imaginedawildphilosophyofpleasure，andcamehithertoactout
theirlatestday-dream。Theygatheredfollowersfromallthatgiddy
tribewhosewholelifeislikethefestaldaysofsoberermen。In
theirtrainwereminstrels，notunknowninLondonstreets：wandering
players，whosetheatreshadbeenthehallsofnoblemen；mummers，
rope-dancers，andmountebanks，whowouldlongbemissedatwakes，
churchales，andfairs；inaword，mirthmakersofeverysort，suchas
aboundedinthatage，butnowbegantobediscountenancedbytherapid
growthofPuritanism。Lighthadtheirfootstepsbeenonland，andas
lightlytheycameacrossthesea。Manyhadbeenmaddenedbytheir
previoustroublesintoagaydespair；otherswereasmadlygayin
theflushofyouth，liketheMayLordandhisLady；butwhatevermight
bethequalityoftheirmirth，oldandyoungweregayatMerry
Mount。Theyoungdeemedthemselveshappy。Theelderspirits，ifthey
knewthatmirthwasbutthecounterfeitofhappiness，yetfollowedthe
falseshadowwilfully，becauseatleasthergarmentsglittered
brightest。Sworntriflersofalifetime，theywouldnotventure
amongthesobertruthsoflifenoteventobetrulyblest。
AllthehereditarypastimesofOldEnglandweretransplanted
hither。TheKingofChristmaswasdulycrowned，andtheLordof
Misruleborepotentsway。OntheEveofSt。John，theyfelledwhole
acresoftheforesttomakebonfires，anddancedbytheblazeall
night，crownedwithgarlands，andthrowingflowersintotheflame。
Atharvesttime，thoughtheircropwasofthesmallest，theymadean
imagewiththesheavesofIndiancorn，andwreatheditwithautumnal
garlands，andboreithometriumphantly。Butwhatchiefly
characterizedthecolonistsofMerryMountwastheirvenerationfor
theMaypole。Ithasmadetheirtruehistoryapoet’stale。Spring
deckedthehallowedemblemwithyoungblossomsandfreshgreenboughs；
Summerbroughtrosesofthedeepestblush，andtheperfectedfoliage
oftheforest；Autumnenricheditwiththatredandyellow
gorgeousnesswhichconvertseachwildwoodleafintoapainted
flower；andWintersilvereditwithsleet，andhungitroundwith
icicles，tillitflashedinthecoldsunshine，itselfafrozen
sunbeam。ThuseachalternateseasondidhomagetotheMaypole，and
paiditatributeofitsownrichestsplendor。Itsvotariesdanced
roundit，once，atleast，ineverymonth；sometimestheycalledit
theirreligion，ortheiraltar；butalways，itwasthebannerstaffof
MerryMount。
Unfortunately，thereweremeninthenewworldofasternerfaith
thantheseMaypoleworshippers。NotfarfromMerryMountwasa
settlementofPuritans，mostdismalwretches，whosaidtheirprayers
beforedaylight，andthenwroughtintheforestorthecorn-fieldtill
eveningmadeitprayertimeagain。Theirweaponswerealwaysathand
toshootdownthestragglingsavage。Whentheymetinconclave，itwas
nevertokeepuptheoldEnglishmirth，buttohearsermonsthree
hourslong，ortoproclaimbountiesontheheadsofwolvesandthe
scalpsofIndians。Theirfestivalswerefastdays，andtheirchief
pastimethesingingofpsalms。Wototheyouthormaidenwhodidbut
dreamofadance！Theselectmannoddedtotheconstable；andtheresat
thelight-heeledreprobateinthestocks；orifhedanced，itwas
roundthewhipping-post，whichmightbetermedthePuritanMaypole。
ApartyofthesegrimPuritans，toilingthroughthedifficult
woods，eachwithahorseloadofironarmortoburdenhisfootsteps，
wouldsometimesdrawnearthesunnyprecinctsofMerryMount。There
werethesilkencolonists，sportingroundtheirMaypole；perhaps
teachingabeartodance，orstrivingtocommunicatetheirmirthto
thegraveIndian；ormasqueradingintheskinsofdeerandwolves，
whichtheyhadhuntedforthatespecialpurpose。Often，thewhole
colonywereplayingatblindman’sbuff，magistratesandall，with
theireyesbandaged，exceptasinglescapegoat，whomtheblinded
sinnerspursuedbythetinklingofthebellsathisgarments。Once，it
