Scene I
(Osceola's cottage at a distance. Enter Osceola thoughtfully).
Osceola
Eternal Sun! thou father of the Stars,
And husband of the Moon! I look upon
Thy majesty as on the face of God!
Thy glory fills the universe with light!
Thy presence turns the darkness into day!
When thou art in the Heavens, the earth looks glad!
The birds begin to sing—the ocean smiles—
The rivers laugh in song—the woods resound with melody!
The iron Oak lifts up its silver-shafted arms
To catch thy beams, as does some boy to drink
His father's smiles! The Spring, at thy beloved
Approach, lays down her carpet of rich green,
Spangled with million flowers of every hue,
Striped with the silver streams that wind along.
Among the tasseled Reed-Isles to the Sea!
Even Heaven looks happier gazing on thy face!
Now, then, as thou hast clothed thy Warriour-clouds
With golden armor—sent thy thunder-trump
To muster up thy bannered host afar through Heaven!
So shall my voice, from out my native Hills,
Gather my mighty squadrons on the field
For Battle.
(Enter Celuta from the cottage)
Where is Naymoyah now?
Celuta
Oh! ask me not, great Chief! the Eagle-Son
Of Miccanopy loves her well!
Osceola
He does.
The Hawk is on the wing; he will not spare
The Dove. When did you see her last?
Celuta
Last night
With Ostenee.
Osceola
Then she has sought his arms
To save her Selma's life. The Lake of Swans
Can show no whiter bred than she. But will
The Lightning spare the pine because its boughs
Moan in the winds?
Celuta
No, no, great Chief! But then
They say that Selma shall be burned tonight!
Osceola
The Seminolean Eagle said not so.
Celuta
But if he is released, will she not go?
And if Naymoyah go, this heart must break!
Celuta loves Naymoyah well! Say, will
She go?
Osceola
No—as the grape-vine clings around
The flowery Birch, so shall her arms take hold
Of thee. She has not left Celuta yet.
Celuta
Then let her fly with him—fly with her love—
And, in the sinless Solitudes lie down,
Till they can walk the rosy paths in peace.
Osceola
You know the world is dark without the Sun;
But it would be all day compared with her
Without her heavenly Selma's love. But hark!!
I hear young footsteps on the hills! She comes!
Behold! Naymoyah comes!
Celuta
She does! She does!
The Silver Swan comes to her Lake again!
(Enter Naymoyah. They embrace)
Swim on the bosom of Celuta's love,
And let her soul grow white to image back
Thy form!
Osceola
Naymoyah, Why art thou shedding tears?
Naymoyah
Oh! father! they have killed Naymoyah's love!
Where is my Selma? When is he to die?
Osceola
Tonight, at Banqueting of souls!
Naymoyah
Tonight!
Oh! father! let him not be burned tonight!
Celuta
No, Osceola! save Naymoyah's love.
Osceola
Fond daughter! he is Miccanopy's foe!
And Osceola would not have him false!
My child! I do not like those tears! Away!
Naymoyah
I tell thee, father, what I saw last night—
I saw the great High Spirit, in my dreams,
Walking upon thick clouds with eyes of fire!
And, as he passed, he seemed to say to me,
The very light that shines upon you now,
Shall roll but fifty times through Heaven, when all
In Ouithlacoochee's Vale shall pass away!
Osceola
Go, gentle daughter! get thee home again.
(Exeunt Naymoyah and Celuta into the cottage).
That dream has told me what my own soul knows.
But what the eyes of that fair child have seen,
That Osceola's soul shall never see!
The Earth cannot despise the mighty Sun,
Because his face is hidden by dark clouds;
Nor is the soul of Osceola less
The son of Outalissa, now its light
Is rising on the world to set in blood!
(Exit)
