Tecumseh: A Drama | Page 6

the command to be obeyed--?This stranger must depart--you to your lodge!
MAMATEE. Tecumseh, I am in the background here,?As ever I have been in your affection.?For I have ne'er known what good women prize--?Earth's greatest boon to them--a husband's love.
TECUMSEH. My nation has my love, in which you share,?With special service rendered to yourself;?So that your cabin flows with mouffles sweet,?And hips of wapiti and bedded robes.?Teach me my duty further if you will!?My love is wide, and broods upon my race.
MAMATEE. The back is clad--the heart, alas! goes bare.?Oh, I would rather shiver in the snow--?My heart downed softly with Tecumseh's love--?Than sleep unprized in warmest couch of fur.?I know your love is wide, and, for that I?Share but a millionth part of it, and feel?Its meagreness, I plead most eagerly?For this poor white, whose heart is full of love,?And gives it all to her.
TECUMSEH. It cannot be!?You know not what you ask. 'Tis 'gainst our law,?Which, breached, would let our untamed people through.
LEFROY. I care not for your cruel law! The heart?Has statutes of its own which make for love.
TECUMSEH. You'd cross me too! This child's play of the?heart,?Which sterner duty has repressed in me,?Makes even captives bold. (Aside.) I like his?courage!
MAMATEE. If duty makes Tecumseh's heart grow cold,?Then shame on it! and greater shame on him?Who ever yet showed mercy to his foes,?Yet, turning from his own, in pity's spite?Denies it to a girl. See, here I kneel!
IENA. And I! O uncle, frown not on our love!
TECUMSEH. By the Great Spirit this is over much!?My heart is made for pity, not for war,?Since women's tears unman me. Have your will!?I shall respect your love, (To Lefroy.) your?safety too.?I go at once to sound the Wyandots?Concerning some false treaties with the whites.?The Prophet hates you, therefore come with me.
[The_ PROPHET rushes in with a band of?Braves._]
PROPHET. She's here! Take hold of her and bear her?off!
TECUMSEH. (Menacingly) Beware! Lay not a finger?on the girl!
[The Braves fall back.]
PROPHET. There is no law Tecumseh will not break,?When women weep, and pale-face spies deceive.
MAMATEE. Ah, wretch! not all our people's groans could?wring?A single tear from out your murderous eye.
PROPHET. This is my captive, and his life is mine!
[Seizing_ LEFROY, and lifting his?hatchet_.]
IENA. (Rushing to LEFROY) Save him! Save him!
TECUMSEH. Your life will go for his--?One blow and you are doomed!
[TECUMSEH grasps the_ PROPHET'S uplifted?axe_.]
END OF FIRST ACT.
ACT II.
SCENE FIRST:--BEFORE THE PROPHET'S TOWN.
Enter_ TECUMSEH _and LEFROY.
TECUMSEH. No guard or outlook--here! This is most?strange.?Chance reigns where prudence sleeps!
Enter a BRAVE.
Here comes a brave?With frenzy in his face?Where is the Prophet?
BRAVE. He fasts alone within the medicine-lodge,?And talks to our Great Spirit. All our braves,?Huddling in fear, stand motionless without,?Thrilled by strange sounds, and voices not of earth.
TECUMSEH. How long has it been thus?
BRAVE. Four nights have passed?And none have seen his face; but all have heard?His dreadful tongue, in incantations deep,?Fetch horrors up--vile beings flashed from hell,?Who fought as devils fight, until the lodge?Shook to its base with struggling, and the earth?Quaked as, with magic strength, he flung them down.?These strove with him for mastery of our fate;?But, being foiled, Yohewa has appeared,?And, in the darkness of our sacred lodge,?Communes with him.
TECUMSEH. Our Spirit great and good!?He comes not here for nought. What has he promised?
BRAVE. Much! for henceforth we are invulnerable.?The bullets of the Long-Knives will rebound,?Like petty hailstones, from our naked breasts;?And, in the misty morns of our attack,?Strange lights will shine on them to guide our aim,?Whilst clouds of gloom will screen us from their sight.
TECUMSEH. The Prophet is a wise interpreter,?And all his words, by valour backed, will stand;?For valour is the weapon of the soul,?More dreaded by our vaunting enemies?Than the plumed arrow, or the screaming ball.?What wizardry and witchcraft has he found?Conspiring 'gainst our people's good?
BRAVE. Why, none! Wizard and witch are weeded out, he?says;?Not one is left to do us hurt.
TECUMSEH. 'Tis well! My brother has the eyeball of the?horse,?And swerves from danger. (Aside.) Bid our?warriors come! I wait them here.
[Exit BRAVE.]
The Prophet soon will follow.
LEFROY. Now opportunity attend my heart?Which waits for Iena! True love's behest,?Outrunning war's, will bring her to my arms?Ere cease the braves from gasping wonderment.
TECUMSEH. First look on service ere you look on love;?You shall not see her here.
LEFROY. My promises?Are sureties of my service--
TECUMSEH. But your deeds,?Accomplishments; our people count on deeds.?Be patient! Look upon our warriors?Roped round with scars and cicatrized wounds,?Inflicted in deep trial of their spirit?Their skewered sides are proofs of manly souls,?Which--had one groan escaped from agony--?Would all have sunk beneath our women's heels,?Unfit for earth or heaven. So try your heart,?And let endurance swallow all love's sighs.?Yoke up your valour with our people's cause,?And I, who love your nation, which is just,?When deeds deserve it, will adopt you here,?By ancient custom of our race, and join Iena's