CIV. SCENES FROM "TECUMSEH."[Q]
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CIV. SCENES FROM "TECUMSEH."[Q]
Charles Mair.—1840-
Scene.—Tecumseh's Cabin.
Enter Iena.
Iena. 'Tis night, and Mamatee is absent still! Why should this sorrow weigh upon my heart, And other lonely things on earth have rest? Oh, could I be with them! The lily shone All day upon the stream, and now it sleeps Under the wave in peace—in cradle soft Which sorrow soon may fashion for my grave. Ye shadows which do creep into my thoughts— Ye curtains of despair! what is my fault, That ye should hide the happy earth from me? Once I had joy of it, when tender Spring, Mother of beauty, hid me in her leaves; When Summer led me by the shores of song, And forests and far-sounding cataracts Melted my soul with music. I have heard The rough chill harpings of dismantled woods, When Fall had stripp'd them, and have felt a joy Deeper than ear could lend unto the heart; And when the Winter from his mountains wild Look'd down on death, and, in the frosty sky, The very stars seem'd hung with icicles, Then came a sense of beauty calm and cold, That wean'd me from myself, yet knit me still With kindred bonds to Nature. All is past, And he—who won from me such love for him, And he—my valiant uncle and my friend, Comes not to lift the cloud that drapes my soul, And shield me from the fiendish Prophet's power.
Enter Mamatee.
Give me his answer in his very words!
Mamatee. There is a black storm raging in his mind— His eye darts lightning like the angry cloud Which hangs in woven darkness o'er the earth. Brief is his answer—you must go to him. The Long-Knife's camp-fires gleam among the oaks Which dot yon western hill. A thousand men Are sleeping there cajoled to fatal dreams By promises the Prophet breaks to-night. Hark! 'tis the war-song.
Iena.Dares the Prophet now Betray Tecumseh's trust, and break his faith? Mamatee. He dares do anything will feed ambition. His dancing braves are frenzied by his tongue, Which prophesies revenge and victory. Before the break of day he will surprise The Long-Knife's camp, and hang our people's fate Upon a single onset.
Iena.Should he fail?
Mamatee. Then all will fail;—Tecumseh's scheme will fail.[R]
Iena. It shall not! Let us go to him at once!
Mamatee. And risk your life?
Iena.Risk hovers everywhere When night and man combine for darksome deeds. I'll go to him, and argue on my knees— Yea, yield my hand—would I could give my heart To stay his purpose and this act of ruin.
Mamatee. He is not in the mood for argument. Rash girl! they die who would oppose him now. Iena. Such death were sweet as life—I go! But, first— Great Spirit! I commit my soul to Thee. [Kneels.
Scene.—An open space in the forest near the Prophet's Town. A fire of billets burning. War-cries are heard from the town.
Enter the Prophet.
Prophet. My spells do work apace! Shout yourselves hoarse, Ye howling ministers by whom I climb! For this I've wrought until my weary tongue, Blister'd with incantation, flags in speech, And half declines its office. Every brave Inflamed by charms and oracles, is now A vengeful serpent, who will glide ere morn To sting the Long-Knife's sleeping camp to death. Why should I hesitate? My promises! My duty to Tecumseh! What are these Compared with duty here? Where I perceive A near advantage, there my duty lies; Consideration strong which overweighs All other reason. Here is Harrison— Trepann'd to dangerous lodgment for the night— Each deep ravine which grooves the prairie's breast A channel of approach; each winding creek A screen for creeping death. Revenge is sick To think of such advantage flung aside. For what? To let Tecumseh's greatness grow, Who gathers his rich harvest of renown Out of the very fields that I have sown! By Manitou, I will endure no more! Nor, in the rising flood of our affairs, Fish like an osprey for this eagle longer. But, soft! It is the midnight hour when comes Tarhay to claim his bride. [Calls.] Tarhay! Tarhay!
Enter Tarhay with several braves.
Tarhay. Tarhay is here!
Prophet.The Long-Knives die to-night. The spirits which do minister to me Have breathed this utterance within my ear. You know my sacred office cuts me off From the immediate leadership in fight. My nobler work is in the spirit-world, And thence come promises which make us strong. Near to the foe I'll keep the Magic Bowl, Whilst you, Tarhay, shall lead our warriors on.
