m,p.p-^
J^J
k ,1
4 F -r .
1^ 1^' !b I*^
,Si- ;3J> jr
r. ¥
rf. |: 1^., 11 »■
fr;"*' ft '^' S^ f^\ )F. 'i^- '-' ,,. , "".r • ■ i^. >^y ^ l> ' y >l, tF ^'
f^' ' ■" l^'-' F'^ ft ^ ft ■if; :i^ ». ,
)l"^' W 'fe-^'fe:^ II-" *■ ]^^ ^- 'J
■ r'*" #: i^^ )b » i^.*. ^r
]>. : It-, f^- )$. iv- § m !^-. '^^.
•few li^ ■ li f^' 1^ i-,iF. S^.,-'^'. '? ■ -fr " i^ n-' %. ir 1^
■■ -L. ' |...- p -v^ -^i^. W' r
:|. 1^
W 'ft
iX '!> m' fy' W^ -
It 1^: #" ^^! r ,,.„ ^ ■|^„:;|i- * ^." ^>" i^-' i' ^$^ im {m ^k: li
it, Ji. iv i.« !ss .B'^ )' . «.' »;■■ k' $ . 1*; {»' 1?, 'i*,, '>.>,■
- : • a k l» (i > I» . % ,1; Ji" T» Ts I IJJ &:v K- ^*T '•■ V- ^u ^' , ^
h P % fi* '«' f*- {*' ' ■ ■ ,i
U »■' ff* f* lif , 1> , S;. I* t' V I i.- ,, f ' , '
Class. Book.
Gopyriglit}!^.
\^ I 2^
CDPyRIGHT DEPOsrr.
POCAHONTAS
POCAHONTAS
A PAGEANT
MARGARET ULLMANN
THE POET LORE COMPANY
BOSTON
Copyright 1912 by Margaret Ullmann All Rights Reserved
The Oorham Press, Boston, U. S, A.
//. *-^^
TO MY FATHER
" God, or perhaps the Devil she feared, has exacted
another Sweet-smelling sacrifice to the good of Western
Planting! "
CHARACTERS
Captain John Smith "Whose adventures were our lives." — Potts.
Master John Rolfe "A gentleman worthie of much commendation." — Hamor.
Captain Samuel Argall "One unlier savage than those he dealt unth." — Brock.
Harry Spelman " The son of an eminent scholar. " — Pryor.
Archie Armstrong " Whose death took place characteristically on April 1st. " — Chambers.
TOMOCOMO
"A very wise and understanding fellow among them. "Stith.
Nantaquas " The most manliest, comliest, boldest, spirit I ever saw in a Salvage. " — Captain John Smith.
Lady Delaware "Of fashion and distinction." — Stith.
Virginia Dare " The first American girl. " — Fiske.
Pocahontas " Worthy a prince's understanding. " — Smith
Shadows of Indians
Voices of Indians, Sailors, and Colonists
Laughter of Courtiers
NOTE
The metres used in this pageant are intended to be appropriate to the characters, as follows:
Smith — Heroic pentameter.
RoLFE — The strength of the Anglo-Saxon alli- terative verse. Argall — ^The rudeness of the same. Spelman — Classical hexameter. Archie — Unmetrical speech, as is proper for
jesters, according to Shakespeare, Hovey,
and others. ToMOCOMO — A trochaic chant used by primitive
people, and employed in Longfellow's
"Song of Hiawatha:" the Indian verse
typical to most readers. Nantaquas — Unadorned expression of bare
thought, characteristic of Indian poetry. Lady Delaware — Alexandrine couplets, the
French dramatic measure, and therefore
suggestive of convention. Virginia — Iambic tetrameter, a simple line in
favor with lyric poets of England. Pocahontas — A fuller and freer use of the same.
POCAHONTAS
{The overture is follotvd by the moaning of Indian women, accompanied by a soft drumming; this continues until indicated.)
ACT I
" Sister of charity and love.
Whose life-blood was soft pity's tide.
Dear priestess of the sylvan grove.
Flower of the forest. Nature's pride.
He is no man who does not bend the knee.
And she no woman who is not like thee. "
— James Kirke Paulding, "Odeto Jamestown, " 18
(curtain)
Werowocomoco, the capital of the Powhatan Indians of Virginia, on a night in early January, 1607.
A clearing in the forest, showing lodges, totems, canoes, etc. The only light comes from a large fire out of sight to the right.
Smith is tied to a tree in the centre; he is a young man of 28, in the costume of an English soldier of the period. He has light hair and a small pointed heard, with up-standing moustaches. In the tree around him arrows are sticking.
Tomocomo is sitting smoking on a log to the left. He is an old, fat Indian, pigeon-toed, and carries his arms folded, with a knowing air. He wears a buckskin shirt and fringed leggings.
Smith
(shouting toward the fire.)
9
Chief, if you were but used in the exercise Of my sharp English tongue, instead of in Your devil's instrument, I'd find defence Against you, lying there in Eastern ease, And parrying a wench on either hand !
TOMOCOMO
(from his log) I have used the tongues of every World beneath the sky above me. (In this speech and in all the others he makes, he uses copious gesticulations.)
Smith (turning his head) How many worlds do you know, grim courtier?
ToMOCOMO
I am Tomocomo; and I
Know the tongues of Powhatan and
All the other Real People,
And the People- Who-Have-Hats-on.
Smith (bowing with his head) I'd take mine off to you, Lord Tomocomo, But that my hands are tied; come quarry me The little pendant crystal from my throat. (Tomocomo comes over and breaks the chain that hangs around Smith's neck.)
Smith (impressively) The finger of God is hanging on that chain. Alive and quivering; you cannot touch it! The air about it hardens if we try; But see it pointing to the northern star! 10
{Tomocomo examines the compass.) Now turn around, and see the finger turn !
(Tomocomo turns around.) Whoever owns that wonder of the world Can never lose his lodging — in his life.
Tomocomo I have seen the death of every Powhatan three times, but never Saw a mystery like this one !
Smith As truly as you can, interpret me My cosmographical lecture to your chief; Tell him the compass is my dying gift, The only thing of value I have here. Though if he offer me a messenger I'll send for many others from the fort. (Tomocomo goes out toward the fire with it.)
Smith Go lead me home again, out of the wood, My faithful little blind-man's-dog, or else I'm lost forever in Virginia!
(The moaning and drumming stop; the shadows of Indians crowd around the fire; soon shouts of "Yo-Ha" are heard, meaning assent. Tomocomo comes back, followed by Nantaquas and Pocahontas in single file.
Nantaquas is a young Indian; he is nearly naked, and fearfully painted. He wears a war- bonnet and carries a heavy club. He stands on one side of Smith's tree, on the side toward the fire.
Pocohontas is an Indian girl of 14; she wears a dress of white fawnskin, with a mantle of white 11
turkey-feathers; she has three white feathers in her hair, and chains of white wampum braided in with her two long plaits. Her bracelets, necklace, etc., are of white wampum. She stands on the other side of the tree.)
TOMOCOMO
Powhatan and his young men, (points to Nanta-
quas) and I speak also for the women, (points to Pocahontas) Give you freedom in Our Country And what wives you will; but listen! You must help put out the fires Of the other Real People, And the People- Who-Have-Hats-on.
Smith As I have only one God, counselor, I honor but one chief — King James the first Of England, and the sixth of Scotland, — may God save him, and his soldiers die for him!
ToMOCOMO
Will you take away your young men Back into the sky above you?
Smith Why do you take so little pleasure in Our neighborhood? We harm you not at all.
ToMOCOMO
When we let you put your chair down On the shore, you pulled the lacing From its bottom and walked inland, And there is no ending in it.
Smith Walk backward! (Tomocomg steps back) 12
There is room enough for both.
TOMOCOMO
Powhatan will drive your people Down into the ground beneath him.
Smith With prehistoric arrowheads of stone? Know ye not Agincourt, Lord Tomocomo?
ToMOCOMO
He will smoke your pipe of sickness ! {touches Smith's pistol) He will plant your own tobacco!
{touches Smith's powder-horn)
Smith The best use he can put it to, deep in Another barren gunpowder plot, the guy! Your best defence will be to turn your heels Against us in retreat — exactly so!
{Tomocomo runs out toward the fire. Smith, Nantaquas, and Pocahontas anxiously watch the council.)
Smith At English law no butchers ought to sit Upon the jury in a trial for life.
{The moaning and drumming begin again, and Nantaquas puts his club on the ground and dances around it with jingling trappings.)
Pocahontas {approaching Smith) Nantaquas is not going to kill you Because he hates you, or for fun ! 13
You are a dangerous mystery-man.
Look ! We wear our finest clothes
In your honor at your death;
And you will be much happier dead:
You will find the northern star.
And dance and sing with all the shadows.
Smith I thank you, mistress, for your gentleness !
{Nantaquas has picked up his club; he yells and advances with it lifted.)
Pocahontas Kago! (Do not)
Nantaquas (with the club still lifted) Atia ! (surprise)
(Pocahontas runs up and gets his head in her arms.)
