The unpublished plays of Thomas Holley Chivers | ||
Scene IV
(The Council House. Col. Thompson, the Head Man of the Agency, in his seat. Enter Charley Emathla, followed by the Chiefs of the Nation, who arrange themselves on the seats around the Agent. Enter Osceola chained, followed by the Guard).Col. Thompson
In comfort with the White-man near? The land
He lives upon does not belong to him;
But it was ceded to the Whites by Spain.
Then why does Osceola thirst for blood?
Why not now ratify the treaty made
By Tuckasee Emathla, Chief of all
The great men of the Nation, long ago?
These questions shall be answered by the Chiefs
Who raised this mutiny among his Tribe.
Osceola
(rising)
What! shall this mighty spirit stoop to speak,
As chainless as the freedom of the sea,
And bound by mortal power? I will not speak!
My hands are chained!
Col. Thompson
They are—nor shall be loosed
Until you sign the Treaty made at old
Fort Gipson by the great men of your tribe.
Miccanopy
(rising)
An hundred summers of perpetual peace have rolled in glory over Miccanopy's head, making his green heart flourish like the mighty Oak that ripens in the woods. An hundred Winters, too, have
Col. Thompson
Will Osceola sign the Treaty now?
Miccanopy
(taking Osceola aside)
Yes, sign it with your hand, but not your heart!
(Aloud)
Oh! yes—the Treaty shall be signed!
Col. Thompson
Well said.
Unchain his hands. The Talk may now go on.
(The Soldiers unchain his hands)
Now, Osceola, if you have one word
To say, speak as the White-man's friend. Proceed.
Osceola
The hail of a thousand winters had fallen upon the Oak, but still it was the Monarch of the woods. It lifted up its mighty arms to Heaven, forgetful of the Lightning's blast, the Thunder's
Jumper
(rising)
The Bee that has gathered honey from the lowland Honeysuckle knows where to find that tender flower again. But if that flower should be taken away, it would have to seek for honey among strange flowers. The same way with us. If we should go into a strange land, we should not know where to find our food. The milk of a thousand hills has nourished me from youth. The hills are the breasts of my mother, the Earth. If you take the child away from its mother, it will die.
Col. Thompson
Is Osceola reconciled to go?
Osceola
If my lips were to utter what my heart does not feel, the honor of my heart would give the utterance of my lips the lie. I am a Red-Man, but my soul is white. A drop of water to a blind man's lips will taste as sweet as to one who can see. But if the White-Man give him gall to drink, will that taste sweet as sweetness from the Red-Man's hands. Oh! Oh! that the
Miccanopy
(taking Osceola aside)
The Tommahawk, that has been buried now a hundred years, shall be dug up again from rusting underneath the Tree of Peace. Then, after it is polished of its rust, it shall be buried in the White-Man's heart!
Col. Thompson
Will Osceola sign the treaty now?
Osceola
Oh! yes—the Treaty shall be signed.
Col. Thompson
Well said
Then take the paper—let him sign his name.
(They take the paper, hand it to him to sign, when he takes his dagger from his belt and stabs
Osceola
(exultingly)
This is the way that Osceola signs his name!
Col. Thompson
The Council may be broken up. Tomorrow we shall meet again.
Miccanopy
(aside to Osceola)
Now, as we part, look in his face and smile. The Lion steps the softest just before he kills the Fawn. Then shake him by the hand and smile. The Day must pass—the night will come. Remember what thy Chief has said. The Watchfire shall not blaze in vain!
Osceola
Let icy words hang on thy lips, even while the fires of Hell burn in thy heart!
(Miccanopy, Osceola, and Jumper shake hands with the Agent, then quit the Council, followed by all the rest, except Charley Emathla and Selma).
Col. Thompson
Saw you the scorn that sat enthroned upon his brow, writhing in frowns like lightning in some thunder cloud? That look betrayed determination.
Decision sat enthroned upon his brow
In awful dignity. Upon his lips
A writhing scorn triumphant played, as if
In concert with an agony within,
That restless grew for something to devour.
He is the Shadow of some mighty God—
Nay, if the very Gods were on the earth,
They would not look more like themselves, than is
This Seminolean Chief! Behold! they come!
(Violent yellings are heard from without. Reenter Osceola and Miccanopy with guns.)
Osceola
(to Col. Thompson)
Rejoice! for thou shalt die tonight! The Dead came to me in their winding sheets, last night, and said, The Calumet of Peace is gone! The Tommahawk is now dug up again! Rise up, my Osceola! and avenge my wrongs! I rose. The pale face of my murdered friend stood at the door. Speak not! The door of Hell shall be unlocked! The White-man will not chain me then! The hands that thou didst chain a few short hours ago, shall drag thee to the Desert, where the Wolf shall fatten on thy carcass, and the hungry Vulture peck thine eyes!
Miccanopy
(stepping up to Selma)
Ha! Miccanopy's boy. By yonder Big Light in the sky! thy soul shall dwell among the Stars tonight! Away! the Indian's Council shall decide thy fate!
(Exit Miccanopy bearing off Selma)
Osceola
(walking up to Charley Emathla)
Oh! thou dead Dog! who had the White-man's
heart, but wore the Indian's garb! I will
not stamp upon thee with my foot—for thou
art on the White-man's earth! I will not
honour thee with any thing but death—and
that thou hast! Thou art upon the cold earth
now, that was not colder than thy heart!
The Indian spurns thee as he would the faithless
dog! (Waling up to Col. Thompson).
But thou who hadst the Red-Man chained—who
caged the mightiest Eagle ever born on earth—
I tread upon thee—crush thee to the earth
that thou didst love!—for thou shalt perish
where the cattle tread—thy bones and all thy
(Exit as the curtain falls)
The unpublished plays of Thomas Holley Chivers | ||