Here paused Pamunky’s giant king,
And slowly left the council ring,
And cross’d the hall to the outer door,
And soon returning, gravely bore
A loaded quiver—’twas not fill’d
With barbed shafts that blood had spill’d,
But gorgeous toys of English art
To captivate the savage heart.
While Powhatan with searching eyes
Survey’d the strange and glittering prize,
The chiefs and warriors gather near,
And wait their sovereign’s voice to hear,
And gazing eagerly, meanwhile,
Pour their whole soul upon the pile.
At length the monarch waved his hand,
The warriors backward farther stand,
And turn their ready ear and eye
To catch the words of his reply.
XII.
‘Chiefs and warriors! still to me
‘Our troubled sky looks dark;
‘How often a wasting fire has raged,
‘That sprung from a single spark!
‘This English tree, that shows so fair,
‘Must not in my realm take root,
‘Nor till I better know its stock,
‘Will I partake its fruit.
‘These strangers come in friendly guise,
‘And may for a time prove true,
‘But the day we give them a footing here
‘I fear we long shall rue.
‘Remember Madoc, and beware;
‘Guard well our council-fires,
‘Lest we be doom’d to meet the fate
‘That once befell our sires.’
XIII.
The listening throng, with awe profound,
Of every word drank in the sound;
The voice of Powhatan was law;{[11]}
But in that glittering pile they saw
A charm that had a magic power
They never felt before that hour.
The monarch saw their kindling fire,
And yielded to their strong desire,
And when again they form’d the ring,
He gravely bade Pamunky’s king
Dispense the gifts, and see with care
That each received his proper share.
The chiefs, in dazzling toys array’d,
Each other with delight survey’d,
And turn’d their trinkets in the light,
And danced for joy at the very sight.
The war-cloud from their brows was chased,
And the pale-face foes had been embraced
As friends and brothers, had they been
But in that hall of council then.
But Powhatan’s dark eye of flame
Their ecstacy began to tame,
And when again his voice was heard
No word was spoke, no foot was stirr’d,
While he made known his sovereign will,
And bade them every word fulfil.
He charged them all to sleep at night
On tomahawk and bow,
And to watch by day with eagle eye
The footsteps of the foe;
To keep their arrows pointed well,
Their bow-strings strong and sure,
And see that among them friendship’s chain
Was ever bright and pure:
And then with royal majesty
His mantle around him threw,
And cross’d the hall with stately step,
And silently withdrew.
XIV.
The warrior train soon sunk to rest
On deer-skins spread around;
Each sleeper’s bow was in his hand,
But his sleep was deep and sound.
And now along the eastern sky
The day begins to dawn;
Now twilight breaks upon the hills,
Now on the dewy lawn;
And now across the brightening groves
The sun has pour’d his ray,
And now those warrior chiefs are up,
And each is on his way,
Through rugged woods, by the winding stream,
And across the tangled moor,
Each threading alone the track that leads
To his own cabin door.
END OF CANTO SECOND.