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。
