Courtship of Miles Standish-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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What does the opening narration tell us about the setting and characters of the poem?
Section one Of the courtship of Miles Standish. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravs recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer. Please visit Librevox dot org. Recording by Leonard Wilson The courtship of Miles Standish by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Part one Miles Standish. In the old colony days in Plymouth, the land of the pilgrims, to and fro in a room of his simple and primitive dwelling, clad in doublet and hose and boots of Cordovan leather, strode with the martial air Miles Standish, the Puritan captain. Buried in thought, he seemed, with his hands behind him. And pausing ever and anon to behold his glittering weapons of warfare. Hanging in shining array along the walls of the chamber.
Cutlass and corslet of steel, and his trusty sword of Damascus, curved at the point, and inscribed with its mystical Arabic sentence, while underneath in a corner were following piece, musket, and matchlock. Short of stature he was, but strongly built and athletic. Broad in the shoulders, Deep chested with muscles and sinews of iron, Brown as a nut was his face, but But his russet beard was already flaked with patches of snow. As hedges sometimes in November. Near him was seated John Alden. His friend and household companion was Writing with diligent speed at a table of pine by the window. Fair haired, azure eyed, with delicate Saxon complexion. Having the dew of his youth, the And the beauty thereof is As the captives whom Saint Gregory saw and exclaimed not angles, but angels
Youngest of all was he of the men who came in the Mayflower. Suddenly breaking the silence, the diligent scribe interrupting, spake in the pride of his heart Miles Standish, the captain of Plymouth.
How is Captain Miles Standish introduced and described as a soldier?
Look at these arms, he said, the warlike weapons that hang here burnished and bright and clean, as if for parade or inspection. This is the sword of Damascus I fought with in Flanders. This breastplate? Well I remember the day, once saved my life in a skirmish. Here in front you can see the very dent of the bullet fired point blank at my heart by a Spanish Arcabusero. Had it not been of sheer steel, the forgotten bones of Miles Standish would at this moment be mould, and their grave in the Flemish morasses. Thereupon answered John Alden, but look not up from his writing. Truly the breath of the Lord hath slackened the speed of the bullet. He in his mercy preserved you to be our shield and our weapon.
Still, the captain continued, unheeding the words of the stripling. See how bright they are burnished as if in an personal hanging. That is because I have done it myself, and not left it to others. Serve yourself, would you be well served, is an excellent adage. So I take care of my arms, as you of your pens and your ink horn. Then too, There are my soldiers, my great invincible army. Twelve men, all equipped, having each his rest and his matchlock. Eighteen shillings a month, said Together with diet and pillage. And like Caesar, I know the name of each of my soldiers. This he said with a smile that danced in his eyes as the sunbeams dance on the waves of the sea and vanish again in a moment. Alden laughed as he wrote, for
And still the captain continued. Look, you can see from this window my brazen howitzer planted high on the roof of the church. A preacher who speaks to the purpose of the Steady, straightforward and strong, with irresistible logic. Orthodox flashing conviction right into the hearts of the heathen. Now we are ready, I think, for any assault of the Indians. Let them come if they like. And the sooner they try it, the better. Let them come if they like, be it Sagamor, Sachemor, Powau, Aspinet, Samuset, Corbatant, Squanto, or Tokamahaman. Long at the window he stood and wistfully gazed on the landscape, washed with the cold grey mist, the vapoury breath of the east wind, forest and meadow and hill, and the steel blue rim of the ocean lying silent and sad in the afternoon shadows and sunshine.
Over his countenance flitted a shadow like those on the landscape. Gloom intermingled with light.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What does the opening narration tell us about the setting and characters of the poem?
0:00–2:26
2
How is Captain Miles Standish introduced and described as a soldier?
2:26–12:00
3
Why does Standish show off his weapons and recount his battle scars?
12:00–16:32
4
What conflict arises between Standish and John Alden over the armaments?
16:32–43:04
5
How does the story transition from the armory scene to the love triangle?
43:04–45:51
6
What role do friendship and letters play in the courtship of Priscilla?
45:51–1:28:40
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