University of Virginia Library

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.