Page:What cheer, or, Roger Williams in banishment (1896).pdf/104

 IV.

Day after day he passed from man to man, Whome'er of note the mightier Sachems swayed, And, to the chieftains of each martial clan, In paints all grim—in horrid arms arrayed— He talked of peace; then o'er the dangers ran, Were war against the Wampanoag made; And then besought them that with friendly eyes, They would behold his smoke from Seekonk rise.

V.

Betwixt the tribes, on either side the stream, Still he the belt would hold—the pipe would bear; But never in his hand should lightning gleam For either Sachem when he rushed to war; And with the Yengees still might it beseem Him to promote an understanding fair, Till wide the tree of peace its branches spread, And white and red men smoked beneath its shade.

VI.

But chiefly did he this free converse hold With M'antonomi, Sachem young and brave, And great Canonicus, sagacious, old And in his speech deliberate and grave. One eve they sate—the storm without was cold, 'Twas ere the council their decision gave, And thus the talk went on among the three, The questions simple and the answers free.

VII.

Why will my brother dwell amid our foes, Yet seek from us a peaceful neighborhood? May we not think he'll bend their battle bows, And thirst like them for Narraganset's blood?