Chapter X

Like heavy cloud, portending storm,
Slow rose Pamunky’s giant form;
And laying bow and war-club by,
On Powhatan he turn’d his eye,
And while the chiefs in silence hung
On every accent of his tongue,
With flashing eye and bearing bold
He thus the day’s adventure told.
‘Ere left the lark her grassy nest
‘To pour her song upon the air,
‘I call’d my warriors from their rest,
‘And bade them for the woods prepare.
‘Each one his stoutest war-club took,
‘And each his trustiest bow;
‘His hatchet above his girdle hung,
‘His scalping-knife below;
‘And well prepared for deadly fight,
‘If foes should cross our way,
‘Through forests dark we bent our course
‘To the groves of Paspahey.
‘And when we came to the river side
‘The sun was shining bright,
‘And the arms of a hundred pale-face men
‘Were gleaming in the light;
‘And thick upon the shallop’s deck
‘Like forest trees they stood,
‘And a hundred faces, pale as death,
‘Look’d out upon the wood.
‘But bravely to the river’s brink
‘I led my warrior train,
‘And face to face, each glance they sent,
‘We sent it back again.
‘Their werowance look’d stern at me,
‘And I look’d stern at him,
‘And all my warriors clasp’d their bows
‘And nerved each heart and limb;
‘I raised my heavy war-club high,
‘And swung it fiercely round,
‘And shook it toward the shallop’s side,
‘Then laid it on the ground.
‘And then the lighted calumet
‘I offer’d to their view,
‘And thrice I drew the sacred smoke
‘And toward the shallop blew;
‘And as the curling vapor rose,
‘Soft as a spirit prayer,
‘I saw the pale-face leader wave
‘A white flag in the air.
‘Then launching out their painted skiff,
‘They boldly came to land
‘And spoke us many a kindly word,
‘And took us by the hand,
‘Presenting rich and shining gifts,
‘Of copper, brass, and beads,
‘To show that they were men like us,
‘And prone to generous deeds.
‘We held a long and friendly talk,
‘Inquiring whence they came,
‘And who the leader of their band,
‘And what their country’s name;
‘And how their mighty shallop moved
‘Across the boundless sea,
‘And why they touch’d our great king’s land
‘Without his liberty.
‘They say that far beyond the sea
‘A pleasant land appears,
‘And there their sires have made their graves
‘For many a hundred years;
‘And there the men are numerous
‘As leaves upon the trees,
‘And a thousand mighty shallops there
‘Are moved by every breeze.
‘They call this bright land _England_,
‘’Tis surrounded by the sea;
‘_King James_ they call their werowance,
‘And a mighty chief is he;
‘And _brave Sir John_ is the name they give
‘To the leader of this band,
‘Who only ask to rest awhile
‘On Powhatan’s wide land,
‘To trade with us for skins and furs,
‘And corn to make them bread,
‘And a space to build their cabins,
‘And a spot to bury their dead.
‘If Powhatan will grant them this,
‘We have no cause to fear,
‘But loads of shining treasures
‘Shall enrich us every year.’

XI.

Here paused Pamunky’s giant king,
And slowly left the council ring,
And cross’d the hall to the outer door,
And soon returning, gravely bore
A loaded quiver--’twas not fill’d
With barbed shafts that blood had spill’d,
But gorgeous toys of English art
To captivate the savage heart.
While Powhatan with searching eyes
Survey’d the strange and glittering prize,
The chiefs and warriors gather near,
And wait their sovereign’s voice to hear,
And gazing eagerly, meanwhile,
Pour their whole soul upon the pile.
At length the monarch waved his hand,
The warriors backward farther stand,
And turn their ready ear and eye
To catch the words of his reply.

XII.

‘Chiefs and warriors! still to me
‘Our troubled sky looks dark;
‘How often a wasting fire has raged,
‘That sprung from a single spark!
‘This English tree, that shows so fair,
‘Must not in my realm take root,
‘Nor till I better know its stock,
‘Will I partake its fruit.
‘These strangers come in friendly guise,
‘And may for a time prove true,
‘But the day we give them a footing here
‘I fear we long shall rue.
‘Remember Madoc, and beware;
‘Guard well our council-fires,
‘Lest we be doom’d to meet the fate
‘That once befell our sires.’