Nantaquas (lowering the club) Esa! (Shame!)
Pocahontas (to Smith) Nantaquas has a different mother. But the same father — Powhatan !
( Turning toward fire and speaking louder.) You never let him kill white deer ! Perhaps this white man is Michabo, Son of the mother of the morning, Who promised he would come again; Give him to me, in the place Of the six young men he had to kill ! (holds out her arm) 14
Do not frown so, weroance, (chief) But make a gentle gesture — so! (gladly)
(The shouts of '^Yo-Ha'*' are heard again. Nantaquas drops his club, cuts Smith's bonds, picks up his club, and goes out. Pocahontas unclasps Smith. From now on the fire dies down and the moon shines out.)
Smith My modest comfort is, that heretofore Ladies, all honorable and virtuous, And only comparable amongst themselves. Have oflFered me a rescue and protection In all my greatest dangers, up to this.
Pocahontas
(embarrassed) The Master of Life gave life to man Wrapped in a bundle ; but his wife Wanted to see what was inside : She opened it, and life flew out; And after that, all men must die And women try to save their lives.
(Toward the end of this speech she looks fright- ened.)
Smith Why does a fable frighten you, who risked Your head for mine with a much braver face?
Pocahontas Unhappiness will come to me!
Smith What do you mean?
Pocahontas For I forgot, and told a story
15
In summer, and because in summer The mysteries are all awake, And listening to be offended !
Smith But this is not in summer — why, the year Is late and dead as this liveoak tree is, With nothing green but Christmas mistletoe, Stuck up there like an empty robin's nest To promise me a spring; although tonight Is most unseasonably soft and still.
Pocahontas I know it is not the highest sun, The thunder has gone south, but there The lazy, rich, and fat old man Is sighing balmily for the pretty Maidens of the north tonight, And it makes the mysteries dream of summer.
Smith It must be called an Indian summer, then ! But tell me, what may be the proper name For such a pretty northern girl as you?
Pocahontas When I am present, I am called Snowfeather, now; but Powhatan Stills calls me Pocahontas, and I shall esteem you as my father.
Smith Then — Pocahontas ? —
Pocahontas Yes, it is my childhood name; 16
It is "Bright-Stream-between-Two-Hills;" Powhatan is "Falls-of-the-Stream."
Smith Of course; his eyes are Niles of flashing wrath, And yours are full and deep and gentle brown, But lined with gold, like legends of the Rhine. Then, Pocahontas, thank you for your quick Performance of the cue to rescue me !
Pocahontas But that is not my real name.
Smith What may it be?
Pocahontas I am afraid to tell you, my father: If a mystery-man shall hear it He can change me with a charm.
Smith Why do you say I am a mystery -man? Do I look spirit-ridden? —
Pocahontas I cannot tell ; I never saw So pale a face, or so long a beard.
Smith (laughing) Only beware of the black from Germany, A white from Italy, a red from Spain, Or any Dutchman; never notice me!
Pocahontas Well, then, my name is Amonata!
17
Smith And what is that in English, Amonata?
Pocahontas I cannot tell; it is the name The everlasting woman gave To Powhatan for me, in a dream The night before my cradle rocked.
Smith But "Amonata" — though I am no scholar, I'm past the school-boy; he is very young That smells not here a flower at whose root He used to dig all morning. — "Amonata!" O well, I sold my satchelful of books, All but the "Art of War," to run away And cross the seas to where adventures grow.
Pocahontas What is your name, my father?
Smith I'm John Smith, Captain, by your services.
Pocahontas What have the other women done? (She sits on a log.)
Smith
(sitting)
That which has been endured and travelled
through With hardship and in danger, Pocahontas, Is thereby sweetened to the actor of it When he becomes relator to a lady. 18
But won't the mysteries be angry at me, If I disturb their slumbers with a tale?
Pocahontas {shaking her head) Your mysteries are different.
Smith Come, do you really worship things like those?
Pocahontas O, no — we just believe in them! We worship only the Evil-One.
Smith Is that the god you called the Master-of-Life?
Pocahontas O, no — we need not worship him (looks upward) . He would not hurt us ; but the other Would suck the blood of little children, And make corn rot, and brier scratch, And women false; he is in the fire That burns, and in the wave that drowns.
Smith And English cannon, too ! —
Pocahontas What have the other women done?
Smith When I was in the Holy Land, crusading, A Bashaw captured me, and chained me up. Dog of a Christian, in Constantinople; 19
Lady Charatza Tragabigzanda Petted poor Rover, and unlocked the kennel, And bade me in a whisper to "Go home, sir!" I found my way through heathendom alone, A beggar of cow's udders and hen's nests, Following signposts of the cross afoot, Until I came to Russia; where again. Lady Calmata largely filled my wants. And I returned from there to Lincolnshire Already famous, only twenty -seven ! And then I heard the London Company Was freighting vessels for Virginia.
Pocahontas How many wives have you already?
Smith Not one: I've often loved a man, but never A woman ; by the acquaintance I have had With my adventures, I have called them wife And children, hawks and hounds, my cards and
dice; In total, they have been my best content (stretch- ing).
Pocahontas And those poor ladies are as far As one of your hands is from the other?
Smith Farther! For these are paired for life, I hope; But ladies are my pictures to the prose Of other fellows' lives; — whose jill are you?
Pocahontas What is a jill, my father? 20
Smith I mean, whose ring-hand do you represent? Or tell me this: who is your right-hand man?
Pocahontas {putting her hands on her shoulders) Nobody yet: I did my fasting Only a little while ago.
Smith What was your fasting done for, Pocahontas?
Pocahontas The women sent me out alone To see the spirit of my life, And now I am a child no longer.
Smith But did you really see a spirit, then?
Pocahontas (nodding)
I knelt above the Mother-of-Waters (Chesa- peake)
And wished for something to appear
And tell me how to help our Country,
As Michabo in his fasting
Saw the spirit of the corn.
At first I had old dreams, in bits;
But when the Woman's Star came up
For the third time, its longest finger
Pointed out three big white birds
Flying low toward the land;
And a sweet voice said to me,
"These are a sign of greatness, Amonata,
Sent by the god you call the Master-of-Life " {looking upward).
21
Smith But was this message given you in English? {He is amused.)
Pocahontas Yes ; and I came back and put Three white feathers in my hair. Nantaquas, in his fasting, saw The wolf, and wears a tuft of fur : He will be a mighty hunter.
Smith I see: your coat-of-arms ; I have one, too: Three Turks' heads; they appeared in single com- bat. When was this visitation, did you say?
Pocahontas Last planting-moon —
Smith {calculating) Last May —
Pocahontas In the darkness of the thirteenth sun.
Smith The thirteenth day of May; why, Pocahontas, While you were kneeling up there on the bluff, The English came in with the evening tide, — Three ships, the Godspeed, the Discovery, And the Susan Constant; I was on the first!
Pocahontas Three ships? But I could see the birds Folding their wings, and walking into
22
The Powhatan; I saw their feet!
Smith We furled our sails, and poled into the James! You saw a vision of a nucleus Of hard-oppressed and enterprising bees From an old hive; they say a swarm in May Is worth a king. There met us out at sea A smell off shore as of a delicate garden, — Of Richard Eden his "Newe World, " indeed, — And down we clustered in a colony. Amidst the yells and dinning of the peasants. Each of us, from the Percy to the boy, Expecting here his own millenium.
Pocahontas (amused) The bees were white men ! Were there drones?
Smith There are — we did not kill them in the fall; They were led hither by the Spanish tales Of Eldorado, and the dialogue Of Scapethrift and Spendall in "Eastward Ho!" I'd rather not be buried in the sands, For fear these diggers by their dirty skill Should go to making money of my bones !
Pocahontas They must be like the Mineral-Man With bushy hair and eyes like a pig; He dances on the rims of cliffs. And brews a drink that swells his head And shrinks his body !
Smith Yes, those are symptoms of the yellow fever;
But my moustachios turn up, not down; I am more wakeful to provide provisions Than covetous to find a mine of gold.
Pocahontas And now, who are the worker-bees?
Smith The pilgrims who have come to build a home And make a permanent plantation of Our hardy English stock, in this gallant And goodly soil — a hundred husbandmen.
POCAHANTAS
Our women labor in the fields. Because they know how to bring forth. And tell the secret to the corn, Daughter of earth and mother of man!
Smith We colonists are merely men! {He laughs.)
Pocahontas Powhatan was always told By mystery-men, a stronger nation Would arise from the Mother-of- Waters.
Smith King James is king of all the waters ; but I am more hot to pull the King of Spain His beard than Powhatan's — if he had one! A score of pikes trained up in the Netherlands Would make me better fuel than all your settlers.
Pocahontas But have you a queen-bee, my father? 24
Smith I act as president of the adventure.
Pocahontas How did Nantaquas capture you?
Smith When in avoidance of monotony, And in reply to murmurs of our scholars That say this island is a western Indy, I followed up an elbow of our river Branching some seven miles above the fort.
Pocahontas That was the Chickahominy.
