Tecumseh - Act 5, Scene 6
SCENE SIXTH. — T ECUMSEH'S PART OF THE Field .
Enter T ECUMSEH .
T ECUMSEH . This is our summer — when the painted wilds,
Like pictures in a dream, enchant the sight.
The forest bursts in glory like a flame!
Its leaves are sparks; its mystic breath the haze
Which blends in purple incense with the air.
The Spirit of the Woods has decked his home,
And put his wonders like a garment on,
To flash, and glow, and dull, and fade, and die.
Oh, let not manhood fade within my soul!
And thou, pale doubt, that hast distracted me —
Ye forecasts that would drag my spirit down —
Hence and forever flee! Ye have no place,
No business in this breast. My field is here!
Here must my people's cause be lifted up,
Or sink to rise no more.
Enter three American S COUTS , looking cautiously about them .
1 ST S COUT . This is their spot.
2 ND Scout. I see them coming. Look! away — away —
Re-enter T ECUMSEH , with S TAYETA and his other Chiefs and Warriors .
S TAYETA . The noise of battle rose, and then it ceased
Almost upon beginning. This is strange.
T ECUMSEH . It is; ah, Proctor, how my soul mistrusts thee!
Go, some of you, see what this silence means —
But stay — here comes a witness of the fight.
Enter L EFROY , out of breath, and excited .
L EFROY . The line was broken by a charge of horse,
And, in the British quarter, all is lost,
T ECUMSEH . And Proctor — he who meant to leave his bones,
If so God willed it —
L EFROY . Willed it otherwise!
Upon the instant of attack he fled;
And, seeing this, the line gave way at once.
T ECUMSEH . 'Twas this I feared. He loves his wretched life
Too well to leave his vile bones anywhere.
Dastard and coward! Oh, the heavens should crack,
And dart their lightning down upon this slave!
How come such creatures 'mongst the breed of men.
To make their nation blush?
L EFROY . I cannot tell.
Like sulphur in rain channels after storms,
Or little frogs, one marvels how they come.
But some fought well; Baby, among the rest,
Who now is prisoner. Myself was saved
Most strangely by a boy — a youthful brave,
Whose arrows helped me in a dangerous spot.
I never saw so sweet a lad before.
His face! I started when I saw it first —
It seemed so like to Iena's! Think you,
Could she be here?
T ECUMSEH . Impossible!
D AHCOTA C HIEF . No, no.
'Twas Chaska, of our nation; one who longs
For plumes before his time. He has been seen,
Yet is so active that we cannot catch him.
L EFROY . Ah, then, 'twas he! This way he ran before me,
Round the rough angle of the lower swamp,
Then darted into it. I followed fast,
And sought, but could not find him — he was gone.
S TAYETA . Hark! Now the Long-Knives come!
T ECUMSEH . Yes, now they come.
Courage! Warriors, courage! Let our deeds
Take colour from the scene. Now must we fight
Like men; not run like slaves. What matters it
To those who fled, and left us, if they flee?
They can join palms, make peace, draw treaties up,
And son and father, reconciled again,
Will clap their hands, and glory in their race
Which hath despoiled our own. For us, no peace
Save what our axes gain, or, in our graves.
Therefore — as men fore-doomed to war or death —
Let valour make excuse that we shall live,
And, breathing vengeance, shake our spoilers so
That they will reel in terror to the East,
From whence they came, and cry — " The West is yours! "
Oh, warriors, think of all, and strike like men
Whose homes are in their hands, whose souls are free.
The voice that calls you now will call no more,
For something whispers to this fearless heart —
Here must I fight, and for my people die!
D ELAWARE C HIEF . Then shall we fight and die with you like men.
D AHCOTA C HIEF . Or live to see you Chief of all our race.
T ECUMSEH . Our foes are turning! Strike them! beat them back!
S TAYETA . Pursue! pursue!
Enter I ENA , from behind .
I ENA . I hear, yet cannot see,
The dreadful fray! My arrows all are spent.
There are a thousand in my quivered heart
Could I but match them to this useless bow.
What shall I do? Ah, this is our own tree!
It will protect me whilst I wait the end.
