Forth  from  the  curtain  of  clouds,  from  the  tent  of
purple  and  scarlet,

Issued  the  sun,  the  great  High- Priest,  in  his  gar-
ments resplendent,

Holiness  unto  the  Lord,  in  letters  of  light,  on  his
forehead,

Round  the  hem  of  his  robe  the  golden  bells  and
pomegranates.
927.  For  a  description  of  the  Jewisb  high-priest  and  his  dress,
6ee  Exodus,  chapter  xxviii.
166  LONGFELLOW.
930  Blessing  the  world  he  came,  and  the  bars  of  vapor
beneath  him
Gleamed  like  a  grate  of  brass,  and  the  sea  at  his
feet  was  a  laver !

This  was  the  wedding   morn   of   Priscilla  the

Puritan  maiden.
Friends  were  assembled  together;   the  Elder  and

Magistrate  also
Graced  the  scene  with  their  presence,  and  stood

like  the  Law  and  the  Gospel,
J35  One  with  the  sanction  of  earth  and  one  with  the

blessing  of  heaven.
Simple  and  brief  was  the  wedding,  as  that  of  Ruth

and  of  Boaz.
Softly  the  youth   and  the  maiden   repeated  the

words  of  betrothal,
Taking  each  other  for  husband  and  wife  in  the

Magistrate's  presence,
Ifter  the  Puritan  way,  and  the  laudable  custom  of

Holland.
r>*t    Fervently  then  and  devoutly,  the  excellent  Elder

of  Plymouth
Prayed  for  the  hearth  and  the  home,  that  were

founded  that  day  in  affection,
Speaking  of  life  and  of  death,  and  imploring  Di-
vine benedictions.
