University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

A Nunnery, a Lady Abbess, and Two Nuns.
Lady Abbess.
Oh how welcome seems the returning day,
After this night of horrors!—

1st Nun.
[crossing herself]
Blessed Mary defend us, from all the
Threat'ning dangers of the succeeding night!

2d Nun.
[crossing herself]
May all the holy angels, and host of Saints, be our protection this day; and the
Ensuing days, until our army drives
The enemies away.

Lady Abbess.
Heav'nly Father!— [crossing herself.]

Such another night, for all the world I
Wou'd not choose to pass!—
Amidst the displosion of our own guns
In the garrison, (so near us) and the
Continual discharge from Point Levi, and
The British ships, of mortars and cannon,
The city seem'd to reel; nay, the very
Ground trembled under us! whilst the whole air
Felt one unintermitted shock; and in
The undulating space, long hung the hoarse
Growling sound, like distant thunder.

1st Nun.
Good heav'ns!—
How dreadful was the scene within our walls!
Deban'd the cheering company of the
More intrepid sex, to sooth our souls and
Calm our fears, each sister gave herself for lost!

2d Nun.
How shocking thro' the gloom of night, wou'd the
Discharge of their artill'ry, and mortars,
Flash like lightning, against our walls, and gleam
Horrible thro' the long range of all our
Cells! and then to raise us from the trembling
Stupor into which the sight had thrown us,
Instantly, the terrific roar roll'd over head!

1st Nun.
Methinks I yet hear the battering of
The balls! and see the shells, (like meteors)
With their flaming tails, descending thro' the air!

Lady Abbess.
The shrieking sisterhood, (like a flock of
Frighten'd doves, trembling! and scatt'ring from an
Eagle sousing down) oft as they heard the
Warning voice; a shell! or flight of shells! in
Doleful accents pierce their ears, or saw the
Flaming show'r aloft, fell prostrate! kneel'd! and
Pray'd! or ran almost each a different
Way, as fear suggested; seeking shelter,
And dubious of th' event!—and from our
Apartments, as they burst around us, broke
Forth a terrifying scream!—

1st Nun.
To this without our walls, in a dismal
Concert, rung the groans, and cries, of dying
People!—Houses tumbling into ruins!—
Or perishing in flames:—Fearful mothers,
With their children crying, and thronging in
Heaps; not knowing where to fly for present
Security, and calling loud on all
The saints for help.

Lady Abbess.
Alas! in vain!—
For over head would rise another show'r
Of shells, and send them screeching headlong to
A distant spot!—many too slowly fled;
For death, with unrelenting haste, follow'd
At their heels, and as a peasant cuts thro'
A grassy meadow, so he mow'd down the
Crowd!—

2d Nun.
Oh terrible!—if they shou'd take the city!
And we shou'd fall into the hands of these
Rough Englishmen!

1st Nun.
I'm shock'd at the thought!—

2d Nun.
The very idea harrows up my
Soul!—
And darts a tremor thro' every nerve!—

Lady Abbess.
I hope it will not happen as you fear,
We have all the saints on our sides, to pray
For us; the bold General Montcalm, (who
Has often beat them) and twelve thousand French
Soldiers, with a Canadian militia,
And some thousands of Indians, to fight for
Us, and they are not half our number.

2d Nun.
But still my good Lady they may beat us;
And then alas what may we expect will
Be the consequence!

1st Nun
to Lady Abbess.
Our Confessors, Father Dominic, and
Father Francis, have told us strange things.

Lady Abbess.
Perhaps our good fathers were a little
Too rash in forming their judgments, or were
Misinform'd. What their whole nation is, I
Cannot say; but I'm told by a Lady,
Who was at Louisbourg when taken by them,
That the officers behaved with the greatest
Civility and politeness to all,
But in a more peculiar manner, to
The religious Ladies, and orders, of
All sorts; kept the strictest decorum in
The town, among their soldiers, and stuck most
Honourably to their capitulation,
Injuring none, after the deliv'ry
Of the forts and town.

