  Scene I. Inside the palace at Werocomoco. Powhatan in state, Grimosco, &c., his wives, and warriors, ranged on each side. Music. Powhatan. My people, strange beings have appeared among us; they come from the bosom of the waters, amid fire and thunder; one of them has our war-god delivered into our hands: behold the white being! Music. Smith is brought in; his appearance excites universal wonder; Pocahontas expresses peculiar admiration. Pocahontas. O Nima! is it not a God! Powhatan. Miami, though thy years are few, thou art experienced as age; give us thy voice of counsel. Miami. Brothers, this stranger is of a fearful race of beings; their barren hunting grounds lie beneath the world, and they have risen, in monstrous canoes, through the great water, to spoil and ravish from us our fruitful inheritance. Brothers, this stranger must die; six of our brethren have fall'n by his hand. Before we lay their bones in the narrow house, we must avenge them: their unappeased spirits will not go to rest beyond the mountains; they cry out for the stranger's blood. Nantaquas. Warriors, listen to my words; listen, my father, while your son tells the deeds of the brave white man. I saw him when 300 of our fiercest chiefs formed the warring around him. But he defied their arms; he held lightning in his hand. Wherever his arm fell, there sunk a warrior: as the tall tree falls, blasted and riven, to the earth, when the angry Spirit darts his fires through the forest. I thought him a God; my feet grew to the ground; I could not move! Pocahontas. Nima, dost thou hear the words of my brother. Nantaquas. The battle ceased, for courage left the bosom of our warriors; their arrows rested in their quivers; their bowstrings no longer sounded; the tired chieftains leaned on their war-clubs, and gazed at the terrible stranger, whom they dared not approach. Give an ear to me, king: 't was then I held out the hand of peace to him, and he became my brother; he forgot his arms, for he trusted to his brother: he was discoursing wonders to his friend, when our chiefs rushed upon him, and bore him away. But oh! my father, he must not die; for he is not a war Pocahontas. Listen, warriors; listen, father; the white man is my brother's brother! Grimosco. King! when last night our village shook with the loud noise, it was the Great Spirit who talk'd to his priest; my mouth shall speak his commands: King, we must destroy the strangers, for they are not our God's children; we must take their scalps, and wash our hands in the white man's blood, for he is an enemy to the Great Spirit. Nantaquas. O priest, thou hast dreamed a false dream; Miami, thou tellest the tale that is not. Hearken, my father, to my true words! the white man is beloved by the Great Spirit; his king is like you, my father, good and great; and he comes from a land beyond the wide water, to make us wise and happy! Powhatan deliberates. Music. Powhatan. Stranger, thou must prepare for death. Six of our brethren fell by thy hand. Thou must die. Pocahontas. Father, O father! Pocahontas. Oh! shall that brave man die! Music. The King motions with his hand, and Smith is led to the block. Miami. [To executioners.] Warriors, when the third signal strikes, sink your tomahawks in his head. Pocahontas. Oh, do not, warriors, do not! Father, incline your heart to mercy; he will win your battles, he will vanquish your enemies! [First signal.] Brother, speak! save your brother! Warriors, are you brave? preserve the brave man! [Second signal.] Music. The third signal is struck, the hatchets are lifted up: when the Princess, shrieking, runs distractedly to the block, and presses Smith's head to her bosom. White man, thou shalt not die; or I will die with thee! Music. She leads Smith to the throne, and kneels. My father, dost thou love thy daughter? listen to her voice; look upon her tears: they ask for mercy to the captive. Is thy child dear to thee, my father? Thy child will die with the white man. Plaintive music. She bows her head to his feet. Powhatan, after some deliberation, looking on his daughter with tenderness, presents her with a string of white wampum. Pocahontas, with the wildest expression of joy, rushes forward with Smith, presenting the beads of peace. Captive! thou art free!