Page:What cheer, or, Roger Williams in banishment (1896).pdf/35

 Where all may worship, as their gods they know, Or conscience lights and leads their varying ken;— Where ages after ages still may bow, And from free hearts free orisons may flow."

LXVII.

Waban a while mused on our Founder's tale, And silent sate in meditative mood; For much he wondered why his brothers pale For differing worship sought their kindred's blood. At last he thought that they must surely fail To know the Great Spirit as a father good, Or Chepian was their god, and had inclined Them to indulge a fell and cruel mind.

LXVIII.

Then pity blended with his wonder grew; Here was a victim of that Evil One, Who from him and his angry servants flew To seek a shelter in the forest lone. "Brother," he said, "thy brother much doth rue (Hearing thy tales,) that thou art forced to shun Thy well-framed wigwam—thy familiar fire, And sleep so far amid this tempest dire.

LXIX.

"Now, brother, hear, what Waban has to say: The night is cold, and fast the snows descend; Still round thy sleep will howl the beasts of prey;—  Will not my brother to my wigwam wend? It smokes well-sheltered and not far away;  There may my brother this drear season spend, And shun the wrath of Chepian's angry men, Until Sowaniu's breezes scatter flowers again.