Whileoccupiedwiththesereflections,aknockcameatthedoorofthestudy,andtheministersaid,"Comein!"—notwhollydevoidofanideathathemightbeholdanevilspirit。Andsohedid!ItwasoldRogerChillingworththatentered。Theministerstood,whiteandspeechless,withonehandontheHebrewScriptures,andtheotherspreaduponhisbreast。
"Welcomehome,reverendsir,"saidthephysician。"Andhowfoundyouthatgodlyman,theApostleEliot?Butmethinks,dearsir,youlookpale;asifthetravelthroughthewildernesshadbeentoosoreforyou。WillnotmyaidberequisitetoputyouinheartandstrengthtopreachyourElectionSermon?"
"Nay,Ithinknotso,"rejoinedtheReverendMr。Dimmesdale。"Myjourney,andthesightoftheholyApostleyonder,andthefreeairwhichIhavebreathed,havedonemegood,aftersolongconfinementinmystudy。Ithinktoneednomoreofyourdrugs,mykindphysician,goodthoughtheybe,andadministeredbyafriendlyhand。"
Allthistime,RogerChillingworthwaslookingattheministerwiththegraveandintentregardofaphysiciantowardshispatient。
But,inspiteofhisoutwardshow,thelatterwasalmostconvincedoftheoldman’sknowledge,or,atleast,hisconfidentsuspicion,withrespecttohisowninterviewwithHesterPrynne。Thephysicianknewthen,that,intheminister’sregard,hewasnolongeratrustedfriend,buthisbitterestenemy。Somuchbeingknown,itwouldappearnaturalthatapartofitshouldbeexpressed。Itissingular,however,howlongatimeoftenpassesbeforewordsembodythings;andwithwhatsecuritytwopersons,whochoosetoavoidacertainsubject,mayapproachitsveryverge,andretirewithoutdisturbingit。Thus,theministerfeltnoapprehensionthatRogerChillingworthwouldtouch,inexpresswords,upontherealpositionwhichtheysustainedtowardsoneanother。Yetdidthephysician,inhisdarkway,creepfrightfullynearthesecret。
"Wereitnotbetter,"saidhe,"thatyouusemypoorskillto—night?
Verily,dearsir,wemusttakepainstomakeyoustrongandvigorousforthisoccasionoftheElectiondiscourse。Thepeoplelookforgreatthingsfromyou;apprehendingthatanotheryearmaycomeabout,andfindtheirpastorgone。"
"Yea,toanotherworld,"repliedtheminister,withpiousresignation。"Heavengrantitbeabetterone;for,ingoodsooth,I
hardlythinktotarrywithmyflockthroughtheflittingseasonsofanotheryear!But,touchingyourmedicine,kindsir,inmypresentframeofbody,Ineeditnot。"
"Ijoytohearit,"answeredthephysician。"Itmaybethatmyremedies,solongadministeredinvain,beginnowtotakedueeffect。HappymanwereI,andwelldeservingofNewEngland’sgratitude,couldIachievethiscure!"
"Ithankyoufrommyheart,mostwatchfulfriend,"saidtheReverendMr。Dimmesdale,withasolemnsmile。"Ithankyou,andcanbutrequiteyourgooddeedswithmyprayers。"
"Agoodman’sprayersaregoldenrecompense!"rejoinedoldRogerChillingworth,ashetookhisleave。"Yea,theyarethecurrentgoldcoinoftheNewJerusalem,withtheKing’sownmint,markonthem!"
Leftalone,theministersummonedaservantofthehouse,andrequestedfood,which,beingsetbeforehim,heatewithravenousappetite。Then,flingingthealreadywrittenpagesoftheElectionSermonintothefire,heforthwithbegananother,whichhewrotewithsuchanimpulsiveflowofthoughtandemotion,thathefanciedhimselfinspired;andonlywonderedthatHeavenshouldseefittotransmitthegrandandsolemnmusicofitsoraclesthroughsofoulanorgan—pipeashe。However,leavingthatmysterytosolveitself,orgounsolvedforever,hedrovehistaskonward,withearnesthasteandecstasy。Thusthenightfledaway,asifitwerewingedsteed,andhecareeringonit;morningcame,andpeeped,blushing,throughthecurtains;andatlastsunrisethrewagoldenbeamintothestudyandlaiditrightacrosstheminister’sbedazzledeyes。Therehewas,withthepenstillbetweenhisfingers,andavastimmeasurabletractofwrittenspacebehindhim!