— Music. General joy is diffused—Miami and Grimosco only appear discontented. The prince Nantaquas congratulates Smith. The Princess shows the most extravagant emotions of rapture. Smith. O woman! angel sex! where'er thou art, Still art thou heavenly. The rudest clime Robs not thy glowing bosom of its nature. Thrice blessed lady, take a captive's thanks! [He bows upon her hand. Pocahontas. My brother!— [Music. Smith expresses his gratitude. Nantaquas. Father, hear the design that fills my breast. I will go among the white men; I will learn their arts; and my people shall be made wise and happy. Pocahontas. I too will accompany my brother. Miami. Princess!— Pocahontas. Away, cruel Miami; you would have murdered my brother! Powhatan. Go, my son; take thy warriors, and go with the white men. Daughter, I cannot lose thee from mine eyes; accompany thy brother but a little on his way. Stranger, depart in peace; I entrust my son to thy friendship. Smith. Gracious sir, He shall return with honours and with wonders; My beauteous sister! noble brother, come! Music. Exeunt, on one side, Smith, Princess, Nantaquas, Nima, and train. On the other, King, Priest, Miami, &c. The two latter express angry discontent. Scene II. A forest. Enter Percy, Rolfe. Rolfe. So far indeed 'tis fruitless, yet we'll on. Percy. Aye, to the death. Rolfe. Brave Percy, come, confess You have forgot your love. Percy. Why, faith, not quite; Despite of me, it sometimes through my mind Flits like a dark cloud o'er a summer sky; But passes off like that, and leaves me cloudless. I can't forget that she was sweet as spring; Fair as the day. Rolfe. Aye, aye, like April weather; Sweet, fair, and faithless. Percy. True alas! like April! Song—Percy. Fair Geraldine each charm of spring possest, Her cheek glow'd with the rose and lily's strife; Her breath was perfume, and each winter'd breast Felt that her sunny eyes beam'd light and life. Alas! that in a form of blooming May, The mind should April's changeful liv'ry wear! Yet ah! like April, smiling to betray, Is Geraldine, as false as she is fair! Rolfe. Beshrew the little gipsy! let us on. [Exeunt Percy, Rolfe. Enter Larry, Walter, Robin, &c. Larry. Go no further? Och! you hen-hearted cock robin! Robin. But, master Larry— Walter. Prithee, thou evergreen aspen leaf, thou non-intermittent ague! why didst along with us? Robin. Why, you know, my master Rolfe desired it; and then you were always railing out on me for chicken-heartedness. I came to shew ye I had valour. Walter. But forgetting to bring it with thee, thou wouldst now back for it; well, in the name of Mars, go; return for thy valour, Robin. Robin. What! alone? Larry. Arrah! then stay here till it comes to you, and then follow us. Robin. Stay here! O Lord, methinks I feel an arrow sticking in my gizzard already! Hark ye, my sweet master, let us sing. Larry. Sing? Robin. Sing; I'm always valiant when I sing. Beseech you, let us chaunt the glee that I dish'd up for us three. Larry. It has a spice of your cowardly cookery in it. Walter. But since 'tis a provocative to Robin's valour— Larry. Go to: give a lusty hem, and fall on. Glee. We three, adventurers be, Just come from our own country; We have cross'd thrice a thousand ma, Without a penny of money. We three, good fellows be, Who wou'd run like the devil from Indians three; We never admir'd their bowmandry; Oh, give us whole skins for our money. We three, merry men be, Who gaily will chaunt our ancient glee, Though a lass or a glass, in this wild country, Can't be had, or for love, or for money. Larry. Well, how do you feel? Robin. As courageous as, as a— Larry. As a wren, little Robin. Are you sure, now, you won't be after fancying every deer that skips by you a divil, and every bush a bear? Robin. I defy the devil; but hav'n't you heard, my masters, how the savages go a hunting, drest out in deer-skin? How could you put one in mind, master Larry? O Lord! that I should come a captain-hunting! the only game we put up is deer that carry scalping knives! or if we beat the bush to start a bold commander, up bolts a bloody bear! [Walter and Larry exchange significant nods. Larry. To be sure we're in a parlous case. The forest laws are dev'lish severe here: an they catch us trespassing upon their hunting ground, we shall pay a neat poll-tax: nothing less than our heads will serve. Robin. Our heads? Walter. Yes, faith! they'll soon collect their capitation. They wear men's heads, sir, hanging at the breast, Instead of jewels; and at either ear, Most commonly, a child's, by way of ear-drop. Robin. Oh! curse their finery! jewels, heads, O Lord! Larry. Pshaw man! don't fear. Perhaps they'll only burn us. What a delicate roasted Robin you wou'd make! Troth! they'd so lick their lips! Robin. A roasted robin!