University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Montmorenci; (Montcalm's Camp.) Montcalm, Levi, and Bougainville, in a Tent.
Bougainville
to Montcalm.
So it seems Sir, the Britons demanded
The town and garrison of Quebec, and
Have sent three young Gen'rals with eight thousand
Troops on the sleeveless errand?

Montcalm.
Being this day, with some others, at the
Governor's conven'd, I heard the British
Officer when he made the proud demand,
Which we rejected with disdain, and sent
Him back with such a message to their camp,
As will give their enterprising boasted
Wolfe, but little pleasure.
On our refusal, he denounc'd rough war,
And threaten'd devastation to the town
And garrison:—
And by a prisoner we have taken,
We learn that they intend shortly to storm
Us in our trenches.

Bougainville.
These Britains wou'd be thought invincible,
And dream of nothing else but asking for
Our forts, our towns and garrisons, as if
The mention of their names had a magic
Charm in it! wou'd waste our troops! and batte
Down our walls! but they're mistaken!
Whene'er they land at Montmorenci, let
Us from our trenches pour down upon them,
And shouting loud as Niagara's steep
Cataract, with the like rapidity,
Bear all down before us: leave the straggling
Offals of destruction, as delicious
Morsels for our savages! and scourge the
Insolence of their young leaders!

Montcalm.
Be not too rash, good Sir.
We must not give them battle on the plain,
Nor carry on offensive war:
Tho' young their leaders, and their troops but few,
Their monarch, and their Minister, are too
Sagacious to be deceived in this so
Critical a choice! (no Pompadour rules there.)
What'er their years, and muster roll, are found
Deficient in, depend upon it, 'tis
Over balanc'd well, by intrepidity
Of soul! active resolution! a firm
Contempt of danger! and well try'd vet'ran
Service!

Levi.
Lead we not better troops than they?
Besides, our numbers, bating savages,
Are full four thousands more; we've every male
Inhabitant within the town to back
Us, they are some thousands; why shou'd we then
Within our trenches sculk, as if afraid
To meet them in the open field? rather
Let us run them down by numbrers! and as
The lordly lion serves the foremost hunters,
When they press upon him, spurn them to a
Knowledge of themselves! who fancy how they
Rise superior to the common rank of
Men! or else let us make them in a forc'd
Retreat, precipitate themselves into
The sea!

Montcalm.
Rather than dream of driving them before
Us, like a tim'rous flock of sheep, let us
Prepare to stand their furious charge, when they
Like rav'nous wolves, o'erleaping sheep-folds, shall
Mount our breast-works; and plunge into our trench!
Which if they shou'd, they will not fail to make
Us feel their mortal gripe!
I can repose but little confidence
In open field, in the rabble thousands
Of Quebec, and less in all our savage
Bands; the former, at the first onset will
Break and run; and the latter, before the
Roar of British thunder, and the bright blaze
Of northern steely death, flee horror struck!
And yelling, from the field.

Bougainville
to Montcalm.
You seem enamour'd, Sir, with Britain's troops,
And to forget the worth and bravery of your own.

Montcalm.
Pardon me, Monsieurs;
I am not guilty of so gross a fault:
I know the worth and bravery of our troops;
And only speak th' opinion of the world
Concerning our foes; their own atchievements
Loudly speak the same!—
(Waving the exploits of all former days)
Look back in our own time to Fontenoy's
Well fought! hard earn'd! and dreadful field to France!
(And that Te Deum'd field of Dettingen!)
Nay, bring the prospect nearer, and look back,
To Louisbourg, (smoking yet in ruins!
The horrid marks of the joint well temper'd
Rage, of their Ulyssean Amherst, and
Pelidean Wolfe!) There art! and nature!
And the blustering ocean, join'd t'obstruct
Their landing! yet, with what an amazing
Intrepidity did they come on! and
Plunge amidst the foaming surges on the
Shore! choosing wat'ry death, amidst the fire
Of thousands there intrench'd! rather than be
Thought tardy in the race of honour!

Bougainville.
But what avails all this, concerning these
British forces at present, come against
Quebec?

Montcalm.
To put us more serious on our guards.
They're the same victorious corps and leaders!
This same young Gen'ral headed them! and with
A martial skill, and undaunted fury,
Spurr'd them on to glory! so that by his
Example fir'd, an ardor ran thro' the
Ranks, quick as so many trains of powder
Blaze, when touch'd by the match, and rous'd them to
Such enthusiastic rage! no obstacle
Cou'd stop the rapid progress of their troops!