1st Nun
to Lady Abbess.
I'm greatly shock'd at what our Confessors
Have told us!

Lady Abbess.
My dear children, discard these fears: I hope
The Governor will not give up the town;
But if he should, let this calm all our doubts:
These are the men, who treated their captive
Enemies with so much humanity
And good manners at Louisbourg.

2d Nun
to Lady Abbess.
How know you that, Madam?

Lady Abbess.
From the same Lady, who inform'd me of
Their former behaviour. I trust we're safe
From personal insult: for where the true
Spirit of brav'ry inspires the breast of
Any Commanders in Chief, a manly
Generosity accompanies it;
And they'll keep the troops under then command,
In good order and discipline,

2d Nun.
Heav'n hear my pray'r and grant they may!
For I'm almost at my wit's end!—

Lady Abbess.

[Exeunt omnes.

SCENE II.

Point Levi: Wolfe solus, in his Tent.
The hour is near; and swift upon the wings
Of time the minute rides, pregnant with fate!
And full of dread decision; whether we
Rout them from their fortify'd entrenchments,
Or retreat with loss from Montmorenci,
The purple bed of honour will this day
Be throng'd with British worthies.

[Enter an Officer.]
Sir all the forces are embark'd, the ships
Are station'd for their cover, both officers
And men are in high spirits, and all seem
To be resolutely ready to force
The Gallic lines, and make their landing good.

Wolfe.
The lover pining in the absence of
The fair inchantress of his heart, ne'er felt
Such a flood of joy rush in upon his
Soul, when she returning, charms his ears with
The well known accents of her tongue, as I
Now feel, to hear the welcome tale;—which tale,
Has rous'd me to the onset, and kindled
Ev'ry martial sentiment within my
Soul, I go, at honourable Freedom's
Call. To fight my country's battle.

[Exeunt.
[Curtain falls, thunders, and a discharge of artillery, and small arms, drums beating, and a shout of battle. Curtain rises, and discovers Capt. Ochterlony and Lieut. Peyton, lying wounded among several dead soldiers; Mr. Peyton's leg shatter'd near his knee; he being armed with a fusee, and a dagger. Drum beats a retreat.]
Enter a Serjeant, and some Grenadiers as retreating.
Soldier.
O! dismal sight of grief! here wounded lie
Our Captain and Lieutenant!

Serjeant.
We'll bear them off, tho' thousands dam the pass.
[Speaking to Ochterlony, and reaching him his hand.
Rise worthy Sir, and on my back ascend;
Proud as a miser bears his load of pelf,
Forth rushing from a house inwrapt in flame,
My willing shoulders shall sustain your weight;
Thro' crimson floods, and numbers of the slain:
Another will your good Lieutenant take;
The rest all opposition shall defy,
'Till we in safety shall depose our charge,
Rescu'd from death, and far from scalping foes.

Ochterlony.
My gen'rous men, I ever thought you brave,
And worthy of the fame our troops have gain'd;
I feel I have my mortal wound receiv'd,
Should I retard your quick retreat, you're lost:
I am not therefore worth the hazard of
Your lives, which yet may be of service to
Your country, and in future days revenge
My fall. Here let me lie, in painful joy,
Reflecting on my soldiers proffer'd love;
But bear the gallant Peyton from the field,
I know his valour, and I love the man!
Perhaps the foe may one day feel his worth,
And you his gratitude.

Soldiers.
We'll take you likewise, Sir.

Ochterlony.
Soldiers, no more: I will not hazard lives
So precious to Great-Britain, and my King;
Nor at so great a price, will dearly buy
A few short painful useless moments here:
But oh! fulfil my last my best request!
Preserve my friend; defend his precious life;
And bear him safely hence!