Smith (eagerly) And is its head upon the other sea? Was I indeed toward China and Cathay?
Pocahontas I cannot tell what lies beyond The Purple Hills, because the woods Have not been burnt ; but I have heard Of falling water called Niagara, So far away, a strong young wolf. Running constantly — poor beast — Would die of age before he reached it.
Smith We started in a barge, chopping away The tangled undergrowth, and rotten trees With mottled trunks like serpents in our way, And thick funereal moss hanging low down, Until a shallows stopped us. Then I took Land under foot, with a couple of my men, 25
And went ahead behind a treacherous guide, And in a white oak swamp we were besieged By hunters; they were too experienced, Our bounds too narrow, or ourselves too bold: There Robinson and Emry left their bodies In testimony of their minds; and I, When I had bound the Indian to my arm And used him for a shield, held off the others, Till walking backward to the boat, I sank Into a marsh, and yielded to the cold.
Pocahontas But after killing six young men!
Smith Then I was dragged in triumph by as many As got a hold, with great rapidity Over a pace, and then across the York, And finally through your father's orchard here. With corn-trees taller than myself upright. There were the women plucking off the fruit Still hanging late upon the yellow boughs; They stared at me as I had been a monster.
Pocahontas I saw you pass.
Smith I saw the reapers cast themselves in a ring, And dance in excellent ill variety. Laughing and singing with a pleasant tang,
Pocahontas I had just husked the reddest cob, — A brave-and-handsome-husband sign; I have it in my pocket here. 26
(She takes it out of her beaded bag, and holds it in her hand.) I am to give it to my favorite.
Smith Now some young hunter's ear is burning, too!
Pocahontas My sister husked a crooked cob : — "A thief is slinking through the field!" But there was no one stealing there Except perhaps a crow or two.
(She laughs.)
Smith They set me up here for a scarecrow then, With dangling Irish stockings, helpless arras, And empty stomach — though you passed the meat.
Pocahontas But now you are a Powhatan ! Tomorrow you shall make me wampum, White, for peace; and I will make A scarlet (bright) belt of it, for you!
Smith (laughing) A very curious fate for a campaigner! I'd rather not be buried in the woods. The fashioner of toys for Indian girls!
Pocahontas What other would you do, my father.?
Smith I'd borrow of your other father's corn
27
And go to feed my chickings at Fort James.
Pocahontas But I will give you corn, my father! (meaning her red cob).
Smith {u7iperceiving) You have a mighty spirit, Pocahontas, However else your stature —
(Virginia enters; a sunburnt white girl of 20, with blue eyes and yellow hair. She is dressed in Indian costume. She carries a dipper-gourd.)
Virginia (to Smith) This walnut-water is a gift From Powhatan to his new son; He honors you as if you were Nantaquas ! —
(giving Smith the gourd.)
Smith This birthday greeting is much pleasanter than His habit of refreshments on a grave. The cup our countrymen drank at Roanoke.
At Roanoke?
Virginia
(surprised)
Smith I've had such puddle for my drink of late! So here's to your red health I
(He drinks, looking at Virginia.) Why, here is a miracle amongst all savages- 28
Hair of a perfect yellow, true blue eyes, And skin a reasonable pink!
Pocahontas I think the morning she was born The sun was bright, the sky was blue. And the pink roses were in bloom.
Virginia (apologetically) My skin is not so pink as this In summer: it is browner then; And I am wiser than the girls Because I am an orphan ; and My feet are of a larger make.
Smith Who are you, then?
Pocahontas She is my sister now.
Your sister now? Yes, my father.
Smith Pocahontas
Virginia (proudly) At first I was her servant, though; I used to keep her fire up When she was sleepy in the night. And pop some flowering-corn for her When she was hungry in the day; But when her fasting came, she chose 29
Me for a sister, and she learned To tell me secrets in my tongue.
Smith I wondered dumbly at her good court Southern! But who can have taught you the king's version?
Virginia My people talked as you do, too ! But many falling-leaves ago Some young men came from Powhatan To kill them : they were witches, for They all were thin and very white, They tottered on the trail, and all Their eyes were red and watery ! But I ran up the river-bank.
Pocahontas I found her lying above the falls.
Smith But tell me where your people used to live !
Virginia At Roanoke.
Smith At Roanoke, indeed.'* What is your name?
Virginia Virginia. I am sorry that It has no meaning like the girls'.
Smith Virginia no meaning! It means this: — You are your country's first-born English child; 30
You had for godmother the virgin queen
Of late EHzabethan England, and
Her mantle at your christening was blue
With anchors worked in all of its waving corners!
You are that famous maid, Virginia Dare!
Pocahontas Virginia Dare?
Smith Yes, Dare: a very wisely chosen name. The Knighthood of the Cloak, deep in that time, Spread down a present to his Chiefest Pilot, — The City of Raleigh, out in Roanoke; John White, the artist of a former voyage. Was made the governor of that colony. Where he became your grandfather, Virginia, And then, before your name was ten days old. He had to sail to England for supplies; And there he was penned in by the Armada: He told me of his sorrow.
Virginia Did my white grandfather return.?
Smith O, yes, he came on one of your birthdays, but The night had fallen when his ship fell in; He sounded with a trumpet; afterward They sang familiar English songs to the shore. But heard no chorus to answer; and at dawn, When the artist landed his new coloring. He found some ill, untutored, savage hand Had spoiled the drawing of a settlement That he had left unfinished on the island. Green grass was streaked along his avenue. Red rust was smeared across his shiny plows; 31
Some tracks of feeling stamped upon the sand; And sweet Virginia Dare and all the rest Erased away ; he fears a knife was used ! But think how happy he will be again When I have rescued him his granddaughter!
Pocahontas Your crooked cob was true, also : A thief was slinking through the field !
Virginia
{proudly and sadly) Nantaquas would not let me go; These are his arrows in your tree; Good shooting wins a wife, he says.
Smith He wounded me nowhere but in the hat.
{Here is heard a doleful noise, and the light of torches approaches. Smith takes his pistol.)
Pocahontas The ceremony of adoption ! You may kill me if it's not Their way of showing love for you!
{The noises and lights come nearer .)
(curtain) End of Act I.
32
ACT II
" It overjoys my heart, when as they words Of these designs, ivith deeds I doe compare. Heere is a Booke, such worthy truth affords. None shoulde the due desert thereof impare; Sith thou, the man, deserving of these Ages, Much paine hast ta'en for this our Kingdom,'s good. In climes unknown, 'mongst Turks and Salvages, 7" inlarge our bounds, though with thy loss of blood. " N. Smith: "To my worthy friend and Cousen, Captaine John Smith" — 1616.
(curtain)
Deck of the ship " Treasurer," a privateer belong- ing to Captain Samuel Argall, trader. It is sunset, early in April, 1613. The ship is at anchor in the James River. In the background there is water, and back of that the shore of Virginia, showing Jamestown, with its triangular log fort, palisaded village, and outlying cidtivated fields. Behind these is the forest, with pointed fir-trees against the sky.
On the deck there is an open hatchway in the centre; a mast without sails to the right, and a cabin with heavy barred door to the left. There is a bul- wark along the side of the deck toward the shore.
ROLFE
(calling from the water, unseen)
Captain Argall!
(then appearing over the buhvark) Captain Argall !
(Argall comes up the hatchway.)
ROLFE
(stepping onto the deck) Welcome back from the barter, Captain !
(Both are young Englishmen; Rolfe is smooth- shaven, and dressed as a country gentleman; Argall has a black drooping moustache, and is dressed as a merchant-sailor.)
Argall Rolfe! (in disgust). Where are the rest of the
settlers? Jamestown is silent, as Sunday morning! All gone to Church, like goody children? Why are you not yawning with them?
Rolfe The farmers formed in the fort, because The dusk you sailed in dyed your color : St. George's crimson cross looked black!
Argall Your scouting skull would have scaled the mast To join the bones of a buccaneer !
Rolfe Our pinnaces first would have fought you — the
"Patience" And the "Deliverance," lying yonder.
Argall Tethered to trees, like toy ships, 34
And built of the bolts and broken timbers Of the "Sea Venture," by settlers wrecked Among the Bermudas! They meant to attack The "Treasurer" launched on the London Thames And steered the straightest through stormy isles To Newport News, and never yet down?
ROLFE
Those toys outlived the tempest once.
Argall Three years ago, I think ! That gale Has passed off in a play; what's new?
RoLFE
War and peace with Powhatan
Both in a day ; we dress our backs
In mail for meeting and mill, as of old.
Argall More so than your song of the Sea Venture ! You've got the news again by the tail. But newcomer's dials are never to date!
ROLFE
The warmth has made your mind to wrangle. How went the trading-trip?
{He sits on a bench.)
Argall I trended along the Potomac, a river The strand whereof is stored with the goodliest Cedar for masts that may be seen. And bought for a handful of blisters ! Hemp For ropes, wound wild in abundance; And pretty sport, pulling up sixpence 35
As fast as a line could land a fish ! And certain sands I saw — look here — Here are handfuls, hatfuls, of shining Proof of a great promise of gold !