XXI。
THENEWENGLANDHOLIDAY。
BETIMESinthemorningofthedayonwhichthenewGovernorwastoreceivehisofficeatthehandsofthepeople,HesterPrynneandlittlePearlcameintothemarket—place。Itwasalreadythrongedwiththecraftsmenandotherplebeianinhabitantsofthetown,inconsiderablenumbers;amongwhom,likewise,weremanyroughfigures,whoseattireofdeer—skinsmarkedthemasbelongingtosomeoftheforestsettlements,whichsurroundedthelittlemetropolisofthecolony。
Onthispublicholiday,asonallotheroccasions,forsevenyearspast,Hesterwascladinagarmentofcoarsegreycloth。Notmorebyitshuethanbysomeindescribablepeculiarityinitsfashion,ithadtheeffectofmakingherfadepersonallyoutofsightandoutline;
while,again,thescarletletterbroughtherbackfromthistwilightindistinctness,andrevealedherunderthemoralaspectofitsownillumination。Herface,solongfamiliartothetownspeople,showedthemarblequietudewhichtheywereaccustomedtobeholdthere。Itwaslikeamask;or,rather,likethefrozencalmnessofadeadwoman’sfeatures;owingthisdrearyresemblancetothefactthatHesterwasactuallydead,inrespecttoanyclaimofsympathy,andhaddepartedoutoftheworldwithwhichshestillseemedtomingle。
Itmightbe,onthisoneday,thattherewasanexpressionunseenbefore,nor,indeed,vividenoughtobedetectednow;unlesssomepreternaturallygiftedobservershouldhavefirstreadtheheart,andhaveafterwardssoughtacorrespondingdevelopmentinthecountenanceandmien。Suchaspiritualseermighthaveconceived,that,aftersustainingthegazeofthemultitudethroughsevenmiserableyearsasanecessity,apenance,andsomethingwhichitwasasternreligiontoendure,shenow,foronelasttimemore,encountereditfreelyandvoluntarily,inordertoconvertwhathadsolongbeenagonyintoakindoftriumph。"Lookyourlastonthescarletletteranditswearer!"—thepeople’svictimandlife—longbond—slave,astheyfanciedher,mightsaytothem。"Yetalittlewhile,andshewillbebeyondyourreach!Afewhourslonger,andthedeep,mysteriousoceanwillquenchandhideforeverthesymbolwhichyehavecausedtoburnuponherbosom!"Norwereitaninconsistencytooimprobabletobeassignedtohumannature,shouldwesupposeafeelingofregretinHester’smind,atthemomentwhenshewasabouttowinherfreedomfromthepainwhichhadbeenthusdeeplyincorporatedwithherbeing。Mighttherenotbeanirresistibledesiretoquaffalast,long,breathlessdraughtofthecupofwormwoodandaloes,withwhichnearlyallheryearsofwomanhoodhadbeenperpetuallyflavoured?Thewineoflife,henceforthtobepresentedtoherlips,mustbeindeedrich,delicious,andexhilarating,initschasedandgoldenbeaker;orelseleaveaninevitableandwearylanguor,aftertheleesofbitternesswherewithshehadbeendrugged,aswithacordialofintensestpotency。
Pearlwasdeckedoutwithairygaiety。Itwouldhavebeenimpossibletoguessthatthisbrightandsunnyapparitionoweditsexistencetotheshapeofgloomygrey;orthatafancy,atoncesogorgeousandsodelicateasmusthavebeenrequisitetocontrivethechild’sapparel,wasthesamethathadachievedataskperhapsmoredifficult,inimpartingsodistinctapeculiaritytoHester’ssimplerobe。Thedress,soproperwasittolittlePearl,seemedaneffluence,orinevitabledevelopmentandoutwardmanifestationofhercharacter,nomoretobeseparatedfromherthanthemany—huedbrilliancyfromabutterfly’swing,orthepaintedgloryfromtheleafofabrightflower。Aswiththese,sowiththechild;hergarbwasallofoneideawithhernature。Onthiseventfulday,moreover,therewasacertainsingularinquietudeandexcitementinhermood,resemblingnothingsomuchastheshimmerofadiamond,thatsparklesandflasheswiththevariedthrobbingsofthebreastonwhichitisdisplayed。Childrenhavealwaysasympathyintheagitationsofthoseconnectedwiththem;
