海浪拍打着岩石密布的海岸，树林在暴风雨的天空下，巨大的枝桠摇摇欲坠;当一群流亡者在荒凉的新英格兰海岸停泊他们的船时，沉重的夜晚笼罩着山丘和水面。不是征服者来了，他们是真心实意的;不是轰鸣的鼓声，不是歌颂名声的小号;不像飞禽飞来，在沉默和恐惧中，-他们用高亢的赞美诗震动了沙漠深处的黑暗。他们在暴风雨中歌唱，星星和大海都听到了;昏暗的树林里回荡着自由的赞歌。海鹰借着白浪的泡沫从巢里飞了出来，森林里摇摆的松树咆哮着——这是欢迎它们回家的地方!在这支朝圣者队伍中，有白发苍苍的人:他们为什么要离开童年的土地，来到这里枯萎呢?有女人无畏的眼睛，被她对真理的深爱所照亮; There was manhood's brow serenely high, And the fiery heart of youth. What sought they thus afar? Bright jewels of the mine? The wealth of the seas? the spoils of war? - They sought a faith's pure shrine! Ay, call it holy ground, The soil where first they trod! They have left unstained what there they found - Freedom to worship God!