University of Virginia Library

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.