always,especially,asenseofanytroubleorimpendingrevolution,ofwhateverkind,indomesticcircumstances;andthereforePearl,whowasthegemonhermother’sunquietbosom,betrayed,bytheverydanceofherspirits,theemotionswhichnonecoulddetectinthemarblepassivenessofHester’sbrow。
Thiseffervescencemadeherflitwithabirdlikemovement,ratherthanwalkbyhermother’sside。Shebrokecontinuallyintoshoutsofawild,inarticulate,andsometimespiercingmusic。Whentheyreachedthemarket—place,shebecamestillmorerestless,onperceivingthestirandbustlethatenlivenedthespot;foritwasusuallymorelikethebroadandlonesomegreenbeforeavillagemeetinghouse,thanthecentreofatown’sbusiness。
"Why,whatisthis,mother?"criedshe。"Whereforehaveallthepeoplelefttheirworkto—day?Isitaplay—dayforthewholeworld?
See,thereistheblacksmith!Hehaswashedhissootyface,andputonhisSabbath—dayclothes,andlooksasifhewouldgladlybemerry,ifanykindbodywouldonlyteachhimhow!AndthereisMasterBrackett,theoldjailer,noddingandsmilingatme。Whydoeshedoso,mother?"
"Herememberstheealittlebabe,mychild,"answeredHester。
"Heshouldnotnodandsmileatmeforallthat—theblack,grim,ugly—eyedoldman!"saidPearl。"Hemaynodatthee,ifhewill;forthouartcladingrey,andwearestthescarletletter。Butsee,mother,howmanyfacesofstrangepeople,andIndiansamongthem,andsailors!Whathavetheyallcometodo,hereinthemarket—place?"
"Theywaittoseetheprocessionpass,"saidHester。"FortheGovernorandthemagistratesaretogoby,andtheministers,andallthegreatpeopleandgoodpeople,withthemusicandthesoldiersmarchingbeforethem。"
"Andwilltheministerbethere?"askedPearl。"Andwillheholdoutbothhishandstome,aswhenthouledstmetohimfromthebrook—side?"
"Hewillbethere,child,"answeredhermother。"Buthewillnotgreettheeto—day;normustthougreethim。"
"Whatastrange,sadmanishe!"saidthechild,asifspeakingpartlytoherself。"Inthedarknight—timehecallsustohim,andholdsthyhandandmine,aswhenwestoodwithhimonthescaffoldyonder!Andinthedeepforest,whereonlytheoldtreescanhear,andthestripofskyseeit,hetalkswiththee,sittingonaheapofmoss!Andhekissesmyforehead,too,sothatthelittlebrookwouldhardlywashitoff!Buthere,inthesunnyday,andamongallthepeople,heknowsusnot;normustweknowhim!Astrange,sadmanishe,withhishandalwaysoverhisheart!"
"Bequiet,Pearl!Thouunderstandestnotthesethings,"saidhermother。"Thinknotnowoftheminister,butlookaboutthee,andseehowcheeryiseverybody’sfaceto—day。Thechildrenhavecomefromtheirschools,andthegrownpeoplefromtheirworkshopsandtheirfields,onpurposetobehappy。For,to—day,anewmanisbeginningtoruleoverthem;andso—ashasbeenthecustomofmankindeversinceanationwasfirstgathered—theymakemerryandrejoice;asifagoodandgoldenyearwereatlengthtopassoverthepooroldworld!"