issaid，theywereseenfollowingaflower-deckedcorpse，with
merrimentandfestivemusic，tohisgrave。Butdidthedeadmanlaugh？
Intheirquietesttimes，theysangballadsandtoldtales，forthe
edificationoftheirpiousvisitors；orperplexedthemwithjuggling
tricks；orgrinnedatthemthroughhorsecollars；andwhensport
itselfgrewwearisome，theymadegameoftheirownstupidity，and
beganayawningmatch。Attheveryleastoftheseenormities，the
menofironshooktheirheadsandfrownedsodarklythattherevellers
lookedup，imaginingthatamomentarycloudhadovercastthesunshine，
whichwastobeperpetualthere。Ontheotherhand，thePuritans
affirmedthat，whenapsalmwaspealingfromtheirplaceofworship，
theechowhichtheforestsentthembackseemedoftenlikethe
chorusofajollycatch，closingwitharoaroflaughter。Whobut
thefiend，andhisbondslaves，thecrewofMerryMount，hadthus
disturbedthem？Induetime，afeudarose，sternandbitteronone
side，andasseriousontheotherasanythingcouldbeamongsuch
lightspiritsashadswornallegiancetotheMaypole。Thefuture
complexionofNewEnglandwasinvolvedinthisimportantquarrel。
Shouldthegrizzlysaintsestablishtheirjurisdictionoverthegay
sinners，thenwouldtheirspiritsdarkenalltheclime，andmakeit
alandofcloudedvisages，ofhardtoil，ofsermonandpsalm
forever。ButshouldthebannerstaffofMerryMountbefortunate，
sunshinewouldbreakuponthehills，andflowerswouldbeautifythe
forest，andlateposteritydohomagetotheMaypole。
Aftertheseauthenticpassagesfromhistory，wereturntothe
nuptialsoftheLordandLadyoftheMay。Alas！wehavedelayedtoo
long，andmustdarkenourtaletoosuddenly。Asweglanceagainatthe
Maypole，asolitarysunbeamisfadingfromthesummit，andleavesonly
afaint，goldentingeblendedwiththehuesoftherainbowbanner。
Eventhatdimlightisnowwithdrawn，relinquishingthewholedomain
ofMerryMounttotheeveninggloom，whichhasrushedso
instantaneouslyfromtheblacksurroundingwoods。Butsomeofthese
blackshadowshaverushedforthinhumanshape。
Yes，withthesettingsun，thelastdayofmirthhadpassedfrom
MerryMount。Theringofgaymasquerswasdisorderedandbroken；the
stagloweredhisantlersindismay；thewolfgrewweakerthana
lamb；thebellsofthemorris-dancerstinkledwithtremulousaffright。
ThePuritanshadplayedacharacteristicpartintheMaypole
mummeries。Theirdarksomefigureswereintermixedwiththewildshapes
oftheirfoes，andmadethesceneapictureofthemoment，whenwaking
thoughtsstartupamidthescatteredfantasiesofadream。The
leaderofthehostilepartystoodinthecentreofthecircle，while
theroutofmonsterscoweredaroundhim，likeevilspiritsinthe
presenceofadreadmagician。Nofantasticfoolerycouldlookhimin
theface。Sosternwastheenergyofhisaspect，thatthewholeman，
visage，frame，andsoul，seemedwroughtofiron，giftedwithlife
andthought，yetallofonesubstancewithhisheadpieceand
breastplate。ItwasthePuritanofPuritans；itwasEndicotthimself！
“Standoff，priestofBaal！”saidhe，withagrimfrown，andlaying
noreverenthanduponthesurplice。“Iknowthee，Blackstone！Thouart
themanwhocouldstnotabidetheruleevenofthineowncorrupted
church，andhastcomehithertopreachiniquity，andtogiveexample
ofitinthylife。ButnowshallitbeseenthattheLordhath
sanctifiedthiswildernessforhispeculiarpeople。Wountothem
thatwoulddefileit！Andfirst，forthisflower-deckedabomination，
thealtarofthyworship！”
AndwithhiskeenswordEndicottassaultedthehallowedMaypole。
Norlongdiditresisthisarm。Itgroanedwithadismalsound；it
showeredleavesandrosebudsupontheremorselessenthusiast；and
finally，withallitsgreenboughsandribbonsandflowers，symbolic
ofdepartedpleasures，downfellthebannerstaffofMerryMount。As
itsank，traditionsays，theeveningskygrewdarker，andthewoods