ROLFE
{examining the sand) But a sandy performance: it's Fools' Gold! Was there no trading with the Patomacs?
Argall
(sitting) Their king, Japassus, purchased a comb For twenty skins, worth twenty crowns.
ROLFE
The law says, "Pay a liberal price In beads, boots, and Bibles, " Captain.
Argall I made what liked me law and order. And bring you hither a hostage to bless me: — Powhatan's daughter and dearest jewel!
ROLFE
How does that happen?
Argall She came with her kinsman, the king of Patomac, Aboard of my boat — the "big canoe" — To renew her nods to her neighbors; and I With our common copper kettle, persuaded Her host, Japassus, to play a deceit: I feasted them first on the fat of the kettle. And the king would tread on my toes constantly, So! "She is yours!" And beseeching her yon- der,
36
The gunner's-room there, I glued the door;
And then it was a world to see
My Jew, with counterfeit cries, joyfully
Shoot ashore and shoulder the kettle! (laughs).
ROLFE
(seriously) The prisoner must have been pensive then.
Argall At the way of her taking she was ; but she used Somtime to our town in times past, As free at the fort as her father's lodging; She'd sit in the grass of new Smithfield green To watch a file of our fighters drill. And batter a tree in target practise; And she would carry in corn on her shoulders And those of her ladies ; and late one night She ran alone the roads of the irksome Woods, to warn us with watered eyes, Powhatan and twice our power Would after come to kill us all !
RoLFE
God was not pleased to unplant this country !
Argall Since then for many moons, she says. She's not been heard of here, and newly Withdrew from Werowocomoco, Because, it seems, she's seen too many English offered to Oki, the Devil: She much admires men with hats on ! And now her sour, sly old father Has lost his treasure, until she serves To bring about a bargain. — 37
ROLFE
I seem to have heard of her before; Is not this captive, Captain Smith's Model maid of mercy?
Argall (nodding) Princess Snowfeather! Smith, however, Called her his pet Pocahontas, And she thought him her heavenly father! But some preserve a secret whisper — I heard he meant to marry her,
RoLFE
A silly secret ! Smith to marry ! I'd laugh if he said it himself, at last !
Argall
(arguing) He feigned to free a felon, a thief Of swords and spades, for her sake alone! She begged the pardon — a playmate at ball.
RoLFE
He was paying a debt : she dunned the pardon.
Argall He was fond of calling at her father's court!
RoLFE
He was naturalized; the naturals loved him. Besides fearing our Smith that forged A fence to ward off the wilderness first.
Argall In just accord, the king would have jumped 38
At having him for a handy son.
They took his title for a tag of nobility.
ROLFE
Even in this age of captains? But could he wed a cursed woman, Void of sect, and the civil use Of anything? —
Argall The groom should go to the girl's clergy, And matrimony's a May game To these heathen : He could heave her over As fast as his eye was full of her.
ROLFE
Making her thus his monacle
For getting a good glimpse at vice!
Argall He'd stop stumbling at straws, though.
RoLFE
He could have made his match in Europe.
Argall So Jack, the giant-killer, said. It does his deeds a diminution That he alone is the herald to blow And publish their many proclamations; He cut his memory's cables loose. Unwisely trusting tales to his windy Invention! A verbal venturer!
RoLFE
He served the king and colony well. 39
Argall They could not have prevented this new adven- ture.
ROLFE
If they had wished to — well, some jealous Savage might have sighed for the maid.
Argall (surprised) For riches and realm and rank, and even The joy of becoming the king of Virginia ! Her family follows the female line.
RoLFE
With subjects still in the stone age !
Argall Your Smith, with a face of flint, could break it, Shaving and shaping the shale for himself !
RoLFE
Captain, grant him a good conscience
Rare in a martial man; and real
Prince's blood with a beggar's purse;
He awaited no prize but the world's applause.
Argall The motive that draws a man today From ease and humors at home in England To work the western world, is this : — Profit! Present profit. Master!
RoLFE
It sits with honor and honesty better To give to a world as well as get. 40
Profit will come without prejudice, too, If we, in our path of western planting. But cast our grain in the ground with care. And wait with patience^ —
Argall (interrupting) And with "Deliverance!"
(pointing ashore.)
ROLFE
(looking ashore) I call it the land of Canaan, not The land of Ophir! A lottery never Agreed better to build a place for Man's habitation: it's time it were manned!
Argall You might accept the modest city Of Edinburgh's elegant offer, to pack us Their nightly-walking women, a nice little Fleet of pretty family pinnaces, Pat manure to be pitchforked over This barren, pious plantation! I'll bet you They'd straightway breed a stirring here!
RoLFE
And then, indeed, the day would show Fearful stains in the face of our state ! I wish the ports would pack for wives, A shipful of virtuous virgins, shortly.
Argall With an apron-string streaming aloft?
RoLFE
(nodding) 41
A sign of truce to sickness and trouble, Disappointment and discontent.
Argall A vent of virtuous virgins! Well, I've bought the first born in Virginia: I allowed Japassus a little pot Of jam for a deal in Virginia Dare, Commonly sighted in Snowfeather's company. Captain Smith, who caught savages By the warlock, once boasted He'd have her away from the wild by hand; But he left her for me and my little pot !
ROLFE
(pleased) This deal will be dear indeed to Raleigh !
Argall Without peradventure : it values the prize He offered awhile for White's lost colony. This reminds me— I met with a lad Enthralled in kind; we thought him killed With the rest of Ratcliffe's wretched party. Surprised employed exploring Pamunky To point the famous passage to the sea. As soon as I learned this lad was Harry —
RoLFE
(eagerly) Harry Spelman ! How was he spared?
Argall (laughing) He entertained his torturers With Plutarch's lives and Petrarch's legends, Rolfe ! And he travelled around in the train
42;
Of the Powhatan princess, his patroness. He seemed very happy to see me there, And begged me in kind to procure his release; So I made him thrown to me in the same Pot with Virginia — a juncture that caused Neither of them to boil, I'll bet you !
ROLFE
(gladly) His father will feel so full of gratuity !
Argall The antiquary? Questionless! Sir Henry Spelman is a heavy spender.
RoLFE
Harry and I left London together You know, but wisely we were not Billed in the same boat : He sailed In the "Unity "—
Argall (interrupting) Yes! And you in the "Sea Venture," I know; you needn't go on!
RoLFE
I've never seen him since the night The hurricane tore our ties — is he here?
Argall (nodding) From merely the jester, promoted to gaoler !
(He opens door on left.) He's grown so near a natural, both In dress and darkness, you'll doubt he really Wears a hat, till you hear him speak. 43
(Spelman comes through the door, hand in hand with Pocahontas and Virginia. Sjpelman is tanned and wears Indian dress, with an old mortar-board hat on his head. Pocahontas is dressed as in Act. I, but without the mantle, and with a white wampum belt. Virginia is dressed as in Act I.)
Spelman {dropping their hands and running to Rolfe) John!
Rolfe Harry! I'm happy at hearing from Argall That you are living and hghtly rescued !
Spelman
And I, at hearing from Argall that you are living and rescued,
He told me the men from the "Sea Venture" arrived at last,
Having been kindly received from the teeth of the howling tempest
By the Bermudas, like so many fair Nereides.
And how did your wife enjoy so rough a wedding- journey?
Rolfe (sadly)
She fared back to her Father's Home;
She pledged her soul in salt water
To meet with mine in a merrier world.
Spelman (shocked) You mean that she died of the wreck?
Rolfe Our "Sea Venture" carried her soul away,
Dropping a gloom to the great depth Where I lie drowned in dreams of her.
Spelman God, or perhaps the Devil she feared, has exacted
another Sweet-smelling sacrifice to the good of western
planting !
ROLFE
{ajier a pause) I put my hand to the plow, Harry. I've saved Bermuda's memorable seed To give a better tobacco garden Unto Virginia; and just today I counted the buds of a bumper crop ; Even England shall own its goodness!
Spelman Hail, Virginian Bacchus, who bring
(to fiaKKLKOV Zo}pOV
the bacchic gift) ! Now sing me, thou god, the number of parasangs
man has marched Since I've been away; has the point been reached
from which a cry Of "The Sea! The Sea!" has sounded, to be heard
around the world?
RoLFE
That is now supposed reported by
Our countryman, Henry Hudson, Captain.
Argall And the crown will claim the commerce-rights! 45
ROLFE
(to Spelman) I suppose you are now for the North Pole?
Spelman No, for I have discovered the font of immortal
youth That Mandeville wrote about, and Pontius of
Leon looked for !
RoLFE
When and where?
Spelman While learning the trade of interpreting the
Virginian tongue. And where but out in the garden of new Hesperides
— they were Maids of the West, you remember! Immortal Virginia!
{He leads up Virginia.)
RoLFE
Hail to you, Harry, happy as a god !
Spelman She had thought, in her sylvan schooling, we
English were the immortals, Because we are all young men, and asked no
wives of them, John !
