allthingsattheirwill:
Thenoblestmindthebestcontentmenthas.”
WhenWinslow,afterwardgovernorofthePlymouthColony,wentwithacompaniononavisitofceremonytoMassasoitonfootthroughthewoods,andarrivedtiredandhungryathislodge,theywerewellreceivedbytheking,butnothingwassaidabouteatingthatday.Whenthenightarrived,toquotetheirownwords,—“Helaidusonthebedwithhimselfandhiswife,theyattheoneendandweattheother,itbeingonlyplankslaidafootfromtheground,andathinmatuponthem.Twomoreofhischiefmen,forwantofroom,pressedbyanduponussothatwewereworsewearyofourlodgingthanofourjourney.”Atoneo’clockthenextdayMassasoit“broughttwofishesthathehadshot,”aboutthriceasbigasabream“thesebeingboiled,therewereatleastfortylookedforashareinthem.Themostateofthem.Thismealonlywehadintwonightsandadayandhadnotoneofusboughtapartridge,wehadtakenourjourneyfasting.”Fearingthattheywouldbelight-headedforwantoffoodandalsosleep,owingto“thesavages’barbaroussinging,(fortheyusedtosingthemselvesasleep,)”andthattheymightgethomewhiletheyhadstrengthtotravel,theydeparted.Asforlodging,itistruetheywerebutpoorlyentertained,thoughwhattheyfoundaninconveniencewasnodoubtintendedforanhonorbutasfaraseatingwasconcerned,IdonotseehowtheIndianscouldhavedonebetter.Theyhadnothingtoeatthemselves,andtheywerewiserthantothinkthatapologiescouldsupplytheplaceoffoodtotheirguestssotheydrewtheirbeltstighterandsaidnothingaboutit.AnothertimewhenWinslowvisitedthem,itbeingaseasonofplentywiththem,therewasnodeficiencyinthisrespect.
Asformen,theywillhardlyfailoneanywhere.IhadmorevisitorswhileIlivedinthewoodsthanatanyotherperiodinmylifeImeanthatIhadsome.ImetseveralthereundermorefavorablecircumstancesthanIcouldanywhereelse.Butfewercametoseemeontrivialbusiness.Inthisrespect,mycompanywaswinnowedbymymeredistancefromtown.Ihadwithdrawnsofarwithinthegreatoceanofsolitude,intowhichtheriversofsocietyempty,thatforthemostpart,sofarasmyneedswereconcerned,onlythefinestsedimentwasdepositedaroundme.Beside,therewerewaftedtomeevidencesofunexploredanduncultivatedcontinentsontheotherside.
WhoshouldcometomylodgethismorningbutatrueHomericorPaphlagonianman,—hehadsosuitableandpoeticanamethat