ItwasasHestersaid,inregardtotheunwontedjollitythatbrightenedthefacesofthepeople。Intothisfestalseasonoftheyear—asitalreadywas,andcontinuedtobeduringthegreaterpartoftwocenturies—thePuritanscompressedwhatevermirthandpublicjoytheydeemedallowabletohumaninfirmity;therebysofardispellingthecustomarycloud,that,forthespaceofasingleholiday,theyappearedscarcelymoregravethanmostothercommunitiesataperiodofgeneralaffliction。
Butweperhapsexaggeratethegreyorsabletinge,whichundoubtedlycharacterisedthemoodandmannersoftheage。Thepersonsnowinthemarket—placeofBostonhadnotbeenborntoaninheritanceofPuritanicgloom。TheywerenativeEnglishmen,whosefathershadlivedinthesunnyrichnessoftheElizabethanepoch;atimewhenthelifeofEngland,viewedasonegreatmass,wouldappeartohavebeenasstately,magnificent,andjoyous,astheworldhaseverwitnessed。Hadtheyfollowedtheirhereditarytaste,theNewEnglandsettlerswouldhaveillustratedalleventsofpublicimportancebybonfires,banquets,pageantries,andprocessions。Norwouldithavebeenimpracticable,intheobservanceofmajesticceremonies,tocombinemirthfulrecreationwithsolemnity,andgive,asitwere,agrotesqueandbrilliantembroiderytothegreatrobeofstate,whichanation,atsuchfestivals,putson。Therewassomeshadowofanattemptofthiskindinthemodeofcelebratingthedayonwhichthepoliticalyearofthecolonycommenced。Thedimreflectionofarememberedsplendour,acolourlessandmanifolddilutedrepetitionofwhattheyhadbeheldinproudoldLondon—wewillnotsayataroyalcoronation,butataLordMayor’sshow—mightbetracedinthecustomswhichourforefathersinstituted,withreferencetotheannualinstallationofmagistrates。Thefathersandfoundersofthecommonwealth—thestatesman,thepriest,andthesoldier—deemeditadutythentoassumetheoutwardstateandmajesty,which,inaccordancewithantiquestyle,waslookeduponasthepropergarbofpublicorsocialeminence。Allcameforthtomoveinprocessionbeforethepeople’seye,andthusimpartaneededdignitytothesimpleframeworkofagovernmentsonewlyconstructed。
Then,too,thepeoplewerecountenanced,ifnotencouraged,inrelaxingthesevereandcloseapplicationtotheirvariousmodesofruggedindustry,which,atallothertimes,seemedofthesamepieceandmaterialwiththeirreligion。Here,itistrue,werenoneoftheapplianceswhichpopularmerrimentwouldsoreadilyhavefoundintheEnglandofElizabeth’stime,orthatofJames—norudeshowsofatheatricalkind;nominstrel,withhisharpandlegendaryballad,norgleeman,withanapedancingtohismusic;nojuggler,withhistricksofmimicwitchcraft;noMerryAndrew,tostirupthemultitudewithjests,perhapshundredsofyearsold,butstilleffective,bytheirappealstotheverybroadestsourcesofmirthfulsympathy。Allsuchprofessorsoftheseveralbranchesofjocularitywouldhavebeensternlyrepressed,notonlybytherigiddisciplineoflaw,butbythegeneralsentimentwhichgiveslawitsvitality。Nottheless,however,thegreat,honestfaceofthepeoplesmiled—
grimly,perhaps,butwidelytoo。Norweresportswanting,suchasthecolonistshadwitnessed,andsharedin,longago,atthecountryfairsandonthevillage—greensofEngland;andwhichitwasthoughtwelltokeepaliveonthisnewsoil,forthesakeofthecourageandmanlinessthatwereessentialinthem。Wrestling—matches,inthedifferentfashionsofCornwallandDevonshire,wereseenhereandthereaboutthemarket—place;inonecorner,therewasafriendlyboutatquarterstaff;and—whatattractedmostinterestofall—ontheplatformofthepillory,alreadysonotedinourpages,twomastersofdefencewerecommencinganexhibitionwiththebucklerandbroadsword。