Virginia Until he asked me, John, for me.
Pocahontas (who has been looking at the shore until now) Another John?
46
Argall The name is not unknown at Jamestown ! The John family is fairly large; Common as cant, and the code of prayers; Spoken so much, it means nothing.
Spelman The word, however, can act the role of its own
idea; You know how rich the names of ruby, sapphire,
emerald, Sound to your hearing. Captain ; and so it is with
prayers, And so with John, the which means, "the gracious
gift of God."
Pocahontas Created by the Master-of-Life {looks upward) To show man what his power can do.
Spelman
(leading up Rolfe)
Snowfeather, let me present a gentleman of that
name: He and I are of different Universities, But both from the same old county: this is my
boyhood friend, Master John Rolfe, of Heacham Hall, in Norfolk- shire.
Rolfe Welcome here to my home, mistress. This is Jamestown, Virginia, boy!
Spelman And writers call it Jacobopolis, Nova Brittania.
47
Argall OrVilliaco! I vaunt my Spanish.
Pocahontas Where is the other John? The first?
ROLFE
After St. Luke.
Argall She means no saint, but a manner of John Like Cabot that claimed the continent; As fond of fiction as false J. Mandeville; A Prester John, and a plain John Smith !
Pocahontas Yes — Captain Smith; is he not here?
ROLFB
He fared back to his Father's Home Before I came to the colony, mistress.
Pocahontas How did he go, Master John Rolfe?
RoLFE
Powder exploded in his pocket, they say, And they had no suitable surgeon here.
Argall He was bruised very shrewdly, in bright shades Like yonder sky — the yellow's the skin.
Spelman Our foUow-my-leader game must have limped like a choliambus !
48
ROLFE
We grieve for him still; he gave out orders Bound to his bed, brave to the last.
Argall Lay him up in lavender, Rolfe!
Pocahontas And where lies his unmended garment (body)?
Rolfe Suit and sword, his sole capital, Freighted the boat that bore him home.
Spelman It sounds like a Viking's burial! Who is the president now?
Rolfe Sometimes we appear to have twenty presidents. Twenty captains; but Thomas West, Lord Delaware, is the one for life. We call him governor and captain general.
Spelman Lord Delaware! An Oxford man! Is he here at Jamestown?
Argall No! He was blown back to England, First having placed a plump farm In his wife's name, with none of the work.
Rolfe (indignantly) My lord was bitten by malaria I 49
Argall The captains here do not come for their health.
ROLFE
He found us Dale, his faithful deputy.
Argall His faithful dog ! We dare not flick A Jamestown weed of his wife's jointure.
RoLFE
He watches wanton waste, but gives Freely the freshest flowers, of every Color and every kind for Church. Harry, you knew our hitherto altar. The board between two balsam trees, Roofed from the rain with a rotten sail — The governor gave our God a house With pulpit of cedar and pews the same,
Argall (interrupting) The ground is chiseled of chewing-grass, And Whitaker's homilies are hard to whittle!
RoLFE
Windows that close if the weather be cold, And a belfry cast with a couple of bells !
Spelman Tomorrow morning they ring for a merry English wedding !
Argall (slyly) Virginia, is Snowfeather somebody's jill? 50
Pocahontas Nobody's now.
(She puts her hands on her shoulders, as in Act I.)
Virginia But not because she was not asked ! She always says that to the Real Young men; and she was married once, Although her hands are shouldered yet. {All look surprised.)
Argall Tell us the proof, — the prince of Patomac?
Virginia Kocoum? (m disgust) No! It was the weir.
Argall Who?
Virginia The fishing-weir, whose ancestor Michabo made of reeds and barks, And hung it, like a spider's web. To catch the whitefish — water-deer — , And muskallonge — the water-wolf.
ROLFE
A hound of the water ! A husband like Argall !
Virginia One Spring it would not catch us fish; We sang it rousing fishing-songs. And blew tobacco in its face; At last we held a pow-wow and Its spirit shook the tent, and said Its newly-married wife had died. And it was mourning on the shore. 51
Argall Your relative, Rolfe!
Virginia And so they folded it around On Pocahontas — as she was ; She was its bride all summer, and It caught the fish for us again.
Rolfe {to Pocahontas) Your high habit of helping the starving Will serve our children cheer, mistress.
Pocahontas It was not done to pleasure them.
Rolfe I admire your modest demeanor, but frankly. Next under God, you were named to prevent This colony's utter conclusion !
Argall The scene Is getting to the sunset gun. {He goes down the hatchway.)
Pocahontas {to Rolfe) The sun was torn on the balsam peaks. And its blood is covering everything!
Rolfe {to Spelman) That darkest row is a reredos Gothic against a gift of my own Subscription : a life lost and enskyed, Mooring my day in memorial dusk! 52
Spelman do Virginia) The intermediate meadow seems like a warming
hearth-rug, With the fence for a blackened fender, as you and I get home!
ROLFE
I'll hurry ashore ahead, and show
Sir Thomas Dale the Treasurer's dealings;
You may be certain, mistress (to Pocahontas), it
is Beside his custom to sell his courtesy: Have it for nothing! Goodnight, Harry. {He climbs back over the bulwark.)
Spelman {leaving Virginia) O, are you going? Goodnight, John! {leaning over the bulwark.)
Virginia {when Rolfe has gone) I want to ask what "Harry" means.
Spelman
{laughing)
It is a nickname, that is, a child-name, for Henry,
Chief -of -the-House ! We'll build on the north-side there, as London is north of the Thames.
Virginia When Captain Smith was here, he said That I was born indoors, like you. 53
Spelman Yes, in a fort like that one, the tallest — but
Roanoke Was shaped like a star; we can go and see its outline still.
Virginia Why, then, I'm like the girl who was The daughter of a star, and dropped Upon the earth to dance awhile (dances) A man soon caught her in his arms : {Spelman catches her.)
Pocahontas When I am dead, my shadow will be A bird of the nest of Powhatan, And from the tree at my grave's end I'll fly to the northern star, the home Of all the shadows, where the hand Of God is pointing its finger now.
(She looks at the compass around her neck.)
Virginia {standing still) Snowfeather talks as if she'd slept Beneath the power of the moon ! Why, sister, are you feeling ill-f^
{The sunset gun is fired below.)
Spelman {accompanied by voices of sailors) God bless England, our sweet native country!
(curtain)
End of Act II
54
ACT III
"And cheerfully at sea
Success you still entice
To get the pearle and golde.
And ours to hold
Virginia,
Earth's only Paradise/'
Michael Drayton,
"Blessing to the Colonies, " 1607.
(curtain)
Deck of the "Treasurer," early in April, 1614, tied beside the bank of the York River, Va.; the forest is in the immediate background. The sail is set. It is sunrise; birds are singing.
Spelman and Virginia are seated side by side, asleep. They are dressed in English costume, but Virginia wears mocassins.
Pocahontas is sitting on the bidwark awake, looking into the forest. She wears a dress of English cloth made in Indian fashion, with mocassins; her braids are coiled around her head, with the three white feathers as before. She still wears the com- pass and the white wampum belt.
{The sunrise gun sounds; Spelman awakes and jumps up.)
55
Spelman God bless England, our sweet native country! — The embassy must have been gone all night; I hope they are safe!
Pocahontas (turning) Were they not cheerfully received At Werowocomoco, then?
Spelman Well, we were met at first by the outposts, scoflBng
to witness Our friendliness : we were welcome but if we came
to fight. And I was advised to remember the massacre at
Pamunky ! But we and our guns induced them to bring us to
Powhatan, And after I had translated the terms of your
release I felt I could trust the answer to Tomocomo and
Rolfe.
Pocahontas {smiling) In order to return to the ship. In order to interpret here Virginia's sunset longing as A very happy evening, Harry!
(Virginia awakes at the sound of her name.)
Virginia I've been asleep ! My sister East Has opened both her eyes again!
Spelman
(amused)
56
And has my sister-in-law, the East, two eyes, Virginia?
Virginia Why, yes, of course! The one up there (points
to the sun). And then the other in the York! And she is painting up her cheek With fresh puccoon {looking at the sunrise).
Pocahontas {sadly) Blood-root, you mean, Virginia.
Spelman No — Anchusa Virginia! You both have a deal
to learn! But we must review our yesterday's lesson before
today : — What is the rainbow? It shone overhead as we
sailed from Jamestown!
Virginia O — not the flowers' heaven, now!
Pocahontas {sadly) And there is life no more in wind. In water, and in stars, and charm No more in moonlight, as you said.
Virginia And, sister, did it not seem strange To learn the spot upon the moon Is not the body of a poor Old woman thrown up there in rage By her own grandson— did it not? 57
Pocahontas Everything true, Virginia, Has a familiar sound to me.
Spelman Columbus, crossing the Sea of Darkness, kissed
the hand Of the fair new world, and lo ! the Sleeping Beauty awoke !
Virginia Well, I am sleepy still ! Please tell Another story like the ones You told the day we captured you.