1 ST S OLDIER . Ha, ha, those red-skins fled like hunted wolves!
Away, and start another pack!
I ENA . ( Looking out .) Alas!
Our people 'gin to flee — I fear — I fear.
Here comes my love! Oh, for one arrow more!
Enter L EFROY and an A MERICAN O FFICER fighting with swords. In the struggle they draw abreast of I ENA'S tree, and pause .
O FFICER . You are a white man.
L EFROY . I am a white man.
O FFICER . And what a soulless one are you who leave
Your place in civil, good society
To herd with savages; from one extreme
Falling away unto the basest side —
The furthest from the humanized world.
L EFROY . Nay, I deny it! Further, I would say,
My genius leans, like Nature, to all sides,
Can love them all at once, and live with all.
O FFICER . So! so! you are a poet, painter, what?
Well, that is nothing; I must try and kill you.
L EFROY . Now might I kill you if I had the heart.
Be prisoner instead; I cannot kill
A man thus, in cold blood.
Re-enter two S OLDIERS .
O FFICER . 'Tis more than kind.
1 ST S OLDIER . Why, that's our captain there, disarmed — let fly!
My carbine is unloaded.
L EFROY . Who is this?
Not Chaska! Oh, no, no — 'tis Iena!
I see her now, who could not see my love —
Love clear and incorruptible as glass,
Love that had dared a monster, wilds and floods —
Dare fire, and draw the bow that shielded me.
Speak to me, Iena! No voice — she's dead!
O FFICER . This is the strangest chapter of my life —
Soldiers, stand off, and rest upon your arms.
L EFROY . Silent for ever! Oh, my girl! my girl!
Those rich eyes melt; those lips are sun-warm still —
They look like life, yet have no semblant voice.
Millions of creatures throng, and multitudes
Of heartless beings flaunt upon the earth:
There's room enough for them; but thou, dull Fate —
Thou cold and partial tender of life's field,
That pluck'st the flower, and leav'st the weed to thrive —
Thou hadst not room for her! Oh, I must seek
A way out of the rack — I need not live.
O FFICER . The world grows less familiar every hour: —
Is that a girl?
L EFROY . Yes, yes, but she is dead —
And love is left upon the earth to starve.
My object's gone, and I am but a shell,
A husk, an empty case, or anything
That may be kicked about the world.
O FFICER . I see!
I have a tear or two behind these eyes,
And they are coming. If he need a friend
I know of one.
2 ND S OLDIER . Now, dang me, who'd 'a thought
That was a girl!
O FFICER . ( Turning aside .) What strange and selfless paths
Do skirt the world's hard highway! I have seen
What gives me sight. The tide of battle rolls
Back, and our people win, as win they must:
But, now, methinks, I'll strive with different heart.
Come, soldiers, let's away and join the fight.
Re-enter T ECUMSEH'S warriors driven back, and then re-enter T ECUMSEH , S TAYETA , and other Chiefs .
T ECUMSEH . Has death died out, that no one now can die?
Or are you driven back by fear of it?
Oh, slaves or men, determine which you are!
Re-enter the American troops, in pursuit.
S TAYETA . Tecumseh calls! On, warriors, strike them down!
T ECUMSEH . Great Spirit, hadst thou spared me but one hour —
Yet thy behest rules all.
Re-enter D ELAWARE C HIEF , also wounded .
D ELAWARE C HIEF . What! wounded too?
T ECUMSEH . Yes, I am shot. Recall some warriors
To bear my body hence. Give no alarm,
Lest our poor braves lose courage; but make haste —
I have not long to live. Yet hear my words!
Bury me in the deep and densest forest,
And let no white man know where I am laid.
Promise this ere you go.
D ELAWARE C HIEF . I promise it.
Alas, alas, our bravest and our best!
T ECUMSEH . The hour is come! these weary hands and feet
Draw to the grave. Oh, I have loved my life,
Not for my own but for my people's cause.
Who now will knit them? who will lead them on?
Lost! lost! lost! The pale destroyer triumphs!
I see my people flee — I hear their shrieks —
And none to shield or save! My axe! my axe —
Ha — it is here! No, no — the power is past.
