206
POCAHONTAS, OR THE SETTLERS OF VIRGINIA
was, but thank God I've many as good as he.
Powhatan. Captain Smith, the king admires thy boldness. Wliat would'st thou give for thy ransom? No doubt all the rich lading of thy barques; but then, Captain Smith, I would not set thee at liberty; for my people would fear thee, tho' thou wert in chains.
Smith. Not a rusty nail would I give for ransom. I tell thee again, old fool, 't is not thee but we are the conquerors in this fray—that my banner, borne on the wings of victory, will soon be planted on thy throne—my war cry be heard in thy palace, and the royal James be sovereign of Virginia.
Powhatan. Bold man, thou speak'st as tho' thou wert king, and I a captive.
Smith. Accident overcame me; give me again but my sword and buckler, and see with what ease I'll cut my way thro' thy guards—aye, and with their king to command them.
Powhatan. 'T is too much—thou shalt die, and that forthwith.
Smith. 'T is well.
Powhatan. Yet the king is merciful—is there aught thou would wish to say ere the blow fall? (A noise of musketry at a distance.) Hah! thy moments are few. Executioners, bring forth the stone of sacrifice; and hark'ee, see that ye provide your heaviest clubs; and their heads be as hard as their hearts, ye will need your heaviest weapons.
(Executioners bring in the stone, and poise their clubs, as if prepared for sacrifice.)
Pocahontas. Oh! father! shew mercy to the brave unfortunate.
Omaya. Spare, oh! King, the noble prisoner!
Powhatan. Silence both.
Pocahontas. Delay, father, only till thou canst hear more of the battle—spare, spare the gallant Smith, thy daughter, thy favourite 'tis who implores thee.
Powhatan. Hah! thy tone is chang'd. The prisoner shall die, and that anon.
Pocahontas. Only till one other messenger arrives. Mercy, mercy.
Powhatan. Guards! take these silly girls away.
(Guards remove Pocahontas and Omaya to the rear of the throne—guarding them there.)
Powhatan. Captain Smith, if you have aught to say, be brief, for thine hour is come.
Smith. Thanks for thy savage courtesy. Hear me. When the blow is struck, and Smith ceases to live, but in his fame, do with my senseless corse as thou listeth; thou wilt find upon it many scars of honourable service. It matters not, whether it shall gorge the maws of thy cannibals, or be urn'd in marble, to await the slower progress of the worm. My heart preserve; give it my lieutenant, to be by him embalm'd and convey'd to England. That England, for whose glory it did so truly beat in life, will give it place amid the cemeteries of her illustrious dead.
Powhatan. It shall be done, the king is merciful.
Smith. Plant my banner on my grave, the three Turks' heads, the cognizance of my achievement on the plains of Transylvania, that when the chivalry of Europe shall hereafter pass that way, they may lower pennon and lance in memory of Smith.
Powhatan. The king admires thy warlike fame; that too shall be done.
Smith. Give my gold chain to thy admirable daughter; it was given me by Charitza, the most peerless lady of the Old World, and I now bestow it on Pocahontas, the most peerless of the New. I have done, proceed in thy bloody work. (Noise of musketry nearer than before.) Ah, 'tis the glorious sounds of war, which for the last time I hear. Brave Percy, good lieutenant, spare thy shot, and on them with sword and target. See my pennon, how gaily it flies above the smoke—look on it, my veterans, and it will remind you of your lost commander. Hah! they fly! now, Percy, press them home. Give them not time to rally—well done. Now, comrades, shout my war cry in their despairing ears—Victory and Virginia! aye, victory and Virginia.
(Smith, exhausted, sinks into the arms of the Indians, who bind him, and lay his head on the stone of sacrifice.)
Selictaz. (Hastily, and in affright.) From the height, king, I beheld our army flying before the English like unto a herd of frighten'd deer, while the smoke from the enemy's guns can plainly be perceiv'd as it curls amongst the tops of the loftiest pines.