— Walter. Tut! if they only burn us, 'twill be brave. Robin shall make our death-songs. Robin. Death-songs, oh! [Robinstandsmotionlesswithfear. Larry. By the good looking right eye of Saint Patrick, There's Rolfe and Percy, with a tribe of Indians. [Lookingout. Robin. Indians! they're pris'ners, and we—we're dead men! [While Walter and Larry exeunt, Robin gets up into a tree.] O Walter, Larry! ha! what gone, all gone! Poor Robin, what is to become of thee? Enter Smith, Pocahontas, Nantaquas, Percy, Rolfe, Nima and Indians, Larry and Walter. Smith. At hazard of her own dear life she saved me. E'en the warm friendship of the prince had fail'd, And death, inevitable death, hung over me. Oh, had you seen her fly, like Pity's herald, To stay the uplifted hatchet in its flight; Or heard her, as with cherub voice she pled, Like Heav'n's own angel-advocate, for mercy. Pocahontas. My brother, speak not so. [Bashfully. Rolfe. What gentleness! What sweet simplicity! what angel softness! Rolfe goes to her. She, timidly, but with evident pleasure, receives his attentions. During this scene the Princess discovers the first advances of love in a heart of perfect simplicity. Smith, &c., converse apart. Robin. [In the tree.] Egad! there's never a head hanging to their ears; and their ears hang to their heads, for all the world as if they were christians; I'll venture down among them. [Getting down. Nima. Ah! [Bends her bow, and is about to shoot at him. Larry. Arrah! my little dark Diana, choose noble game, that's only little Robin. Robin. Aye, bless you, I'm only little Robin. [Jumps down. Nima examines him curiously, but fearfully. Robin. Gad, she's taken with my figure; ah! there it is now; a personable fellow shall have his wench any where. Yes, she's admiring my figure. Well, my dusky dear, how could you like such a man as I am? Nima. Are you a man? Robin. I'll convince you of it some day. Hark ye, my dear. [Attempts to whisper. Nima. Ah! don't bite. Robin. Bite! what do you take me for? Nima. A racoon. Robin. A racoon! Why so? Nima. You run up the tree. [Motions as if climbing. Larry. Well said, my little pagan Pythagoras!— Ha! ha! Robin. Hum! [Retires disconcerted. Rolfe and Percy come forward. Rolfe. Tell me, in sooth, didst ever mark such sweetness! Such winning—such bewitching gentleness! Percy. What, caught, my flighty friend, love-lim'd at last? O Cupid, Cupid! thou'rt a skilful birder. Although thou spread thy net, i' the wilderness, Or shoot thy bird-bolt from an Indian bow, Or place thy light in savage ladies' eyes, Or pipe thy call in savage ladies' voices, Alas! each tow'ring tenant of the air Must fall heart pierc'd—or stoop, at thy command, To sigh his sad notes in thy cage, O Cupid! Rolfe. A truce; a truce! O friend, her guiltless breast Seems Love's pavilion, where, in gentle sleep, The unrous'd boy has rested. O my Percy! Could I but wake the slumb'rer— Percy. Nay, i' faith, Take courage; thou hast given the alarm: Methinks the drowsy god gets up apace. Rolfe. Say'st thou? Smith. Come, gentlemen, we'll toward the town. Nantaquas. My sister, you will now return to our father. Princess. Return, my brother? Nantaquas. Our father lives but while you are near him. Go, my sister, make him happy with the knowledge of his son's happiness. Farewell, my sister! [The Princess appears dejected. Smith. Once more, my guardian angel, let me thank thee. [Kissing her hand. Ere long we will return to thee, with presents Well worth a princess' and a king's acceptance. Meantime, dear lady, tell the good Powhatan We'll show the prince such grace and entertainment, As shall befit our brother and his son. Adieu, sweet sister. Music. They take leave of the Princess; she remains silently dejected; her eyes anxiously follow Rolfe, who lingers behind, and