[Ochterlony reclines on a dead body. Soldiers move towards Mr. Peyton.
Peyton.
Stand off soldiers! nor think to take me hence,
O can! can I bear the cruicating thought!
How shall I when amongst our troops arriv'd
E'er cast a look of warm reflection back,
And in idea see my gallant friend,
My Ochterlony! whilst alive forsook!
And by his Peyton too! Oh, then to see him
Drown'd in blood! by savage foes incircled,
Screaming aloud th' infernal yell of joy:
Then see the tomax sink into his head;
His body mangled; and his scalp torn off.
Whilst he perhaps is vainly calling on
His absent friend!—
No Peyton near, to dart like lightning on
Them! and with remorseless amicable
Fury, tread them down among their kindred
Fiends below!

Serjeant.
Consider, Sir, reject not timely aid,
Tho' fractur'd be your bone, vigor remains,
And youth, and time may give that part new strength;
Besides you yet may serve your country.

Peyton.
Serjeant, thou spok'st a dagger to my heart:
For safety, and for life, my country calls,
Then who shall Ochterlony save! pausing a little.

It is resolv'd:—and here will I remain.
[Speaking now in a commanding tone.
Soldiers, with speed retreat while yet you may!

Serjeant.
Farewel, ye brave and much lov'd officers;
We'd gladly bear you hence, and with our lives
At stake defend you both, wou'd you consent;
But here we can no longer safely stay,
Our duty to our country calls us hence;
For from their lofty trenches like a flood,
The Frenchmen pour o'er Montmorenci's field,
And like grim furies from th' infernal coast,
The cruel savage bands are straggling round.

[The Indians yell.]
Hark!
They yell the transport which they'll soon enjoy
Amidst the scalping scene! we promise this,
Our friends once more rejoin'd, we'll rouze them to
Avenge your cause.

[Exeunt soldiers.

SCENE III.

Manent Ochterlony and Peyton.
Ochterlony.
Oh, my dear Friend, e'er 'tis too late, be gone.
Peyton, persuade me not, for I am fixt as fate!
Watchful and fierce, as is the dragon said
To stand, and guard the bright hesperian tree;
So will I guard thee from the savage foes:
Perhaps some foe of manly sentiment,
By Providence directed, may approach;
At least, before I die, amongst the scalpers
I'll spread a gloomy scene of slaughter, and
Fall with thee amidst a glorious ruin!

[An Indian yell, Ochterlony attempts to rise, and Peyton begins to load his fusee; the scene closes in the mean time.

SCENE IV.

Enter Captain Macdonald, with a party of Highlanders, and a dead body.
Macdonald.
Yonder I see an English officer,
Towards him speeds a band of savages;
He seems design'd to stand on his defence,
Too great the odds!—
Three thither haste, and to his rescue fly!
[Exeunt three Highlanders with drawn swords.
Now onward with our fallen friend.

[Exeunt omnes.
Re-enter three Highlanders, with drawn swords, and Mr. Peyton on one of their shoulders, with his fusee.
Peyton.
Soldiers, I thank you for this timely rescue:
To what officer owe I this obligation?

First Highl.
Capt. Macdonald, of Fraser's battalion,
Whose frown against the French nerves all our arms
With strength, and edges every sword, to hew
Him out the path to glory; he sent us:
We flew with pleasure to your aid, and flesh'd
Our steel in every scalper we could reach.

[An Indian yell, they all face about, and Peyton claps his fusee to his shoulder. The Indians halt.
Peyton.
Dare they not come! then bear me onward:
For ambuscade and murder only fit;
They ne'er cou'd face th' uplifted glitt'ring steel,
Nor stand the light'ning of an English eye.

[Exeunt omnes.

SCENE V.

The Camp on Point Levi: Enter a Sea Officer, and a Caledonian Chief.
Sea Officer.
So Peyton is return'd? but Ochterlony's lost?

Caledon Chief.
That is not certain: Mr. Peyton says,
He saw him with a Frenchman, standing near
The breastwork, and therefore he has hopes.

Sea Off.
Heav'n grant his hopes are true.—
But tell me Sir, what pass'd while they remain'd
Upon the field of battle?

