Ponteach Part 18

Be warn'd by this to better tend your Charge.

You see how Mischiefs lie conceal'd about us, We tread on Serpents ere we hear them hiss, And Tygers lurk to seize the incautious Prey.

I must this Hour lead forth my Troops to Battle, They're now in Arms, and waiting my Command.

MONELIA.

What Safety shall I have when you are gone?

I must not, cannot, will not longer tarry, Lest other Christians, or some other Foe, Attempt my Ruin.

CHEKITAN.

Torax will be your Guard.

My Honour suffers, should I now decline; It is my Country's Cause; I've p.a.w.n'd my Word, Prevented Philip, to make sure of you.

He stays. 'Tis all in favour to our Love; We must at present please ourselves with Hopes.

MONELIA.

Oh! my fond Heart no more conceals its Flame; I fear, my Prince, I fear our Fates are cruel: There's something whispers in my anxious Breast, That if you go, I ne'er shall see you more.

CHEKITAN.

Oh! how her Words unman and melt my Soul!

As if her Fears were Prophecies of Fate. [_Aside._ I will not go and leave you thus in Fears; I'll frame Excuses--Philip shall command-- I'll find some other Means to turn the King; I'll venture Honour, Fortune, Life, and Love, Rather than trust you from my Sight again.

For what avails all that the World can give?

If you're withheld, all other Gifts are Curses, And Fame and Fortune serve to make me wretched.

MONELIA.

Now you grow wild--You must not think of staying; Our only Hope, you know, depends on Philip.

I will not fear, but hope for his Success, And your Return with Victory and Triumph, That Love and Honour both may crown our Joy.

CHEKITAN.

Now this is kind; I am myself again.

You had unman'd and soften'd all my Soul, Disarm'd my Hand, and cowardiz'd my Heart: But now in every Vein I feel an Hero, Defy the thickest Tempest of the War: Yes, like a Lion conscious of his Strength, Fearless of Death I'll rush into the Battle; I'll fight, I'll conquer, triumph and return; Laurels I'll gain and lay them at your Feet.

MONELIA.

May the Success attend you that you wis.h.!.+

May our whole Scheme of Happiness succeed!

May our next Meeting put an End to Fear, And Fortune s.h.i.+ne upon us in full Blaze!

CHEKITAN.

May Fate preserve you as her Darling Charge!

May all the G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses, and Saints, If conscious of our Love, turn your Protectors!

And the great thundering G.o.d with Lightning burn Him that but means to interrupt your Peace. [_Exeunt._

SCENE III. _Indian Senate-House._

_PONTEACH and PHILIP._

PONTEACH.

Say you that Torax then is fond of War?

PHILIP.

He is, and waits impatient my Return.

PONTEACH.

'Tis friendly in you thus to help your Brother; But I suspect his Courage in the Field; A love-sick Boy makes but a cow'rdly Captain.

PHILIP.

His Love may spur him on with greater Courage; He thinks he's fighting for a double Prize; And but for this, and Hopes of greater Service In forwarding the Treaty with the Mohawk, I now had been in Arms and warm in Battle.

PONTEACH.

I much commend the Wisdom of your Stay.

Prepare yourself, and hasten to his Quarters; You cannot make th' Attempt with too much Speed.

Urge ev'ry Argument with Force upon him, Urge my strong Friends.h.i.+p, urge your Brother's Love, His Daughter's Happiness, the common Good; The general Sense of all the Indian Chiefs, The Baseness of our Foes, our Hope of Conquest; The Richness of the Plunder if we speed; That we'll divide and share it as he pleases; That our Success is certain if he joins us.

Urge these, and what besides to you occurs; All cannot fail, I think, to change his Purpose.

PHILIP.

You'd think so more if you knew all my Plan. [_Aside._ I'm all prepar'd now I've receiv'd your Orders, But first must speak t' his Children ere I part, I am to meet them in the further Grove.

PONTEACH.

Hark! there's a Shout--We've News of some Success; It is the Noise of Victory and Triumph. [_Enter a MESSENGER._

MESSENGER.

Huzza! for our brave Warriors are return'd Loaded with Plunder and the Scalps of Christians. [_Enter WARRIORS._

PONTEACH.

What have you done? Why all this Noise and Shouting?

1ST WARRIOR.

Three Forts are taken, all consum'd and plunder'd; The English in them all destroy'd by Fire, Except some few escap'd to die with Hunger.

2ND WARRIOR.

We've smok'd the Bear in spite of all his Craft, Burnt up their Den, and made them take the Field: The mighty Colonel c.o.c.k.u.m and his Captain Have dull'd our Tomhocks; here are both their Scalps: [_Holding out the two scalps._ Their Heads are split, our Dogs have eat their Brains.