BRAVE. Four nights have passed And none have seen his face; but all have heard His dreadful tongue, in incantations deep, Fetch horrors up--vile beings flashed from hell, Who fought as devils fight, until the lodge Shook to its base with struggling, and the earth Quaked as, with magic strength, he flung them down. These strove with him for mastery of our fate; But, being foiled, Yohewa has appeared, And, in the darkness of our sacred lodge, Communes with him. TECUMSEH. Our Spirit great and good! He comes not here for nought. What has he promised? BRAVE. Much! for henceforth we are invulnerable. The bullets of the Long-Knives will rebound, Like petty hailstones, from our naked breasts; And, in the misty morns of our attack, Strange lights will shine on them to guide our aim, Whilst clouds of gloom will screen us from their sight. TECUMSEH. The Prophet is a wise interpreter, And all his words, by valour backed, will stand; For valour is the weapon of the soul, More dreaded by our vaunting enemies Than the plumed arrow, or the screaming ball. What wizardry and witchcraft has he found Conspiring 'gainst our people's good? BRAVE. Why, none! Wizard and witch are weeded out, he says; Not one is left to do us hurt. TECUMSEH. 'Tis well! My brother has the eyeball of the horse, And swerves from danger. (_Aside_.) Bid our warriors come! I wait them here. [_Exit_ BRAVE.] The Prophet soon will follow. LEFROY. Now opportunity attend my heart Which waits for Iena! True love's behest, Outrunning war's, will bring her to my arms Ere cease the braves from gasping wonderment. TECUMSEH. First look on service ere you look on love; You shall not see her here. LEFROY. My promises Are sureties of my service-- TECUMSEH. But your deeds, Accomplishments; our people count on deeds. Be patient! Look upon our warriors Roped round with scars and cicatrized wounds, Inflicted in deep trial of their spirit Their skewered sides are proofs of manly souls, Which--had one groan escaped from agony-- Would all have sunk beneath our women's heels, Unfit for earth or heaven. So try your heart, And let endurance swallow all love's sighs. Yoke up your valour with our people's cause, And I, who love your nation, which is just, When deeds deserve it, will adopt you here, By ancient custom of our race, and join Iena's hand to yours. LEFROY. Your own hand first In pledge of this! TECUMSEH. It ever goes with truth! LEFROY. Now come some wind of chance, and show me her But for one heavenly moment! as when leaves Are blown aside in summer, and we see The nested oriole. [_Enter Chiefs and warriors--The warriors cluster around_ TECUMSEH, _shouting and discharging their pieces_.] TECUMSEH. My chiefs and braves! MIAMI CHIEF. Fall back! Fall back! Ye press too close on him. TECUMSEH. My friends! our joy is like to meeting streams, Which draw into a deep and prouder bed. [_Shouts from the warriors_.] DELAWARE CHIEF. Silence, ye braves! let great Tecumseh speak!