Yet earnestly the pious man besought, That Heaven would deign to shed the Gospel light On the kind pagan’s soul, as yet untaught Save in the dreams of her primordial night; And much he prayed, that to the truth when brought,-- Cleansed of his sins in garments pure and white,-- He might subdue the fierceness of his clan, And gain man refuge from intolerant man. V. Williams the task of goodness now essayed, To win the wanderer to a worship new; The utter darkness that his soul arrayed, Concealed her workings from our Founder’s view, Save when some question, rare and strange, betrayed His dream-bewildered glimpses of the true.-- Long was the task; and Williams back began, At earth’s creation and the fall of man. VI. He told how God from nothing formed the earth, And gave each creature shape surpassing fair; How He in Eden, at their happy birth, Placed with His blessing the first human pair; How, disobeying, they were driven forth, And they, and theirs, consigned to sad despair, Until, incarnate, God in pity gave Himself for man, and made it just to save. VII. He then told how the blessed martyrs bore The chains of dungeons, and the fagot’s flame, Glad that their sufferings might attest the more Their perfect faith in their Redeemer’s name; How His disciples past from shore to shore, Salvation’s joyful tidings to proclaim; How hither now they brought the Gospel’s light To cheer the red men wrapt in pagan night. VIII. Waban attentive listened to the strain, And at its close for long in silence sate; His visage did a graver cast attain And all his heart’s deep feelings indicate. At length he uttered thus the mental train:-- “Weak is my soul, and dark is her estate! No book has she to tell of Manit high, Except this outstretched earth and starry sky. IX. “Great news Awanux brings the red men here-- News that their legends old doth much excel; Yet give to Waban the attentive ear, And the traditions of his sires he’ll tell. From days afar, down many a rolling year-- Down to thy brothers red--their fathers’ tale Comes to inform them, in their mortal state, What powers they should revere--what deprecate.” X. Here Waban paused, and sitting mused a space, As pondering gravely on the mighty theme; Deep thought was graven on his earnest face, And still his groping memory did seem To gather up the legends of his race. At length he roused, as from a passing dream, And from his mat, majestically slow Rearing his form, began in accents low: XI.