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The sun rose brightly from the sea upon May-day morning,
and Maudsley, who had found but slight and unsatisfactory
repose within his hut, stood upon the summit of the mount, and
refreshed his weary soul with a contemplation of the majestic
scenery around him. Although he was by nature of a wayward
and impetuous disposition, and although his prejudices, from the
earliest period of his life, had enlisted him strongly against the
gloomy and austere principles of Puritanism, he could not but
confess, as he looked upon that solemn and impressive wilderness
scene, so full of fresh and uncontaminated beauty, that it
were indeed a prostitution of nature, if the virgin purity, the
cool and shady loveliness of this sylvan world were to be profaned
forever by orgies such as he had already witnessed. He
could not but confess, and perhaps there was something within
his bosom responsive to the enthusiastic spirit of Esther Ludlow,
which suggested the thought, that it were a nobler destination for
this stern and unappropriated wilderness, to become a new realm
for earnest and self-sustained enthusiasts who had become weary
of the older world, than to fall under the base dominion of the
scum of Europe, conducted thither by leaders impelled by
purposes of self-aggrandizement, and seeking only to transplant
upon this wild territory the worn-out follies, the decrepid purposes,
the reeking crimes of civilization. He thought, as he
stood alone upon that cliff, of the contrast between the grovelling
pursuits and the ribald character of the men who dwelt around,

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and the lofty if fanatical nature of those, concerning whose
welfare and success he could not, in spite of himself, but participate
somewhat in the interest which was so enthusiastically
felt by Esther. He imagined that even he, too, felt that within
him which could abjure the world, where he had dwelt till he
had found or fancied himself weary of its follies, and he abandoned
himself for a moment to a vague dream of what happiness
there might be in this beautiful land, alone with one who
was dearer to him than the whole world beside, when suddenly
the dark shadow of the knight rose upon his fancy, and dispelled
in an instant the soothing vision. At a moment when he was
struggling to shake off the thoughts which were again thronging
to his brain, he was awakened at once to a vivid perception of
the world about him, by a variety of shrill and uproarious
sounds which issued from the forest. At first, so entirely had he
forgotten the mummery of the preceding evening, and the promised
sports of the present day, he was at a loss to account for
the sounds, but as soon as he observed one or two of his late
companions emerging from the woods, he recollected that the
May morning had arrived, and he descended from the eminence
towards the open glade.

In a few moments the whole wild crew, who had passed the
night in the forest, had entered upon the open field, and after a
short pause formed a procession and moved slowly towards the
mount. They were bringing home the May-pole, which was a
vast pine nearly a hundred feet in length. The tree had been
stripped of its bark and branches, ornamented with garlands of
wintergreen and forest-tree blossoms, and placed upon rudely
constructed wheels. In place of oxen, some fifty savages were
yoked together, each wearing May garlands upon their swarthy
brows, and evidently taking a grave satisfaction in thus assisting
at a solemn ceremony, which Bootefish had assured them was an
initiatory step towards their conversion from paganism, and

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which was sure to require copious besprinklings of the strong
water, which they worshipped as the white man's God.

Thus harnessed, the savages drew the mighty May-pole slowly
along, with the Lord of Merry-Mount seated upon it in solemn
state. The rest of the company thronged around him in his
triumphal progress, marching in unison to the braying of trumpets
and the thump of drums, whose rude music sounded strangely
among those ancient woods. After a time, and with great
efforts, the May-pole was at last brought to the top of the
Merry-Mount, where, after a pair of elk antlers had been
fastened to its top, and the red cross banner of England, with a
variety of other pennons, added to its other decorations, it was
triumphantly erected upon the summit. Many shouts of congratulation
now rent the air, and then the company, a little
wearied with their exertions, threw themselves upon the ground
for a few moments' repose. Morton and several of his adherents
now withdrew for a time from the mount, leaving the company
under the charge of his lieutenant and grand master of the ceremonies;
who, after serving out to them what he considered a
sufficient quantity of liquor, soon after retired himself. A
grand arbor was now constructed of green branches upon the
hill, not far from the May-pole, and another of lesser dimensions
near it. A considerable time had thus been spent, and the sun was
already approaching the zenith, when suddenly the music again
was heard advancing from the neighborhood of the palace, and
presently a fantastically attired company were seen advancing
gravely toward the mount. The procession was led by the sovereign
of Merry-Mount himself, who, as Lord of the May, was
attired according to immemorial custom in the green forest garb
of Robin Hood. He wore moreover upon his head a gilt and
glittering crown, and held a gilded staff in his hand, as symbols
of his supremacy. Hanging upon his arm, came a dark-eyed,
dusky daughter of the forest, who, for lack of a fairer

