Ponteach Part 15

PONTEACH.

Let him be heard: 'Tis something from his G.o.ds, And may import the common Interest much.

PRIEST.

[_Coming from one side, where he hath stood listening._]

'Tis not to shew my Eloquence of Speech, Or drown your Senses with unmeaning Sound, That I desire Admittance to your Council; It is an Impulse from the G.o.ds that moves me, That what I say will be to your Advantage.

Oh! With what secret Pleasure I behold So many wise and valiant Kings unite, And in a Cause by G.o.ds and Saints espous'd.

Heaven smiles on your Design, and it shall prosper.

You're going to fight the Enemies of G.o.d; Rebels and Traitors to the King of Kings; Nay, those who once betray'd and kill'd his Son, Who came to save you Indians from d.a.m.nation-- He was an Indian, therefore they destroy'd him; He rose again and took his flight to Heaven; But when his Foes are slain he'll quick return; And be your kind Protector, Friend, and King.

Be therefore brave and fight his Battles for him; Spare not his Enemies, where-e'r you find 'em: The more you murder them, the more you please him; Kill all you captivate, both old and young, Mothers and Children, let them feel your Tortures; He that shall kill a Briton, merits Heaven.

And should you chance to fall, you'll be convey'd By flying Angels to your King that's there Where these your hated Foes can never come.

Doubt you the Truth of this my Declaration?

I have a Witness here that cannot lie. [_Pulling out a burning gla.s.s._ This Gla.s.s was touch'd by your great Saviour's Hand, And after left in holy Peter's Care; When I command, it brings down Fire from Heaven, To witness for me that I tell no Lie.

[_The INDIANS gather round and gaze._ Behold--Great G.o.d, send Fire, convince these Indian Kings That I'm thy Servant, and report the Truth, [_In a very praying posture and solemn canting tone._ Am sent to teach them what they ought to do, To kill and scalp, to torture and torment Thy murderous treacherous Foes, the hateful English.

[_It takes fire; the INDIANS are amaz'd, and retreat from it._

PONTEACH.

Who now can doubt the Justice of our Cause, Or this Man's Mission from the King above, And that we ought to follow his Commands?

ASTINACO.

'Tis wonderful indeed--It must be so--

TENESCO.

This cannot be a Cheat--It is from Heaven--

ALL.

We are convinc'd and ready to obey; We are impatient to revenge our King.

PONTEACH.

[_Takes up the b.l.o.o.d.y hatchet and flourishes it round._]

Thus do I raise the Hatchet from the Ground, Sharpen'd and bright may it be stain'd with Blood, And never dull'd nor rusted till we've conquer'd, And taught proud Englishmen to dread its Edge.

ALL.

[_Flourishing their hatchets, and striking them upon a block._]

Thus will we hew and carve their mangled Bodies, And give them to the Beasts and Birds for Food.

PONTEACH.

And thus our Names and Honours will maintain While Sun and Moon, Rivers and Trees remain; Our unborn Children shall rejoice to hear How we their Fathers made the English fear.

THE WAR SONG.

_To the tune of "Over the Hills and far away," sung by TENESCO, the head warrior. They all join in the Chorus, and dance, while that is singing, in a circle round him; and during the Chorus the music plays._

Where-e'r the Sun displays his Light, Or Moon is seen to shine by Night, Where-e'r the noisy Rivers flow Or Trees and Gra.s.s and Herbage grow.--_Chorus._

Be 't known that we this War begin With proud insulting Englishmen; The Hatchet we have lifted high, [_Holding up their hatchets._ And them we'll conquer or we'll die.--_Chorus._

The Edge is keen, the Blade is bright, Nothing saves them but their Flight; And then like Heroes we'll pursue, Over the Hills and Valleys through.--_Chorus._

They'll like frighted Women quake, When they behold a hissing Snake; Or like timorous Deer away, And leave both Goods and Arms a Prey.--_Chorus._

Pain'd with Hunger, Cold, or Heat, In Haste they'll from our Land retreat; While we'll employ our scalping Knives-- [_Drawing and flourishing their scalping knives._ Take off their Skulls, and spare their Lives.--_Chorus._

Or in their Country they'll complain, Nor ever dare return again; Or if they should they'll rue the Day, And curse the Guide that shew'd the Way.--_Chorus._

If Fortune smiles, we'll not be long Ere we return with Dance and Song, But ah! if we should chance to die, Dear Wives and Children do not cry.--_Chorus._

Our Friends will ease your Grief and Woe, By double Vengeance on the Foe; Will kill, and scalp, and shed their Blood, Where-e'r they find them thro' the Wood.--_Chorus._

No pointing Foe shall ever say 'Twas there the vanquish'd Indian lay; Or boasting to his Friends relate The Tale of our unhappy Fate.--_Chorus._

Let us with Courage then away To hunt and seize the frighted Prey; Nor think of Children, Friend, or Wife, While there's an Englishman alive.--_Chorus._

In Heat and Cold, thro' Wet and Dry, Will we pursue, and they shall fly To Seas which they a Refuge think, And there in wretched Crowds they'll sink.--_Chorus._ [_Exeunt omnes singing._

_The End of the Third Act._

ACT IV.

SCENE I. _The Border of a Grove._

_Enter TENESCO to PHILIP and CHEKITAN._

TENESCO.

The Troops are all a.s.sembled, some have march'd, Perhaps are now engag'd, and warm in Battle; The rest have Orders where to bend their Course.

Each Tribe is headed by a valiant Chief, Except the Bulls which fall to one of you; The other stays to serve the State at home, Or back us, should our Forces prove too weak.

PHILIP.

The Bulls are brave, had they a brave Commander, They'd push the Battle home with sure Success.

I'd choose of all the Troops to be their Leader; For tho' I'd neither Courage, Skill, nor Strength, Honour attends the Man who heads the Brave; Many are dubb'd for Heroes in these Times, Who owe their Fame to those whom they commanded.

TENESCO.