Scrapers.

Pardon Me, If In My Zeal I Apply Ignominious Terms To Your Enemies."

 

  

"There Be Those To Be Ranked In That Category Who Yet In No Wise

Deserve Such Epithets," Answered The Generous Governor. "Were

Opposition To Come Only From So Base A Quarter, Little Should I Heed,

And Rather Consider It An Incitement To Keener Action; But There Are

Also Choice Spirits, Elect Vessels, Pillars Of The Congregation, Men

Inspired With Godly Zeal, Who Are Persuaded Themselves, And Would

Persuade Others, That I Am Lukewarm In The Cause, And Bear The Sword

In Vain."

 

  

"If The Peevish Captiousness Of These Persons Is Greatly To Influence,

I Will Not Say Over-Awe You, Noble Sir," Said Sir Christopher, "I

Tremble Lest The Errand Of Mercy Whereon I Come Should Fail Of Its

Purpose."

 

  

"Ever True To The Principle Of The [Greek: Melissa]," Said The

Governor, Smiling "What Can The Knight Of The Golden Melice Crave

Which John Winthrop Can Deny?"

  

 

The Knight Of The Golden [Greek: Melissa], Or Melice, As He Was

Commonly Called, Meaning Thereby The Knight Of The Golden Honey-Bee,

And Who, By Wearing Conspicuously About His Person The Device Or Badge

Adopted When He Received The Order Of Knighthood, Only Complied With

The Fantastic Notions Of The Times, Gazed A Moment At The Figure Of

The Bee On The Handle Of His Sword, Before Replying:

 

 

 "The Golden Bee Does Indeed Remind Me," He Said, "That Even As He, In

The Summer Of His Days, Collects The Yellow Treasure Which Is To

Sustain Him In The Death Of Winter, So Should I, While The Day Is

Mine, Be Busy To Perform The Will Of Him Who Hath Called Me To A Post

In His Creation, That I Be Not Ashamed In The Grave. I Came To Ask A

Favor In Behalf Of The Soldier Philip Joy."

  

 

The Eyes Of Winthrop, Which, While The Knight Was Speaking, Had Been

Fastened On His Face, Fell Upon The Rich Turkey Carpet That, With Its

Intricate Figures And Varied Dies, Covered, In Place Of A Modern

Cloth, The Table Supporting The Desk Whereat He Had Been Writing.

  

 

"The Soldier," He Said, Sit Last, Slowly, "Is Enduring The Punishment

Awarded To Him By The Court Of Assistants." 

 

 

"A Harsh And Cruel Sentence," Said The Knight, "And One At The

Infliction Whereof I Know Your Noble Nature Relucted."

 

 

 "I May Not, Without Censure Of My Own Conscience, Hear Those Who Are

Associated With Me In The Government Blamed."

 

  

"I Would Not Trespass On The Bounds Of Courteous License, But Cannot

Believe That Your Gentle Temper Approves Of Proceedings At Once Severe

And Impolitic."

 

  

"It Becomes Me Not," Said Winthrop, Modestly, "To Set Up My Sentiments

Against The Opinion Of A Majority. This Is Not The Government Of One

Man, And I Am, As I May Say, It Being Properly Understood, Only

_Primus Inter Pares_."

 

  

"Then Avouch Yourself To Some Purpose To Be Truly Primus, And By Your

Kingly Mercy Not Only Put To Silence The Unruly Tongues Of Men

Complaining Of Harshness Not Without Reason, But Also Take Away The

Occasion For Reproach."

 

  

"Hitherto," Said Winthrop, "You Have Spoken In Riddles, Though They

Are Not Hard To Be Guessed; But, Nevertheless, Let Me Entreat You To

Explicate, In Plainer Phrase, Your Meaning, And Reveal Your Full

Desire."

 

  

"I Came, Then," Answered The Knight, "To Solicit The Full Pardon Of

Joy."

 

 

"It May Not Be. Though The Right To Pardon Would Seem Inherent In Him

To Whose Hands Is Entrusted The Power To Punish, That The Sorrow Of

Inflicting Pain Might Be Balanced By The Joy Of Conferring Pleasure,

And So His Office Be Not Wholly Converted Into That Of An Executioner,

Yet Were I Ever So Much Disposed, I Could Not, In The Present Case,

Grant Your Request. It Would Raise A Storm Which, However Little To Be

Regarded For Its Consequences To Myself, Might Be Seriously Injurious

To The Budding Interests Of Our Infant State."

  

 

"I Pray You To Consider," Said The Knight, "The Good Character Of The

Man Accused, Ever Approving Himself Brave And Faithful In All Trusts

Confided To Him; No Drone, But An Active Honey-Bee, Laying Up Store In

Your Hive, With No Fault Charged But Speaking Too Freely, And If That

Be True, Only Imitating Therein, His Betters. Next Reflect Upon The

Opposite Reputation Of His Accusers, And I Venture To Say Malingers,

Though In Truth There Is But One, Not Sustained By The Other. Men Are

Murmuring At Your Sentence, And Holding Your Justice For Naught, A

Sure Presage Of Troublous Times; And Be Assured, That A Commonwealth

Not Founded In Righteousness Cannot Stand, For On It Rests Not The

Blessing Of Heaven." 

 

 

"Sir Christopher Gardiner," Said Winthrop, "You Have Spoken Boldly,

And But That I Believe In Your Honesty, And Am Assured Of Your

Friendship, I Should Be Offended. But You Belong Not To The

Congregation, Your Notions Differing From Our Faith; The Light Which

Illuminates The Minds Of The Chosen Remnant Which Providence Hath

Planted In This Far Off Land, This Ultissima Thule, Not Yet Having

Penetrated