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diff --git a/29231.txt b/29231.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..99eb904 --- /dev/null +++ b/29231.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2699 @@ +Project Gutenberg's She Would Be a Soldier, by Mordecai Manuel Noah + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: She Would Be a Soldier + The Plains of Chippewa + +Author: Mordecai Manuel Noah + +Editor: Montrose J. Moses + +Release Date: June 27, 2009 [EBook #29231] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SHE WOULD BE A SOLDIER *** + + + + +Produced by David Starner, Brownfox and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +TRANSCRIBERS' NOTES + +This e-book contains the text of _She Would Be A Soldier_, extracted +from Representative Plays by American Dramatists: Vol 1, 1765-1819. +Comments and background to all the plays and the other plays are +available at Project Gutenberg. + +Spelling as in the original has been preserved. + + + + +SHE WOULD BE A SOLDIER + +_By_ M. M. NOAH + +[Illustration: M. M. NOAH] + + + + +MORDECAI MANUEL NOAH + +(1785-1851) + + +Mr. Noah was born in Philadelphia, July 19, 1785, the son of Portuguese +Jewish descent, it being stated by some sources that his father not only +fought in the Revolutionary Army, but was a sufficient friend of George +Washington to have the latter attend his wedding. In his early years, he +was apprenticed, according to the custom of the day, to a carver and +gilder, but he spent most of his evenings in the Franklin Library and at +the theatre, likewise attending school in his spare time, where, among +the pupils, he met John and Steven Decatur, famed afterwards in the +history of the American Navy. He filled a minor position in the +Auditor's office in Philadelphia, but his tastes inclined more to +journalistic than they did to desk work, and, in 1800, he travelled to +Harrisburg as a political reporter. + +Several years after this, he went to Charleston, and studied law, but +before he had had a chance to practise, he became the editor of the +Charleston _City Gazette_, and, advocating those principles which +resulted in the War of 1812, he used his pen, under the pseudonym of +_Muley Molack_, to disseminate those ideas in editorials. The +consequence is he encouraged much hatred, and was forced into many duels +to support his opinions. In 1811, he was offered the position of Consul +at Riga by President Madison, but declined. In 1813, he was sent by Mr. +Monroe, as Consul, to Tunis, at a time when the United States was having +trouble with Algerian piracy. + +During all this period, his pen was actively busy, and while he was +abroad he did much travelling which resulted, in 1819, in his publishing +a book of travels. + +In 1816, he returned to New York, and settled there as a journalist. +Being a Tammanyite in politics, we find him filling the position of +Sheriff, Judge and Surveyor of the Port at various periods. He was, +likewise, an editor of some skill, and his name is associated with the +columns of the _New York Enquirer_, the _Evening Star_, the _Commercial +Advertiser_, the _Union_, and the _Times and Messenger_. + +His political career may be measured in the following manner: + +In 1821 he became Sheriff. In 1823, he was admitted to the bar of New +York, and in 1829 to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. +This same year he was appointed Surveyor of the Port of New York. + +Entering very prominently in politics, he opposed the election of Van +Buren, and gave his vote to General Harrison. Governor Seward appointed +him, in 1841, Judge of the Court of Sessions. The same year he was made +a Supreme Court Commissioner. + +It was in 1825 that, as one of the early Zionists of America, he entered +into negotiations for the purchase of nearly three thousand acres of +land on Grand Island, in New York State, where it was his dream to +establish the City of Ararat, a haven of Judaism in this country. This +venture became the basis for a story by Israel Zangwill, called "Noah's +Ark." He died in New York on March 22, 1851, having lived in that city +since 1813. + +Any full Bibliography will give a sufficient idea of the scope of Major +Noah's pen. He lived at a time when American Letters were beginning to +develop, himself a friend of most of the literary figures of the +day--Cooper, Irving, Fitz-Green Halleck and others. And we have an +excellent impression of the manner in which the younger literary men +regarded the authority of Noah in the "Reminiscences" of J. T. +Trowbridge: + + "Come with me," he [Mr. Noah] said, putting on his hat; and we + went out together, I with my roll of manuscript, he with his + stout cane. Even if I had been unaware of the fact, I should + very soon have discovered that I was in company with an + important personage. Everybody observed him, and it seemed as if + every third or fourth man we met gave him a respectful salute. + He continued his friendly talk with me in a way that relieved me + of all sense of my own insignificance in the shadow of his + celebrity and august proportions. + +As far as his theatrical association is concerned, we can have no better +source of information than a letter written by Noah to William Dunlap, +and published in the latter's "History of the American Theatre." It is +quoted in full: + + + New-York, July 11, 1832. + +To William Dunlap, Esq., +Dear Sir: + + I am happy to hear that your work on the American Drama is in + press, and trust that you may realize from it that harvest of + fame and money to which your untiring industry and diversified + labours give you an eminent claim. You desire me to furnish you + a list of my dramatic productions; it will, my dear sir, + constitute a sorry link in the chain of American writers--my + plays have all been _ad captandum_: a kind of _amateur_ + performance, with no claim to the character of a settled, + regular, or domiciliated writer for the green-room--a sort of + volunteer supernumerary--a dramatic writer by "particular + desire, and for this night only," as they say in the bills of + the play; my "line," as you well know, has been in the more + rugged paths of politics, a line in which there is more fact + than poetry, more feeling than fiction; in which, to be sure, + there are "exits and entrances"--where the "prompter's whistle" + is constantly heard in the voice of the people; but which, in + our popular government, almost disqualifies us for the more soft + and agreeable translation to the lofty conceptions of tragedy, + the pure diction of genteel comedy, or the wit, gaiety, and + humour of broad farce. + + I had an early hankering for the national drama, a kind of + juvenile patriotism, which burst forth, for the first time, in a + few sorry doggerels in the form of a prologue to a play, which a + Thespian company, of which I was a member, produced in the + South-Street Theatre--the old American Theatre in Philadelphia. + The idea was probably suggested by the sign of the Federal + Convention at the tavern opposite the theatre. You, no doubt, + remember the picture and the motto: an excellent piece of + painting of the kind, representing a group of venerable + personages engaged in public discussions, with the following + distich: + + "These thirty-eight great men have signed a powerful deed, + That better times, to us, shall very soon succeed." + + The sign must have been painted soon after the adoption of the + Federation Constitution, and I remember to have stood "many a + time and oft," gazing, when a boy, at the assembled patriots, + particularly the venerable head and spectacles of Dr. Franklin, + always in conspicuous relief. In our Thespian corps, the honour + of cutting the plays, substituting new passages, casting parts, + and writing couplets at the exits, was divided between myself + and a fellow of infinite wit and humour, by the name of + Helmbold; who subsequently became the editor of a scandalous + little paper, called _The Tickler_: He was a rare rascal, + perpetrated all kind of calumnies, was constantly mulcted in + fines, sometimes imprisoned, was full of faults, which were + forgotten in his conversational qualities and dry sallies of + genuine wit, particularly his Dutch stories. After years of + singular vicissitudes, Helmbold joined the army as a common + soldier, fought bravely during the late war, obtained a + commission, and died. Our little company soon dwindled away; the + expenses were too heavy for our pockets; our writings and + performances were sufficiently wretched, but as the audience + was admitted without cost, they were too polite to express any + disapprobation. We recorded all our doings in a little weekly + paper, published, I believe, by Jemmy Riddle, at the corner of + Chestnut and Third-Street, opposite the tavern kept by that + sturdy old democrat, Israel Israel. + + From a boy, I was a regular attendant of the Chestnut-Street + Theatre, during the management of Wignell and Reinagle, and made + great efforts to compass the purchase of a season ticket, which + I obtained generally of the treasurer, George Davis, for + eighteen dollars. Our habits through life are frequently + governed and directed by our early steps. I seldom missed a + night; and always retired to bed, after witnessing a good play, + gratified and improved: and thus, probably, escaped the haunts + of taverns, and the pursuits of depraved pleasures, which too + frequently allure and destroy our young men; hence I was always + the firm friend of the drama, and had an undoubted right to + oppose my example through life to the horror and hostility + expressed by sectarians to plays and play-houses generally. + Independent of several of your plays which had obtained + possession of the stage, and were duly incorporated in the + legitimate drama, the first call to support the productions of a + fellow townsman, was, I think, Barker's opera of _The Indian + Princess_. Charles Ingersoll had previously written a tragedy, a + very able production for a very young man, which was supported + by all the "good society;" but Barker, who was "one of us," an + amiable and intelligent young fellow, who owed nothing to + hereditary rank, though his father was a Whig, and a soldier of + the Revolution, was in reality a fine spirited poet, a patriotic + ode writer, and finally a gallant soldier of the late war. The + managers gave Barker an excellent chance with all his plays, and + he had merit and popularity to give them in return full houses. + + About this time, I ventured to attempt a little melo-drama, + under the title of "The Fortress of Sorrento" [1808], which, not + having money enough to pay for printing, nor sufficient + influence to have acted, I thrust the manuscript in my pocket, + and, having occasion to visit New-York, I called in at David + Longworth's Dramatic Repository one day, spoke of the little + piece, and struck a bargain with him, by giving him the + manuscript in return for a copy of every play he had published, + which at once furnished me with a tolerably large dramatic + collection. I believe the play never was performed, and I was + almost ashamed to own it; but it was my first regular attempt at + dramatic composition. + + In the year 1812, while in Charleston, Mr. Young requested me to + write a piece for his wife's benefit. You remember her, no + doubt; remarkable as she was for her personal beauty and amiable + deportment, it would have been very ungallant to have refused, + particularly as he requested that it should be a "_breeches + part_," to use a green-room term, though she was equally + attractive in every character. Poor Mrs. Young! she died last + year in Philadelphia. When she first arrived in New-York, from + London, it was difficult to conceive a more perfect beauty; her + complexion was of dazzling whiteness, her golden hair and ruddy + complexion, figure somewhat _embonpoint_, and graceful carriage, + made her a great favourite. I soon produced the little piece, + which was called "Paul and Alexis; or, the Orphans of the + Rhine." I was, at that period, a very active politician, and my + political opponents did me the honour to go to the theatre the + night it was performed, for the purpose of hissing it, which was + not attempted until the curtain fell, and the piece was + successful. After three years' absence in Europe and Africa, I + saw the same piece performed at the Park, under the title of + "The Wandering Boys,"[1] which even now holds possession of the + stage. It seems Mr. Young sent the manuscript to London, where + the title was changed, and the bantling cut up, altered, and + considerably improved. + + About this time, John Miller, the American bookseller in London, + paid us a visit. Among the passengers in the same ship was a + fine English girl of great talent and promise, Miss Leesugg, + afterwards Mrs. Hackett. She was engaged at the Park as a + singer, and Phillips, who was here about the same period + fulfilling a most successful engagement, was decided and + unqualified in his admiration of her talent. Every one took an + interest in her success: she was gay, kind-hearted, and popular, + always in excellent spirits, and always perfect. Anxious for her + success, I ventured to write a play for her benefit, and in + three days finished the patriotic piece of "She Would be a + Soldier; or, the Battle of Chippewa,"[2] which, I was happy to + find, produced her an excellent house. Mrs. Hackett retired from + the stage after her marriage, and lost six or seven years of + profitable and unrivalled engagement.