But,muchtothedisappointmentofthecrowd,thislatterbusinesswasbrokenoffbytheinterpositionofthetownbeadle,whohadnoideaofpermittingthemajestyofthelawtobeviolatedbysuchanabuseofoneofitsconsecratedplaces。
Itmaynotbetoomuchtoaffirm,onthewhole(thepeoplebeingtheninthefirststagesofjoylessdeportment,andtheoffspringofsireswhohadknownhowtobemerry,intheirday),thattheywouldcomparefavourably,inpointofholidaykeeping,withtheirdescendants,evenatsolonganintervalasourselves。Theirimmediateposterity,thegenerationnexttotheearlyemigrants,woretheblackestshadeofPuritanism,andsodarkenedthenationalvisagewithit,thatallthesubsequentyearshavenotsufficedtoclearitup。Wehaveyettolearnagaintheforgottenartofgaiety。
Thepictureofhumanlifeinthemarket—place,thoughitsgeneraltintwasthesadgrey,brown,orblackoftheEnglishemigrants,wasyetenlivenedbysomediversityofhue。ApartyofIndians—intheirsavagefineryofcuriouslyembroidereddeer—skinrobes,wampum—belts,redandyellowochre,andfeathers,andarmedwiththebowandarrowandstone—headedspear—stoodapart,withcountenancesofinflexiblegravity,beyondwhateventhePuritanaspectcouldattain。Nor,wildaswerethesepaintedbarbarians,weretheythewildestfeatureofthescene。Thisdistinctioncouldmorejustlybeclaimedbysomemariners—apartofthecrewofthevesselfromtheSpanishMain—whohadcomeashoretoseethehumoursofElectionDay。Theywererough—lookingdesperadoes,withsun—blackenedfaces,andanimmensityofbeard;theirwide,shorttrouserswereconfinedaboutthewaistbybelts,oftenclaspedwitharoughplateofgold,andsustainingalwaysalongknife,and,insomeinstances,asword。
Frombeneaththeirbroad—brimmedhatsofpalm—leaf,gleamedeyeswhich,eveningood—natureandmerriment,hadakindofanimalferocity。Theytransgressed,withoutfearorscruple,therulesofbehaviourthatwerebindingonallothers;smokingtobaccounderthebeadle’sverynose,althougheachwhiffwouldhavecostatownsmanashilling;andquaffing,attheirpleasure,draughtsofwineoraqua—vitaefrompocket—flasks,whichtheyfreelytenderedtothegapingcrowdaroundthem。Itremarkablycharacterisedtheincompletemoralityoftheage,rigidaswecallit,thatalicensewasallowedtheseafaringclass,notmerelyfortheirfreaksonshore,butforfarmoredesperatedeedsontheirproperelement。Thesailorofthatdaywouldgoneartobearraignedasapirateinourown。Therecouldbelittledoubt,forinstance,thatthisveryship’screw,thoughnounfavourablespecimensofthenauticalbrotherhood,hadbeenguilty,asweshouldphraseit,ofdepredationsontheSpanishcommerce,suchaswouldhaveperilledalltheirnecksinamoderncourtofjustice。
Buttheseainthoseoldtimes,heaved,swelled,andfoamed,verymuchatitsownwill,orsubjectonlytothetempestuouswind,withhardlyanyattemptsatregulationbyhumanlaw。Thebuccaneeronthewavemightrelinquishhiscalling,andbecomeatonce,ifhechose,amanofprobityandpietyonland;nor,eveninthefullcareerofhisrecklesslife,washeregardedasapersonagewithwhomitwasdisreputabletotraffic,orcasuallyassociate。Thus,thePuritanelders,intheirblackcloaks,starchedbands,andsteeple—crownedhats,smilednotunbenignantlyattheclamourandrudedeportmentofthesejollyseafaringmen;anditexcitedneithersurprisenoranim—adversion,whensoreputableacitizenasoldRogerChillingworth,thephysician,wasseentoenterthemarket—place,incloseandfamiliartalkwiththecommanderofthequestionablevessel。
Thelatterwasbyfarthemostshowyandgallantfigure,sofarasapparelwent,anywheretobeseenamongthemultitude。Heworeaprofusionofribbonsonhisgarment,andgoldlaceonhishat,whichwasalsoencircledbyagoldchain,andsurmountedwithafeather。