is the last to take leave. Princess. Stranger, wilt thou too come to Werocomoco? Rolfe. Dost thou wish it, lady? Princess. [Eagerly.] O yes! Rolfe. And why, lovely lady? Princess. My eyes are pleased to see thee, and my ears to hear thee, stranger. Rolfe. And did not the others who were here also please thy sight and hearing? Princess. Oh! they were all goodly; but—their eyes looked not like thine; their voices sounded not like thine; and their speeches were not like thy speeches, stranger. Rolfe. Enchanting simplicity! But why call me stranger? Captain Smith thou callest brother. Call me so too. Princess. Ah, no! Rolfe. Then thou thinkest not of me as thou dost of him? [She shakes her head and sighs.] Is Captain Smith dear to thee? Princess. Oh yes! very dear; [Rolfe is uneasy.] and Nantaquas too: they are my brothers;—but—that name is not thine—thou art— Rolfe. What, lovely lady? Princess. I know not; I feel the name thou art, but I cannot speak it. Rolfe. I am thy lover, dear princess. Princess. Yes, thou art my lover. But why call me princess? Rolfe. Dear lady, thou art a king's daughter. Princess. And if I were not, what wouldst thou call me? Rolfe. Oh! if thou wert a beggar's, I would call thee love! Princess. I know not what a beggar is; but oh! I would I were a beggar's daughter, so thou wouldst call me love. Ah! do not longer call me king's daughter. If thou feelest the name as I do, call me as I call thee: thou shalt be my lover; I will be thy lover. Rolfe. Enchanting, lovely creature! [Kisses her ardently. Princess. Lover, thou hast made my cheek to burn, and my heart to beat! Mark it. Rolfe. Dear innocence! [Putting his hand to her heart. Princess. Lover, why is it so? To-day before my heart beat, and mine eyes were full of tears; but then my white brother was in danger. Thou art not in danger, and yet behold—[Wipes a tear from her eye.] Besides, then, my heart hurt me, but now! Oh, now!—Lover, why is it so? [Leaning on him with innocent confidence. Rolfe. Angel of purity! thou didst to-day feel pity; and now—Oh, rapturous task to teach thee the difference!—now, thou dost feel love. Princess. Love! Rolfe. Love: the noblest, the sweetest passion that could swell thy angel bosom. Princess. Oh! I feel that 'tis very sweet. Lover, with thy lips thou didst make me feel it. My lips shall teach thee sweet love. [Kisses him, and artlessly looks up in his face; placing her hand upon his heart.] Does thy heart beat? Rolfe. Beat! O heaven!— [Robin, who had been with Nima, comes forward. Robin. Gad! we must end our amours, or we shall be left. Sir, my master, hadn't we better— Rolfe. Booby! idiot! Enter Walter. Walter. Sir, lieutenant, the captain awaits your coming up. Rolfe. I'll follow on the instant. Princess. Thou wilt not go? Rolfe. But for a time, love. Princess. I do not wish thee to leave me. Rolfe. I must, love; but I will return. Princess. Soon—very soon? Rolfe. Very—very soon. Princess. I am not pleased now—and yet my heart beats. Oh, lover! Rolfe. My angel! there shall not a sun rise and set, ere I am with thee. Adieu! thy own heavenly innocence be thy safeguard. Farewell, sweet love! Music. He embraces her and exit, followed by Robin and Walter. Princess looks after him. A pause. Princess. O Nima! Nima. Princess, white men are pow-wows. The white man put his lips here, and I felt something—here— [Putting her hand to her heart. Princess. O lover! She runs to the place whence Rolfe went out, and gazes after him. Music. Enter from opposite side, Miami. Miami. [Sternly.] Princess! Princess. [Turning.] Ah! Miami. Miami has followed thy steps. Thou art the friend of the white men. Princess. Yes, for they are good and godlike. Miami. Mine eyes beheld the pale youth part from you; your arms were entwined, your lips were together! [Struggling with jealousy. Princess. He is my lover; I am his lover. [Still looking after Rolfe. Miami. [Stamps with anger.] Hear me! In what do the red yield to the white men? and who among the red men is like Miami? While I was yet a child, did the dart which my breath blew through my sarbacan ever fail to pierce the eye of the bird? What youth dared, like Miami, to leap from the precipice, and drag the struggling bear from the foaming torrent? Is there a hunter—is there a warrior—skilful