Tarhay. I'll lead them; they are wild with eagerness. But fill my cold and empty cabin first With light and heat! You know I love your niece, And have the promise of her hand to-night. Prophet. She shall be yours! [To the braves.] Go bring her here at once— But, look! Fulfilment of my promise comes In her own person.
Enter Iena and Mamatee.
Welcome, my sweet niece! You have forstall'd my message by these braves, And come unbidden to your wedding-place.
Iena. Uncle! you know my heart is far away—
Prophet. But still your hand is here! this little hand! [Pulling her forward.
Iena. Dare you enforce a weak and helpless girl, Who thought to move you by her misery? Stand back! I have a message for you too. What means the war-like song, the dance of braves, And bustle in our town?
Prophet.It means that we Attack the foe to-night.
Iena.And risk our all? O that Tecumseh knew! his soul would rush In arms to intercept you. What! break faith, And on the hazard of a doubtful strife, Stake his great enterprise and all our lives! The dying curses of a ruin'd race Will wither up your wicked heart for this!
Prophet. False girl! your heart is with our foes; Your hand I mean to turn to better use. Iena. Oh, could it turn you from your mad intent How freely would I give it! Drop this scheme, Dismiss your frenzied warriors to their beds; And, if contented with my hand, Tarhay Can have it here.
Tarhay.I love you, Iena! Iena. Then must you love what I do! Love our race! 'Tis this love nerves Tecumseh to unite Its scatter'd tribes—his fruit of noble toil, Which you would snatch unripen'd from his hand, And feed to sour ambition. Touch it not— Oh, touch it not, Tarhay! and though my heart Breaks for it, I am yours.
Prophet.His anyway, Or I am not the Prophet!
Tarhay.For my part I have no leaning to this rash attempt, Since Iena consents to be my wife.
Prophet. Shall I be thwarted by a yearning fool![Aside. This soft, sleek girl, to outward seeming good, I know to be a very fiend beneath— Whose sly affections centre on herself, And feed the gliding snake within her heart. Tarhay. I cannot think her so—
Mamatee.She is not so! There is the snake that creeps among our race; Whose venom'd fangs would bile into our lives, And poison all our hopes.
Prophet.She is the head— The very neck of danger to me here, Which I must break at once! [Aside.] Tarhay—attend! I can see dreadful visions in the air; I can dream awful dreams of life and fate; I can bring darkness on the heavy earth; I can fetch shadows from our fathers' graves, And spectres from the sepulchres of hell. Who dares dispute with me, disputes with death! Dost hear, Tarhay?
[Tarhay and braves cower before the Prophet.
Tarhay.I hear, and will obey. Spare me! Spare me!
Prophet.As for this foolish girl, The hand she offers you on one condition, I give to you upon a better one; And, since she has no mind to give her heart— Which, rest assured, is in her body still— There,—take it at my hands! [Flings Iena violently towards Tarhay, into whose arms she falls fainting, and is then borne away by Mamatee. [To Tarhay.] Go bring the braves to view the Mystic Torch And belt of Sacred Beans grown from my flesh— One touch of it makes them invulnerable— Then creep, like stealthy panthers, on the foe!
Scene.—Morning. The field of Tippecanoe after the battle. The ground strewn with dead soldiers and warriors.
Enter Harrison, officers and soldiers, and Barron.
Harrison. A costly triumph reckon'd by our slain! Look how some lie still clench'd with savages In all-embracing death, their bloody hands Glued in each other's hair! Make burial straight Of all alike in deep and common graves: Their quarrel now is ended.
1st Officer.I have heard The red man fears our steel—'twas not so here; From the first shots, which drove our pickets in, Till daylight dawn'd, they rush'd upon our lines, And flung themselves upon our bayonet points In frenzied recklessness of bravery.
Barron. They trusted in the Prophet's rites and spells, Which promis'd them immunity from death. All night he sat on yon safe eminence, Howling his songs of war and mystery, Then fled, at dawn, in fear of his own braves.
