democracy in america-1-第13节
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e seed of Abraham his servant； and the children of Jacob his chosen （Psalm cv。 5； 6）； may remember his marvellous works in the beginning and progress of the planting of New England； his wonders and the judgments of his mouth； how that God brought a vine into this wilderness； that he cast out the heathen； and planted it； that he made room for it and caused it to take deep root； and it filled the land （Psalm lxxx。 8； 9）。 And not onely so； but also that he hath guided his people by his strength to his holy habitation and planted them in the mountain of his inheritance in respect of precious Gospel enjoyments： and that as especially God may have the glory of all unto whom it is most due； so also some rays of glory may reach the names of those blessed Saints that were the main instruments and the beginning of this happy enterprise。〃
It is impossible to read this opening paragraph without an involuntary feeling of religious awe； it breathes the very savor of Gospel antiquity。 The sincerity of the author heightens his power of language。 The band which to his eyes was a mere party of adventurers gone forth to seek their fortune beyond seas appears to the reader as the germ of a great nation wafted by Providence to a predestined shore。
The author thus continues his narrative of the departure of the first pilgrims： …
〃So they left that goodly and pleasant city of Leyden； *g which had been their resting…place for above eleven years； but they knew that they were pilgrims and strangers here below； and looked not much on these things； but lifted up their eyes to Heaven； their dearest country； where God hath prepared for them a city （Heb。 xi。 16）； and therein quieted their spirits。 When they came to Delfs… Haven they found the ship and all things ready； and such of their friends as could not come with them followed after them； and sundry came from Amsterdam to see them shipt； and to take their leaves of them。 One night was spent with little sleep with the most； but with friendly entertainment and Christian discourse； and other real expressions of true Christian love。 The next day they went on board； and their friends with them； where truly doleful was the sight of that sad and mournful parting； to hear what sighs and sobs and prayers did sound amongst them； what tears did gush from every eye； and pithy speeches pierced each other's heart； that sundry of the Dutch strangers that stood on the Key as spectators could not refrain from tears。 But the tide （which stays for no man） calling them away； that were thus loth to depart； their Reverend Pastor falling down on his knees； and they all with him； with watery cheeks commended them with most fervent prayers unto the Lord and his blessing； and then； with mutual embraces and many tears they took their leaves one of another； which proved to be the last leave to many of them。〃
＇Footnote g： The emigrants were； for the most part； godly Christians from the North of England； who had quitted their native country because they were 〃studious of reformation； and entered into covenant to walk with one another according to the primitive pattern of the Word of God。〃 They emigrated to Holland； and settled in the city of Leyden in 1610； where they abode； being lovingly respected by the Dutch； for many years： they left it in 1620 for several reasons； the last of which was； that their posterity would in a few generations become Dutch； and so lose their interest in the English nation； they being desirous rather to enlarge His Majesty's dominions； and to live under their natural prince。 … Translator's Note。＇
The emigrants were about 150 in number； including the women and the children。 Their object was to plant a colony on the shores of the Hudson； but after having been driven about for some time in the Atlantic Ocean； they were forced to land on that arid coast of New England which is now the site of the town of Plymouth。 The rock is still shown on which the pilgrims disembarked。 *h
＇Footnote h： This rock is become an object of veneration in the United States。 I have seen bits of it carefully preserved in several towns of the Union。 Does not this sufficiently show how entirely all human power and greatness is in the soul of man？ Here is a stone which the feet of a few outcasts pressed for an instant； and this stone becomes famous； it is treasured by a great nation； its very dust is shared as a relic： and what is become of the gateways of a thousand palaces？＇
〃But before we pass on；〃 continues our historian； 〃let the reader with me make a pause and seriously consider this poor people's present condition； the more to be raised up to admiration of God's goodness towards them in their preservation： for being now passed the vast ocean； and a sea of troubles before them in expectation； they had now no friends to welcome them； no inns to entertain or refresh them； no houses； or much less towns to repair unto to seek for succour： and for the season it was winter； and they that know the winters of the country know them to be sharp and violent； subject to cruel and fierce storms； dangerous to travel to known places； much more to search unknown coasts。 Besides； what could they see but a hideous and desolate wilderness； full of wilde beasts； and wilde men？ and what multitudes of them there were； they then knew not： for which way soever they turned their eyes （save upward to Heaven） they could have but little solace or content in respect of any outward object； for summer being ended； all things stand in appearance with a weather…beaten face； and the whole country full of woods and thickets； represented a wild and savage hew； if they looked behind them； there was the mighty ocean which they had passed； and was now as a main bar or gulph to separate them from all the civil parts of the world。〃
It must not be imagined that the piety of the Puritans was of a merely speculative kind； or that it took no cognizance of the course of worldly affairs。 Puritanism； as I have already remarked； was scarcely less a political than a religious doctrine。 No sooner had the emigrants landed on the barren coast described by Nathaniel Morton than it was their first care to constitute a society； by passing the following Act：
〃In the name of God。 Amen。 We； whose names are underwritten； the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James； etc。； etc。； Having undertaken for the glory of God； and advancement of the Christian Faith； and the honour of our King and country； a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia； Do by these presents solemnly and mutually； in the presence of God and one another； covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politick； for our better ordering and preservation； and furtherance of the ends aforesaid： and by virtue hereof do enact； constitute and frame such just and equal laws； ordinances； acts； constitutions； and officers； from time to time； as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony： unto which we promise all due submission and obedience；〃 etc。 *i
＇Footnote i： The emigrants who founded the State of Rhode Island in 1638； those who landed at New Haven in 1637； the first settlers in Connecticut in 1639； and the founders of Providence in 1640； began in like manner by drawing up a social contract； which was acceded to by all the interested parties。 See 〃Pitkin's History；〃 pp。 42 and 47。＇
This happened in 1620； and from that time forwards the emigration went on。 The religious and political passions which ravaged the British Empire during the whole reign of Charles I drove fresh crowds of sectarians every year to the shores of America。 In England the stronghold of Puritanism was in the middle classes； and it was from the middle classes that the majority of the emigrants came。 The population of New England increased rapidly； and whilst the hierarchy of rank despotically classed the inhabitants of the mother…country； the colony continued to present the novel spectacle of a community homogeneous in all its parts。 A democracy； more perfect than any which antiquity had dreamt of； started in full size and panoply from the midst of an ancient feudal society。
Chapter II： Origin Of The Anglo…Americans … Part II
The English Government was not dissatisfied with an emigration which removed the elements of fresh discord and of further revolutions。 On the contrary； everything was done to encourage it； and great exertions were made to mitigate the hardships of those who sought a shelter from the rigor of their country's laws on the soil of America。 It seemed as if New England was a region given up to the dreams of fancy and the unrestrained experiments of innovators。
The English colonies （and this is one of the main causes of their prosperity） have always enjoyed more internal freedom and more political independence than the colonies of other nations； but this principle of liberty was nowhere more extensively applied than in the States of New England。
It was generally allowed at that period that the territories of the New World belonged to that European nation which had been the first to discover them。 Nearly the whole coast of North America thus became a British possession towards the end of the sixteenth c