O Mighty Spirit, shelter — save — my people!
Enter T ECUMSEH .
T ECUMSEH . This is our summer — when the painted wilds,
Like pictures in a dream, enchant the sight.
The forest bursts in glory like a flame!
Its leaves are sparks; its mystic breath the haze
Which blends in purple incense with the air.
The Spirit of the Woods has decked his home,
And put his wonders like a garment on,
To flash, and glow, and dull, and fade, and die.
Oh, let not manhood fade within my soul!
And thou, pale doubt, that hast distracted me —
Ye forecasts that would drag my spirit down —
Hence and forever flee! Ye have no place,
No business in this breast. My field is here!
Here must my people's cause be lifted up,
Or sink to rise no more.
Enter three American S COUTS , looking cautiously about them .
1 ST S COUT . This is their spot.
2 ND Scout. I see them coming. Look! away — away —
Re-enter T ECUMSEH , with S TAYETA and his other Chiefs and Warriors .
S TAYETA . The noise of battle rose, and then it ceased
Almost upon beginning. This is strange.
T ECUMSEH . It is; ah, Proctor, how my soul mistrusts thee!
Go, some of you, see what this silence means —
But stay — here comes a witness of the fight.
Enter L EFROY , out of breath, and excited .
L EFROY . The line was broken by a charge of horse,
And, in the British quarter, all is lost,
T ECUMSEH . And Proctor — he who meant to leave his bones,
If so God willed it —
L EFROY . Willed it otherwise!
Upon the instant of attack he fled;
And, seeing this, the line gave way at once.
T ECUMSEH . 'Twas this I feared. He loves his wretched life
Too well to leave his vile bones anywhere.
Dastard and coward! Oh, the heavens should crack,
And dart their lightning down upon this slave!
How come such creatures 'mongst the breed of men.
To make their nation blush?
L EFROY . I cannot tell.
Like sulphur in rain channels after storms,
Or little frogs, one marvels how they come.
But some fought well; Baby, among the rest,
Who now is prisoner. Myself was saved
Most strangely by a boy — a youthful brave,
Whose arrows helped me in a dangerous spot.
I never saw so sweet a lad before.
His face! I started when I saw it first —
It seemed so like to Iena's! Think you,
Could she be here?
T ECUMSEH . Impossible!
D AHCOTA C HIEF . No, no.
'Twas Chaska, of our nation; one who longs
For plumes before his time. He has been seen,
Yet is so active that we cannot catch him.
L EFROY . Ah, then, 'twas he! This way he ran before me,
Round the rough angle of the lower swamp,
Then darted into it. I followed fast,
And sought, but could not find him — he was gone.
S TAYETA . Hark! Now the Long-Knives come!
T ECUMSEH . Yes, now they come.
Courage! Warriors, courage! Let our deeds
Take colour from the scene. Now must we fight
Like men; not run like slaves. What matters it
To those who fled, and left us, if they flee?
They can join palms, make peace, draw treaties up,
And son and father, reconciled again,
Will clap their hands, and glory in their race
Which hath despoiled our own. For us, no peace
Save what our axes gain, or, in our graves.
Therefore — as men fore-doomed to war or death —
Let valour make excuse that we shall live,
And, breathing vengeance, shake our spoilers so
That they will reel in terror to the East,
From whence they came, and cry — " The West is yours! "
Oh, warriors, think of all, and strike like men
Whose homes are in their hands, whose souls are free.
The voice that calls you now will call no more,
For something whispers to this fearless heart —
Here must I fight, and for my people die!
D ELAWARE C HIEF . Then shall we fight and die with you like men.
D AHCOTA C HIEF . Or live to see you Chief of all our race.
T ECUMSEH . Our foes are turning! Strike them! beat them back!
S TAYETA . Pursue! pursue!
Enter I ENA , from behind .
I ENA . I hear, yet cannot see,
The dreadful fray! My arrows all are spent.
There are a thousand in my quivered heart
Could I but match them to this useless bow.
What shall I do? Ah, this is our own tree!
It will protect me whilst I wait the end.
1 ST S OLDIER . Ha, ha, those red-skins fled like hunted wolves!
Away, and start another pack!