Cal. Ch.
Whilst Ochterlony's bleeding heart glow'd with
Undissembled love, (which none but friends can
Feel) and pour'd out salutary wishes
For his friend, Peyton, (like a bear growling
O'er her wounded whelp) was swallow'd up in
Friendly rage, and fiercely meditated
Great revenge, if any hand should rudely
Touch his Ochterlony.

Sea Off.
Well worthy they the names of soldiers and
Of friends:—What ensu'd?

Cal. Ch.
Not long they lay in pain, 'midst blood and carnage,
E'er two fell savages towards them came,
Whose cruel meins, and ireful eyes, declar'd
Their rugged souls ne'er felt a tender thought,
Join'd by a Gaul, as savage as themselves;
These wounded Ochterlony several times,
For he unfortunately was unarm'd,
And saw no friendly weapon in his reach,
With which to deal the Caledonian blow,
And like a dying lion, fall amidst
The slaughter of his hunters!

Sea Off.
Oh, barbarous and inhuman! to wound
A man at mercy, and a prisoner!—
But proceed.

Cal. Ch.
He of their outrage to his friend complain'd:
Quick as a spirit answers Merlin's call,
The magic found rous'd Peyton from the earth;
(Who in his friend's danger forgot his own:)
He frown'd in flame, and sent the leaden fate!
Death seiz'd a savage, and he groan'd his last!
His mate upon th' Hibernian quick advanc'd;
They both fir'd, both wounded were, yet both stood;
The savage flesh'd his bay'net in his side;
His fractur'd leg, and loss of blood forgot,
Peyton's left hand his next thrust parry'd well,
And flung wide off the sanguin'd point! whilst from
His side his right a dagger drew, so well
The bold Hibernian play'd the steel, he sheath'd
It in his cruel heart! and spurn'd the vanquish'd
Savage to the ground!

Sea Off.
You fill my mind with pleasing wonder!

Caled. Chief.
I tell you nought but truth; and more can add,
How French artillery on Peyton play'd,
Thund'ring applause, and roaring loud acclaim!
What further happen'd you already know.

Sea Off.
But think you not we made a fierce attack
Upon the French?

Caled. Chief.
We did indeed—and a horrid
Scene it was!
The bellowing engine of the skies began
To growl! o'er the summit of the hill a
Gloomy horror lowr'd! and down the clouds pour'd
Their liquid torrents, and sheets of sulph'rous
Flame; a prelude to that storm, which from the
French camp soon after roar'd in pond'rous show'rs
Of lead! High over-head th' æthereal
Fragors broke; against our front the Gallic
Artificial thunder roll'd! on ev'ry
Side our friendly infantry, and cannon,
Help'd to make the rattling concert up
(Cœlestial and terrestrial lightning mix'd.)
The French artillery, and small arms, swept
Whole platoons away, and cut wide lanes of
Carnage! among the landing troops and boats,
In flaming show'rs, the countless bombs came down,
And in displosion made promiscous havoc?
So that thro' floods of flame, and deluges
Of death, our men rush'd on to battle!

Sea Off.
And did like men full well acquit themselves:
As well they might, when they had such a bright
Example set by Monckton, Wolfe and Townshend,
To rouze a noble emulation in
Their souls; and their diff'rent corps were headed
By many other leaders brave, old in
Renown, and well accustom'd to look death
And danger in the face.

Caled. Chief.
We made the attack to let the Frenchmen see
We fear'd not death in any form, but might
As well have thought of plucking mountains up
By the roots, as of dragging Montcalm and
His troops per force, against their wills, out of
Their subterraneous caverns, or else, to
Speak more proper, from their lofty furrow'd
Precipices of the rocks, for trench on
Trench rose, dreadfully beyond each other,
And made a terrible gradation
In the hill, as if they meant to sleep with
Clouds for curtains to their deep entrenchments,
And doubted the common surface of the
Globe too low for safety.