threwforthamoresombreshadow。
“There。”criedEndicott，lookingtriumphantlyonhiswork，“there
liestheonlyMaypoleinNewEngland！Thethoughtisstrongwithin
methat，byitsfall，isshadowedforththefateoflightandidle
mirthmakers，amongstusandourposterity。Amen，saithJohn
Endicott。”
*DidGovernorEndicottspeaklesspositively，weshouldsuspecta
mistakehere。TheRev。Mr。Blackstone，thoughaneccentric，isnot
knowntohavebeenanimmoralman。Weratherdoubthisidentitywith
thepriestofMerryMount。
“Amen！”echoedhisfollowers。
ButthevotariesoftheMaypolegaveonegroanfortheiridol。At
thesound，thePuritanleaderglancedatthecrewofComus，eacha
figureofbroadmirth，yet，atthismoment，strangelyexpressiveof
sorrowanddismay。
“Valiantcaptain。”quothPeterPalfrey，theAncientoftheband，
“whatordershallbetakenwiththeprisoners？”
“IthoughtnottorepentmeofcuttingdownaMaypole。”replied
Endicott，“yetnowIcouldfindinmyhearttoplantitagain，and
giveeachofthesebestialpagansoneotherdanceroundtheiridol。It
wouldhaveservedrarelyforawhipping-post！”
“Buttherearepine-treesenow。”suggestedthelieutenant。
“True，goodAncient。”saidtheleader。“Wherefore，bindtheheathen
crew，andbestowonthemasmallmatterofstripesapiece，as
earnestofourfuturejustice。Setsomeoftheroguesinthestocksto
restthemselves，sosoonasProvidenceshallbringustooneofour
ownwell-orderedsettlements，wheresuchaccommodationsmaybe
found。Furtherpenalties，suchasbrandingandcroppingofears，shall
bethoughtofhereafter。”
“Howmanystripesforthepriest？”inquiredAncientPalfrey。
“Noneasyet。”answeredEndicott，bendinghisironfrownuponthe
culprit。“ItmustbefortheGreatandGeneralCourttodetermine，
whetherstripesandlongimprisonment，andothergrievouspenalty，may
atoneforhistransgressions。Lethimlooktohimself！Forsuchas
violateourcivilorder，itmaybepermittedustoshowmercy。But
wotothewretchthattroublethourreligion！”
“Andthisdancingbear。”resumedtheofficer。“Musthesharethe
stripesofhisfellows？”
“Shoothimthroughthehead！”saidtheenergeticPuritan。“I
suspectwitchcraftinthebeast。”
“Herebeacoupleofshiningones。”continuedPeterPalfrey，
pointinghisweaponattheLordandLadyoftheMay。“Theyseemto
beofhighstationamongthesemisdoers。Methinkstheirdignitywill
notbefittedwithlessthanadoubleshareofstripes。”
Endicottrestedonhissword，andcloselysurveyedthedressand
aspectofthehaplesspair。Theretheystood，pale，downcast，and
apprehensive。Yettherewasanairofmutualsupport，andofpure
affection，seekingaidandgivingit，thatshowedthemtobemanand
wife，withthesanctionofapriestupontheirlove。Theyouth，inthe
perilofthemoment，haddroppedhisgildedstaff，andthrownhis
armabouttheLadyoftheMay，wholeanedagainsthisbreast，too
lightlytoburdenhim，butwithweightenoughtoexpressthattheir
destinieswerelinkedtogether，forgoodorevil。Theylookedfirstat
eachother，andthenintothegrimcaptain’sface。Theretheystood，
inthefirsthourofwedlock，whiletheidlepleasures，ofwhichtheir
companionsweretheemblems，hadgivenplacetothesternestcares
oflife，personifiedbythedarkPuritans。Butneverhadtheir
youthfulbeautyseemedsopureandhighaswhenitsglowwaschastened
byadversity。
“Youth。”saidEndicott，“yestandinanevilcase，thouandthy
maidenwife。Makereadypresently，forIammindedthatyeshall
bothhaveatokentorememberyourweddingday！”
“Sternman。”criedtheMayLord，“howcanImovethee？Werethe
meansathand，Iwouldresisttothedeath。Beingpowerless，I
entreat！Dowithmeasthouwilt，butletEdithgountouched！”
“Notso。”repliedtheimmitigablezealot。“Wearenotwontto
showanidlecourtesytothatsex，whichrequireththestricter
discipline。Whatsayestthou，maid？Shallthysilkenbridegroomsuffer
thyshareofthepenalty，besideshisown？”