[3] + + After this play, I became in a manner domiciliated in the + green-room. My friends, Price and Simpson, who had always been + exceedingly kind and liberal, allowed me to stray about the + premises like one of the family, and, always anxious for their + success, I ventured upon another attempt for a holy-day + occasion, and produced "Marion; or, the Hero of Lake George." It + was played on the 25th of November, Evacuation day [1821], and I + bustled about among my military friends, to raise a party in + support of a military play, and what with generals, + staff-officers, rank and file, the Park Theatre was so crammed, + that not a word of the play was heard, which was a very + fortunate affair for the author. The managers presented me with + a pair of handsome silver pitchers, which I still retain as a + memento of their good-will and friendly consideration. You must + bear in mind that while I was thus employed in occasional + attempts at play-writing, I was engaged in editing a daily + journal, and in all the fierce contests of political strife: I + had, therefore, but little time to devote to all that study and + reflection so essential to the success of dramatic composition. + + My next piece, I believe, was written for the benefit of a + relative and friend, who wanted something to bring a house; and + as the struggle for liberty in Greece was at that period the + prevailing excitement, I finished the melodrama of the _Grecian + Captive_, which was brought out with all the advantages of good + scenery and music [June 17, 1822]. As a "good house" was of more + consequence to the actor than fame to the author, it was + resolved that the hero of the piece should make his appearance + on an elephant, and the heroine on a camel, which were procured + from a neighbouring _menagerie_, and the _tout ensemble_ was + sufficiently imposing, only it happened that the huge elephant, + in shaking his skin, so rocked the castle on his back, that the + Grecian general nearly lost his balance, and was in imminent + danger of coming down from his "high estate," to the infinite + merriment of the audience. On this occasion, to use another + significant phrase, a "gag" was hit upon of a new character + altogether. The play was printed, and each auditor was presented + with a copy gratis, as he entered the house. Figure to yourself + a thousand people in a theatre, each with a book of the play in + hand--imagine the turning over a thousand leaves simultaneously, + the buzz and fluttering it produced, and you will readily + believe that the actors entirely forgot their parts, and even + the equanimity of the elephant and camel were essentially + disturbed. + + My last appearance, as a dramatic writer, was in another + national piece, called "The Siege of Tripoli," which the + managers persuaded me to bring out for my own benefit, being my + first attempt to derive any profit from dramatic efforts. The + piece was elegantly got up--the house crowded with beauty and + fashion--everything went off in the happiest manner; when, a + short time after the audience had retired, the Park Theatre was + discovered to be on fire, and in a short time was a heap of + ruins. This conflagration burnt out all my dramatic fire and + energy, since which I have been, as you well know, peaceably + employed in settling the affairs of the nations, and mildly + engaged in the political differences and disagreements which are + so fruitful in our great state. + + I still, however, retain a warm interest for the success of the + drama, and all who are entitled to success engaged in sustaining + it, and to none greater than to yourself, who have done more, in + actual labour and successful efforts, than any man in America. + That you may realize all you have promised yourself, and all + that you are richly entitled to, is the sincere wish of + + Dear sir, + Your friend and servant, + M. M. NOAH. + +Wm. Dunlap, Esq. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] John Kerr wrote "The Wandering Boys; or, The Castle of Olival" +(1823), which Dr. Atkinson believes was taken from the same French +source as Noah's piece. + +[2] She Would Be A Soldier,/or the/Plains of Chippewa;/An Historical +Drama,/In Three Acts./By M. M. Noah./Performed for the first time on the +21st/of June, 1819./ New-York:/Published at Longworth's Dramatic +Repository./Shakspeare Gallery./ G. L. Birch & Co. Printers./1819./[At +one time, Edwin Forrest played the Indian in this piece.] + +[3] Catherine Leesugg married James H. Hackett, the American actor, in +1819. As early as 1805, some critics in England spoke of her as the +Infant Roscius. Of her, the newspaper versifier proclaimed: + + "There's sweet Miss Leesugg--by-the-by, she's not pretty, + She's a little too large, and has not too much grace, + Yet there's something about her so witching and witty, + 'Tis pleasure to gaze on her good-humoured face." + + + + +[Illustration: SHE WOULD BE A SOLDIER, + +OR THE + +PLAINS OF CHIPPEWA; + +_AN HISTORICAL DRAMA,_ + +IN THREE ACTS. + + +BY M. M. NOAH. + + +PERFORMED FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THE 21ST OF JUNE, 1819. + + +NEW-YORK: + +Published at Longworth's Dramatic Repository, Shakspeare Gallery. + + +_G. L. Birch & Co. Printers._ + + +1819. + +FAC-SIMILE TITLE-PAGE TO 1819 EDITION] + + + + +PREFACE + + +The following dramatic _bagatelle_ was written in a few days, and its +reception, under every circumstance, far exceeded its merits. I had no +idea of printing it, until urged to do so by some friends connected with +theatres, who, probably, were desirous of using it without incurring the +expense of transcribing from the original manuscript. Writing plays is +not my "vocation;" and even if the mania was to seize me, I should have +to contend with powerful obstacles, and very stubborn prejudices; to be +sure, these, in time, might be removed, but I have no idea of being the +first to descend into the arena, and become a gladiator for the American +Drama. These prejudices against native productions, however they may be +deplored as impugning native genius, are nevertheless very natural. An +American audience, I have no doubt, would be highly pleased with an +American play, if the performance afforded as much gratification as a +good English one; but they pay their money to be pleased, and if we +cannot afford pleasure, we have no prescriptive right to ask for +approbation. In England, writing of plays is a profession, by which much +money is made if the plays succeed; hence a dramatic author goes to +work, _secundum artem_.--He employs all his faculties, exhausts all his +resources, devotes his whole time, capacity and ingenuity to the work in +hand; the hope of reward stimulates him--the love of fame urges him +on--the opposition of rivals animates his exertions--and the expectation +of applause sweetens his labours--and yet, nine times out of ten, he +fails. Mr. Dunlap, of this city, has written volumes of plays, and +written well, "excellent well," but he made nothing; nay, he hardly +obtained that civic wreath which he fairly earned. Barker, of +Philadelphia, whose muse is the most delicate and enticing, has hung up +his harp, which, I dare say, is covered with dust and cobwebs; and even +Harby, of Charleston, whose talents are of the finest order, and who is +a bold yet chaste poet, gained but little profit and applause from his +labours. We must not expect, therefore, more encouragement for the +American Drama than may be sufficient to urge us on. We will succeed in +time, as well as the English, because we have the same language, and +equal intellect; but there must be system and discipline in writing +plays--a knowledge of stage effect--of sound, cadences, fitness of time +and place, interest of plot, spirit of delineation, nature, poetry, and +a hundred _et ceteras_, which are required, to constitute a good +dramatic poet, who cannot, in this country, and while occupied in other +pursuits, spring up over night like asparagus, or be watered and put in +the sun, like a geranium in a flower pot. + +I wrote this play in order to promote the benefit of a performer who +possesses talent, and I have no objections to write another for any +deserving object. New plays, in this country, are generally performed, +for the first time, as anonymous productions: I did not withhold my name +from this, because I knew that my friends would go and see it performed, +with the hope of being pleased, and my opponents would go with other +motives, so that between the two parties a good house would be the +result. This was actually the case, and two performances produced nearly +$2,400; I hope this may encourage Americans of more talent to attempt +something. + +National plays should be encouraged. They have done everything for the +British nation, and can do much for us; they keep alive the recollection +of important events, by representing them in a manner at once natural +and alluring. We have a fine scope, and abundant materials to work with, +and a noble country to justify the attempt. The "Battle of Chippewa" was +selected, because it was the most neat and spirited battle fought during +the late war, and I wish I was able to do it more justice. + + N. + +New-York, July, 1819. + + + + +DRAMATIS PERSONAE[4] + + +GENERAL, Mr. Graham. +JASPER, Mr. Robertson. +LENOX, Mr. Pritchard. +HON. CAPTAIN PENDRAGON, Mr. Simpson. +JERRY, Mr. Barnes. +LAROLE, Mr. Spiller. +JENKINS, Mr. Johnson. +INDIAN CHIEF, Mr. Maywood. +1ST OFFICER, Mr. Bancker. +SOLDIER, Mr. Nexsen. +WAITER, Mr. Oliff. +JAILOR, Mr. Baldwin. + +_Soldiers, Peasants, Indians, &c._ + +CHRISTINE, Miss Leesugg. +ADELA, Miss Johnson. +MAID, Mrs. Wheatley. + +_Peasant Women, &c._ + +FOOTNOTES: + +[4] In Dr. Atkinson's copy of this play, the following cast is given: as +a note, in the handwriting of Henry Wallack: + +PHILADELPHIA, 1819. + +GENERAL, Hughes. +JASPER, ---- +LENOX, Darley, John, Jr. +PENDRAGON, Wood, William. +JERRY, Jefferson, Joseph. +LAROLE, Blissett, Francis. +CHIEF, Wallack, Henry. +CHRISTINE, Darley, Mrs. John (Miss E. Westray). +ADELA, Wood, Mrs. Wm. (Miss J. Westray). + + + + +SHE WOULD BE A SOLDIER, + +or; the + +PLAINS OF CHIPPEWA + + + + +ACT I. + + +SCENE I. _A Valley with a neat Cottage on the right, an Arbour on the +left, and picturesque Mountains at a distance._ + +_Enter from the cottage, JASPER and JENKINS._ + +JENKINS. And so, neighbour, you are not then a native of this village? + +JASPER. I am not, my friend; my story is short, and you shall hear it. +It was my luck, call it bad or good, to be born in France, in the town +of Castlenaudary, where my parents, good honest peasants, cultivated a +small farm on the borders of the canal of Midi. I was useful, though +young; we were well enough to live, and I received from the parish +school a good education, was taught to love my country, my parents, and +my friends; a happy temper, a common advantage in my country, made all +things easy to me; I never looked for to-morrow to bring me more joy +than I experienced to-day. + +JENKINS. Pardon my curiosity, friend Jasper: how came you to leave your +country, when neither want nor misfortune visited your humble dwelling? + +JASPER. Novelty, a desire for change, an ardent disposition to visit +foreign countries. Passing through the streets of Toulouse one bright +morning in spring, the lively drum and fife broke on my ear, as I was +counting my gains from a day's marketing. A company of soldiers neatly +dressed, with white cockades, passed me with a brisk