Sea Off.
Our Gen'rals, at the disappointment, seem
Chagrin'd, but undismay'd, and wait with fierce
Impatience for an opportunity,
To wipe the mem'ry of this foil away;
When, as the sun blazes from an eclipse,
They may rise more terrible in a storm
Of vengeance, from this disaster, run their
Gloomy courses and set in Gallic blood.
I understand, as soon as possible,
They are resolved to storm the town, or force
Them to a battle distant from their trenches.

Caled. Chief.
These are the leaders for me, and these our
Country will revere.
Like the well-fed stallion in the stall, when
He scents the female, at th' alarm of war,
Their active souls grow restive; distain the
Bounds by nature circumscrib'd, wou'd break the
Stubborn dam, and thro' the battle wing their
Way, to wed dame honour in the bloody field.
We came not here to sleep our time away,
And then return, and than tell our friends we saw
Quebec and Montcalm's camp, from Levi's Point,
Made one attempt (which, like a flash of powder,
Vanish'd into smoke) and then grew tir'd of the siege,
[Looking on his watch.
Let us be gone, our duty calls, and that
Shou'd never be neglected by a soldier,
But especially on hostile ground.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VI.

Point Levi. Wolfe, Leonatus, Britannicus and two Caledonian Chiefs, sitting in a Tent.
Wolfe,
[with a letter in his hand, speaking and looking, as if partly reading the letter.]
Gentlemen;
From our worthy brother Amherst comes this
Advice; that as the distance 'twixt us is
So wide, and Montreal well garrison'd,
Dams up the road thro' which he needs must march,
And with his pow'r unaided, force a pass
Thro' their entrenchments, ambuscades, defiles,
And deep morrasses, must clamber rocks and
Hills, and thro' whole forrests hew, beset with
Savage nations, and French troops, possess'd of
Most advantageous posts; being well assur'd,
He of necessity must fight thro' all.
The congregated force of Canada,
E'er he can affect a junction with us;
He therefore thinks it necessary to
Inform us, 'twill be full late before he
Comes, if he arrives at all; especially
When he considers, how necessary
His presence is, where he now remains with
All his forces: He therefore recommends
Us to the care of Providence, trusting
In the goodness of our cause, and concludes
With strong assurance, he will join us if
'Tis practicable.

1st Cal. Ch.
If Sir Jeffery Amherst cannot join
Us with those gallant troops he leads (which we
Indeed cou'd wish) let us not waste the short
Liv'd season in fruitless wishes, and a
Distant war, or grieve because the French by
Us are not out-number'd; but let us, as
Has before been hinted, by some means gain
The Height of Abraham, and in Montcalm's
Sight invest their walls; no doubt 'twill rouze the
Frenchmen to a battle; and when they shall
Advance to fight, we will upon ourselves
Rely; and in our front shall march stern fate!
Sustain'd on either wing by gloomy terror!
Intrepidity shall head the main corps!
And bold resolution shall bring up the
Rear, and serve us in the stead of numbers.

Britann.
If Gen'ral Amherst joins us not, yet he
Will be of service to us, shou'd we be
Still compell'd to carry on the siege by
Slow degrees: He keeps in awe the inland
Pow'rs around, and is a curb on each fort,
And Canadian settlement the French have
Got: Full in the center of their diff'rent
Corps he lies, and like a couchant lion
In the path, fiercely waits to leap upon
His prey, shou'd they e'er dare attempt to join,
And Montreal seems terrify'd but at
The rumour of his near approach, from whence
We may expect they will detach no force
Against us.—But I'm for speedy work, and
Gallant actions, well becoming Englishmen.

2d Cal. Ch.
Let us strike some noble blow, and make an
Attempt worthy of ourselves, before a
Sickness seizes on our camp, or sluggish
Inactivity benumbs the spirits
Of our men.

Leonatus.
Tho' brave and experienc'd the Gallic
Commanders; veteran and more num'rous
Their forces, with all the advantages
On their side, of art and nature; such are
The officers we have with us, and such
The several corps they lead, on them I
Ground my eager hopes of victory, and
Dare to hazard all a soldier can hold
Most dear, both life and honour, on equal
Footing, in a close engagement with our
Enemies.