Therewasaswordathisside,andasword—cutonhisforehead,which,bythearrangementofhishair,heseemedanxiousrathertodisplaythanhide。Alandsmancouldhardlyhavewornthisgarbandshownthisface,andwornandshownthembothwithsuchagalliardair,withoutundergoingsternquestionbeforeamagistrate,andprobablyincurringfineorimprisonment,orperhapsanexhibitioninthestocks。Asregardedtheshipmaster,however,allwaslookeduponaspertainingtothecharacter,astoafishhisglisteningscales。
Afterpartingfromthephysician,thecommanderoftheBristolshipstrolledidlythroughthemarket—place;until,happeningtoapproachthespotwhereHesterPrynnewasstanding,heappearedtorecognise,anddidnothesitatetoaddressher。AswasusuallythecasewhereverHesterstood,asmallvacantarea—asortofmagiccircle—hadformeditselfabouther,intowhich,thoughthepeoplewereelbowingoneanotheratalittledistance,noneventured,orfeltdisposedtointrude。Itwasaforcibletypeofthemoralsolitudeinwhichthescarletletterenvelopeditsfatedwearer;partlybyherownreserve,andpartlybytheinstinctive,thoughnolongersounkindly,withdrawalofherfellow—creatures。Now,ifneverbefore,itansweredagoodpurpose,byenablingHesterandtheseamantospeaktogetherwithouttheriskofbeingoverheard;andsochangedwasHesterPrynne’sreputebeforethepublic,thatthematronintownmosteminentforrigidmoralitycouldnothaveheldsuchintercoursewithlessresultofscandalthanherself。
"So,mistress,"saidthemariner,"Imustbidthestewardmakereadyonemoreberththanyoubargainedfor!Nofearofscurvyorship—fever,thisvoyage!Whatwiththeship’ssurgeonandthisotherdoctor,ouronlydangerwillbefromdrugorpill;morebytoken,asthereisalotofapothecary’sstuffaboard,whichItradedforwithaSpanishvessel。"
"Whatmeanyou?"inquiredHester,startledmorethanshepermittedtoappear。"Haveyouanotherpassenger?"
"Why,knowyounot,"criedtheshipmaster,"thatthisphysicianhere—Chillingworth,hecallshimself—ismindedtotrymycabin—farewithyou?Ay,ay,youmusthaveknownit;forhetellsmeheisofyourparty,andaclosefriendtothegentlemanyouspokeof—
hethatisinperilfromthesesouroldPuritanrulers!"
"Theyknoweachotherwell,indeed,"repliedHester,withamienofcalmness,thoughintheutmostconsternation。"Theyhavelongdwelttogether。"
NothingfurtherpassedbetweenthemarinerandHesterPrynne。But,atthatinstant,shebeheldoldRogerChillingworthhimself,standingintheremotestcornerofthemarket—place,andsmilingonher;asmilewhich—acrossthewideandbustlingsquare,andthroughallthetalkandlaughter,andvariousthoughts,moods,andinterestsofthecrowd—conveyedsecretandfearfulmeaning。
XXII。
THEPROCESSION。
BEFOREHesterPrynnecouldcalltogetherherthoughts,andconsiderwhatwaspracticabletobedoneinthisnewandstartlingaspectofaffairs,thesoundofmilitarymusicwasheardapproachingalongacontiguousstreet。Itdenotedtheadvanceoftheprocessionofmagistratesandcitizens,onitswaytowardsthemeeting—house;where,incompliancewithacustomthusearlyestablished,andeversinceobserved,theReverendMr。DimmesdalewastodeliveranElectionSermon。