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representative, was arrayed as Maid Marian, the May Lord's favorite dame.
She too, as Queen of the May, wore a gilded crown upon her
swarthy brows, with her glossy black tresses floating almost to
her feet, and was arrayed in gaily colored robes of purple and
crimson cloth. They were followed by Cakebread, who had recovered
from the effects of the flagellation received at Mishawum,
and who now figured as court jester. The respectable buffoon
wore a fool's-cap and bells, a motley coat, with tight-fitting Venetian
pantaloons, whereof one leg was of flame color and the
other of purple. He held a bauble or fool's baton in his hand,
and his dress was hung with little bells, which jingled merrily as
he danced along, occasionally refreshing himself and the spectators
with one of his favorite somersets. Next came the grave
and dignified Bootefish as Friar Tuck, his short but portly person
arrayed in a monkish robe bound about his ample waist with
a cord from which hung a rosary and cross, and his rubicund
physiognomy looking particularly effulgent, as it broke out like
the rising sun from the dark and cloud-like cowl which covered
his venerable head. Rednape followed as the lover of Maid
Marian, wearing a tawdry cap, ornamented with a wreath of
violets, fastened securely to the right side of his head, and a
sky-blue jacket; while his long legs were daintily incased in
scarlet breeches and hose, cross gartered, and with countless
ribbons and true lover's knots streaming from every portion of
his dress. Next came the Spanish gentleman and the Morisco,
personated by less distinguished members of the company, and
wearing immoderately loose breeches, curling shoes of a yard's
dimension, and enormous, empty sleeves hanging from their
gaily colored jerkins. The principal musical performer followed,
with a drum hanging from his neck, a tamborine in his
hand, and a lathe sword at his side. Next came a creature with
a wolf's head and a fox's tail, with half a dozen green and golden
snakes wreathed round his waist; after him, a kind of goblin

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wearing the grim head and portentous teeth of a shark, with a
dragon's tail; then several palmers masqued and cloaked; then a
jack-in-the-green, or living pyramid of blossoming branches,
dancing grotesquely along to the wild music which accompanied
the procession. Last of all came the merry Bernaby Doryfall,
riding the hobby-horse, the animal's head and shoulders artistically
contrived of pasteboard, while an ample housing, or rather
petticoat of parti-colored cloth, descended to the ground, and
effectually concealed the rider's legs. The amiable Centaur
wore a pumpkin helmet of formidable appearance, and flourished
a wooden dagger in his right hand, while with the other he reined
in his restive steed as he gaily pranced and capered about,
bringing up the rear of the pageant in a very effective style.

The procession ascended the mount in an orderly manner,
and arranged themselves about the May-pole, while the rest of
the revellers arose from their recumbent positions and stood,
awaiting the orders of their sovereign. That potentate now took
a roll of paper from his bosom, upon which he had inscribed a
short poem, setting forth, in very high flown and classical doggerel,
an allegorical description of the ceremony, combined with
many enigmatical allusions to the present and prospective condition
of the nascent empire of the Massachusetts.[5] This, after he
had read it in a sonorous and impressive voice, he gravely
affixed to the May-pole, that it might serve for the edification of
his guests, whenever they felt inclined for literary relaxation.
Then, with an indescribable air of majesty, he again extended
his hand to the dusky Queen of the Revels, and conducted her
with stately step to the great arbor, where he seated her upon a
rustic throne. Then advancing once more in front of the verdant
tent, he exclaimed,—

“With gilded staff and crossed scarf, the May Lord, here I stand.”