[Wolfe, &c. rising,
Wolfe.
Gentlemen!
I feel a mighty pleasure in my mind,
To see the forward dispositions of
Your souls, which I oftimes in our other
Leaders have observ'd likewise, nor do the
Soldiers seem to want th' ingredient
Necessary for my plan.—
This day I'll call a council, wherein I
Will propose (and doubt not but 'twill meet the
Wish'd-for approbation) that our army
Be e'er night embark'd in boats, with ev'ry
Necessary disposition for a
Battle, which boats shall row some miles beyond
Quebec, upon the tide, and when that tide
Returns, then wrapt in silence, and the gloom
Of friendly night, we'll gently downward glide
Upon the stream, and at the foot of that
Rough precipice, whose top communicates
With Abraham's Height, we'll land unseen, and
Up the stony steep we'll climb, 'till we have
Gain'd the level summit, and when Aurora
Ushers o'er the hills the car of day, all
Rang'd in order firm, and dread array of
War, we'll shout her such a welcome, as shall
Make Quebec's rocky base to tremble! and
Wake each Frenchman out of his lethargic
Dream of vain security!

Leonatus.
This project suits my disposition well:
Methinks I can already see both fronts
In battle join'd; and every soldier
Pressing onward to the goal of glory!
Now their white ensigns beaten down, are all
Restain'd with Gallic gore, and wear a purple
Dye! [recollecting himself]
the thought transported me.
But here upon my sword [drawing]
I swear [kissing it]
I from
That field will ne'er return, till victory
Is ours, or I'm borne off with bleeding marks
Of honour.—

Britannicus.
And on my sword [drawing his sword]
I swear [kissing it]
with heart resolv'd,
And resolution firm to struggle for
The palm of victory, and if we fail,
I'll not think life worth care, to save it by
A forc'd retreat.

First Caledonian Chief,
[drawing his sword.]
By this good blade I swear [kissing his sword]
which never prov'd
Unfaithful to my arm, nor fail'd me in
The greatest need; I'll put it once more to
The noblest test, and thro' the thickest ranks
Of Gauls, will hew my way victorious,
And make it blaze a bright example to
My corps, or fall that day, to be inroll'd
In future annals, among the worthy
Warriors slain on Abraham's Height.

Second Caledonian Chief,
[drawing his sword.]
I kiss [kissing his sword]
this burnish'd steel, in token of
My great reverence for a soldier's name;
And promise by my hope of future fame
In war, to make the foes of Britain feel
Its mortal weight; duty nerves my willing
Arm, and honour gives the blade an edge; with
This I'll strive to rouze my troops to action,
And at the head of my battalion rush
Towards Quebec, leading to conquest: But
If retain'd at bay, by groves of bay'nets,
And show'rs of shot, we bear not down the thick
Obstructing ranks of Frenchmen, retreat we'll
Scorn, deal death for death; and make them (as at
Fontenoy) purchase mournful victory.

Wolfe.
[drawing his sword.]
Mine be the task to ratify the whole:
I likewise swear [kissing his sword]
upon my sword, I'll hunt
For conquest in the face of danger;
If human resolution can effect
The same, vict'ry shall be ours: we'll ravish
Her my friends to-morrow! for if she's shy,
And seems about to quit us, we'll summon
All our manly strength, and fortitude of
Soul, arrest her forward steps, and pluck her
Back again; at least we can do this, earn
Honourable deaths, and fall amidst a
Monumental pile of glory, which we
Ourselves whilst living rais'd around us! and
Sampson like, drag with us to the grave whole
Cohorts of our foes!
For vanquish'd, I will never more return.
Montcalm! I come, arm'd with angry Britain's
Vengeance, to scourge European scalpers,
And Canadian savages, and stand
Thy rival in the fiercest shock of battle!

[Exeunt omnes.