and brave as Miami? Come to my cabin, and see the scalps and the skins that adorn it. They are the trophies of the Susquehannock! Princess. Man, mine eyes will never behold thy trophies. They are not pleased to look on thee. [Averting her eyes with disgust. Miami. Ha! [Pause—he resumes in a softened tone.] Princess, I have crossed many woods and waters, that I might bear the daughter of Powhatan to my nation. Shall my people cry out, with scorn, "behold! our prince returns without his bride?" In what is the pale youth above the red Miami? Princess. Thine eyes are as the panther's; thy voice like the voice of the wolf. Thou shouldst make my heart beat with joy; and I tremble before thee. Oh no! Powhatan shall give me to my lover. I will be my lover's bride! Music. Miami stamps furiously; his actions betray the most savage rage of jealousy; he rushes to seize the Princess, but, recollecting that her attendants are by, he goes out in an agony, by his gestures menacing revenge. The Princess exit on the opposite side, followed by train. Scene III. Werocomoco. Music. Enter from the palace Powhatan and Grimosco; met by the Princess, who runs to her father. Powhatan. My daughter! Princess. O father! the furious Miami! Powhatan. What of the prince? Princess. Father, my father! do not let the fierce prince bear me to his cruel nation! Powhatan. How! Princess. By the spirit of my mother, I implore my father. Oh! if thou deliver me to the Susquehannock, think not thine eyes shall ever again behold me; the first kind stream that crosses our path shall be the end of my journey; my soul shall seek the soul of the mother that loved me, far beyond the mountains. Powhatan. Daughter, mention not thy mother! Princess. Her shade will pity her unhappy child, and I shall be at rest in her bosom. [Weeping. Powhatan. Rest in my bosom, my child! [She starts with joyful emotion.] Thou shalt not go from thy father. Princess. Father; dear father! [Seizing his hand. Music. An Indian enters, bearing a red hatchet. Indian. King! Powhatan. Thou art of the train of the Susquehannock: speak. Indian. My prince demands his bride. [The Princess clings fearfully to the King. Powhatan. Tell thy prince, my daughter will not leave her father. Indian. Will Powhatan forget his promise to Miami? Powhatan. Powhatan will not forget his promise to her mother; and he vowed, while the angel of death hovered over her, that the eye of tender care should never be averted from her darling daughter. Indian. Shall not then my prince receive his bride? Powhatan. The daughter of Powhatan—never. Indian. Take then his defiance. [Music. He presents the red hatchet. Powhatan. The red hatchet! 'Tis well. Grimosco, summon our warriors. Grimosco. O king! might I— Powhatan. Speak not. Tell our chiefs to assemble; and show them the war-signal [Exit Grimosco.]. Go, tell your master, the great Powhatan will soon meet him, terrible as the minister of vengeance. [Exit Indian.] The chiefs approach. My child, retire from this war scene. Princess. O dear parent! thine age should have been passed in the shade of peace; and do I bring my father to the bloody war-path? Powhatan. Not so; the young prince has often dared my power, and merited my vengeance; he shall now feel both. Princess. Alas! his nation is numerous and warlike. Powhatan. Fear not, my child; we will call the valiant Nantaquas from his brothers; the brave English too will join us. Princess. Ah! then is thy safety and success certain. [Exit into palace, followed by Nima, &c. Music. Enter Grimosco and Warriors. Powhatan. Brave chieftains! need I remind you of the victories you have gained; the scalps you have borne from your enemies? Chieftains, another victory must be won; more trophies from your foes must deck your cabins; the insolent Miami has braved your king, and defied him with the crimson tomahawk. Warriors! we will not bury it till his nation is extinct. Ere we tread the war-path, raise to our god Aresqui the song of battle, then march to triumph and to glory. Song to Aresqui. Aresqui! Aresqui! Lo! thy sons for war prepare! Snakes adorn each painted head, While the cheek of flaming red Gives the eye its ghastly glare. Aresqui! Aresqui! Through the war-path lead aright, Lo! we're ready for the fight. War Song.
|
|