Spelman
(sitting beside her)
There once was a lad named Romaunt, who went
out into a garden; And there in a round, blue font he saw the flowers
reflected ; Romaunt fancied the rose, a little English seedling, But when he tried to pluck it, wild Jealousy pre- vented,—
Virginia I know! You were Romaunt, and I The rose! Nantaquas used to say I was a yellow dandelion. And that my hair would soon be white And blow away ! I see, of course, Nantaquas was wild Jealousy ! A female must have crossed his path To spoil his hunting — he would say! (hastily).
Spelman The female was Donna Venus, and if we continue the moral,
58
Captain Argall was sent in the Goddess's own
machine To rescue our hero and heroine in their perplexity.
Virginia Harry, — if I should ever die. Could you, too, love a maid again?
Spelman Nantaquas loves like a Stoic, but I am another like Rolfe.
Virginia
(going over to Pocahontas)
0 sister, did you hear? He says He could not love a maid again !
Pocahontas If he were dead, Virginia, You could not love a man again !
Virginia
(happily)
1 wish that you were married, too !
Spelman (from his seat) Well, I suppose we shall have to wait for our
fellow-travellers Before the breakfast is served in this floating taverness?
Virginia (turning) The "Treasurer" a taverness? Captain Argall declares she is One of the jewels worn by James ! 59
Spelman But as he is off ashore, guarding his precious ship, And also his precious freight (boiving), I tell you,
England's jewels Are like Cornelia's were: her sons! Will you be
sorry To leave us Englishmen, sister, if the embassy
returns With a treaty with your father agreed upon at
last?
Pocahontas He took no notice of your proposals Before; I think if he had loved me He had not valued me less than war. I would stay with Virginia, No longer up and down in the woods. Like this deer beside the creek (pointing).
Virginia (looking) A sacred white one ! Harry, come And see this deer ! She's drinking now. And mocassin-deep in the miskodeed !
(Spelman comes up; Virginia points.)
Pocahontas (smiling) In spring beauties, Virginia !
Spelman In Claytonia Virginica !
Virginia Poor Deer! You cannot ever hope To be Dame Spelman, as I am ! 60
Spelman
(laughing) She, however, is true to her proper sylvan buck, As you were not ! But see how she tosses ! Look at her go!
Virginia Perhaps she thought that curly, black. Old stump a curly, black, old bear! The way we used to think we saw The awful great-white-naked-bear Old women used to scare us with: There was a wicked man within! (fearfully). But I am not at all afraid Since Harry says it is a myth.
Pocahontas Here comes the great- white-naked-bear !
(Virginia screams and runs down the hatchway; Spelman looks out, smiles at Pocahontas, and follows Virginia. Argall steps over the bulwark, armed with a gun.)
Argall I'm pat ! Good dawning, princess !
(Pocahontas stops smiling.) I have a job for your handsome eyes. If they see as true as the tempting piece Of venison flesh I flushed just now. Although I crept up crouching double.
Pocahontas It was not you that frightened her ! The eyes of a deer are very dim. And the wind is blowing from the creek. But if a leaf moves, I can tell The brushing of the wind-bird's wing From the creeping motions of a bear. 61
Argall Then tell me, what is that whitish tip Coming out of the creek? I saw it After the venison vaulted over me.
Pocahontas {looking) It is Nantaquas' birch canoe !
Argall But how much lower it looks behind!
Pocahontas Tomocomo must be with him.
Argall
{aiming his gun) They spring surprises prudently, do they. About the dawning of day? —
Pocahontas {still looking) One of them waves a handkerchief.
Argall {lowering his gun) A flag of truce ! Then turn you farther To where I become the king of Virginia !
Pocahontas I cannot see around the bend.
Argall Come to my vantage-coign for a view : — Your brother Nantaquas may take you back Without the conditions Dale has made 62
For peace, if you'll tell old Powhatan You wish to marry me; will you?
Pocahontas There is no Indian word for "Vantage."
ARGALIi
Say that in English, then; you'd better Give me your belt to bind the engagement, The way your women are wont to do.
Pocahontas It was not made for Captain Argall.
Argall That does not matter : I do not mean To wear the wampum ! A wealth is there Of conchological currency, In pieces of pillar-of-periwinkle, A costly species, according to Spelman — He makes it Venus Mercenaria.
{Nantaquas calls frovi the river and climbs over the bulwark, carrying on his shoulders a white deer, with an arrow in the heart. Tomocomo follows laboriously, carrying a handkerchief, which he waves.)
Pocahontas Wingapo ! (Welcome)
{Pocahontas and Nantaquas interlace their fin- gers.)
Tomocomo
(to Argall) We have come to see Snowfeather And make sure you have not killed her. While the People- Who-Have-Hats-on See the weroance, behind us. 63
(Nantaquas lays the deer on the deck. Argall starts to take it.)
TOMOCOMO
(preventing him) From Nantaquas to his sister, For a feast to make her merry, And a skin to make her garments !
Pocahontas
(to Nantaquas) Wingapo !
(to the others) But he forgets It is ill-luck to kill white deer.
ToMOCOMO
Master Rolfe has sent the captain Of the big canoe this paper.
(gives a paper to Argall.)
Argall
(reading) Powhatan desires presents Due a father in bereavement. He would like a wooden tooth-pick; Copper-pieces with the half-face Of his English brother on them; All the fishhooks you can spare him; Two more ponies, and a chimney.
ToMOCOMO
You can either conjure, Captain, Or the paper told it to you.
Argall I promise presents as the price of your influence: I want to wed your weroance's daughter. 64
TOMOCOMO
What has Snowfeather to answer? I speak for women in the council.
Pocahontas
(in disdain) Sir Thomas Dale's ambassadors Are still at Werowocomoco !
ToMOCOMO
Who is Master Rolfe, their leader?
Pocahontas His name is John.
TOMOCOMO
Captain Smith's relation — better!
Argall She's not Rolfe's or the rest of the shoppers' Making so free at the fair : she's mine ! I bought her for only a broken kettle, —
Pocahontas (in disdai7i) Behind the door of the gunner's-room !
(She goes into the gunner's-room in disdain; Argall goes after he and shuts the door on her, lock- ing it.)
Argall I'll sell her only for a sash of wampum!
(He casts off the rope that ties the ship to shore.)
Nantaquas Nushka! (Behold!) — (pointing to the shore.) (The ship has begun to slip past the shore.) 65
Argall ( fastening down the hatch-way) The Spelmans can spoon on the Spanish main!
TOMOCOMO
There is Master Rolfe, now, coming As he promised, for his kerchief.
{He loaves the handkerchief.)
Argall And a hundred musket -men behind him.
{He 'pulls down the sails; the ship stops near a trail.)
That is the way I work my canoe! I knew you visitors never had seen it. This key is an interesting custom, too : It locks one in or it lets one out, {unlocks door) By the same little trick ; try it yourselves !
{Tomocomo explains the key and the sails to Nantaquas in whispers; Pocahontas comes out of the gunner' s-room.)
Argall {to Pocahontas) A joke — if I cannot be king of Virginia, I'll follow Dale as deputy governor; Lord Rich, my relative, runs the Company; And I'll buy me a baronetcy ! — Tomocomo ! Come down and take Our greatest gun and a grinding-stone. {He unfastens the hatchway.)
Pocahontas {smiling) Find them a gift of lighter burden. That they may carry it away.
{Argall, Nantaquas, and Tomocomo go down hatchway.)
Pocahontas {kneeling down by the deer.) It was ill luck to kill this deer : Now she can never call again After her proper sylvan buck ! {Stroking it sadly.) {Rolfe comes down the trail and steps on board.)
Rolfe Good morning to you, mistress.
Pocahontas Good morning to you, Master John Rolfe.
Rolfe I came ahead of the careless hundred To march your father's message faster.
Pocahontas And what has Powhatan to say?
Rolfe He delights in Pocahontas More than all his other children, And her taking broke his bowstring; But he cannot promise quiet : His young men no longer fear us As they did upon the time when If a twig but snapped, some woman Cried out —
Pocahontas {rising and interrupting) There comes Captain Smith !
Rolfe Yes; and therefore but this was yielded; Your father arranged for a respite till fall. And willed me, with tears, to treat you well. 67
Pocahontas {sifting on a bench) That you would do, Master John Rolfe, However, Powhatan should act.
Rolfe Then in reply, I parleyed about A mighty war in my meditations. {He sits beside
her.) I told him his child was changed: baptized The first of the fruits of our foreign conversion, And known by a Christian name — Rebecca.
Pocahontas Because she also followed away From her own people; was he angry?
Rolfe He presses you, rather, to pray for rain On the corn, to the God of Captain Smith,
Pocahontas I will.
Rolfe I spoke of your aptness, your spirit willing To receive our tameness and civilization. And lastly I vowed, on advice of my lord The governor, mistress, I'll gladly make you My one companion — a planter's wife !
Pocahontas {Rising, and putting her hands on her shoulders.) O, my father !
