Scene II
(The banks of the Ouithlacoochee. Alarums
without. Enter Indian Warriours commanded
by Osceola.
Osceola
Rejoice, brave Warriours! for the day is ours!
During the battlement the cries abroad,
Rending the columns of sulphurous smoke,
As through the gorge—like vista soared the souls,
Where looked they back upon destruction near,
But tempest-towering took them to the sky;
While those who had not perished in the fight,
Lay calling out for Mercy—but their cries
Were unavenged for Mercy did not come.
But Miccanopy came, that old Top Chief—
The good old governor of the Lake of Swans—
Who meeting their brave general front to front,
Stood up before him there with eyes of fire,
As if to see which one should die the first,
When gathering fury from the panting pause,
As clouds collect their lightnings in the sky—
The brave old Miccanopy laid him low!
But while they thus contended—after all
Were slain—away fled Glory from the Field,
Bearing her white-winged daughter, Hope, with her—
And dashing down her laurels at our feet,
Left Indian Victory trampling them to dust!
On—on, brave Warriours! for another fight!
(Exeunt omnes.)
