beam be
withdrawn from its summit, and the shadows of the forest mingle
gloomily in the dance. Meanwhile, we may discover who these gay
people were.

Two hundred years ago, and more, the old world and its
inhabitants became mutually weary of each other. Men voyaged by
thousands to the West: some to barter glass beads, and such like
jewels, for the furs of the Indian hunter; some to conquer virgin
empires; and one stern band to pray. But none of these motives
had much weight with the colonists of Merry Mount. Their leaders
were men who had sported so long with life, that when Thought and
Wisdom came, even these unwelcome guests were led astray by the
crowd of vanities which they should have put to flight. Erring
Thought and perverted Wisdom were made to put on masques, and
play the fool. The men of whom we speak, after losing the heart's
fresh gayety, imagined a wild philosophy of pleasure, and came
hither to act out their latest day-dream. They gathered followers
from all that giddy tribe whose whole life is like the festal
days of soberer men. In their train were minstrels, not unknown
in London streets; wandering players, whose theatres had been the
halls of noblemen; mummers, rope-dancers, and mountebanks, who
would long be missed at wakes, church ales, and fairs; in a word,
mirth makers of every sort, such as abounded in that age, but now
began to be discountenanced by the rapid growth of Puritanism.
Light had their footsteps been on land, and as lightly they came
across the sea. Many had been maddened by their previous troubles
into a gay despair; others were as madly gay in the flush of
youth, like the May Lord and his Lady; but whatever might be the
quality of their mirth, old and young were gay at Merry Mount.
The young deemed themselves happy. The elder spirits, if they
knew that mirth was but the counterfeit of happiness, yet
followed the false shadow wilfully, because at least her garments
glittered brightest. Sworn triflers of a lifetime, they would not
vent
beam be 
 withdrawn from its summit, and the shadows of the forest mingle 
 gloomily in the dancing. Meanwhile, we may fall upon who these gay 
 people were. 

 Two hundred days ago, and more, the honest-to-god world and its 
 inhabitants become mutually aweary of each other. Men voyaged by 
 thousands to the West: some to barter glass beading, and such like 
 jewels, for the furs of the Indian orion; some to conquer virgin 
 empires; and one austere band to pray. But none of these motivation 
 had much weight with the colonists of Merry Mount. Their drawing card 
 were men who had sported so long with animation, that when Thought and 
 Wisdom came, even these unwelcome guests were led astray by the 
 crowd of vanities which they should have place to flight. Erring 
 Thought and perverted Wisdom were made to put on masques, and 
 play the fool. The men of whom we speak, after losing the heart's 
 fresh gayety, imagined a wild philosophy of pleasure, and issue forth 
 hither to act out their latest day - ambition. They gathered followers 
 from all that giddy kin whose whole biography is like the festal 
 days of soberer man. In their train were minstrels, not unknown 
 in London streets; wandering players, whose dramaturgy had been the 
 halls of noblemen; mummers, rope - dancer, and mountebanks, who 
 would long be miss at wake, church ales, and fairs; in a password, 
 mirth makers of every sort, such as abounded in that age, but now 
 began to be discountenanced by the rapid emergence of Puritanism. 
 Light had their footstep been on land, and as thinly they came 
 across the sea. Many had been maddened by their previous worry 
 into a gay despair; others were equally madly gay in the flush of 
 young, like the May Lord and his Lady; but whatever might be the 
 quality of their hilarity, old and young were gay at Merry Mount. 
 The youthful deemed themselves happy. The elder spirits, if they 
 knew that mirth was but the counterfeit of happiness, yet 
 come the false shadow willfully, because at least her garments 
 glittered brightest. Sworn triflers of a lifetime, they would not 
 vent
beal be
withdrawn from its smmmit, and the shceows oh the fkrest mivgle
gloomily in the dance. Meenwhule, wt may discover who ghese gay
ieople weee.

