Now on them silent, and invisible

Steal like the night dew.

[Exeunt Creeks. (The Creeks return, with the Spaniards prisoners.) Tel. Bring them along. You would have caught

us sleeping;

Like vermin, on the roost have suck'd our blood.
The mighty hunters are for once the spoil.

Well, if you had surpris'd us sunk in slumber,
What had our doom been?

Gons.

Death! merciful death,

Compared with your inflictions: ye had died
Untortured, at a blow.

Tel.

I understand ye.

(Makes a sign to one of the Creeks, who retires.) Gons. What can he mean by that?

Tel.

If we had slept, Ungrasp'd these tomahawks, these bows unstrung, Ye would have made our passing rest eternal: Upon death's image stampt your noble vengeance; Then, o'er the dead, clapp'd your triumphant wings, And crow'd your mighty victory: such had been Your mercy, had you found us unprepared ;

Now, witness ours.

The Creeks enter with FERNANDEZ and FLORIO. Gons. Alive!-Yes, 'tis my boy.

(Goes to embrace them.)

Tel. (Stopping him.) A moment's patience, sir:

these are our captives;

Fresh in complexion still, and sound in limb;
Look at them well; you will not find a hair

Of either touch'd, or a scratch on their white skins :
You have a prisoner, sir, of ours: a brave one.
Now burst the dungeon that our chief entombs,
And lead him forth unalter'd.
You've put him to the torture?

What, you cannot.

Well, no matter: Come bring him forth with dislocated bones; If life breathes in him, all may yet be well. Still do you hang the head? Then he is murder'd: Poison'd perhaps, or- butcher'd in his sleep! Why do your haggard eyes thus cleave to the earth; He is not there: you'll find him in the waters.

Gons. (After a pause.) Merciful heav'n! who sent the message?

Tel. I.

Gons. What, that my son was tortur'd?

Tel. Yes, I sent it.

Gons. Wherefore?

Tel. That Raymond's body, as thou doom'dst it,

Might glut the ocean cannibals.

Gons. Thou fiend!

Fern. Horrible!

Flor. Who ever heard of such a devil!

Gons. Oh, Raymond! Raymond !
Tel. Shall I call him for thee?
Raymond, awake! 'tis thine assassin calls;
The noble Spaniard who did stab thee sleeping,
By yonder trembling victim of his power,
Would breath back life into thy mortal wounds.
He will not hear. Raymond, awake!

The wat'ry shroud shake off,

That dins about thine ears; and, like the sun,
Kindling anew from thy sepulchral waves,
Spread forth reanimate.

Enter RAYMOND, Zoa, and Almanza.

Thou? or thy spirit?

Would it were.

Raym. It is no apparition.

Tel.

Gons. (To ABDALLAH.) Did you not tell me,

His freedom was the price for shedding blood,

Shall he have less for sparing it?

Telico- what can you say?

Pot.

Potowmak

Nothing.

Raym. (To TELICO.) - You, sir?

Tel. I was not born to speak at thy commands.

Somewhat thine unexpected presence moved me,

For which, whilst living, I shall spurn myself;

But that is past.

Raym.

Wilt live, and be my friend?
Tel. Never, for I can die thine enemy.
Raym. How have I wrong'd thee?

Tel. Thou hast a white complexion -
Art chieftain of the Creeks-which I would be:
And wouldst be their first warrior

But words are idle.

Gons.

which I am.

Let him speak in groans then.

Tel. Curses, you mean.

An Indian utter groans

It is a language which my mother knew not,
And could not teach it to her son.

'Tis like enough that, with my parting breath,

I

may hiss curses thro' my clenched teeth:

But groans no, never! thro' these closing eyes
My spirit shall look forth with fix'd disdain;
Nor henceforth will I utter more than this-
Living, I hate, and dying, will despise thee.

!

[Exeunt TELICO and POTOWMAK, with Creeks.

Raym. Which of you is Florio?

Flor. I'll answer to that name till I've done something to be asham'd of it.

us.

Raym. The rest are free: you, sir, must stay with

Flor. Pray, sir, have you taken a particular fancy to me?

Raym. Know you this Indian girl? (Taking ALMANZA by the hand, and shewing her to him.)

Flor. Know her, sir? Yes, sir

that is to say, I do not know her; or, to speak more correctly, I know very little about her.

Raym. She claims you as her husband.

Flor. Indeed, sir: she does me a great deal of honour: but there's another lady, named Donna Almanza, daughter to that gentleman, who has a prior claim upon me in that capacity; and as neither your laws nor ours will suffer a gentleman to double the blessings of matrimony, I can't possibly indulge both the ladies.

Alm. You'll contrive that very well, I dare say.

(Aside.) Raym. (To ALMANZA.) Did he not promise to marry you?

Alm. Oh, yes, and swore great oaths.

Flor. Nay, I did make a sort of promise; but curse me if I swore: besides, we were only in jest. Come, come, be an honest wench, and confess we were only in jest.

Alm. Oh, no, it was no jest.