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“Know ye, therefore, my faithful subjects, that your sports are
to be conducted in an orderly and reputable guise, so as in no
wise to cast discredit upon the court of your sovereign, or to
invoke a blush upon the tender cheek of our loving queen,—

Thus having spoken, the merry monarch seated himself at the
side of his queen, while the whole of the company, Christians
and heathens, friars and dragons, palmers, masquers and mummers
all joined hand in hand, and danced madly about the May-pole.
Round and round they frisked, their brains, already heated
with draughts stronger than May-dew, whirling faster than their
heels, and their many voices, frantic with unbridled excitement,
ringing forth upon the solemn wilderness around them so wildly
and discordantly, that the very beasts which peopled the forests
might have shrunk to their caves in dismay. Round and round
they whirled, shouting, laughing, yelling; now some of them
rolling by dozens upon the earth, and dragged about by their
companions till they found their feet again; now the more
active of them leaping and curvetting over each other's heads,
or frisking about upon each other's shoulders, the riders hallooing
in triumph and the victims staggering blindly about, but all
yelling and leaping as if the wild and stunning music which still
played more and more furiously had maddened their senses or
transformed them into goblins. Faster and faster flew their
heels, louder and louder sounded the diabolical strains of the
music, more fierce and frantic rose the piercing shouts; startling
the echoes of the stern and savage hills around them, which
seemed to reverberate an indignant response to their demoniacal
merriment.

Suddenly Cakebread, the jester, broke from the circle and
frisked forth into the centre of the group, shaking his bauble,

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and commanding silence. The whirling vortex paused for a
moment in its mad career, and the revellers, knowing scarcely if
they stood upon heads or heels, became stationary for a moment,
to listen to his communication.

“Look ye, my masters,” he cried, “this is indeed the music
of the spheres, though something cracked and discordant it may
be, and this the circling of the starry hosts around the sun.
Beshrew me, though, but these whirls be faster than befitteth
some of the planets. As for me, I am a comet, bound to no
orbit, and dance but for my own pleasure. If ye will that I
execute a hornpipe, such as my virtuous dam, whom the Lord
assoilzie, was wont to delight the world withal, so — if not, may
the devil blow his trumpet, and set ye all whirling again — but
the comet shall break loose from your influences.”

Peter, it should be observed, was fond of stating confidentially
to his friends that his parents had both been rope-dancers and
fire-eaters by profession, and that he had been brought up from
earliest childhood to their respectable calling. Furthermore, he
was apt to mention that his destiny in life had been perverted by
a pious and charitable schoolmaster, who had attempted to save
him, like a brand from the burning, and had instructed him in
Latin and the humanities, but had thrown him away again
afterwards. By this process he had acquired an enlightened
education, but had lost his ancestral calling, and had become
neither flesh nor fish, and only fitted for a buffoon. This may
serve to explain his vein of conversation, occasionally more ambitious
than that of his confederates.

The company signified their approbation of his intentions,
and accordingly Peter Cakebread came forward, his eyes glittering
with merriment, and executed his promised hornpipe with
wonderful zeal and agility, and in a manner to do credit to his
parentage and education. Never before, at least in that wilderness,
were seen such prodigious caperings, such impossible