step; I followed +them through instinct--the sergeant informed me that they were on their +way to Bordeaux, from thence to embark for America, to aid the cause of +liberty in the new world, and were commanded by the Marquis de la +Fayette. That name was familiar to me; La Fayette was a patriot--I felt +like a patriot, and joined the ranks immediately. + +JENKINS. Well, you enlisted and left your country? + +JASPER. I did. We had a boisterous passage to America, and endured many +hardships during the revolution. I was wounded at Yorktown, which long +disabled me, but what then? I served under great men, and for a great +cause; I saw the independence of the thirteen states acknowledged, I was +promoted to a sergeancy by the great Washington, and I sheathed my +sword, with the honest pride of knowing, that I had aided in +establishing a powerful and happy republic. + +JENKINS. You did well, honest Jasper, you did well; and now you have the +satisfaction of seeing your country still free and happy. + +JASPER. I have, indeed. When the army was disbanded, I travelled on foot +to explore the uncultivated territory which I had assisted in +liberating. I purchased a piece of land near the great lakes, and with +my axe levelled the mighty oaks, cleared my meadows, burnt out the +wolves and bears, and then built that cottage there. + +JENKINS. And thus became a settler and my neighbour; thanks to the drum +and fife and the white cockade, that lured you from your home. + +JASPER. In a short time, Jenkins, everything flourished; my cottage was +neat, my cattle thriving, still I wanted something--it was a wife. I was +tired of a solitary life, and married Kate, the miller's daughter; you +knew her. + +JENKINS. Ay, that I did; she was a pretty lass. + +JASPER. She was a good wife--ever cheerful and industrious, and made me +happy: poor Kate! I was without children for several years; at length my +Christine was born, and I have endeavoured, in cultivating her mind, and +advancing her happiness, to console myself for the loss of her mother. + +JENKINS. Where is Christine? where is your daughter, neighbour Jasper? + +JASPER. She left the cottage early this morning with Lenox, to climb the +mountains and see the sun rise; it is time for them to return to +breakfast. + +JENKINS. Who is this Mr. Lenox? + +JASPER. An honest lieutenant of infantry, with a gallant spirit and a +warm heart. He was wounded at Niagara, and one stormy night, he +presented himself at our cottage door, pale and haggard. His arm had +been shattered by a ball, and he had received a flesh wound from a +bayonet: we took him in--for an old soldier never closes his door on a +wounded comrade--Christine nursed him, and he soon recovered. But I wish +they were here--it is growing late: besides, this is a busy day, friend +Jenkins. + +JENKINS. Ah, how so? + +JASPER. You know Jerry Mayflower, the wealthy farmer; he has offered to +marry my Christine. Girls must not remain single if they can get +husbands, and I have consented to the match, and he will be here to-day +to claim her hand. + +JENKINS. But will Christine marry Jerry? She has been too well educated +for the honest farmer. + +JASPER. Oh, she may make a few wry faces, as she does when swallowing +magnesia, but the dose will go down. There is some credit due to a wife +who improves the intellect of her husband; aye, and there is some pride +in it also. Girls should marry. Matrimony is like an old oak; age gives +durability to the trunk, skill trims the branches, and affection keeps +the foliage ever green. But come, let us in. + + [_JASPER and JENKINS enter the cottage._ + +_Pastoral Music.--LENOX and CHRISTINE are seen winding down the +mountains--his left arm is in a sling._ + +CHRISTINE. At last we are at home.--O my breath is nearly gone. You +soldiers are so accustomed to marching and countermarching, that you +drag me over hedge and briar, like an empty baggage-wagon. Look at my +arm, young Mars, you've made it as red as pink, and as rough as--then my +hand--don't attempt to kiss it, you--wild man of the woods. + +LENOX. Nay, dear Christine, be not offended; if I have passed rapidly +over rocks and mountains, it is because you were with me. My heart ever +feels light and happy when I am permitted to walk with you; even the air +seems newly perfumed, and the birds chaunt more melodiously; and see, I +can take my arm out of confinement--your care has done this; your voice +administered comfort, and your eyes affection. What do I not owe you? + +CHRISTINE. Owe me? Nothing, only one of your best bows, and your +prettiest compliments. But I do suspect, my serious cavalier, that your +wounds were never as bad as you would have me think. Of late you have +taken your recipes with so much grace, have swallowed so many bitter +tinctures with a playful smile, that I believe you've been playing the +invalid, and would make me your nurse for life--O sinner as you are, +what have you to say for yourself? + +LENOX. Why, I confess, dear Christine, that my time has passed with so +much delight, that even the call of duty will find me reluctant to quit +these scenes, so dear to memory, hospitality, and, let me add, to love. +Be serious, then, dear Christine, and tell me what I have to hope; even +now I expect orders from my commanding officer, requiring my immediate +presence at the camp; we are on the eve of a battle--Speak! + +CHRISTINE. Why, you soldiers are such fickle game, that if we once +entangle you in the net, 'tis ten to one but the sight of a new face +will be sufficiently tempting to break the mesh--you're just as true as +the smoke of your cannon, and you fly off at the sight of novelty in +petticoats, like one of your Congreve rockets--No, I won't love a +soldier--that's certain. + +LENOX. Nay, where is our reward then for deserving well of our country? +Gratitude may wreath a chaplet of laurel, but trust me, Christine, it +withers unless consecrated by beauty. + +CHRISTINE. Well, that's a very pretty speech, and deserves one of my +best courtesies. Now suppose I should marry you, my "dear ally Croaker," +I shall expect to see myself placed on the summit of a baggage-wagon, +with soldiers' wives and a few dear squalling brats, whose musical tones +drown e'en the "squeaking of the wry-neck'd fife;" and if I should +escape from the enemy at the close of a battle, I should be compelled to +be ever ready, and "pack up my tatters and follow the drum."--No, no, I +can't think of it. + +LENOX. Prithee, be serious, dear Christine, your gaiety alarms me. Can +you permit me to leave you without a sigh? Can I depart from that dear +cottage and rush to battle without having the assurance that there is a +heart within which beats in unison with mine? a heart which can +participate in my glory, and sympathize in my misfortunes? + +CHRISTINE. No--not so, Lenox; your glory is dear to me, your happiness +my anxious wish. I have seen you bear pain like a soldier, and +misfortune like a man. I am myself a soldier's daughter, and believe me, +when I tell you, that under the appearance of gaiety, my spirits are +deeply depressed at your approaching departure. I have been taught, by a +brave father, to love glory when combined with virtue. There is my +hand;--be constant, and I am ever your friend; be true, and you shall +find me ever faithful. + +LENOX. Thanks--a thousand thanks, beloved Christine; you have removed a +mountain of doubts and anxious wishes from my heart: I did hope for +this reward, though it was a daring one. Love and honour must now +inspire me, and should we again be triumphant in battle, I shall return +to claim the reward of constancy--a reward dearer than thrones--the +heart of a lovely and virtuous woman. + +CHRISTINE. Enough, dear Lenox; I shall never doubt your faith. But come, +let us in to breakfast--stay--my knight of the rueful countenance, where +is the portrait which you have been sketching of me? Let me look at your +progress. + +LENOX. 'Tis here. [_Gives a small drawing book._ + +CHRISTINE. [_Opening it._] Heavens, how unlike! Why Lenox, you were +dreaming of the _Venus de Medici_ when you drew this--Oh, you flatterer! + +LENOX. Nay, 'tis not finished; now stand there, while I sketch the +drapery.--[_Places her at a distance, takes out a pencil, and works at +the drawing._] + +CHRISTINE. Why, what a statue you are making of me. Pray, why not make a +picture of it at once? Place me in that bower, with a lute and a lap +dog, sighing for your return; then draw a soldier disguised as a +pilgrim, leaning on his staff, and his cowl thrown back; let that +pilgrim resemble thee, and then let the little dog bark, and I fainting, +and there's a subject for the pencil and pallet. + +LENOX. Sing, dear Christine, while I finish the drawing--it may be the +last time I shall ever hear you. + +CHRISTINE. Oh, do not say so, my gloomy cavalier; a soldier, and +despair? + + THE KNIGHT ERRANT. + + _Written by the late Queen of Holland._ + + It was Dunois, the young and brave, was bound to Palestine, + But first he made his orisons before St. Mary's shrine: + And grant, immortal Queen of Heav'n, was still the soldier's prayer, + That I may prove the bravest knight, and love the fairest fair. + + His oath of honour on the shrine he grav'd it with his sword, + And follow'd to the Holy Land the banner of his Lord; + Where, faithful to his noble vow, his war-cry fill'd the air-- + Be honour'd, aye, the bravest knight, beloved the fairest fair. + + They ow'd the conquest to his arm, and then his liege lord said, + The heart that has for honour beat must be by bliss repaid: + My daughter Isabel and thou shall be a wedded pair, + For thou art bravest of the brave, she fairest of the fair. + + And then they bound the holy knot before St. Mary's shrine, + Which makes a paradise on earth when hearts and hands combine; + And every lord and lady bright that was in chapel there, + Cry'd, Honour'd be the bravest knight, belov'd the fairest fair. + +LENOX. There, 'tis finished--how do you like it? + +CHRISTINE. Why, so, so--if you wish something to remind you of me, it +will do. + +LENOX. No, not so; your image is too forcibly impressed here to need so +dull a monitor. But I ask it to reciprocate--wear this for my sake +[_Gives a miniature._], and think of him who, even in the battle's rage, +will not forget thee. [_Bugle sounds at a distance._] Hark! 'tis a bugle +of our army. [_Enter a SOLDIER, who delivers a letter to LENOX and +retires--LENOX opens and reads it._] + +"The enemy, in force, has thrown up entrenchments near Chippewa; if your +wounds will permit, join your corps without delay--a battle is +unavoidable, and I wish you to share the glory of a victory. You have +been promoted as an aid to the general for your gallantry in the last +affair. It gives me pleasure to be the first who announces this grateful +reward--lose not a moment. + + Your friend, + MANDEVILLE." + +I must be gone immediately. + +_Enter JASPER and JENKINS from the cottage._ + +JASPER. Ah! Lenox, my boy, good morning to you. Why Christine, you have +had a long ramble with the invalid. + +CHRISTINE. Lenox leaves us immediately, dear father; the army is on the +march. + +JASPER. Well, he goes in good time, and may success attend him. Ods my +life, when I was young, the sound of the drum and fife was like the +music of the spheres, and the noise and bustle of a battle was more +cheering to me, than "the hunter's horn in the morning." You will not +forget us, Lenox, will you? + +LENOX. Forget ye? Never--I should be the most ungrateful of men, could I +forget that endearing attention which poured oil into my wounds, and +comforted the heart of a desponding and mutilated soldier. No, Jasper, +no; while life remains, yourself and daughter shall never cease to live +in my grateful remembrance. + + [_CHRISTINE and LENOX enter the cottage._ + +_Pastoral Music.--Peasants are seen winding down the mountains, headed +by JERRY, dressed for a festive occasion, with white favours, nosegays, +&c._ + +JERRY. Here I am, farmer Jasper--come to claim Miss Crissy as my wife, +according to your promise, and have brought all my neighbours. How do +you do? + +JASPER. Well--quite well--and these are all your neighbours? + +JERRY. Yes--there's Bob Short, the tanner; Nick Anvil, the blacksmith; +Patty, the weaver's daughter--and the rest of 'em; come here, Patty, +make a curtchey to the old soger--[_PATTY comes forward._]--a pretty +girl! I could have had her, but she wanted edication--she wanted the +airs and graces, as our schoolmaster says. + +JASPER. Well, farmer, you are an honest man, but I fear my Christine +will not approve this match, commenced without her advice, and concluded +without her consent. Then her education has been so different from-- + +JERRY. O, fiddle-de-dee, I don't mind how larned she is, so much the +better--she can teach me to parlyvoo, and dance solos and duets, and +such elegant things, when I've done ploughing. + +JASPER. But I'm not sure that she will like you. + +JERRY. Not like me? Come, that's a good one; only look at my +movements--why she can't resist me. I'm the boy for a race, for an +apple-paring or quilting frolic--fight a cock, hunt an opossum, or snare +a partridge with any one.