Rolfe {rising) But Powhatan was pleased, and told me 68
He'd promise peace to our people for life, If you wish to enamel me with your favor,
{The "careless hundred^' is heard in the distance, singing an old English melody.)
Voices of Settlers "The hunt is up, The hunt is up, And it is well-nigh day, And Jamie our king Has gone hunting To bring his deer to bay!"
ROLFE
{pressing his suit) We used to call our Captain Smith Father of Virginia : justly you Might be called the colony's mother !
Voices of Settlers
{nearer) "The east is bright With morning light And darkness it is fled; The merry horn Wakes up the morn To leave his idle bed !"
{During this verse Pocahontas unties her wampum belt. At its close, Spelman and Virginia rush up the hatch-way and look into the trail.)
Spelman There they are, coming at last : George Percy, and Hamor, and Strachey, — 69
Voices of Settlers (nearer) "Awake all men, I say again, Be merry as you may ! For Jamie our king Has gone hunting To bring his deer to bay!" (During this verse Pocahontas ties her belt on Rolfe.)
Spelman There is Waldo, and Potts, and Wynne; but where is John Rolfe, Virginia?
Rolfe Here! (they turn) And now we can navigate
home! It's time to bring up the plantation !
Virginia O, sister!
(curtain)
End of Act III
70
ACT IV
" You worthy loights, kings, lords, and knights. Or queen and ladies bright: Cupid invites you to the sights He shall present tonight.''
— Ben Jonson, "Masque of Christmas," January 6, 1617.
(curtain)
A withdrawing -room in the palace of Whitehall, London, during the evening of January 6, 1617. Christmas greens and three chalked crosses on the ceiling in honor of Twelfth-Night. A door to the right leads in the old Banqueting-House. A door to the left. A table holding a large wassel-bowl.
Dance music of the period is being played in the Banqueting-House .
Spelman and Virginia, in fine costumes, are "sitting it out" on a couch, talking lovingly.
(The music stops; laughter of courtiers is heard; Spelman and Virginia hastily retreat through the door to the left. Tomocomo comes through from the Banqueting-House, and seats himself on the floor. He is closely followed by Lady Delaware, dressed " like a neat sempster and songster — bearing a brown bowl, drest with ribands, " as Jonson directs for the character of Wassel in the "Masque of Christmas. ")
71
Lady Delaware
(panting)
I thank you, senator, for your kind escort here! I should have been afraid of you, but that I hear You are a ladies' man in your own parliament. Will you not massacre some of the Lamb's Wool
blent?
(She fills her bowl from the wassel-howl, and is carrying it to Tomocomo, when Rolfe and Pocahon- tas come in from the Banqueting-House; both are dressed in English fashion, but she still wears her white feathers.)
Rolfe We are pleased with your playing of Wassel, Lady Delaware — allow me to help you !
Lady Delaware I thank you. Master Rolfe, the masque is mainly
done, But we are masquers all the time the revels run, And so I follow here the fashion of Twelfth-Night, When Wassel pours herself in others' service
quite !
{She gives the bowl to Tomocomo, who drinks it and then begins notching a long stick, glancing through the door of the Banqueting-House, during the following.)
Lady Delaware A Merry Little Christmas, Lady Rebecca!
[Pocahontas interlaces her fingers with those of Lady Delaware.)
Lady Delaware No wonder, Master Rolfe, you had across the sea
72
Your fingers full of Bridal Wreath, because there
be Many London ladies behaviored worse than she.
ROLFE
It was not my marriage made me resort To England with deputy Dale, my lady, Although I hoped that her example Might advance conversion here; — But rather to help arouse the heavy Undertakers to take a hand With person or purse in our planting, lest Our fairest hopes be hard frosted. How is the governor's health tonight.''
Lady Delaware Have you not seen my lord? He has been seeking
you All over Whitehall palace. There is something
new, Welwillers of your dear Virginia colony Are in the council-room — I'll keep her dear to me!
{Rolfe goes out to the left, leaving Pocahontas with Lady Delaware.)
Lady Delaware {sitting down and seating Pocahontas beside her.) My husband thinks your husband is his strongest man!
Pocahontas (proudly) He is as strong as Kwasind was.
Lady Delaware And who was he? What did he do. Lady Rebec- ca?
73
Pocahontas He pulled up trees in Our Country, And moved the rocks, and cleansed the trails; But he spoiled the meeting-places of The-Little-People-of -the- Wood (sadly) .
Lady Delaware I did not know that you had fairies in your wood, Except our godson, Thomas; did you like the hood?
Pocahontas It is sweet, and he is lovely, but He will be left behind us, with Henry Rolfe of Heacham, his uncle. In room of a maid, Bermuda Rolfe, His sister, born on the Sea Venture!
Lady Delaware But Master Rolfe believes his son should go to
school; And I will keep my eyes upon the pretty fool: You shall be proud of him when he comes home!
0,yes; My lord's the governor, so I'm the governess.
Pocahontas Then teach my little mocking-bird The happy note of Opeechee, The robin of your Smithfield park. That covers the dead with leaves, and sings About the very latest thing!
Lady Delaware That must be you, my lady, for you fill the door Of every house with curiosity ! The more, There is an infant tavern named La Belle Sauvage;
74
And archery's again becoming toute la rage ! Why, you should see the crowd of every age and
class Coming and looking at your portrait by Van
Pass!
Pocahontas I should have looked more natural If I had worn another suit; But Master John Rolfe desired him To paint me in my London dress; He says such things as wampum belts Are too barbaric to be worn.
Lady Delaware That is exactly what my lord has said to me About my farthingale! He wants his majesty To bar it from the court! And you were on the
bench That ordered it no longer stylish to be French! My waist of fifteen inches has gone out again. And it's a feather in my cap not to go plain; This very sanguine silk I acted in tonight Is called Rebecca brown, — the same by every
light; What pretty shades they oflFer now ! It was more
so Before I had it made up in this fashion, though. {Rolfe comes back, excited.)
Rolfe The session has made me secretary Of the colony, and recorder general, First of an office freshly created !
Lady Delaware That was by way of honor to your royal wife. But who is deputized to save my lord his life?
75
ROLFE
{in disgust) The session has chosen Sir Samuel Argall, In spite of France's frown when he spoiled Her forward footing in New France, And sacked her market at Mount Desert.
Lady Delaware (laughing) That is because his wife is, like your own, a witch; She is not royal, but she's cousin to Lord Rich !
Pocahontas Was Captain Argall married, then?
Lady Delaware O, yes! She sent him out into Virginia first, To get her fill of gold; her lips are always pursed! She's going now herself to try to quench her thirst.
Pocahontas {turning to Tomocomo, who is filling his pipe.) He was the great white naked bear.
Tomocomo He will turn to many little Bears, and over-run Our Country.
{He lights his pipe, pointing to the earth, sky, four winds, in ceremony.)
ROLFE
And our reputation is taking root Like the use of our young tobacco.
Lady Delaware Indeed it is ! I never saw such pomp and state Accorded to a woman, as the Bishop's fete. 76
ROLFE
(to Pocahontas) We're upon our return Plow Monday, If the wind will about to blow us away.
(Archie comes from the Banqueting -House; he wears "a long tawny coat, icith a red cap, and a flute at his girdle — carrying a song-book," as Jonson directs.)
Archie
His majesty has spread his court like a peacock's tail, and is waiting to receive the presentation of the Nonparella of Virginia (bowing to Pocahon- tas.)
Lady Delaware I will present you, then; although you wear no
ruff. You've feathers in your hair; one, two, three —
just enough !
(They go out.) Shadow your eyes by hand, and kneel as at a
matin, And when you can, throw in a word of Greek or
Latin —
(When Lady Delaware, Pocahontas, and Rolfe have gone into the Banqueting-House, Archie pours himself a cup of wassel.)
Archie A Merry Wee Christmas, senator !
TOMOCOMO
They have told me that already.
Archie His majesty's wit is wool-gathering! (He starts to drink when he sees Tomocomo puff out smoke.)
Archie St. Mary!
"Scotland's burning! Scotland's burning! Look out! Look out ! Fire! fire! fire! fire! Pour on wassel!
Pour on wassel ! {He pours his cup on the face of Tomocomo.)
TOMOCOMO
(in disgust) In a town, someone is foolish.
Archie If the three wise kings themselves were here tonight to claim their Twelfth-Cake, instead of only the first fool of state, they would have put you out too, dearie!
Tomocomo When Michabo was among us He gave pipes to wampum-wearers For an enemy to sickness; That is why we smoke tobacco! (He smokes.)
Archie If that is the case, I will sifllicate his majesty to give me a patent to sell these pipes to the court. It would be more profitable than making it laugh, as a preventive against catching the smallpox!
Tomocomo Single men should smoke a little; Men with one should smoke a good deal ; Men with two should smoke a great deal; I have three ! (Puff, puff, puff, puff, puff.) 78
Archie (refilling his cup.) Weel, I need not drink fire. His majesty has promised that I shall live until I have read the Bible through (drinks).
TOMOCOMO
(craftily) You should never finish reading.
Archie Uncle, your eyes are open. What did you think of our masque?