Soontheheadoftheprocessionshoweditselfwithaslowandstatelymarch,turningacorner,andmakingitswayacrossthemarket—place。Firstcamethemusic。Itcomprisedavarietyofinstruments,perhapsimperfectlyadaptedtooneanother,andplayedwithnogreatskill;butyetattainingthegreatobjectforwhichtheharmonyofdrumandclarionaddressesitselftothemultitude—thatofimpartingahigherandmoreheroicairtothesceneoflifethatpassesbeforetheeye。LittlePearlatfirstclappedherhands,butthenlost,foraninstant,therestlessagitationthathadkeptherinacontinualeffervescencethroughoutthemorning;shegazedsilently,andseemedtobeborneupward,likeafloatingsea—bird,onthelongheavesandswellsofsound。Butshewasbroughtbacktoherformermoodbytheshimmerofthesunshineontheweaponsandbrightarmourofthemilitarycompany,whichfollowedafterthemusic,andformedthehonoraryescortoftheprocession。Thisbodyofsoldiery—whichstillsustainsacorporateexistence,andmarchesdownfrompastageswithanancientandhonourablefame—wascomposedofnomercenarymaterials。Itsrankswerefilledwithgentlemen,whofeltthestirringsofmartialimpulse,andsoughttoestablishakindofCollegeofArms,where,asinanassociationofKnightsTemplars,theymightlearnthescience,and,sofaraspeacefulexercisewouldteachthem,thepracticesofwar。Thehighestimationthenplaceduponthemilitarycharactermightbeseenintheloftyportofeachindividualmemberofthecompany。Someofthem,indeed,bytheirservicesintheLowCountriesandonotherfieldsofEuropeanwarfare,hadfairlywontheirtitletoassumethenameandpompofsoldiership。
Theentirearray,moreover,cladinburnishedsteel,andwithplumagenoddingovertheirbrightmorions,hadabrilliancyofeffectwhichnomoderndisplaycanaspiretoequal。
Andyetthemenofcivileminence,whocameimmediatelybehindthemilitaryescort,werebetterworthathoughtfulobserver’seye。Eveninoutwarddemeanour,theyshowedastampofmajestythatmadethewarrior’shaughtystridelookvulgar,ifnotabsurd。Itwasanagewhenwhatwecalltalenthadfarlessconsiderationthannow,butthemassivematerialswhichproducestabilityanddignityofcharacteragreatdealmore。Thepeoplepossessed,byhereditaryright,thequalityofreverence;which,intheirdescendants,ifitsurviveatall,existsinsmallerproportion,andwithavastlydiminishedforce,intheselectionandestimateofpublicmen。Thechangemaybeforgoodorill,andispartly,perhaps,forboth。Inthatoldday,theEnglishsettlerontheserudeshores—havingleftking,nobles,andalldegreesofawfulrankbehind,whilestillthefacultyandnecessityofreverencewerestronginhim—bestoweditonthewhitehairandvenerablebrowofage;onlong—triedintegrity;onsolidwisdomandsad—colouredexperience;onendowmentsofthatgraveandweightyorderwhichgivestheideaofpermanence,andcomesunderthegeneraldefinitionofrespectability。Theseprimitivestatesmen,therefore—Bradstreet,Endicott,Dudley,Bellingham,andtheircompeers—whowereelevatedtopowerbytheearlychoiceofthepeople,seemtohavebeennotoftenbrilliant,butdistinguishedbyaponderoussobriety,ratherthanactivityofintellect。Theyhadfortitudeandself—reliance,and,intimeofdifficultyorperil,stoodupforthewelfareofthestatelikealineofcliffsagainstatempestuoustide。Thetraitsofcharacterhereindicatedwerewellrepresentedinthesquarecastofcountenanceandlargephysicaldevelopmentofthenewcolonialmagistrates。Sofarasademeanourofnaturalauthoritywasconcerned,themothercountryneednothavebeenashamedtoseetheseforemostmenofanactualdemocracyadoptedintotheHouseofPeers,ormadethePrivyCouncilofthesovereign。
Nextinordertothemagistratescametheyoungandeminentlydistinguisheddivine,fromwhoselipsthereligiousdiscourseoftheanniversarywasexpected。Hiswastheprofession,atthatera,inwhichintellectualabilitydisplayeditselffarmorethaninpoliticallife;for—leavingahighermotiveoutofthequestion—itofferedinducementspowerfulenough,inthealmostworshippingrespectofthecommunity,towinthemostaspiringambitionintoitsservice。
第16章