--Then I'm a squire, and a county judge, and a +_brevet_ ossifer in the militia besides; and a devil of a fellow at an +election to boot. Not have me? damme, that's an insult. Besides, +sergeant Jasper, I've been to the wars since I've seen ye--got +experience, laurels and lilies, and all them there things. + +JASPER. Indeed! + +JERRY. Yes--sarved a campaign, and was at the battle of Queenstown. What +do you think of that? + +JASPER. And did you share in the glory of that spirited battle? + +JERRY. O yes, I shared in all the glory--that is--I didn't fight. I'll +tell you how it was: I marched at the head of my village sogers, +straight as the peacock in my farm yard, and I had some of the finest +lads in our county, with rifles--well, we march'd and camp'd, and camp'd +and march'd, and were as merry as grigs until we arrived at the river: +half the troops had cross'd and were fighting away like young devils: +ods life, what a smoke! what a popping of small arms, and roaring of big +ones! and what a power of red coats! + +JASPER. Well, and you panted to be at them? clubb'd your rifles, and +dashed over? + +JERRY. Oh no, I didn't--I was afear'd that in such a crowd, nobody would +see how I fought, so I didn't cross at all. Besides, some one said, it +were contrary to law and the constitution, to go into the enemy's +country, but if they com'd into our country, it were perfectly lawful to +flog 'em. + +JASPER. And you did not cross? + +JERRY. Oh no, I stood still and look'd on; it were contrary to the +constitution of my country, and my own constitution to boot--so I took +my post out of good gun shot, and felt no more fear nor you do now. + +JASPER. No doubt. Admirable sophistry, that can shield cowards and +traitors, under a mistaken principle of civil government! I've heard of +those scruples, which your division felt when in sight of the enemy. Was +that a time to talk of constitutions--when part of our gallant army was +engaged with unequal numbers? Could you calmly behold your fellow +citizens falling on all sides, and not avenge their death? Could you, +with arms in your hands, the enemy in view, with the roar of cannon +thundering on your ear, and the flag of your country waving amidst fire +and smoke--could you find a moment to think of constitutions? Was that a +time to pause and suffer coward scruples to unnerve the arm of freemen? + +JERRY. Bravo! bravo! sergeant Jasper; that's a very fine speech--I'll +vote for you for our assemblyman; now just go that over again, that I +may get it by heart for our next town meeting--blazing flags--fiery +cannon--smoking constitutions-- + +JASPER. I pray you pardon me. I am an old soldier, and fought for the +liberty which you enjoy, and, therefore, claim some privilege in +expressing my opinion. But come, your friends are idle, let us have +breakfast before our cottage door.--Ah, Jerry, my Crissy would make a +fine soldier's wife: do you know that I have given her a military +education? + +JERRY. No, surely-- + +JASPER. Aye, she can crack a bottle at twelve paces with a pistol. + +JERRY. Crack a bottle! Come, that's a good one; I can crack a bottle +too, but not so far off. + +JASPER. And then she can bring down a buck, at any distance. + +JERRY. Bring down a buck? I don't like that--can't say as how I like my +wife to meddle with bucks. Can she milk--knit garters--make apple butter +and maple sugar--dance a reel after midnight, and ride behind her +husband on a pony, to see the trainings of our sogers--that's the wife +for my money. Oh, here she comes. + +_Enter CHRISTINE and LENOX from the cottage._ + +JASPER. Christine, here is farmer Mayflower and his friends, who have +come to visit our cottage, and you in particular. + +CHRISTINE. They are all welcome. Good morning, Jerry--how is it with +you? + +JERRY. Purely, Miss Crissy, I'm stout and hearty, and you look as pretty +and as rosy as a field of pinks on a sunshiny morning. + +JASPER. Come here, farmer--give me your hand--Christine, yours--[_Joins +them._]--there; may you live long and happy, and my blessings ever go +with you. + +Christine. [_Aside in amazement._] Heavens! what can this mean? [_LENOX +is agitated--pause--JASPER and group retire--LENOX remains at a +distance._] + +JERRY. Why, Miss Crissy, your father has consented that I shall marry +you, and I've come with my neighbours to have a little frolic, and carry +you home with me. + +CHRISTINE. And am I of so little moment as not to be consulted? Am I +thus to be given away by my father without one anxious question? [_With +decision._] Farmer, pardon my frankness; on this occasion, sincerity +alone is required--I do not like you, I will not marry you--nay, do not +look surprised. I am a stranger to falsehood and dissimulation, and thus +end at once all hopes of ever becoming my husband. + +JERRY. Why, now, Miss Crissy, that's very cruel of you--I always had a +sneaking kindness for you, and when your father gave his consent, I +didn't dream as how you could refuse me. + +CHRISTINE. My father has ever found me dutiful and obedient, but when he +bestows my hand, without knowing whether my heart or inclinations +accompany it, I feel myself bound to consult my own happiness. I cannot +marry you, farmer. + +LENOX. [_Advancing._] All things are prepared, and I am now about to +depart. Christine, farewell! Friends, good fortune await you! [_Aside._] +Dear Christine, remember me. + + [_Exit hastily._ + +JERRY. Lack-a-daisy! What a disappointment to me, when I had put my +house in such nice order--painted my walls--got a new chest upon +chest--two new bed quilts, and a pair of pumps, and had the pig-sty and +dairy whitewashed.--Hang me, after all, I believe, she is only a little +shy. Oh, I see it now, she only wants a little coaxing--a little +sparking or so--I've a great mind to kiss her. I will, too. + + [_Approaches CHRISTINE, who stands at a distance, + buried in deep thought._ + +CHRISTINE. Begone--dare not touch me! Heavens, am I reserved for this +humiliation? Could my father be so cruel? + +JERRY. Now, Crissy, don't be so shy--you know you like me--you know you +said t' other day, when I were out training, that I held up my head more +like a soger than anybody in the ranks; come now, let's make up; you'll +always find me a dutiful husband, and if I ever flog you, then my name's +not Jerry. + +_Enter JASPER from the cottage, with a basket; PEASANTS following with +fruit._ + +JASPER. Come, let us have breakfast in the open air--help me to arrange +the table. + +JERRY. Breakfast! Oh, true, I've a powerful appetite. + + [_Assists._ + +CHRISTINE. [_Aside._] What is to be done? I have not a moment to lose; +my father is stern and unyielding--I know his temper too well, to hope +that my entreaties will prevail with him--the farmer is rich, and gold +is a powerful tempter. I must be gone--follow Lenox, and in disguise, to +avoid this hateful match. I'll in, whilst unobserved. + + [_Enters the cottage._ + +JASPER. Come, sit down, farmer and neighbours; and you, my pretty lads +and lasses, let's have a dance. Ah, here is a foraging party. + + [_Enter SOLDIERS._ + +_Party dance--several pastoral and fancy dances--and as the whole +company retires, CHRISTINE comes from the cottage with cautious +steps--she is dressed in a frock coat, pantaloons and hat._ + +CHRISTINE. They are gone--now to escape. Scenes of my infancy--of many a +happy hour, farewell! Oh, farewell, forever! + + [_Exit._ + +_JASPER and JERRY return._ + +JERRY. She refused me plumply. + +JASPER. Impossible! + +JERRY. No, it's quite possible. Farmer, said she, I will _not_ marry +you--and hang me if there's any joke in that. + +JASPER. Refuse an honest man? A wealthy one, too? And one whom her +father gives to her? Trifling girl! Insensible to her happiness and +interest. What objections had she to you, farmer? + +JERRY. Objections! Oh, none in the world, only she wouldn't marry me; +she didn't seem struck at all with my person. + +JASPER. Mere coyness--maiden bashfulness. + +JERRY. So I thought, sergeant Jasper, and was going to give her a little +kiss, when she gave me such a look, and such a push, as quite astounded +me. + +JASPER. I will seek and expostulate with the stubborn girl. Ah, Jerry, +times have strangely altered, when young women choose husbands for +themselves, with as much ease and indifference, as a ribbon for their +bonnet. + + [_Enters the cottage._ + +JERRY. So they do--the little independent creatures as they are--but +what Miss Crissy could see in me to refuse, hang me if I can tell. I'm +call'd as sprightly a fellow as any in our county, and up to +everything--always ready for fun, and perfectly good-natured. + + [_Enter JASPER from the cottage, agitated._ + +JASPER. She is nowhere to be found--she has gone off and left her poor +old father. In her room, I found these lines scrawled with a pencil: +"You have driven your daughter from you, by urging a match that was +hateful to her. Was her happiness not worth consulting?" What's to be +done? Where has she gone? Ah, a light breaks in upon me--to the camp--to +the camp! + +JERRY. Oho! I smell a rat too--she's gone after Mr. Lenox, the infantry +ossifer. Oh, the young jade! But come along, old soger--get your hat and +cane, and we'll go arter her--I'm a magistrate, and will bring her back +by a habes corpus. + + [_They enter the cottage._ + + +SCENE II. _A Wood._ + +_Enter CHRISTINE in haste, looking back with fear._ + +CHRISTINE. On, on, or I shall be pursued and o'ertaken--I have lost my +way. Ah, yonder is the camp--I see the flags and tents--a short time and +I shall be with you, dear Lenox. + + [_Exit._ + +_Enter JASPER, JERRY and PEASANTS._ + +JERRY. We're on the right track, farmer; I know all tracks--used to 'em +when I hunt 'possums. + +JASPER. Cruel girl! to desert her old father, who has ever been kind and +affectionate. + +JERRY. Cruel girl! to desert me, who intended to be so very +affectionate, if he had given me a chance. + +JASPER. We cannot be far from the outposts, let us continue our search. + + [_Exeunt._ + + +SCENE III. _A Camp. A row of tents in the rear with camp flags at equal +distances; on the right wing is a neat marquee, and directly opposite to +it another. Sentinels on duty at each marquee._ + +_Enter from the marquee, LENOX and ADELA._ + +LENOX. I never was more surprised! just when I had brush'd up my arms, +and prepared to meet the enemy, who should I find in camp but you, my +old hoyden scholar. Why Adela, you have grown nearly as tall as a +grenadier, and as pretty--zounds, I would kiss you, if I dare. + +ADELA. I am delighted to see you, dear Lenox; you are still as gay and +amiable as when you taught your little Adela to conjugate verbs, and +murder French; I heard of your gallantry and wounds, and imagined I +should see you limping on crutches, with a green patch over one eye, and +a wreath of laurel around your head, a kind of limping, one-eyed cupid; +but I find you recovered from your wounds, and ready for new ones, my +soldier. + +LENOX. Bravo! the little skipping girl, who was once so full of +mischief, has grown a tall and beautiful woman. But what brings you to +camp, Adela? What have you to do with "guns and drums? heaven save the +mark!" + +ADELA. Why, my father wrote for me, expecting that the campaign was +drawing to a close; but scarcely had I arrived here, when intelligence +reached us that the enemy, in force, had occupied a position near +Chippewa; it was too late to return, so I remained to see a little +skirmishing. + +LENOX. And are you prepared to endure the privations of a camp? + +ADELA. Oh, it is delightful! it is something out of the common order of +things, something new--such echoing of bugles--glistening of fire-arms, +and nodding of plumes--such marchings and countermarchings--and such +pretty officers too, Lenox; but then a terrible accident happened to me +the other day. + +LENOX. Aye, what was it? + +ADELA. Why you must know, that I accompanied my father, who with his +suite, and a small detachment, went out on a reconnoitering +project.