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CHAPTER I

PERIOD OF PREPARATION. 1607-1765

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES says somewhere that a true biography must begin one hundred years before the subject's birth. So, to get a true idea of American Literature, we must begin before the beginning. We have to take for granted the ancestry of our Literature in that of Great Britain, and begin at the point when there began to be an American people; when the English settlers first came to this continent. The settlement of European countries is hidden in the mists of antiquity. But our country was settled in a time of enlightenment and of great intellectual activity. The early settlers of England, of Saxon race, were savage pirates, ignorant and wild; and no contemporary records of their life remain. The early settlers of America were cultivated and highly civilized. So there are abundant records of their life. On the other hand, in the dim antiquity of early English History we find some great literary monuments, as the Epic poem, "Beowolf," and the writings of Cadmon and Cynewulf. There is nothing like these in American History; and the reason is that the life of the time was not indigenous, but transplanted. A real American Literature was then impossible because the people were not yet Americans, but English who had changed their home for

Virginia, 1607.

John Smith, 1579-1632.

a special purpose. Their task was a very different one from that of the old Saxons. They had to turn a savage wilderness into a civilized country, to make roads, build bridges, cultivate farms, build houses, churches, schools, colleges, and organize all their social and political life. All that had been developed in a thousand years in Old England was created in fifty years in New England. Thus we can readily understand that the life was so busy, so hurried, so unnatural, that a native Literature like that of the early ages of older countries was impossible. But in the records of the voyages and first settlements, the journals of the colonists, the sermons of the preachers, we find the germs of the historical and devotional writings of later times; and there were some efforts at verse writing which make an interesting link between the English poetry of the seventeenth century and the work of American poets in later days.

The earliest successful settlement in America was that in Virginia in 1607; and it is in connection with that settlement that we find the first memorable writing. One of the leaders of this first settlement, one of the most romantic characters in history, had the very unromantic, though highly respectable, name of John Smith. He was born in Willoughby, Lincolnshire, England, in January, 1579; ran away to the wars in the Netherlands when fifteen years old; was afterwards engaged in wars against the Turks; was concerned in the founding of the colony at Jamestown in 1607; in 1614 explored the New England coast from Penobscot to Cape Cod;

made several efforts to organize companies to colonize New England; spent his last years in writing descriptions of his adventures; and died in London in 1632.

There are two of his works which are of special interest and importance for us; one of these being probably the first bit of writing done in America which was First ever printed. It is a letter written by Smith from Book. Virginia, and printed in London, 1608. The titlepage of this pioneer American book is as follows:

A True Relation of such Occurrencies and Accidents of Noate

American

Relation,"

as hath hapned in Virginia since the first planting "A True of that colony, which is now resident in the south part 1608. thereof till the last return from thence.

Written by Captain Smith coronell of the said Colony to a worshipful friend of his in England.

[Picture of a ship in full sail.]

Printed for John Tappe and to be sold at the Grey
Hound in Paul's Church Yard by W. W.

The other work by Smith of special interest to us is "The General History of Virginia," printed in London, 1624. This is not an American book in the same sense as "A True Relation," because it was written as well as printed in England. It is Smith's extended elaborate account of the events and scenes briefly mentioned in the former book. Historians have been inclined to discredit some of the statements in this book, particularly the Pocahontas story, thinking that if it were actual fact it would have been related in the earlier work. We are not

D

"General History of Virginia,"

1624.

The
Original
Pocahontas

Story.

specially concerned with the question of the historic credibility of the story. But from any point of view it is of great interest, and I give it in Smith's words.

Opitchapam the King's brother invited him to his house, where, with as many platters of bread, foule, and wild beasts, as did inviron him, he bid him welcome; but not any of them would eate a bit with him, but put up all the remainder in Baskets. At his return to Opechancanough's all the King's women, and their children, flocked about him for their parts, as a due by Custome, to be merry with such fragments. But his waking mind in hydeous dreams did oft see wondrous shapes

Of bodies strange, and huge in growth, and of stupendious makes.

At last they brought him to Werowocomoco, where was Powhatan, their Emperor. Here more than two hundred of those grim Courtiers stood wondering at him, as he had beene a monster; till Powhatan and his train had put themselves in their greatest braveries. Before a fire upon a seat like a bedsted, he sat covered with a great robe, made of Rarowcun skinnes and all the tayles hanging by. On either hand did sit a young wench of 16 or 18 years, and along on each side the house, two rowes of men, and behind them as many women, with all their heads and shoulders painted red; many of their heads bedecked with the white downe of Birds; but every one of them with something: and a great chain of white beads about their necks. At his entrance before the King, all the people gave a great shout. The Queene of Appamatuck was appointed to bring him water to wash his hands, and another brought him a bunch of feathers, instead of a towel to dry them. Having feasted him after their best barbarous manner they could, a long consultation was held, but the conclusion was, two great stones were brought before Powhatan: then as many as

could laid hands on him, dragged him to them, and thereon laid his head, and being ready with their clubs, to beate out his braines, Pocahontas the King's dearest daughter, when no intreaty could prevaile, got his head in her armes and laid her owne upon his to save him from death whereat the Emperour was contented he should live to make him hatchets, and her bells, beads, and copper; for they thought him as well of all occupations as themselves. For the King himselfe will make his owne robes, shooes, bowes, arrowes, pots; plant, hunt, or doe anything so well as the rest.

They say he bore a pleasant shew,

But sure his heart was sad.

For who can pleasant be, and rest,
That lives in feare and dread:

And having life suspected, doth
It still suspected lead.

It will be seen that Smith had considerable power of description. One gets a vivid picture of the Indian chief and his surroundings, and the story of the escape is told with spirit.

Strachey.

In 1609 the ship "Sea Venture" left England with a company of colonists under the leadership of Sir Thomas Gates. The party were wrecked in a hurricane off the Bermuda Islands. Some of them, however, reached Virginia, and among them was one William Strachey. Strachey wrote a description of William the voyage, "A True Reportory of the Wracke and Redemption of Sir Thomas Gates upon and from the Bermudas," which was published as part of a work called "Purchas's Pilgrims." As it was just about this time that Shakespeare wrote "The Tempest," the storm scene of which is, by the phrase "still vexed Bermoothes," associated with the Bermudas, scholars

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