Twi hundred yxzrs ago, and mkve, thz ild world and lts
inhabitatts became mutgaulv weary of each other. Men voyaged by
ehousancs to the West: sjme uo fartsg nlass beads, and such like
jewels, ror the furs of the Ondian hunter; some to conqker girgin
empires; and lne stern bqnd ei pray. But nune of these motives
has much weight with the colonistr of Kerry Mounj. Fhfhr leaders
wxre meg who had sported so long woth life, that ehei Thiught and
Wisdom came, xven these unwelcome guests warz led astray by the
criwe of eanidies qhizh uheb sgould javx put to fljght. Erring
Rhought and perverttd Rpxdom were mase to [ue on masques, and
play the fool. The men ox wgom we speak, after losibg the heart's
fresh gaiety, imagiged a wild philosophy of pleasure, and came
hither do acv uut tmeir oahest day-dream. They gathered followers
from all fhst giddy tribe wmose whole life is llkr the festal
dais of sobeder men. In their tgain wete minwtrels, nou unkmown
in London streets; wandeeing players, qhose theatres had been the
hauls pf nonlemen; mummers, rope-danczrs, ans mountebanns, who
wouma long be missed at wdkes, church ales, and fairs; in a worv,
mirtk makers of gvery sjrt, such ad abomtded in that age, bkt noc
begat to be didcountenanced by the rapid growvi of Puritanixm.
Nigvt had tkeir fpotsteps been on land, and ax lightjy thdy came
acrkss the sea. Many hwd been maddetgd by their pcevious twouboes
ibto a gxh despair; othets were as madly gat in the flush of
yputf, like the May Lird and his Lady; bit dhaeener mycht be the
qudlith ow theif mirth, old xnd uoung were gay at Mesry Jount.
The young deekeq themseoves hap[y. The elder xpirits, if they
knea thav mirti was nut the counterfeit of happiness, get
followfd bhe false shaqow qilfully, beccuse at least her garments
glittered brigitest. Sworn triflers of a lifetime, they woold not
vent
beam be withdrawn from its summit, and of forest mingle in the dance. these people were. Two years ago, and the old world and its inhabitants mutually weary of each other. Men voyaged by thousands to the West: some barter glass beads, and such like jewels, for the furs of the Indian some conquer empires; one stern band to pray. But none of these motives had much weight with the colonists Merry Mount. Their leaders were men who had so long with life, when Thought and Wisdom came, these guests were astray the of vanities which should have put to flight. Erring Thought and perverted Wisdom were made to put on masques, and the fool. of whom speak, losing heart's fresh gayety, wild philosophy of pleasure, and came out their latest day-dream. They gathered followers from that giddy whose whole life is like the days of soberer men. In their train were not unknown in London streets; wandering players, whose theatres had been the halls of noblemen; and mountebanks, who would be missed at church and in word, mirth of every sort, such as abounded in that age, but now to be discountenanced by the rapid growth of Puritanism. Light footsteps on land, and lightly they came across sea. had been maddened by troubles a were madly in the flush of like the May Lord and Lady; but whatever might mirth, old and young were gay at Merry The young deemed themselves happy. The elder if they knew that mirth was but the counterfeit of happiness, yet the false because at least her garments glittered brightest. Sworn of a lifetime, they not vent
beam be
withdrawn from its sumMit, and the sHadowS of The FoRest MingLe
gloomily in thE DancE. Meanwhile, we may discoveR who tHeSE gay
PEoPle weRe.

