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_ ACT II
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 captive; I promised that the chain of friendship should be bright between us. Chieftains, your prince must not falsify his word; father, your son must not be a liar!
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!
SMITH.
Had not your people first beset me, king,
I would have prov'd a friend and brother to them;
Arts I'd have taught, that should have made them gods,
And gifts would I have given to your people,
Richer than red men ever yet beheld.
Think not I fear to die. Lead to the block.
The soul of the white warrior shall shrink not.
Prepare the stake! amidst your fiercest tortures,
You'll find its fiery pains as nobly scorned,
As when the red man sings aloud his death-song.
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.]
Miami, priest, sing the song of peace; ah! strike not, hold! mercy!
[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.] _
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Read previous: Act 1 - Scene 5
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