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pigeon wings, such a breathless profusion of miraculous somersets,
such a hopeless confusion and entanglement of head, heels,
arms, and legs, in one rapid and bewildering contortion. Merrily
jingled the jester's bells upon foolscap, jerkin, and bauble,
as he span and gambolled about, and merrily did the company
applaud, as they gazed with open mouths and staring eyes upon
this exhibition of his dexterity, and swore that he must have
made a compact with the evil one, and exchanged his soul for a
skeleton of whalebone, so superhuman did his pranks appear.
In short, Peter Cakebread outdid himself, and seemed to have
combined and embodied within himself, at least for that occasion,
all the extraordinrry and necromantic qualities of his
departed and illustrious parents. As he finished his dance, by
standing stock-still upon the point of one toe, in the most graceful
and preternatural manner, he was greeted with noisy plaudits,
in which the sovereign of the revels heartily joined, as he sat
there upon his rustic throne.

“Excellent well, Master Cakebread,” he cried; “of a truth
thou hast surpassed thyself. A merrier buffoon, a nimbler morrice-dancer,
`choreis aptior et jocis,' it could hardly have been
my lot to meet with in this savage wilderness. Thy sovereign
drinks to thy health, and the gentle Marian likewise,” he concluded,
after touching with his lips the tankard presented officiously
by Bootefish, and then extending it to the dusky sharer
of his throne, who, nothing loth, did due honor to the toast, or at
least to the tankard, which she seemed better to understand.

After Cakebread had finished his dance, and had meekly and
modestly returned thanks for the applause so generously bestowed
upon his exertions, the master of ceremonies came forward
with an important air, and conferred gravely with his
sovereign.

“Thou art right, worthy Robin,” answered that potentate, upon
receiving this communication; “truly the chariot of Phœbus

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is already wheeling from its zenith, and the day will yet prove
too short for our sports if we use not better diligence. Let the
pyramid of tankards and trinkets be erected, that the rosy milk-maids,
according to immemorial custom, may dance for their
simple prizes about it.”

Bootefish accordingly beckoned two or three of the revellers
to his assistance, while the rest remained recumbent upon the
grass, pledging each other in the fiery liquor, and laughing
uproariously at the jibes of Cakebread, who, stimulated by the
applause which he had received, and the copious draughts which
he had imbibed, exerted his utmost powers worthily to discharge
the high functions of court jester, which had been conferred
upon him by his sovereign.

Presently Bootefish and his assistants had erected upon the
mount, about half way between the May-pole and Robin Hood's
arbor, a tall pyramid of tankards, pewter plates, and flagons,
which were to be used at the ensuing banquet, and garnished
it with ribbons, small looking-glasses, strings of gaudy beads,
gaily-colored strips of cloth, and a profusion of such cheap and
trifling finery, as was most pleasing to savage eyes. He then
apprized the lord of the revels that the pyramid was ready.

“Be it it known to ye, my lieges,” said Morton, rising to
address his subjects, that the milk-maid's dance is one of the
most ancient and time-honored customs of the May-day, and
that no festivity in honor of our sovereign lady could be esteemed
complete, where this most graceful and becoming ceremony
was wanting. Rings, chains, gooches, ribbons, and such
simple bravery, are the appropriate rewards for the gentle contenders.
It were a burning shame, if this custom, thus honored
throughout the Christian land of our birth, should be omitted in
this our first festivity in this benighted wilderness. The dance
of the rosy milk-maids, pleasing and pretty as it is, can in no
wise be dispensed with. Rosy milk-maids, come forth!”

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At this concluding exclamation of Morton, his faithful master
of the ceremonies gravely led forth a band of savage maidens,
who had easily been prevailed upon, by promises of liberal reward,
and for the sake of the glittering gewgaws which were
conspicuously displayed upon the pyramid, to agree to take
share in the pageant.