--Just as we _debouched_ from the wood, according to the +military phrase, we came suddenly and unexpectedly on a foraging party +of the enemy, who began to fight and retreat at the same time. + +LENOX. Well? + +ADELA. My horse happening to be an old trooper, the moment the bugles +sounded, and he heard the prattle of the small arms, he dashed in +amongst them, and there was I screaming in a most delightful style, +which, by some, must have been mistaken for a war-whoop, and to mend the +matter, a very polite and accomplished Indian took aim at me with his +rifle, and actually shot away the plume from my hat, which, I dare say, +was as valuable a prize to him as I should have been. + +LENOX. And how did you escape from your perilous situation? + +ADELA. Oh, I soon recovered my fright, and reined in my old horse; my +father and a few soldiers cut in before me, and covered my retreat, so +that in the conclusion of this little affair, I gained a feather in my +cap, though the enemy carried off the plume; and I found myself at last +on the field of battle, as cool as any hero in the army. + +LENOX. And so, my lively Adela, you have been fairly introduced to Mars +and Bellona; how do you like them? + +ADELA. Prodigiously. I find, after all, that courage is something like a +cold bath; take the first plunge, and all is over. Lord, Lenox, how +delightful it would have been, had I been armed and fought gallantly in +that affair; my name would have been immortalized like Joan of Arc's. +Congress would have voted me a medal, I should have had a public dinner +at Tammany-Hall, and his honour the mayor would have made me one of his +prettiest speeches, in presenting me with the freedom of the great city +in a gold box. + +LENOX. And so, then, you admire a military life? + +ADELA. Oh, I'm in raptures with it! I am a perfect female Quixote, and +would relinquish a thousand dandy beaux for one brave fellow; and, +therefore, Lenox, don't be surprised, if you should see me going about +from tent to tent, chaunting the old songs of + + _"Soldier, soldier, marry me, + With your fife and drum."_ + +_CHRISTINE suddenly appears in the background and surveys the party with +astonishment._ + +CHRISTINE. Heavens! what do I see? Lenox, and with a female so +affectionately? + +LENOX. Your spirits charm me, dear Adela, and revive those feelings for +you, that time has impaired, but not destroyed. But come, let us in and +see your worthy father. + + [_Leads her into the tent to the left._ + +CHRISTINE. Cruel, unkind, false Lenox! Are these your vows of constancy? +are these your protestations of love? Scarcely are you free from our +cottage, when your vows and pledges are but air. Wretched Christine! +what will become of you? I have deserted my father's house to avoid a +hateful match, and seek the protection of the man I love; he is false, +and I am lost. What's to be done? Return home a penitent, and meet the +frowns of my father, and be wedded to the man I hate? Never. Seek out +Lenox, and upbraid him with his falsehood? No, pride and wounded honour +will not permit me. Let him go--he is a wretch who trifles with the +affections of a woman. I care not what becomes of me, despair is all +that I have left. Ha! a thought strikes me with the lightning's +force--the army--I will enlist--this disguise is favourable, and in the +battle's rage, seek that death which quickly awaits me--'tis resolved. +[_CORPORAL passes over the stage._] Hist, corporal. + +CORPORAL. Well, my lad, what would ye? + +CHRISTINE. I would enlist, good corporal, and serve my country. + +CORPORAL. Enlist! As a drummer or fifer, I suppose. + +CHRISTINE. No; in the ranks--and though small, you will find me capable. +Give me your musket. [_CHRISTINE takes the musket, shoulders, presents, +and goes through a few motions._] + +CORPORAL. Well done, my little fellow; you'll do, if it's only for a +fugelman; come along to our sergeant, and receive the bounty. + + [_Exit._ + +CHRISTINE. Now, Lenox, now am I fully revenged for your cruel desertion. + + [_Follows._ + +_End of the First Act._ + + + + +ACT II. + + +SCENE I. _York, in Upper Canada; a Tavern meanly furnished._ + +_Enter LAROLE, in pursuit of the chambermaid._ + +LAROLE. Come here, you littel demoiselle--you bootiful sauvage, vy you +run vay from me--hay? + +MAID. I wish you would let me alone, mounsure, you officers' gentlemen +are very disagreeable things. + +LAROLE. Disagreeable? ma foi! I am one joli garcon, one pretti +batchelor; disagreeable? I vill tell you, ma belle grizette, I am maitre +de mode, I give de lecons for dance, to speake de English, and de +Francaise aussi; I can fence, aha! or fight de duel, or de enemi, je +suis un soldat. + +MAID. Well, if you're a soldier, you have no business to be following me +up and down the house like a pet lamb. Why don't you go to camp? + +LAROLE. Camp? vat is de camp? Oho, le champ de bataille; I shall tell +you, mademoiselle, I did fight at the bataille de Vittoria, com un +diable, like littel devil. I did kill beaucoup d'Anglais. Mai my maitre, +le capitain, he did give me a dam tump on my head wis his rapier, and +did knock me down from on top of my horse, and make a me von prisonier. + +MAID. Poor fellow! And so, mounsure, you were made prisoner? + +LAROLE. Oui, ven I could not run avay, begar I surrender like von brave +homme, and now I am jentiman to capitain Pendragoon; I do brus his coat, +poudre his hair, and pull his corset tight, and ven he was order to come +to Amerique, and fight wis de Yankee Doodel, begar me come too. I arrive +ici, I am here, to make a littel de love to you. + +MAID. Well now, once for all, I tell you not to be following me; I don't +like Frenchmen--I can't parlyvoo. + +LAROLE. You no like de Frenchiman? O quell barbare! vy you ave von +abominable gout, mademoiselle, von shockin taste. I shall tell you, +mademoiselle, en my contree, en France, de ladies are ver fond of me. O +beaucoup, I am so charmant--so aimable, and so jentee, I have three five +sweetheart, ami de coeur, mai for all dat I do love you ver mush, par +example. + +MAID. Let me go! [_Bell rings._] There, your master calls you. + + [_Exit._ + +LAROLE. Dam de littel bell, I vill not come; mon maitre he always +interrupt me ven I make de love to the pretti ladi, he be jealous, begar +I vill not come. + + [_Exit opposite side._ + +_Enter CAPTAIN PENDRAGON, dressed in the British uniform, but in the +extreme of fashion--throws himself into a chair._ + +PENDRAGON. Oh, curse such roads! My bones are making their way out of +their sockets--such vile, abominable, detestable--Waiter!--If my friends +at Castle Joram only knew the excruciating fatigues which I am +undergoing in this barbarous land--Why, waiter!--or if his highness the +commander-in-chief was only sensible of my great sacrifices to--Why, +waiter! where the devil are you? + +_Enter WAITER._ + +WAITER. Here I be, sir. + +PENDRAGON. Why didn't you come when I first called? Do you think I've +got lungs like a hunter? I'm fatigued and hungry. Get me an anchovy, a +toast, and a bottle of old port. + +WAITER. A what, sir? an ancho-- + +PENDRAGON. Yes, sir, an anchovy--small ones--delicate. + +WAITER. Why, sir, we don't know what these are in this country. + +PENDRAGON. The devil you don't! Then pray, sir, what have you to eat in +this damn'd house fit for a gentleman? + +WAITER. Why, sir, not much--the army eats us out of house and home. We +have some very excellent fresh bear meat, sir. + +PENDRAGON. Bear meat! Why, what the devil, fellow, do you take me for a +Chickasaw, or an Esquimau? Bear meat! the honourable captain Pendragon, +who never ate anything more gross than a cutlet at Molly's chop-house, +and who lived on pigeons' livers at Very's, in Paris, offered bear meat +in North America! I'll put that down in my travels. + +WAITER. Why, sir, it is considered here a great delicacy. + +PENDRAGON. The devil it is! Then pray, sir, what are your ordinary +fares, if bear's meat is considered a delicacy? + +WAITER. Why, truly, sir, this is but a young country, and we have to +live upon what we can catch. Pray, would you fancy some 'possum fat and +hominy? + +PENDRAGON. Oh, shocking! begone, fellow--you'll throw me into a fever +with your vile bill of fare. Get me a cup of tea--mix it, hyson and +souchong, with cream and muffins. + +WAITER. We can't give you any of those things, sir.--However, you can +have an excellent cup of sage tea, sweetened with honey. + +PENDRAGON. Sage tea! Why, you rascal, do you intend to throw me into a +perspiration by way of curing my hunger? or do you take me for a goose +or a duck, that you intend stuffing me with sage? Begone, get out, you +little deformed fellow! [_Exit WAITER._] I shall perish in this +barbarous land--bear meat, 'possum fat, and sage tea! O dear St. James! +I wish I was snug in my old quarters. LaRole! [_Enter LAROLE._] Where +the devil do you hide yourself in this damn'd house? Why, I shall +starve--there's nothing to eat, fit for a gentleman. + +LAROLE. Oui, monsieur, dis is von damn contree, I can find nosing to +eat. I did look into all de pantri, mai parbleu, I find only a ver +pretti demoiselle, mai, I could not eat her. + +PENDRAGON. We must be off to the camp, LaRole, my quarters there will be +infinitely more agreeable. I shall get the blue devils in this cursed +place. + +LAROLE. Vell, sair, I have all de devils ventre bleu, das you can +imagine; dere is no politesse, no respect, nosing paid to me. + +PENDRAGON. My fit of the blues is coming on me; sing me a song, LaRole. + +LAROLE. A chanson? Vell, sair, I shall sing to frighten avay de littel +blue devil; vill you I shall sing de English or de Francaise? + +PENDRAGON. Oh, English, by all means--curse your foreign lingo. + +LAROLE. Ahem! Ahem! you shall understand. + + _Vat is dis dull town to me, + Robin Hadair? + Vere is all de joys on earth, dat + Make dis town_-- + + [_A bugle sounds without._ + +Ha! what is dat? who de devil intrup me in my chanson? + +INDIAN CHIEF. [_Speaks without._] Have them all ready, with their rifles +and tomahawks in order; [_Enters with another INDIAN._] and you, +Coosewatchie, tell our priests to take their stand on yonder hill, and +as my warriors pass them, examine whether they have fire in their eyes. +[_Exit INDIAN._] How now, who have we here? + +PENDRAGON. [_Examining him with his glass._] Where the devil did this +character come from? he's one of the fancy, I suppose. + +INDIAN. Who and what are you? + +PENDRAGON. Who am I? Why, sir, I am the honourable captain Pendragon, of +his majesty's guards, formerly of the buffs. + +INDIAN. [_Aside._] The officer who is to be under my command. Well sir, +you have lately arrived from across the great waters: How did you leave +my father, the King of England? + +PENDRAGON. How! call my most gracious sovereign your father? Why, sir, +you are the most familiar--impertinent--'sdeath! I shall choke--What the +devil do you mean? + +INDIAN. [_Coolly._] What should I mean, young man, but to inquire after +the health of my father, who commands my respect, who has honoured me +with his favours, and in whose cause I am now fighting. + +PENDRAGON. Well, sir, if you have the honour to hold a commission from +his majesty, I desire that you will speak of him with proper awe, and +not call him your father, but your gracious master. + +INDIAN. Young man, the Indian warrior knows no master but the Great +Spirit, whose voice is heard in thunder, and whose eye is seen in the +lightning's flash; free as air, we bow the knee to no man; our forests +are our home, our defence is our arms, our sustenance the deer and the +elk, which we run down. White men encroach upon our borders, and drive +us into war; we raise the tomahawk against your enemies, because your +king has promised us protection and supplies. We fight for freedom, and +in that cause, the great king and the poor Indian start upon equal +terms. + +PENDRAGON. A very clever spoken fellow, pon honour; I'll patronise him. + +LAROLE. Parbleu, he is von very sensible sauvage; vill you take von +pinch snuff? + +INDIAN. Pshaw! + +LAROLE. He say pshaw, I see he is born in de voods. + +PENDRAGON. And are you prepared to fan these Yankees? We shall flog them +without much fatigue, I understand. + +INDIAN. Not so fast, young soldier; these pale-faced enemies of ours +fight with obstinacy; accustomed to a hardy life, to liberty and laws, +they are not willing to relinquish those blessings on easy terms; if we +conquer them, it must be by no moderate exertions: it will demand force +and cunning. + +PENDRAGON. Oh, dry dogs, I suppose, not to be caught napping; well, I'm +up to them, we'll fan them in high style; the ragged nabobs, I +understand, are not far off, and our troops are in fine preservation. + +INDIAN. True, preparation must be made to meet them. You are under my +orders. + +PENDRAGON. The devil I am! + +INDIAN. Aye, sir; your general, at my request, has ordered you here to +take command of a company of my warriors; but you must not appear in +that dress: change it quickly, or they will not be commanded by you; +they are men, and fight under the orders of men. + +PENDRAGON. Change my dress! why what the devil do you mean, sir? + +INDIAN. Mean? that you should appear in the ranks like a warrior, and +not like a rabbit trussed for dressing--off with these garments, which +give neither pleasure to the eye nor ease to the limbs--put on +moccasins, wrap a blanket around you, put rings through your nose and +ears, feathers in your head, and paint yourself like a soldier, with +vermilion. + +PENDRAGON. Why, this is the most impertinent and presuming savage in the +wilds of North America. Harkee, sir, I'd have you to know, that I am a +man of fashion, and one of the fancy--formerly of the buffs, nephew of a +peer of the realm, and will be a member of parliament, in time; an +officer of great merit and great services, Mr.