ToMOCOMO
I have nothing more to say now.
Archie And the performance cost 400 pounds, and rushes for rehearsal, rosemary and bays! But perhaps you did not understand the poet's device. (Sits) You see, the masquers, ten in number were led singing in, in a string, by Cupid — the boy attired in a flat cap, and a prentice's coat, with wings at his shoulders, who forgets his part; — they marched about to martial music; here they dance; and after the going-out there is to be an epilogue.
(He drinks; the clock strikes twelve.)
ToMOCOMO
(startled) What has happened?
Archie
(laughing) 79
That is only Captain O'Clock, who dwells in the little sentry-box on the wall, moss-trooper (points).
TOMOCOMO
Do you never feed the captain?
Archie He lives on time; he swallows minutes, bites hours, and chews years.
ToMOCOMO
Do you know what he was saying?
Archie
I will tell you the clock; at six, he said, "Now- put-the-ket-tle-on ! — " which was done, as you see (pointing to the bowl). At ten, he said, " Now-all-good-peo-ple-hur-ry -home-to-bed ! — " which is done, as you hear (pointing to Banqueting- House, where the laughter of courtiers is heard). And just now, he said, " All-ghosts-pop-up-from your-graves-like-Jack-in-the-box ! " which will be done, as you know, as it is midwinter midnight.
(The dance-music begins again; they stand in the doorway of the Banqueting-House.)
Archie How graciously his majesty is commoning with the Nonparella! (He goes out. Tomocomo cuts more notches.)
Tomocomo (breaking his stick) Count tlie stars that shine above them ! Count the leaves upon their oak-trees ! Count the sands upon their seashore !
80
(He stands gloomily watching the dancers. Smith comes in from the left and goes to the bowl and fills a cup.)
Smith The moon outside is colder than a tomb ! (drinks)
Captain Smith !
TOMOCOMO
(turning)
Smith (perceiving him) Lord Tomocomo! Here's to your red health!
(drinks) But where is your Lady Rebecca Rolfe?
Tomocomo She is dancing with your weroance (pointing).
Smith (sitting) A little different from the masquerade She once devised and led for my diversion; She tied a pair of deer's horns on her head, And came a-rushing from amongst the trees, And crowded, pressed, and hung about my neck, Crying most tediously, "Love you not me? Love you not me?'— (He laughs.)
(Tomocomo hollows, shaking his lips with his fingers between them. The dance-music stops. Pocahontas runs in from the Banqueting-House. Tomocomo goes out quietly at the left.)
Smith (rising)
81
A Merry Little Christmas, Lady Rebecca! {She turns from him in a passionate manner.)
Smith This is a cold and modest salutation! You cannot have forgotten Captain Smith, Who spent Epiphany before with you At Werowocomoco ! It was I That wrote the queen recording of your merit Worthy a prince's understanding, lest You think us guilty of ingratitude. I told her you could speak the English tongue!
Pocahontas They all did tell me you were dead; I knew no otherwise till now.
Smith (laughing) I have been shipwrecked on the coast of France, Where Lady Chanoyes well assisted me, And I returned to find my countrymen Had buried me amongst the foreigners. But I lived to see myself upon the stage, Where my chief dangers and most interesting Passages have been wracked in tragedies.
Pocahontas And are you going home with us?
Smith No; I have promised the Plymouth Company To charge New England at the wind's command. I reasoned with Lord Delaware just now; There is no calling for me to Virginia; I am your sword-dancer of Epiphany, 82
That drags the plow in, with the shaggy fool Behind to pass a hat around for largess !
Pocahontas But — O, my father!
Smith Lady Rebecca, the pet lioness Of all our very best society, Should never call a simple soldier "father;" I fear the jealous humor of the court !
Pocahontas You never were afraid to come In Our Country, and strike a fear Into everyone but me; And are you here afraid to let me Call you father? You shall call me Child, for I will be forever Of your kindred and your country !
Smith Well, I am glad to hear it Poahontas ! I wanted your advice and furtherance.
Pocahontas I will do anything I think Would pleasure you, my father.
Smith {embarrassed) I never framed the picture of a wife Until the night you rescued me from death; Then was I conquered, who have conquered kings.
Pocahontas Why did you never say this before? 83
Smith I wanted first to rescue her myself; I would have done it, but my hope was blasted; And in my convalescence here at home I still talked to my friends about the child, Till one described her fairly in "Miranda."
Pocahontas We saw the "Tempest" yesterday.
Smith And now that she is visiting in England, I must find out if she will marry me.
Pocahontas Do you not know she is a wife?
Smith (surprised) I only heard that you were safe at Jamestown!
Pocahontas She has been married for three years.
Smith But she can break this marriage, if she will, And come to map New England out with me! She is a natural in character, For all her English education.
Pocahontas And Powhatan would give another Wife to him; if she were gone!
Smith She cannot love a man like that! With bones In his cheeks, and with a wild look in his eyes I 84
{Pocahontas looks surprised.) Your pardon, Pocahontas — he is your brother!
My brother?
Pocahontas
Smith (anxiously) It was Nantaquas, was it not, that she Was half-engaged to? Why obscure your face?
Pocahontas Your London waters ray eyes, my father!
Smith They used to call me father of Virginia That never had a mother; I had rather Become the husband of Virginia Dare.
Pocahontas {uncovering her face) Harry Spelman is her husband.
Smith The interpreter? He changes everything!
{After a moment) Well, it is nearly daylight, I am sorry The suddenness of my departure puts it Out of my power to do you any service. Good-bye, then, Pocahontas!
Pocahontas But that is not my real name.
Smith Good-bye, then — I've forgotten what it was {sm,iles).
85
Pocahontas My real name is Amonata.
Smith Good-bye, then, Amonata!
Pocahontas Good-bye, my father!
(Smith goes out of door at left. After a few moments Lady Delaware and Archie come in from the Banqueting-House) .
Archie Your exit has cut off the fiddler's head, Lady Rebecca !
Lady Delaware Will you come back again and watch our going- out?
(She leads Pocahontas out; Archie follows; the music begins again.)
(curtain)
End of Act IV EPILOGUE
(Before the curtain.)
ROLFE
"It pleased God, at Gravesend, to take this young lady to his mercie, where she made not more sorrow for her unexpected death than joy to the beholders to heare and see her make so religious and godly an end. — " — John Rolfe.
End of the Pageant 86
OCT
1912
._ .. 'f iti'-^ % '^ «i M ■* m I *!«« M .« ;:* .;f rf <4' :'i A ri n 4 h
i. t 1. .*!. A <- € vl- -^ ,f -.{t -'^ <i M jC *t '* -^4 ':! :i4 '^i "(i
5 ■:i .1*: .^t -t :^ >4 n
1 -3 -I %
M?J .-Vi sd
|
^M : |
a >i |
|
.. :.: f . |
|
|
i.M % -t |
|
|
■"'(. |
ii t f f" |
|
*f '"'1 |
-H'...'ir .c f . |
|
vf^ ' |
'(! ^f ^? '^Ij ^;l' p «! |
|
r ■■ \« |
i4- . ":( ■ u .; 4 y. ^' ^v |
|
f ■ ■ |
-•: ■: V ^. -^^ • |
|
-. :; '. . I .t |
|
|
fT'^^f |
m m f ,-* '^ |
|
' f .* IS '.^^ |
|
|
V ;:^ ■ ^^' ^t |
i!^S Vll .W
ti t't( ly
q ■ ^^- ^f- ... '-i\ "m ^e
^ ■ J.
f -.if :f m M~ -t m:^-i , ■
>f iff C f .C.«-ff ^ • ^rm '€ €t -4^ n Jl A ■
■1 :f
,4 ,:'t ;^
•fe ft h y &• h ' 1^ b h t-' 1- ft' ii h
%> %i' p^ ^ ^ !•' J, >■ I, ^ I p' % P- f . f t f T> P" f f- t '
|
^■■■1 IIHI^B |
■ ■ ■ |
|
|
■ ■ |
||
|
^^H ^Hl |
||
|
'K' |
■ ■ |
|
|
■ |
||
|
■ ■ |
||
|
■ ■ |
i |
|
|
'^ ^^^v ^^^^B |
||
|
r |
B.' ^1 |
|
|
W' |
r r:
Iji Till fe |» •{/. ))• 1-
^^.' Ji^i-^'ji
ro^ r- , (•' {• , i, "f, 1% 1-- 1% f, f , - ,
(- -KL t f- r» fir ' r: ^
:.:m M.M.. '^.^f M ^4 :A .'t M .^i :M.M .n ' <^t --f ^^ --it -i .'€ ^ ^ 4 -^^
4 ^1. -^t 4 Aji '^- "^ f -T -T
•-: -.^ 4 ^f c>4 -A "C -^J^ ^
|
"IB! |
■ ■ ■ ■ |
I ■1 |
^ -a "^f ■-•[.
;r'^'^ '-a i^ '<i^
f ^f 1
.■ ,: '-■} -U '■; • ,, C.I .ft, -a -I