The rosy milk-maids, accordingly, as the Lord of Merry-mount
facetiously designated these dusky daughters of the forest,
came forward, hand in hand. Though differing widely from
the buxom lasses of England, their prototypes upon this occasion,
yet there was something far from disagreeable in these
lithe and graceful creatures, with their bright, savage eyes, supple
limbs, and elastic movements. They joined hand in hand,
and executed gracefully one of their own wild dances, ever and
anon, accompanying their airy bounds with sudden, shrill, but
not unmusical snatches of rude vocal music. Their countrymen,
mingled with their paler-faced confederates, looked on
with dignified composure, occasionally applauding their vigorous
whirls with a deep grunt of approval. When the dance was
finished, they stood stock-still, and received at the hands of the
master of ceremonies, the prizes which were suspended from
the pyramid, with a composure and dignity which might have
befitted princesses. There was no struggling, no snatching, no
exultation of manner, but they quietly adorned their swarthy,
but exquisitely moulded persons, with the various petty decorations
which they received, and then gracefully and silently withdrew
towards the principal group of revellers.

The company were now refreshed with a slight repast of dried
venison and bear's meat, of which they partook as they reclined
together upon the grass, and when the meal was concluded the
sports were resumed. There were now many games of skill and
strength exhibited. A mark was set up at the extremity of the
mound and the savages and Christians contested with each

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other with the bow and arrow, in which, as was observed with
considerable satisfaction by the sovereign, the palm of superiority
was by no means always to be awarded to the Indians, but was
fully as often due to his more immediate subjects, who manfully
contended for victory with their swarthy allies. The savage
was foiled at his own weapons. Perhaps it was the fire-water
which dimmed his eye and rendered his nerves unsteady, while
it left comparatively unaffected the more practised organizations
of the English. Games of wrestling, Indian hug and trip and
twitch succeeded, in which the savages, with their slippery skins,
almost naked persons, and pliable limbs, were almost constantly
victorious. Then there were merry bouts with the quarter
staff, in which the hardy Saxon regained his lost supremacy,
while many a broken head and bloody coxcomb dealt liberally
among the heathen champions, attested the prowess of the English
at their own national game. Late and long were the games
protracted, and long and loud continued the uproar and the merriment.
The sun was now fast approaching the horizon, and
the hardy frames both of pagan and Christian would have been
well nigh exhausted, but for the liberal circulation of the butler's
flagon, which still flew gaily around, wherever a feeling of lassitude
seemed creeping over the revellers. As the subtle influence
mounted to their brains, again their spirits kindled, again their
frames became instinct with renovated vigor, as if the wand of
an enchanter had been waved above their heads.

To the games of wrestling and quarter staff, which had been
conducted with orderly precision, now succeeded a general pell-mell,
in which all parties, old and young, male and female,
Saxon and savage, mingled in desperate and bewildering confusion,
hugging, tumbling, knocking, thumping, tripping, twitching,
pulling, leaping, dancing, singing, whooping and hallooing,
as if they had all gone mad.

At last the Lord of Merry-Mount extended his hand to his

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savage queen, and led her forth with majestic grace towards the May-pole.
Both, wearing their golden crowns upon their heads and
decked in royal robes, now danced a slow and stately measure,
and then, with agreeable condescension, joining hand in hand
with the whole group of revellers, they commenced once more
the merry Morrice dance, the sovereign accompanying his steps
by singing in a clear, melodious voice the initiatory verses of the
song to which he had alluded. The whole assembly pealed out
the chorus, making a din loud enough as they did so, to shame
the howling of the forest wolves. When the song was concluded,
the monarch and his queen slipped out from the throng,
while the rest continued leaping and frisking about the May-pole,
in a rapidly revolving circle, which increased every instant
in its dizzy speed, till one after another, overpowered by his exertions,
was sucked into the merry whirlpool and sank overcome
upon the ground. The revellers, thus fairly danced off their
legs, remained reposing upon the sward for a few minutes, till
the master of ceremonies again sounded his trumpet, when all,
suddenly inspired with renewed vigor, sprang to their feet again,
and marshaled by the indefatigable Bootefish, formed again into
solemn procession and marched down the mount towards the
palace.

eaf285v1.n5[5] See Note V.

p285-204

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