And it was rumored that he daily held Communion strange with monsters of the wood, Harked to their voices, and their meanings spelled, And muttered answers which they understood; That he had filled with wisdom unexcelled, A cherished serpent of the sesek’s brood,-- Had taught his forky tongue to modulate The voice of man, and speak impending fate. XXI. At length the morn of this stern trial rose, And mustering towns poured forth their eager trains, From where wild Pawcatuck’s dark water flows, To where Pawtucket cleaves the sounding plains; From where Aquidnay’s blooming bosom throws The ocean back, unto the far domains Of the rude Nipnet, Narraganset’s wood Rendered in eager throngs the multitude. XXII. Swarm upon swarm, far dark’ning all the ground, They gathered, and on Potowomet’s plain, The dusky rabble filled the borders round, While near the centre stood the warrior train; Wild dance their plumes; fierce looks, fierce threats abound, With war of voices like the murmuring main, Wherein these words continually prevail:-- “The priest of Chepian grim!--Awanux weak and pale!” XXIII. The council formed upon the open glade; The Sachems sate about the mounting blaze; Five thousand warriors round that senate made A dreadful ring, and stared with fixed amaze; Within the senate, (so the chieftains bade,) Apart sate Williams, obvious to their gaze; And off a little, but confronting him, Appeared the wizard in his hideous trim. XXIV. From crown to heel stained black as night he rose, All naked save his waist and heaving chest; The sable fox-hide did his loins enclose, The sable fox-tail formed the nodding crest Above his inky locks, which, dangling loose, Half veiled his cheeks, and reached unto his breast; Around that breast the same black fox’s hair Moved as he breathed, and seemed as growing there. XXV. Tall was his form, and in his dexter hand He bore a barb with deadly venom fraught; Whilst in his left, supported by a band, He held a casket, where the rabble thought A manittoo, awaiting his command, Coiled in a serpent’s folds; and there was nought That in brave warriors could awaken fright, Save his dire glance and fascinating might. XXVI. For, strange to tell! e’en on the human kind, That serpent ventured his mysterious charm; And there were those who thought the subtle mind Of Chepian’s self inspired his winding form. All sought his omens.--He was aye enshrined, Through winter’s cold, in furs to keep him warm; And never issued to the open light, Till famine roused his rage, or prey provoked his might. XXVII.