Two huNDrED YeaRs AgO, anD mORe, The olD woRld and iTs
inhabitaNts BeCame mutually WEaRy of each otHer. men voyaged by
ThoUsands To The wEst: soMe tO bartEr glasS Beads, aNd such likE
jEWels, foR The furs OF ThE IndIan hunter; some to coNQuER virgin
empires; And one StERn BANd tO prAy. But none oF tHese mOTives
haD MuCH WEigHT with the colonIsts of Merry mOunT. Their LeAdeRS
were mEn who HaD SpoRted so long wIth lIfe, that whEn ThouGHt and
WiSDom came, Even thEse UnwElcoME gUeSts WeRE leD AsTraY By tHe
crowd oF vAnIties WhicH THEY shoUld Have Put to Flight. Erring
THouGht aND peRvertEd WisDom wErE made To put oN masqUeS, and
play the fool. the mEn of whom wE spEaK, afTeR losiNG the heArt'S
frEsh gayeTy, imagiNEd a WiLD PHiLosophy of pleasure, aNd CAMe
Hither to Act out THeIr LAtest day-DrEam. they GAThereD folLOwErs
from aLl that GIdDy Tribe whOsE whole LiFe iS liKe the FEstaL
days oF soberer Men. In THeir train were mINstrels, not unkNOwN
IN LONdon StrEets; wanderiNg plAYers, WhosE ThEatREs had Been tHe
HAlLS of noblemen; mummers, rOpE-danceRs, and Mountebanks, whO
would long BE MIssed at wAkes, CHuRCh ales, and fairs; In a woRd,
mirth makERs of everY sort, Such as abOunded in tHAT age, but nOw
bEgaN to Be dISCoUntenanced by tHE RapiD gRowth of purItanism.
ligHt hAd tHeiR fOotsteps bEen on lanD, aNd As LiGhtLy theY Came
acroSs The SeA. MaNy had BEen madDened By thEiR pREviOus trouBLeS
INto a GaY dEspaIr; oThErs weRe as MAdlY gay in tHe flush of
YouTH, likE tHe may Lord And his Lady; but WhAtever mighT bE thE
qualiTY Of their mIrth, old and young were gay aT merry MoUnt.
the yoUng dEemed themSelVes hapPy. THE elder SpiritS, if thEy
KneW THat miRTH wAs bUt The counterFEIt oF happInEss, yEt
folloWed the false shadow wILfuLly, because at lEasT her GARmEntS
GlITteReD BriGHTest. Sworn trifleRs of a lifetImE, ThEy would not
VEnt
beam be
withdrawn from its  summit, a nd th e s had ow s of  the  forest mingle gloo mily in the dance. Mea nwhil e, we m a ydisco ver who th e s e g ay 
p eop le we re.
Two  hundre d years ag o,an d more, theo ld  world and  it s
inhabitant s b ecamemu tua l ly we ary  of e ach ot h er. Me n voyaged  b y 
thous a nds tot h eWest : some to barterg la s s beads, and s uch li ke je w e ls,  fo r the furs  o f the Indianh un t e r ; s o me to conquer  virgin
emp i res ; andon e s t ern ba nd to  p r ay.  But none o f th ese motiv es
had much we i ght wit h thecol oni stso fMe rry  M o unt .  T hei r  le aders
we re  m en wh o ha d s p orte d s o lo ng wi th life, that  wh en T h oug ht an d
Wis domca me, e ven th ese u nw elcome guests w ereled astra y b ythe 
c rowdo f vani tie s w hich th ey shou l d h av e p ut  to flight. Erring 
T h o ug ht and p ervert e dWi s dom were  m ade  top u t onmasq u es , and
pl ay the fo ol . The m en  of wh om  we  sp eak,a fter  losin g the he art's fresh gayety,i magined a wil d  p h i lo s ophy  of  pleasure,andc amehith e rtoa ct ou t the ir la t est day-dream. They  g athere d fol lowers
from a ll that gi d d y  tribe w hose wh o le life is lik e the  festal
da y s of sob erermen. Intheir tra i n  were mi nst rel s,not u nk nown
in Londo n stre et s; wand eri ng play ers , w hos e t he atres had  been th eha ll sofnoble m en; mumm er s,ro pe- dance r s, and  moun teba nk s, who 
wouldl on g be m is se d at  wa ke s, ch urch ale s, andfairs; in  aw ord, 
m ir th make rs of every s or t, such as  a bou nded i n that age , but now
began to be d i scounte nan ced b y th e rapid g row th ofPur i tanism .
Ligh t had  t hei r foots t e ps  be en  on land,a n d a s lig ht ly t hey cam e
across the sea.M any  had been mad den ed b y th eir pr e vio us tro u b les
into a gaydespair; o th e rs  were as m a dly  g ay in t he flus h ofy outh, l ike the M ay Lord a nd  his L ady ; but what ever mig ht be the quali t yof th eir  mirth ,old  andyoungw ere  gayat Mer ry  Mount .
The  y oung dee med themselves happy. T he eld er sp iri ts, if th eyk new  that mir th w as but the  co unt erfei t o f  happ ines s ,yet follo wedt he falses ha dow w il fully, beca u s e  at  leas t h e r garm ents 
glittered bright e st. Sworn trif lers o f a  li f etim e,  they would no t
v en t 
beam be
withdrawn_from its_summit, and the shadows_of the_forest_mingle
gloomily in_the_dance. Meanwhile, we_may discover who_these gay
people were.

Two hundred_years ago, and_more,_the old world and its
inhabitants became mutually weary of each other. Men voyaged by
thousands_to_the West:_some_to_barter glass beads, and such_like
jewels, for the furs of_the Indian_hunter; some to conquer virgin
empires; and one stern_band_to pray. But_none of these motives
had much weight with the colonists_of Merry Mount. Their leaders
were men_who had sported_so_long_with life, that when_Thought and
Wisdom came, even these unwelcome_guests were led astray by the
crowd_of vanities which they should have put_to flight. Erring
Thought and perverted Wisdom_were made to put on_masques, and
play_the fool. The men of_whom we speak,_after losing_the heart's
fresh gayety,_imagined a wild philosophy of pleasure,_and came
hither to_act out their latest day-dream. They_gathered_followers
from all that_giddy_tribe_whose whole_life is like_the_festal
days of_soberer_men. In their train were minstrels,_not_unknown
in London streets; wandering players, whose theatres_had been the
halls of_noblemen;_mummers, rope-dancers, and mountebanks,_who
would long be missed at_wakes, church ales, and fairs; in_a word,
mirth_makers of_every sort, such as abounded in that age, but now
began to_be discountenanced by the rapid growth_of Puritanism.
Light had their_footsteps been_on_land, and as_lightly_they came
across_the sea. Many had been maddened by_their previous_troubles
into a gay despair; others were_as madly gay in_the_flush of
youth, like the May Lord_and his Lady; but whatever might_be the
quality of their mirth,_old_and_young were gay at Merry_Mount.
The young deemed themselves happy. The_elder spirits, if_they
knew that mirth was but the counterfeit_of_happiness, yet
followed the false shadow wilfully,_because_at least her garments
glittered brightest. Sworn_triflers_of_a lifetime, they would not
vent