I ENA . ( Looking out .) Alas!
Our people 'gin to flee — I fear — I fear.
Here comes my love! Oh, for one arrow more!
Enter L EFROY and an A MERICAN O FFICER fighting with swords. In the struggle they draw abreast of I ENA'S tree, and pause .
O FFICER . You are a white man.
L EFROY . I am a white man.
O FFICER . And what a soulless one are you who leave
Your place in civil, good society
To herd with savages; from one extreme
Falling away unto the basest side —
The furthest from the humanized world.
L EFROY . Nay, I deny it! Further, I would say,
My genius leans, like Nature, to all sides,
Can love them all at once, and live with all.
O FFICER . So! so! you are a poet, painter, what?
Well, that is nothing; I must try and kill you.
L EFROY . Now might I kill you if I had the heart.
Be prisoner instead; I cannot kill
A man thus, in cold blood.
Re-enter two S OLDIERS .
O FFICER . 'Tis more than kind.
1 ST S OLDIER . Why, that's our captain there, disarmed — let fly!
My carbine is unloaded.
L EFROY . Who is this?
Not Chaska! Oh, no, no — 'tis Iena!
I see her now, who could not see my love —
Love clear and incorruptible as glass,
Love that had dared a monster, wilds and floods —
Dare fire, and draw the bow that shielded me.
Speak to me, Iena! No voice — she's dead!
O FFICER . This is the strangest chapter of my life —
Soldiers, stand off, and rest upon your arms.
L EFROY . Silent for ever! Oh, my girl! my girl!
Those rich eyes melt; those lips are sun-warm still —
They look like life, yet have no semblant voice.
Millions of creatures throng, and multitudes
Of heartless beings flaunt upon the earth:
There's room enough for them; but thou, dull Fate —
Thou cold and partial tender of life's field,
That pluck'st the flower, and leav'st the weed to thrive —
Thou hadst not room for her! Oh, I must seek
A way out of the rack — I need not live.
O FFICER . The world grows less familiar every hour: —
Is that a girl?
L EFROY . Yes, yes, but she is dead —
And love is left upon the earth to starve.
My object's gone, and I am but a shell,
A husk, an empty case, or anything
That may be kicked about the world.
O FFICER . I see!
I have a tear or two behind these eyes,
And they are coming. If he need a friend
I know of one.
2 ND S OLDIER . Now, dang me, who'd 'a thought
That was a girl!
O FFICER . ( Turning aside .) What strange and selfless paths
Do skirt the world's hard highway! I have seen
What gives me sight. The tide of battle rolls
Back, and our people win, as win they must:
But, now, methinks, I'll strive with different heart.
Come, soldiers, let's away and join the fight.
Re-enter T ECUMSEH'S warriors driven back, and then re-enter T ECUMSEH , S TAYETA , and other Chiefs .
T ECUMSEH . Has death died out, that no one now can die?
Or are you driven back by fear of it?
Oh, slaves or men, determine which you are!
Re-enter the American troops, in pursuit.
S TAYETA . Tecumseh calls! On, warriors, strike them down!
T ECUMSEH . Great Spirit, hadst thou spared me but one hour —
Yet thy behest rules all.
Re-enter D ELAWARE C HIEF , also wounded .
D ELAWARE C HIEF . What! wounded too?
T ECUMSEH . Yes, I am shot. Recall some warriors
To bear my body hence. Give no alarm,
Lest our poor braves lose courage; but make haste —
I have not long to live. Yet hear my words!
Bury me in the deep and densest forest,
And let no white man know where I am laid.
Promise this ere you go.
D ELAWARE C HIEF . I promise it.
Alas, alas, our bravest and our best!
T ECUMSEH . The hour is come! these weary hands and feet
Draw to the grave. Oh, I have loved my life,
Not for my own but for my people's cause.
Who now will knit them? who will lead them on?
Lost! lost! lost! The pale destroyer triumphs!
I see my people flee — I hear their shrieks —
And none to shield or save! My axe! my axe —
Ha — it is here! No, no — the power is past.
O Mighty Spirit, shelter — save — my people!
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