Enter an Aide.
Harrison. What tidings bring you from the Prophet's Town? Aide. The wretched women with their children fly To distant forests for concealment. In Their village is no living thing save mice Which scamper'd as we oped each cabin door. Their pots still simmer'd on the vacant hearths, Standing in dusty silence and desertion. Naught else we saw, save that their granaries Were cramm'd with needful corn.
Harrison.Go bring it all— Then burn their village down! [Exit Aide.
2nd Officer.This victory Will shake Tecumseh's project to the base. Were I the Prophet I should drown myself Rather than meet him.
Barron. We have news of him— Our scouts report him near in heavy force.
Harrison. 'Twill melt, or draw across the British line, And wait for war. But double the night watch, Lest he should strike, and give an instant care To all our wounded men: to-morrow's sun Must light us on our backward march for home. Thence Rumor's tongue will spread so proud a story New England will grow envious of our glory; And, greedy for renown so long abhorr'd, Will on old England draw the tardy sword!
Scene.—The Ruins of the Prophet's Town.
Enter the Prophet, who gloomily surveys the place.
Prophet. Our people scatter'd, and our town in ashes! To think these hands could work such madness here— This envious head devise this misery! Tecumseh, had not my ambition drawn Such sharp and fell destruction on our race You might have smiled at me! for I have match'd My cunning 'gainst your wisdom, and have dragg'd Myself and all into a sea of ruin.
Enter Tecumseh.
Tecumseh. Devil! I have discover'd you at last! You sum of treacheries, whose wolfish fangs Have torn our people's flesh—you shall not live!
[The Prophet retreats facing and followed by Tecumseh.
Prophet. Nay—strike me not! I can explain it all! It was a woman touch'd the Magic Bowl, And broke the brooding spell.
Tecumseh. Impostor! Slave! Why should I spare you? [Lifts his hand as if to strike.
Prophet. Stay, stay, touch me not! One mother bore us in the self-same hour.
Tecumseh. Then good and evil came to light together. Go to the corn-dance, change your name to villain! Away! Your presence tempts my soul to mischief. [Exit the Prophet hastily. Would that I were a woman, and could weep, And slake hot rage with tears! O spiteful fortune, To lure me to the limit of my dreams, Then turn and crowd the ruin of my toil Into the narrow compass of a night! My brother's deep disgrace—myself the scorn Of envious harriers and thieves of fame, Who fain would rob me of the lawful meed Of faithful services and duties done— Oh, I could bear it all! But to behold Our ruin'd people hunted to their graves— To see the Long-Knife triumph in their shame— This is the burning shaft, the poison'd wound That rankles in my soul! But, why despair? All is not lost—the English are our friends. My spirit rises—manhood bear me up! I'll haste to Malden, join my force to theirs, And fall with double fury on our foes. Farewell ye plains and forests, but rejoice! Ye yet shall echo to Tecumseh's voice.
Enter Lefroy.
Lefroy. What tidings have you glean'd of Iena?
Tecumseh. My brother meant to wed her to Tarhay— The chief who led his warriors to ruin; But, in the gloom and tumult of the night, She fled into the forest all alone.
Lefroy. Alone! In the wide forest all alone! Angels are with her now, for she is dead. Tecumseh. You know her to be skilful with the bow. 'Tis certain she would strike for some great Lake— Erie or Michigan. At the Detroit Are people of our nation, and perchance She fled for shelter there. I go at once To join the British force. [Exit Tecumseh.
Lefroy. But yesterday I climb'd to Heaven upon the shining stairs Of love and hope, and here am quite cast down. My little flower amidst a weedy world, Where art thou now? In deepest forest shade? Or onward, where the sumach stands array'd In autumn splendor, its alluring form Fruited, yet odious with the hidden worm? Or, farther, by some still sequester'd lake, Loon-haunted, where the sinewy panthers slake Their noon-day thirst, and never voice is heard Joyous of singing waters, breeze or bird, Save their wild wailings.—[A halloo without.] 'Tis Tecumseh calls! Oh Iena! If dead, where'er thou art— Thy saddest grave will be this ruin'd heart! [Exit.