Levi.
All this is granted, Sir:
But I presume the case at present chang'd:
At Louisbourg, they had twice their present
Number, and then we sent not all our troops
To obstruct their descent; but if we now
Include our savage friends, we number twice
Their troops; our twelve thousand regulars are
Veteran French, and have been often try'd
Thro' the continent; we, ourselves, have seen
Each other try'd in battle; why shou'd we
Then not meet them in the field?

Montcalm.
That my resolves, and arguments, do not
Proceed from any backwardness to fight,
I to yourselves appeal.—

Bougainville.
Of that we must acquit you, Sir.
We know your courage and ability;
But fain wou'd have your private reasons for
Your resolutions.

Montcalm.
Hear me then with patience.
That we, I think, will stand the test, is put
Beyond dispute: That we have good and well
Train'd veteran troops I likewise grant, and
Thousands more than they; but our success must
Be the chiefest hinge, on which the affairs of
Canada must turn: This barrier pass'd,
They'll sweep onward like an inundation!
And overwhelm each Gallic settlement
In undistinguish'd ruin! and as the
Event of war was ever dubious, and
Numbers have not always conquer'd Englishmen;
Why shou'd we give them equal battle, and
Throw all at stake upon th' uncertain chance?

Levi.
I see no need to fear the coming to a battle.

Bougainville.
Nor can I doubt of matching them, when hand
To hand engag'd: Eight thousand may begin
Th' attack, and break the fury of their most
Impetuous charge; shou'd these be repell'd,
A corps de reserve of four thousand men,
By all our rough Indian tribe assisted,
May soon recover that first disorder,
Help them to rally, and with new spirits,
Face the foe: or at least they'll cover their
Retreat (in safety) to their trenches: Then
Shall we prove ourselves true sons of Mars, and
Wipe away the scandal of a dastard name.

Montcalm.
Our bus'ness here is to preserve Quebec,
And with as little loss as possible;
And if from numbers we may hope success,
Let us remain intrench'd, and make th' event
More certain. The sea now swarms with English
Men of war, who intercept our transports,
And our royal fleets, therefore we can have
But little hope of a supply of men
From France: As for our invading foes, all
Their attacks must be with loss attended:
They're few already, and their troops will thin:
Perhaps being harrass'd, sickness may ensue,
And they'll grow weary of the tardy siege:
Then, when their spirits shall be most depress'd,
Rush we'll on them with our united force:
Beat up their sickly camp! and make them take
A bloody farewell! by which means, we shall
Preserve our troops, our honours, and Quebec.

Bougainville.
On cool reflection, I now see plainly,
What before did nor occur: Since we are
The continental bulwark, and with us,
Quebec must stand or fall, I do submit
To lie before its walls, and only act
On the defensive side; since through our troops
A passage must be cut into the town.

Levi
to Montcalm.
To your superior judgment I submit,
And well applaud the plan of operation.
This method may perhaps be better than
Pitch'd battles, where one chance blow, a signal
Misapply'd, or a word misunderstood,
May turn the sway of action, subvert the
Best concerted schemes, and fling a conquest
Into the arms of those, who waited but
The signal to desert the field: And all
The world allows, that warlike arts and skill
Mature, (with policy apply'd) to save
The men, and gain the cheapest victories,
(If not the first qualifications, they
Are) to personal bravery, the next
Best requisite in any General.

Bougainville
to Montcalm.
I've nothing to object Sir;
To your opinion I'm entirely won.

Montcalm.
Be it our chiefest care then to protract
The siege, and save our men; Behind us lies
Montreal, against which place, I learn the
Gallant and experienc'd Amherst, their
Sage prime chief, 'gainst Louisbourg, is in full
March, with near ten thousand forces, and with
Fierce Wolfe, no doubt, intends a junction; but
In all human probability, they
Never can surmount each obstacle, and
Soon enough arrive with their expected
Aid: But shou'd that reinforcement come, the
Less our present loss, and harrassment now
Is, the better we shall then receive them.

Bougainville.
Let us dam up th' entrance into Quebec;
No landing place lies near the threaten'd town,
And practicable, but Montmorenci's
Strand, below our camp, which place we'll guard full
Well, and render inaccessable, as
Art, and warlike terrors can.—
In these Northern climes, the winter will come
On apace, and frustrate ev'ry hostile
Plan; their thin remains (the baffled refuse
Of repeated skirmishes) will then return
With disappointed hopes, and sullen shame.

Montcalm.
But when they land, let us be well prepar'd
For their reception; for they'll compel us
To believe their leaders fierce! and all their
Forces brave!

[Exeunt omnes.