--Red Jacket. Paint my +face, and fight without clothes? I desire, sir, that you will please to +take notice, that I fought at Badahoz with the immortal Wellington, and +had the honour to be wounded, and promoted, and had a medal for my +services in that affair, Mr.--Split-log. Put rings in my nose? a man of +taste, and the _ne plus ultra_ of Bond-street, the very mirror of +fashion and elegance? Sir, I beg you to observe, that I am not to be +treated in this manner--I shall resent this insult. Damme, I shall +report you to the commander-in-chief at the Horse Guards, and have you +courtmartialled for unfashionable deportment--Mr.--Walk-in-the-Water. + +INDIAN. Come, come, sir, enough of this trifling; I do not understand +it; you have heard my orders--obey them, or, after the battle, I'll +roast you before a slow fire! + + [_Exit._ + +LAROLE. O le barbare! O de dam sauvage! dis is de most impertinent dog +in de vorld. Roast before de fire! Parbleu, mon maitre, ve are not de +littel pig. + +PENDRAGON. I'm horrified! lost in amazement! but I'll resent it. Damme, +I'll caricature him. + +LAROLE. Oh, I vish I vas fight encore at Saragossa, vis mi lor +Villainton; par example, I did get some hard tumps, mai I did get plenti +to eat; but ici I ave nosing but de little bear to mange. + +PENDRAGON. Come along--courage, LaRole. We'll fan the Yankee Doodles in +our best style, and then get a furlough, and be off to White-Hall, and +the rings in our noses will afford anecdotes for the bon-ton for a whole +year. Allons. + + [_Exeunt._ + + +SCENE II. _The American Camp at daybreak. The drum and fife plays the +reveille. Sentinels on duty before the tents._ + +_LENOX enters from the tent on the right, GENERAL and ADELA from the +left._ + +LENOX. Good morning, general; you are "stirring with the lark"--and you +also, Adela. + +GENERAL. The times require the utmost vigilance, Lenox: the enemy cannot +escape a battle now, and we must be prepared at all points to meet him. +Decision and energy cannot fail to promote success. + +ADELA. And what is to become of me, father, in the battle? Am I to ride +the old trooper again, and run the risk of having the tip of my nose +carried away by a musket ball, and left on the field of battle in all my +glory? + +GENERAL. You shall be taken care of, dear Adela; we will place you in +the rear, among the baggage-wagons. + +ADELA. And if they should be captured, I become also a prisoner, and +probably a prize to some gallant Indian chief, who will make me his +squaw, and teach me to kill deer. O delightful thought! + + [_Bugles sound._ + +GENERAL. The troops are under arms, and approaching. + +[_Quick march--the GENERAL, LENOX and ADELA pass to the left, and stand +near the tent; the troops advance; CHRISTINE is among them, dressed in +uniform; they pass round the stage in regular order, then form the line +two deep; CHRISTINE is in front on the right, and keeps her eye fixed +anxiously on LENOX; drum beats the roll; the troops come to an order, +and then proceed through the manual by the tap of drum, and finally to a +present; the GENERAL, LENOX, and other officers advance, and pass +through the line in review; the flags wave, and the band strikes up +"Hail Columbia."_] + +GENERAL. Well--everything is right. And now, soldiers, to your posts; +remember, discipline, subordination, courage, and country, and victory +will be ours. [_GENERAL, LENOX and ADELA, enter the tent to the left. +The troops march off. CHRISTINE and a SOLDIER, headed by a CORPORAL, +return to relieve guard at each tent. Port arms and whisper the +countersign. CHRISTINE is placed before the tent on the right, her +comrade on the left. CORPORAL retires with the two relieved sentries. +After a pause, she beckons to her comrade._] + +CHRISTINE. Hist--comrade! + +SOLDIER. Well, what is it? + +CHRISTINE. Will you exchange places? There is no difference--and the sun +will be too powerful for me presently. Look, here is a dollar. + +SOLDIER. With all my heart. [_They cross quickly, the SOLDIER receives +the money--CHRISTINE now paces before the tent into which LENOX, ADELA +and the GENERAL have retired._] + +CHRISTINE. Could I but see the false, perfidious LENOX, and upbraid him +with his cruelty! [_She is in great uneasiness, pauses occasionally, and +looks into the tent--her comrade is watching her. LENOX sings within._] + + Shall the pleasures of life unknown fade away, + In viewing those charms so lovely and gay? + Shall the heart which has breath'd forth rapturous flame, + Be hid from the world and unsought for by fame? + + Thus spoke the fond Roscoe to Scylla the fair, + As he gaz'd on her charms, with a love-soothing care: + Hear now the last wish, that fondly I sigh, + I'll conquer in love, or in battle I'll die. + + He girded his armour and flew to the field, + Determin'd while life flow'd never to yield; + The foe was subdued, but death's cruel dart + Was aim'd at the valiant and fond Roscoe's heart: + + But the blow was defeated--he lived to enjoy + The sight of his Scylla, no longer so coy, + And his laurels fresh bloom'd, as she smil'd on the youth, + And gave her fair hand in reward for his truth. + +CHRISTINE. Ha, that false voice! I can no longer bear it! [_Throws down +her gun, and is about entering the tent, when her comrade, who has been +attentively regarding her movements, rushes over and seizes her._] + +SOLDIER. Where are you going? + +CHRISTINE. Unhand me this instant! [_Struggles._ + +SOLDIER. Guards, there! + +_Enter an OFFICER with SOLDIERS, who attempts to seize CHRISTINE--she +draws her sword and stands on the defensive, and after some resistance, +escapes._ + +OFFICER. Pursue him quickly! [_SOLDIERS pursue._ + +SOLDIER. He crosses the bridge. + +OFFICER. The sentinels will reach him with their guns. + + [_Muskets discharged._ + +SOLDIER. They have him--he is not hurt. + +_GENERAL, ADELA and LENOX rush from the tent._ + +GENERAL. What means this confusion? + +2ND OFFICER. The sentinel who was placed here on duty, attempted, for +some desperate purpose, to enter your tent; but being discovered, he +refused to surrender, drew his sword on me and the guard, and, after +some resistance, has been disarmed and secured. + +LENOX. Good heavens! What object could he have had? + +2ND OFFICER. I know not--but he is a new recruit, probably a spy from +the enemy. + +GENERAL. It must be so--see that a court martial be called to try him, +and bring the result to me without delay. If he is guilty, a dreadful +example shall be made of him. Begone. + + [_Exeunt GENERAL, SOLDIERS, &c._ + + +SCENE III. _Another Part of the Camp._ + +_Enter JASPER, JERRY and PEASANTS._ + +JASPER. Nowhere to be found. I have asked everybody in the camp in +vain--she is lost to me. Unhappy, cruel girl! to quit her old and fond +father thus. + +JERRY. Unhappy girl! to leave me in such an ungenteel manner too, run +away from me on my wedding day! but I'll find her out. + +JASPER. Impossible! we must return, dejected and disappointed. + +JERRY. I'll peep into every tent, bribe the sogers--I've got a little +money left. [_JASPER and PEASANTS retire. CORPORAL crosses the stage._] +Hist, corporal! + +CORPORAL. Well, what would you? + +JERRY. Why no, sure--it isn't--yes, it is--why Corporal Flash, how do +you do? Don't you know me? + +CORPORAL. Can't say I do, sir. + +JERRY. Why, not know Jerry Mayflower? Don't you remember me at the +battle of Queenstown, when you were in the boat and I on land, and you +were crossing to fight Johnny Bull, and I didn't cross at all? + +CORPORAL. Oh, I remember you now--I remember calling you a cowardly +rascal at the time. + +JERRY. So you did--how have you been? I am very glad to see you--you're +not killed, I take it? + +CORPORAL. No, not exactly killed--but I was wounded--an honour which you +didn't seem to care much about. + +JERRY. No, not much; I'm not very ambitious that way. + +CORPORAL. What brings you to the camp, just when we are about having +another brush with the enemy--do you want to run away again? Zounds! you +deserve a round hundred at the halberts. + +JERRY. Yes, I deserve many things that I don't get--but pray, corporal, +mout you have seen a young woman in this here camp lately? + +CORPORAL. Oh, plenty, among the suttlers. + +JERRY. No, a kind of a pretty girl, a little lady-like, parlyvoos, and +carries her head up straight. + +CORPORAL. No--I've seen no such person. + +JERRY. Well, Corporal Flash, I've a little cash, and what say you to a +jug of whiskey punch? Brave men, you know, like you and I, should drink +with one another. + +CORPORAL. With all my heart; you're good for nothing else but to drink +with. + +JERRY. Then come along, my boy; we'll drown care, raise our spirits, and +swallow the enemy in a bumper. + + [_Exeunt._ + + +SCENE IV. _A Prison._ + +_Enter two OFFICERS, GUARDS and CHRISTINE. OFFICERS seat themselves at a +table, with pens and ink._ + +1ST OFFICER. Young man, come forward. You have been charged with an act +of mutiny, and with an attempt, for some unknown cause, to force your +way, with arms in your hand, into the tent of the commanding general. We +are convened for your trial--we have examined the testimony; and as you +are a stranger in our ranks, no feelings of prejudice could have given a +false colouring to that testimony. What have you to say? + +CHRISTINE. Nothing. + +OFFICER. Nothing? + +CHRISTINE. Nothing! [_With firmness._] I am guilty! + +OFFICER. Have a care, pause before you make this avowal of your guilt. + +CHRISTINE. [_With settled firmness._] I have considered it well, and am +ready to meet the consequences. I am guilty. [_With a burst of +anguish._] Oh, most guilty! + +OFFICER. Unhappy young man, what could have tempted you to this act? Who +set you on? + +CHRISTINE. Seek not to know the cause, 'tis buried here. Do your duty--I +am prepared for the result. + +OFFICER. [_To the Board._] The charge is fully admitted, and the rules +of war prescribe the punishment. The object he had in view must yet be +discovered; 'tis plain, however, that he is a spy, and has no hope of +pardon. Record the verdict and sentence, for the inspection and +concurrence of the general. [_OFFICER writes. The company rise from the +table, and one approaches CHRISTINE, who appears buried in thought._] + +OFFICER. Young man, I deeply commiserate your unhappy situation, but the +rules of war are rigid, and must be enforced. You must prepare to die! + +CHRISTINE. [_Starts, but recovers herself quickly._] I am ready. + +OFFICER. I would offer you hope, but acts of mutiny, and when covering +such suspicious motives as yours, cannot be pardoned. You have but a day +to live. I deeply regret it, for you appear to have qualities which, in +time, would have made you a valuable citizen. You are cut off in youth, +probably from the hopes of a fond parent. + +CHRISTINE. [_In agony._] Oh, no more--no more! + +OFFICER. All the sympathy and indulgence which can be offered you shall +be yours! Farewell. + + [_Exit OFFICERS, GUARDS, &c._ + +CHRISTINE. At length 'tis concluded, and an ignominious death terminates +my unmerited sufferings. Cruel father! and still more cruel Lenox! thus +to have wounded the heart that loved you. Oh, what a situation is mine! +separated from all I hold dear, sentenced to die, and in this disguise; +to leave my poor father, and to know that death, alone, can tell my sad +story. What's to be done? Discover all? No, no. Expose my weakness and +folly--to see the false Lenox wedded to another, and I forced to accept +the hand I loathe--to be pointed at for one who, lost to the delicacy of +her sex, followed a perfidious lover in disguise, and, tortured by +jealousy, enlisted, was mutinous, and sentenced to die; but who, to save +a miserable life, avowed her situation, and recorded her disgrace at +once? Never, never! let me die, and forever be forgotten--'tis but a +blow, and it will end the pangs which torment me here. [_Enter a +SOLDIER, who beckons._] I am ready, lead the way. + + [_Exit._ + + +SCENE V. _Another part of the Prison._ + +_Enter the JAILOR, driving JERRY before him._ + +JAILOR. In, in, you mutinous dog! do you come here to breed a riot in +our camp? + +JERRY. Now, my dear good-natured jailor, only have pity on me, and I'll +tell you all about it. + +JAILOR. I won't hear you--didn't you breed a riot? + +JERRY. Why no, it was not me. I am as innocent as a young lamb. I'll +tell you how it was--come, sit down on this bench with me. [_They sit._] +You must know that I'm a farmer, pretty well off, as a body mout say, +and I wanted a wife; hard by our village, there lived an old soger with +a pretty daughter, so I courted the old man for his daughter, and he +consented to the match. + +JAILOR. Well? + +JERRY. And so I got together all my neighbours, and, with music, went to +the old soger's to get my sweetheart, when, lo and behold! after all my +trouble, she refused me plump. + +JAILOR. No, did she? + +JERRY. Ay, indeed; she didn't seem stricken with the proposal--and for +fear her father would force her to marry me, egad, she run away. + +JAILOR. And where did she go? + +JERRY. I can't say, but her father and a whole _posse comitatus_, as we +justices call 'em, went in search of her to the camp, and when I came +here, I found some of my old comrades who fought with me at Queenstown; +and so having a little money, we went to take a comfortable pitcher of +whiskey punch together, and so, while over our cups, they doubted my +valour, and hinted that I run away before the battle. + +JAILOR. Well, and what did you do? + +JERRY. Why, I offered to fight 'em single-handed all round, and we got +into a dispute, and so when my money was all gone, they tweaked my nose, +boxed my ears, and kick'd me out of the tent. So I then kick'd up a row, +and--that's all. + +JAILOR. A very pretty story, indeed! You look like a mutinous dog--so +come, get into the black hole. + +JERRY. Now, my dear jailor, do let me escape, and I'll give you the +prettiest little pig in my farmyard. + +JAILOR. What! bribe an honest and humane jailor, and with a pig? In with +you. + +JERRY. Well, but I've nothing to eat--I shall be half starved. + +JAILOR. Oh no, you shall have something to employ your grinders on. +[_Goes out, and returns with a black loaf, and a pitcher of water._] +There! + +JERRY. O dear, nothing else but black bread and cold water? Can't you +get me a pickle? + +JAILOR. I think you're in a devil of a pickle already--come, get in! +[_Removes a board from the scene, which discovers a small dark hole. +JERRY supplicates._] + +JERRY. How long am I to be here, Mr. Jailor, in company with myself? + +JAILOR. That depends on your good behaviour. [_Cannon are heard._] +There! the battle has commenced. + +JERRY. [_Putting his head out of the hole._] O dear, what's that? The +great guns are going off. Are you sure, my dear jailor, that this prison +is bomb proof? + +JAILOR. Take your head in, you great land turtle. + +JERRY. Oh, what will become of me? + +_End of the Second Act._ + + + + +ACT III. + + +_Scene in front of a pavilion tent; trumpets and drums sounding._ + +_Enter GENERAL, LENOX, SOLDIERS, OFFICERS, &c._ + +GENERAL. At length victory has crown'd our arms, and the result of this +action will keep alive the spirits of our troops, and the hopes of our +country. Hark! the bugles are sounding a retreat, and the enemy has +abandoned the field and taken to his entrenchments. Lenox, your +hand--your conduct this day has confirmed our hopes--allow me in the +name of our country to thank you. + +LENOX. Not a word, dear general, not a word; I have merely done my duty, +and done no more than every soldier in our ranks. + +GENERAL. What is the result of this day's action? + +LENOX. The enemy has lost upwards of 500 in killed and wounded, and +several principal officers have been taken prisoners. + +GENERAL. In what position were they when the attack became general? + +LENOX. The British commander, pressed by our artillery under Towson, +issued in all his force from his entrenchments. It was a gallant sight, +to see his solid columns and burnished arms advance on the margin of the +river, and his cavalry, with lightning's force, dart on our flanks to +turn and throw them into confusion: but they were met by the volunteers +under the brave Porter, and gallantly repulsed. + +GENERAL. Go on. + +LENOX. The enemy then condensed his forces and crossed the bridge, and +was encountered on the plains of Chippewa by Scott, with his brigade, +when the action became severe and general. No ambuscade or masked +batteries were held in reserve--the enemy was not a moment concealed +from our view--no tangled thicket or umbrageous groves gave effect or +facility to our rifles: the battle was fought on a plain--where man +grappled man, force was opposed to force, skill to skill, and eye to +eye, in regular, disciplined, and admirable order. + +GENERAL. How near were you to the British general? + +LENOX. In sight and hearing. Charge the Yankees! said a hoarse voice +which I knew to be his. Charge away! said our ardent troops, as they +advanced with fixed bayonets; the fire became dreadful, and our stars +and stripes were seen waving in the blaze. Scott rode through the lines +cheering the men, and gallantly leading them on; Jessup and his third +battalion turned the right flank of the enemy after a dreadful conflict; +Ketchum had kept up a cross and ruinous fire; and Towson, from his dread +artillery, scattered grape like hail amongst them. On, on! cried +Leavenworth, the day's our own, my boys! Just then a shot struck down my +comrade, Harrison, and shattered his leg. + +GENERAL. Well? + +LENOX. He grasped his sword and fought on his stump, clinging to the +spot like fire-eyed Mars; the enemy, pressed on all sides, gave way; our +troops pursued, and the flight became general. At length we drove them +to their entrenchments, and remained masters of the field. Our trumpets +sounded their retreat; victory perched on our eagles, and our bands +struck up the soul-inspiring air of "Hail, Columbia, happy land!" + +GENERAL. Well done, my brave fellows! This action will teach the enemy +to respect that valour which they cannot subdue. See that the wounded +prisoners are taken care of: give them all succor: victory loses half +its value, when it is not tempered with mercy. + + [_Exit GENERAL._ + +LENOX. Now to my dear Christine, to receive from her the reward which I +hope I have fairly earned, and seek with her the joys of tranquillity +and love. + +_Enter a SOLDIER._ + +SOLDIER. Towards the conclusion of the battle we made two Indian +warriors prisoners, who were fighting desperately; we have them with us. + +LENOX. Bring them in; I will examine them, touching the number and force +of their tribe. [_Exit SOLDIER, who returns with PENDRAGON and LAROLE, +with a file of men; both are painted and dressed as Indians; PENDRAGON +preserves his opera-glass, and LAROLE his snuff-box._] + +PENDRAGON. What are we brought here for, fellow? + +LENOX. Warriors, the fate of battle has placed you in our power; yet +fear nothing, we shall treat you like men and soldiers. Deeply do we +regret to see you take up arms against us, instigated by foreign +influence, and bribed by foreign gold. How numerous is your tribe? + +PENDRAGON. Why what the devil, sir, do you take us for Choctaws? Can't +you tell a man of fashion in masquerade? + +LENOX. Who and what are you? + +PENDRAGON. I am the honourable Captain Pendragon, of his Majesty's +Coldstream guards. + +LENOX. The _honourable_ Captain Pendragon, and taken prisoner fighting +in the ranks with Indians, and in disguise? A man of rank and fashion, +and a soldier, changing his complexion, his nature and his +character--herding with savages--infuriating their horrid passions, and +whetting their knives and tomahawks against their defenceless prisoners? +Impossible! And who are you, sir? [_To LAROLE._ + +LAROLE. [_Taking snuff._] Begar, sair, I am von man of fashion aussi, I +am valet de sham to capitain Pendragoon; ve are in de masquerade, sair. + +PENDRAGON. It's very true, sir, 'pon honour--we are in masquerade, +though you look as if you doubt it. War, sir, is a kind of a--a singular +science, and if you are to be knock'd on the head, 'tis of very little +consequence whether your nose is tipped with blue or red, damme. I am in +your power, sir, and a man of fashion, 'pon honour. + +LENOX. Well, sir, if your example is to govern men of honour or men of +fashion, I hope I am ignorant of the attributes of the one, or the +eccentricities of the other. However, mercy to prisoners, even when they +have forfeited mercy, may teach your nation lessons of toleration and +humanity. Your life is safe, sir. + +PENDRAGON. Sir, you speak very like a gentleman, and I shall be happy to +taste Burgundy with you at the Horse Guards. + +LENOX. I thank you, sir. + +LAROLE. Par example, dis Yankee Doodel is von very pretti spoken jeune +gentiman, I will give him de encouragement. Sair, I vill be ver happy to +serve you en my contree, to take un tasse de caffee at de Palais Royale +en Paris wid you, to dress your hair, or pull your corset tight. + +_Enter GENERAL, ADELA and OFFICER._ + +GENERAL. Who have we here? + +LENOX. Prisoners, sir, and in disguise. + +ADELA. As I live, an Indian dandy! + +PENDRAGON. A lady? [_With an air of fashion._] Ma'am, your most devoted +slave--inexpressibly happy to find a beautiful creature in this damn'd +wilderness. You see, ma'am, I am a kind of a prisoner, but always at +home, always at my ease, _a-la-mode_ St. James--extremely rejoiced to +have the honour of your acquaintance. A fine girl, LaRole, split me! + +LAROLE. Oh, oui, she is very fine, I like her ver mush. + +ADELA. Pray, sir, may I ask how came you to fancy that disguise? + +PENDRAGON. Oh, it's not my fancy, 'pon honour, though I am one of the +fancy; a mere _russe de guerre_. We on the other side of the water, have +a kind of floating idea that you North Americans are half savages, and +we must fight you after your own fashion. + +ADELA. And have you discovered that any difference exists in the last +affair in which you have been engaged? + +PENDRAGON. Why, 'pon my soul, ma'am, this Yankee kind of warfare is +inexpressibly inelegant, without flattery--no order--no military +arrangement--no _deploying_ in solid columns--but a kind of +helter-skelter warfare, like a reel or a country-dance at a village inn, +while the house is on fire. + +ADELA. Indeed? + +PENDRAGON. All true, I assure you. Why, do you know, ma'am, that one of +your common soldiers was amusing himself with shooting at me for several +minutes, although he saw from my air, and my dodging, that I was a man +of fashion? Monstrous assurance! wasn't it? + +ADELA. Why ay, it was rather impertinent for a common soldier to attempt +to bring down a man of fashion. + +LAROLE. Oui--it is dam impertinent, mai par example, de littel bullet of +von common soldat, he sometime kill von great general. + +PENDRAGON. Pray, ma'am, will you permit me to ask, when you arrived from +England, and what family has the honour to boast of so beautiful a +representative? + +ADELA. Sir, I am not of England, I stand on my native soil. + +PENDRAGON. Oh. + +ADELA. And much as I esteem English women for their many amiable +qualities, I hope that worth and virtue are not wholly centered in that +country. + +PENDRAGON. Why, 'pon my soul, ma'am, though it is not fashionable this +year to be prejudiced, yet were I to admit that I saw any beauty or +elegance in America, my Bond-Street friends would cut me--split me! + +ADELA. I cannot admire their candour. Merit is the exclusive property of +no country, and to form a just estimate of our own advantages, we should +be ever prepared to admit the advantages possessed by others. + +_Enter a SOLDIER._ + +SOLDIER. We have surprised and made captive the celebrated Indian chief, +who fought so desperately against us. + +GENERAL. Bring him before us. [_Exit SOLDIER._] He has long been the +terror of the neighbourhood, and the crafty foe of our country. + +_Enter SOLDIERS with the INDIAN CHIEF._ + +INDIAN. Who among you is the chief of these pale-faced enemies of our +race? + +GENERAL. I am he. + +INDIAN. 