X.
Sir John knew well the monarch’s pride
And firm unbending will,
And well he knew ’twere vain to seek
His purpose to fulfil;
He therefore urged his suit no more,
But at the chief’s request,
Consented to abide till morn,
And in his lodge to rest.
And soundly slept Sir John that night
Upon his deer-skin bed,
With hand upon his broadsword hilt
And pistol by his head.
And the first red morning ray that came,
Bright gleaming o’er the plain,
Beheld him on the forest route
To Jamestown’s homes again.
XI.
A week of winter storms had pass’d,
And brighter days now shone,
And Powhatan no longer sat
In his winter lodge alone,
But in his council-hall appear’d
Among his warriors bold;
And all his chiefs were gather’d there,
A council-talk to hold.
And long about those royal gifts
They talk’d with solemn air;
Gifts from a land beyond the sea,
Which only kings might wear;
And many questions had been raised,
And many doubts remain’d,
What secret charm for good or ill
Those wondrous gifts contain’d.
But ere those doubts were half resolved,
While yet the talk went on,
One of the outer guard rush’d in,
Exclaiming that Sir John
And fifty of his pale-face tribe,
All marching in a file
Across the woods, with shining arms,
Were now within a mile
Of the council-hall. An instant fire
Flash’d from each warrior’s eye,
But there was no tumultuous rush,
No shout or battle-cry;
With knitted brow and silent step
Each seized his club and bow,
And girded on his scalping-knife;
And now in one grim row,
A hundred warriors arm’d for death,
And led by their great king,
Before the council-hall appear,
And wait what fate may bring.
XII.
And soon the pale-face men came out,
And halted by the wood,
Their bright guns gleaming in their hands,
Facing the hall they stood,
While brave Sir John, like an armed knight,
March’d forward and alone,
And his errand and his company
To Powhatan made known.
He told him that his men had come
King James’s gifts to bear,
And that the captain of the sea
Stood with his warriors there;
And all things were in readiness,
If it pleased his sovereign will,
The high behest of great King James
In the crowning to fulfil.
A sharp glance then the monarch sent
To the borders of the wood,
And ask’d Sir John to point him out
Where that sea-captain stood.
And on him long and steadily
He fix’d his eagle ken,
To learn if that strange captain look’d
Like other pale-face men.
At last the monarch gave consent
For the gifts to be convey’d
To the council-hall: but only four
Of the armed men should aid
The captain and Sir John; the rest
Should strictly be compell’d
To stay beside the distant wood,
While the royal rite was held.
XIII.
And now within the council-hall,
And by the monarch’s throne,
Around in rich profusion spread,
The royal presents shone.
There stood Sir John with four arm’d men,
And the captain of the sea,
But the monarch’s warriors in the hall
Were a hundred men and three.
The queens of twenty tribes appear,
And in their midst they bring
Two maidens bright to grace the scene,
The daughters of the king.
And there in his great dignity
Sat Powhatan alone,
In the broad circle that was made
Around the monarch’s throne;
And while his people peer’d and press’d
Those splendid gifts to see,
He never moved his princely eyes,
But kept his dignity.
And when Sir John the signal gave
For the monarch to come down,
And, standing by the throne, receive
The robe of state and crown,
With motion slow and lofty air
He stepp’d upon the floor,
And as he pass’d, with careless eye
He glanced the presents o’er.
XIV.
Then took Sir John the robe of state
And gave it to the king;
And now with look of majesty
He eyed the curious thing;
And felt it o’er and o’er again—
As soft and fine it seems
As any beaver’s fur that lives
Beside his woodland streams.
And much the color fills his eye;
A shade so pure and bright,
In any work of art before,
Had never met his sight.
And now the captain and Sir John
The robe of state unfold,
With outstretch’d arms and lifted hands
Aloft the fabric hold;
And while the monarch’s noble form
They wrap the vesture round,
Its many broad and shining folds
Sweep gracefully the ground.
Stately the monarch walks the hall
And turns from side to side,
And all his men and warriors stand
And look with awe and pride.