“Waban, fear not; my pale-faced brethren are All Christians, or at least would such be thought; And dost thou think that Beelzebub, how fair Soe’er his speech may be, could move them aught Against their brother? It is better far,-- If it be true such vengeance he have sought,-- Than that he lurk among the bushes here, To fill our days with care and nights with fear. XXXV. “But, Waban, I have now a task for thee;-- Think not of him; but let thy mind be here. Whilst snows o’erspread the earth and ice the sea, I parted from my wife and children dear; ’Twas stormy night, the hunter sheltered me, And gave me in his lodge abundant cheer; Then tow’rd the rising sun for me he sped, And saw the home from which the wanderer fled. XXXVI. “There too he saw his little children play, And the white hand which gave the blanket red; But now that gloomy time seems far away, For much has happened, many a moon has sped; The lodge is built, the garden smiling gay;-- Will the swift foot once more the forest thread, And guide the children and the snow-white hand, With watchful tendance, to this distant land?” XXXVII. Waban replied: “The nimble-foot will go;-- But a gaunt wolf may haunt the hunter’s way, And he will whet his darts, and string his bow, And gird his loins as for the battle fray; The Priest of Chepian ne’er forgets a foe;-- His vengeance lasts until a bloody day Doth feed the crows, or still a bloodier night Gives the gaunt wolf a feast ere dawning light.” XXXVIII. “God is our trust!” our pious Founder said, “Arm, and go forth confiding in his might; So far as e’er an exile’s foot dare tread The ground forbidden him, thy sachem white Will go to meet thee; and when morn has shed Five times from eastern skies her golden light, Will wait thee and his wife and children dear, Hidden in Salem woods till thou appear.” XXXIX. Our Founder then the brief epistle traced, Entreating first that some kind Salem friend, To aid his little Israel through the waste, Would for a while two well-trained palfreys lend; Then to his wife, with kind expression graced, Did meet directions for her guidance send; Called her from Egypt, bade her cheerly dare The desert pass, and find her Canaan there. XL. The morrow dawned, and Waban stood prepared; His knife well sharpened and his bow well strung-- He waited only till his chief declared His purpose full; then on his mantle flung, Girded his loins, his brawny arms he bared, And lightly through the rattling thickets sprung; And soon the thunderings of the partridge tell Where bounds his distant foot from dell to dell. CANTO SEVENTH. [SCENES. Seekonk’s Mead--The Wilderness--Salem--The Wilderness--The Night at the Cavern--The New Home.]