Scene II
(Miccanopy's cottage. Enter Miccanopy to Ostenee).
Miccanopy
Where is the traitor? Show me where he is!
Brave coward! Miccanopy hates thee now!
Ostenee
Hold, father! thou hast stung me to the heart!
Miccanopy
I meant my words should poison all thy soul!
False, like the Serpent that is numbed with cold,
Stinging the hand that brings it to the fire!
So thou hast bitten him who gave thee life!
Thou art no longer Miccanopy's son!
Thy father hates thee as he does black Hell!
Ostenee
Wert thou to send thine arrows through my heart,
The wound would be less mortal than thy words!
Miccanopy
May the deep festering wound be never healed!
The Eagle never roosts with meaner birds—
He has no friendship for the Coward Hawk
That sits all day upon the high tree top,
Watching his glory with an envious eye.
Thy father rends thee, henceforth, from his heart!
Ostenee
I tell thee, father, fearless as thou art,
Thy fiery heart had frozen to coldest ice,
Hadst thou but seen what I beheld.
Miccanopy
Away! or Miccanopy has no son!
Ostenee
No, let me fight by Osceola's side,
And in the battle try my hand again,
Or, let me lie down in the Lion's den;
Or, suffer five long Moons of banishment;
Or, die ten thousand other living deaths,
So that the coward Ostenee can have
The brave old Miccanopy's love again.
Miccanopy
Then take this dagger—Miccanopy's hand
Did use it long before thy birth! 'tis sure!
And never fails against the White-Man's heart!
And when Naymoyah looks upon thy face,
Bid her remember that when winter comes,
The Wild Rose cannot blossom on its own stalk,
But must be grafted on the Indian Stem.
Bring back that traitor or his head! Away!
Or Miccanopy's curse be on thy soul!
(Exeunt).
