GEORGE WASHINGTON PARKE CUSTIS
207
Powhatan. Take with thee my chosen guard, and fly to the succour of the Prince—quick, away.
(Exeunt Selictaz and guards.)
Powhatan. Executioners, I shall wave my fan of feathers thrice, and then cry strike. When you hear that word, let fall your weapons and with all thy force. Now attend—once, twice—
(Waves the fan of feathers, Pocahontas breaks from her guard, and rushes to the feet of the king.)
Pocahontas. King—father, if ever thy poor child found favour in thy sight, spare, spare the noble prisoner; 't is Pocahontas, thy darling, who entreats thee—her, whom from infancy thou hast cherished in thy bosom. Spare, spare; here will I embrace thy feet, till thou shalt forget the king, and once again be the father.
Powhatan. Away, girl—away.
(Noise of musketry still nearer.)
Pocahontas. Hark! hear you not those dreadful arms; think that ere long thou may have to ask that mercy thou now deny'st—Spare.
Powhatan. Hah, impossible—attend there, thrice. (Waves the fan.) The word alone remains—attend.
(Executioners raise their clubs.)
Pocahontas. (Rising with dignity.) Attend, but first to me. Cruel king, the ties of blood which bound me to thee are dissever'd, as have been long those of thy sanguinary religion; for know that I have abjur'd thy senseless gods, and now worship the Supreme Being, the true Manitou, and the Father of the Universe; 'tis his Almighty hand that sustains me, 'tis his divine spirit that breathes in my soul, and prompts Pocahontas to a deed which future ages will admire.
(She rushes down from the throne, throws herself on the body of Smith, raises her arms, and calls to the executioners to "Strike"; they drop their weapons. Powhatan descends, raises up and embraces his daughter.)
Powhatan. I am subdued, unbind the prisoner. My child, my child.
(Smith is unbound, and kneels to the Princess. Reports of musketry close at hand. Percy, Rolfe, West, and soldiers enter, sword in hand, driving Indians before them. Percy mounts the throne and plants the banner there.)
Percy. Victory—victory and Virginia. God save King James, Sovereign of Virginia.
(Drums and trumpets. Soldiers shout. Percy, West, and Rolfe embrace Smith. Matacoran is brought in, in chains, guarded.)
Percy. Thanks to God, we have arriv'd in
time to the rescue of our noble commander.
Smith. Nay, dear and valued friends, you must be content with victory. My rescue is due to her before whom I kneel in admiration and gratitude.
(Kneels.)
Percy. Thanks, noble mistress, thanks for the life of our belov'd Captain. An' we had not knowledge of thy excelling worth before this, thou would'st now amaze us with thy virtues.
(Kneels.)
West. Honour thanks thee, England will thank thee, while Virginians to remotest ages will venerate thy fame, and genius hand thee over to immortality.
(Kneels.)
Rolfe. And love thanks thee.
(Kneels.)
Hugo. An old soldier's thanks for preserving the life of a rever'd comander.
(Kneels.)
Mowbray. In behalf of all the veterans, who have grown grey under the command of Smith, thanks, noble lady, thanks.—Long live the flower of Virginia.
(Shouts.)
Smith. And now let me place my gold chain, the symbol of the preux chevalier, and which I bequeath'd to this lady at my death, around the neck of her who hath preserv'd my life.
Percy. And bind two in thy golden shackle, the good and gallant Master Rolfe, and thou wilt unite the hands of those whose hearts have long since been united.
Smith. Aha! Master Rolfe, do ye plead guilty to the charge?
Rolfe. Aye, and glory in the guilt.
Smith. What sayeth the lady?
Pocahontas. She will most cheerfully submit to wear the chain which binds her to the honour'd master of her fate, even tho' the chain were of iron instead of gold.
Smith. May every happiness attend this
union of virtue and honour.
All. Amen, amen.
Percy. So please ye, the prisoner.
(Enter Matacoran, guarded.)