'Tis well, sir; behold in me your captive, who has fallen into +your power after a resistance becoming a warrior. I am ready to meet +that death which I know awaits me. + +GENERAL. Chief, your fears are groundless; we intend you no harm, but by +our example, teach you the blessings of valour and mercy united. + +INDIAN. Wherefore show me mercy? I ask it not of you.--Think you that I +cannot bear the flames? that a warrior shrinks from the uplifted +tomahawk? Try me--try how a great soul can smile on death. Or do you +hope that I will meanly beg a life, which fate and evil fortune has +thrown into your hands? + +GENERAL. We ask no concessions of you, warrior; we wish to see you +sensible of the delusions into which foreign nations have plunged you. +We wish to see you our friend. + +INDIAN. Your friend? Call back the times which we passed in liberty and +happiness, when in the tranquil enjoyment of unrestrained freedom we +roved through our forests, and only knew the bears as our enemy; call +back our council fires, our fathers and pious priests; call back our +brothers, wives and children, which cruel white men have +destroyed.--Your friend? You came with the silver smile of peace, and we +received you into our cabins; we hunted for you, toiled for you; our +wives and daughters cherished and protected you; but when your numbers +increased, you rose like wolves upon us, fired our dwellings, drove off +our cattle, sent us in tribes to the wilderness, to seek for shelter; +and now you ask me, while naked and a prisoner, to be your friend! + +GENERAL. We have not done this, deluded man; your pretended advocates, +over the great waters, have told you this tale. + +INDIAN. Alas! it is a true one; I feel it here; 'tis no fiction: I was +the chief of a great and daring tribe, which smiled on death with +indifference and contempt; my cabin was the seat of hospitality and of +love; I was first in council, and first in the field; my prosperity +increased, my prospects brightened; but the white man came, and all was +blasted. + +GENERAL. What has been done, was the result of war. + +INDIAN. Wherefore wage war against us? Was not your territory +sufficiently ample, but did you sigh for our possessions? Were you not +satisfied with taking our land from us, but would you hunt the lords of +the soil into the den of the otter? Why drive to desperation a free and +liberal people? Think you I would be your enemy unless urged by powerful +wrongs? No, white man, no! the Great Spirit whom we worship, is also the +God whom you adore; for friends we cheerfully lay down our lives; but +against foes, our lives are staked with desperation. Had I taken you +prisoner, death should have been your portion; death in cruel torments. +Then why spare me? why spare the man whose knife was whetted against +your life? + +GENERAL. To show, by contrast, the difference of our principles. You +would strike down the captive who implores your protection: we tender +life and liberty to the prisoner, who asks himself for death. + +INDIAN. Is this your vengeance? + +GENERAL. It is. The Great Spirit delights in mercy. Be thou our friend, +warrior; bury thy tomahawk deep in earth; let not jealous foreigners +excite thy vengeance against us; but living as we do in one territory, +let us smoke the calumet of peace, you and all your tribe, and let +concord hereafter reign amongst us.--Be this the token. + + [_Gives a belt of wampum._ + +INDIAN. Brother, I accept the token; forgive my rage, and pardon my +unjust anger. Protect our warriors and wives; guard their wigwams from +destruction; soften their prejudices and remove their jealousies. Do +this, and the red man is your friend. I have urged you far to end my +life: you have tempered your passions with mercy, and we are no longer +foes. Farewell! + + [_Exit._ + +LAROLE Parbleu, dis general is like von great Roman. I vill speak von +vord pour myself, I vill make de speech like de sauvage. + +GENERAL. [_To LAROLE._] And you, sir, it appears, are in disguise, +unlike a civilized soldier; you have been taken in the ranks with +Indians. + +LAROLE. Sair, mon general, you sall here vat I am goin to say. I am von +Frenchiman; in my contree every Frenchiman he is von soldat. + +GENERAL. Well? + +LAROLE. Begar, sair, I must fight vid somebody, because it is my +bisness. In de Egypt I did fight 'gainst de Turc; in Europe I did fight +de whole vorld vis de Grand Napoleon, and in Amerique I did fight +against you vid myself. Mais, you take a me de prisonier, I can fight no +more; I vill trow myself on de protection of dis contree; I vill no more +fight contree de Yankee Doodel; I vill stay here and eat de ros beef vid +you, and mon capitain la, he may go to de devil. + +GENERAL. Admirably concluded. And you, sir, what can we do to lighten +your captivity? + +PENDRAGON. Why sir, if war was not my profession, I'd sell out; but it's +always my maxim to obey orders, whatever they may be: therefore, shall +be happy to have a brush with you in war, and equally happy to crack a +bottle of Burgundy with you in peace; a flash in the pan in one way, or +a puff from a segar in another; a bullet under the ribs in battle, or a +country dance in a ball-room; all's one to me, if it's only fashionably +conducted. + +GENERAL. Well, let's into my tent and partake of some refreshment. We +may not always meet as enemies. + +PENDRAGON. [_To ADELA._] Allow me the felicity of your little finger. +[_Aside._] She's struck with my figure, split me! LaRole, take notice. + +LAROLE. Oh, you are de littel devil among de ladies. + + [_Exeunt._ + + +SCENE II. _A Prison._ + +_CHRISTINE seated on a bench; her appearance betrays grief and despair._ + +CHRISTINE. At length the weary night has passed away, and day dawns, but +brings no joy or comfort to my aching heart. Alas! alas! Christine, +where are all the bright visions thy fond fancy painted? where is that +content and love which gleamed through the casement of our cottage, when +my dear father smiled on his child, and entwined around her his +protecting arms: when the false Lenox, too, with honeyed lips, and tones +soft as zephyrs, vow'd eternal love? Let me not think of them, or I +shall go mad. Oh, what a contrast! pent up in a vile prison, and in +disguise! condemned to die, and perishing unknown and unprotected. On +the one side, my grave yawns for me; and on the other, a false lover, +and a cruel father, drive me to despair. My brain is on fire! [_Hurries +about with rapid strides. Music loud and violent._] Ha! what is this? +[_Tears the miniature from around her neck._] Lenox, these are thy +features! thy mild looks beam hope and joy upon me. [_Kisses it._] Could +such a face be false? Away with it! even now he weds another. [_Throws +the miniature indignantly from her._] So, 'tis gone, and I am left alone +in darkness and despair. [_She stands transfixed with grief--muffled +drum rolls--she starts._] Ha! they come for me! Be firm, my heart! + +_Enter an OFFICER and a file of SOLDIERS._ + +OFFICER. Young man, your hour has arrived; the detachment waits without +to receive you. + +CHRISTINE. [_Faintly._] I am ready. + +OFFICER. Can I serve you in any manner? Is there no letter--no +remembrance that you would wish sent to father or friend? + +CHRISTINE. Oh, forbear! + +SOLDIER. [_Picking up the miniature._] See, sir, here is a miniature. + +OFFICER. [_Examining it._] By Heavens, they are the features of Captain +Lenox! How came you by this? What! a thief too? 'Tis well your career is +cut short. + +CHRISTINE. Oh no, no! Give it me, I implore you; 'tis mine. + +OFFICER. I shall restore it to the rightful owner. Come, we wait. + +CHRISTINE. Lead on. A few fleeting moments, and all my troubles will be +at an end. + + [_Exeunt._ + + +SCENE III. _Before the Tent._ + +_Enter GENERAL, SOLDIERS, &c., with papers._ + +GENERAL. He has not confessed who set him on? + +OFFICER. He has not, but admits the crime. + +GENERAL. [_Returning papers._] 'Tis well--see him executed according to +the sentence. Hard and imperious duty, which, at once, shuts out hope +and mercy! + + [_Exit GENERAL._ + +OFFICER. Now to seek for Lenox, and restore to him his miniature. + + [_Exit._ + + +SCENE IV. _The Camp, as in Act I, Scene III; the stage is thrown open, +drums roll, and the procession enters for the execution of CHRISTINE; +she is in the centre, between the two detachments; her coat is off, and +the stock unloosened from her neck--her step is firm, until she reaches +the tent of LENOX, when she clasps her hands and hangs down her head in +despair. Procession makes the circuit of the stage with slow steps, and +when opposite the tent she kneels; an OFFICER places the bandage over +her eyes, and gives a sign to a detachment of four to advance; they step +forward, and level their muskets at her; at the moment, LENOX rushes +from the tent with the miniature in his hand and strikes up their guns._ + +LENOX. Hold! for your lives! [_Rushes down to CHRISTINE, and tears the +bandage from her eyes._] 'Tis she! 'tis she! 'tis my own, my beloved +Christine! + + [_Holds her in his arms; she faints._ + +2ND OFFICER. What means this? + +LENOX. Stand off, ye cruel executioners, would you destroy a woman? + +OFFICER. A woman? Heavens! how did this happen? + +_Enter GENERAL, ADELA, LAROLE, SOLDIERS, &c._ + +LENOX. Support her, Adela, support my dear Christine! + + [_ADELA assists._ + +CHRISTINE. [_Recovering._] Where am I? [_Sees LENOX and ADELA._] Hide +me, save me from that horrid sight! + +LENOX. Do you not know me, dear Christine? + +CHRISTINE. Traitor, begone! let me die at once! Is she not your bride? + +LENOX. No, by Heavens, no! 'tis my early friend, my dear companion. +Could you doubt my love? + +CHRISTINE. Not married? not your betrothed? O Lenox, are you then +faithful? + +LENOX. Could Christine doubt my vows? + +CHRISTINE. I see it all--I have been deceived. Pardon me, dear Lenox; +but driven to despair by your supposed perfidy, I enlisted, and rushed +on my fate--which in a moment (horrid thought!) would have terminated. +But you are true, and I am happy. + + [_Embrace._ + +LAROLE. Parbleu! it is a littel voman vidout de petticoat. Suppose she +take a me von prisonier, O quell disgrace! + +_Enter JASPER, JERRY and PEASANTS._ + +JASPER. Where is she? where is my daughter? + +CHRISTINE. My father? I dare not look upon him. + +JASPER. Come to my arms, dear wanderer. Could you leave your poor old +father thus? You've nearly broke my heart, Christine. + +CHRISTINE. My sufferings have been equally severe; but do you pardon +your child? + +JASPER. I do--I do! and further prove my love, by making you happy. Take +her, Lenox, she is yours; and never let father attempt to force his +child into a marriage which her heart abhors. + +JERRY. Well, I vow, Miss Crissy, you look very pretty in pantaloons, and +make a fine soger; but after all, I'm glad to have escaped a wife who +wears the breeches before marriage--so I consent that you shall have the +infantry ossifer, because I can't help it; and so I'll marry Patty, the +weaver's daughter, though she can't crack a bottle nor bring down a +buck. + +GENERAL. All things have terminated happily. Our arms have been +triumphant, and our gallant soldiers rewarded with the approbation of +their country. Love has intwined a wreath for your brows, Lenox, and +domestic peace and happiness await you; and when old age draws on apace, +may you remember the PLAINS OF CHIPPEWA, and feel towards Britain as +freemen should feel towards all the world: "_Enemies in war--in peace, +friends._" + +_Finis._ + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's She Would Be a Soldier, by Mordecai Manuel Noah + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SHE WOULD BE A SOLDIER *** + +***** This file should be named 29231.txt or 29231.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/2/3/29231/ + +Produced by David Starner, Brownfox and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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