The Indian Princess Part 8

Well, my dusky dear, how could you like such a man as I am?

NIMA. Are you a man?

ROBIN. I'll convince you of it some day. Hark ye, my dear.

[_Attempts to whisper._

NIMA. Ah! don't bite.

ROBIN. Bite! what do you take me for?

NIMA. A rac.o.o.n.

ROBIN. A rac.o.o.n! Why so?

NIMA. You run up the tree. [_Motions as if climbing._

LARRY. Well said, my little pagan Pythagoras!-- Ha! ha!

ROBIN. Hum! [_Retires disconcerted._

_ROLFE and PERCY come forward._

ROLFE. Tell me, in sooth, didst ever mark such sweetness!

Such winning--such bewitching gentleness!

PERCY. What, caught, my flighty friend, love-lim'd at last?

O Cupid, Cupid! thou'rt a skilful birder.

Although thou spread thy net, i' the wilderness, Or shoot thy bird-bolt from an Indian bow, Or place thy light in savage ladies' eyes, Or pipe thy call in savage ladies' voices, Alas! each tow'ring tenant of the air Must fall heart pierc'd--or stoop, at thy command, To sigh his sad notes in thy cage, O Cupid!

ROLFE. A truce; a truce! O friend, her guiltless breast Seems Love's pavilion, where, in gentle sleep, The unrous'd boy has rested. O my Percy!

Could I but wake the slumb'rer--

PERCY. Nay, i' faith, Take courage; thou hast given the alarm: Methinks the drowsy G.o.d gets up apace.

ROLFE. Say'st thou?

SMITH. Come, gentlemen, we'll toward the town.

NANTAQUAS. My sister, you will now return to our father.

PRINCESS. Return, my brother?

NANTAQUAS. Our father lives but while you are near him. Go, my sister, make him happy with the knowledge of his son's happiness. Farewell, my sister!

[_The PRINCESS appears dejected._

SMITH. Once more, my guardian angel, let me thank thee.

[_Kissing her hand._ Ere long we will return to thee, with presents Well worth a princess' and a king's acceptance.

Meantime, dear lady, tell the good Powhatan We'll show the prince such grace and entertainment, As shall befit our brother and his son.

Adieu, sweet sister.

_Music. They take leave of the PRINCESS; she remains silently dejected; her eyes anxiously follow ROLFE, who lingers behind, and is the last to take leave._

PRINCESS. Stranger, wilt thou too come to Werocomoco?

ROLFE. Dost thou wish it, lady?

PRINCESS. [_Eagerly._] O yes!

ROLFE. And why, lovely lady?

PRINCESS. My eyes are pleased to see thee, and my ears to hear thee, stranger.

ROLFE. And did not the others who were here also please thy sight and hearing?

PRINCESS. Oh! they were all goodly; but--their eyes looked not like thine; their voices sounded not like thine; and their speeches were not like thy speeches, stranger.

ROLFE. Enchanting simplicity! But why call me stranger? Captain Smith thou callest brother. Call me so too.

PRINCESS. Ah, no!

ROLFE. Then thou thinkest not of me as thou dost of him? [_She shakes her head and sighs._] Is Captain Smith dear to thee?

PRINCESS. Oh yes! very dear; [_ROLFE is uneasy._] and Nantaquas too: they are my brothers;--but--that name is not thine--thou art--

ROLFE. What, lovely lady?

PRINCESS. I know not; I feel the name thou art, but I cannot speak it.

ROLFE. I am thy lover, dear princess.

PRINCESS. Yes, thou art my lover. But why call me princess?

ROLFE. Dear lady, thou art a king's daughter.

PRINCESS. And if I were not, what wouldst thou call me?

ROLFE. Oh! if thou wert a beggar's, I would call thee love!

PRINCESS. I know not what a beggar is; but oh! I would I were a beggar's daughter, so thou wouldst call me love. Ah! do not longer call me king's daughter. If thou feelest the name as I do, call me as I call thee: thou shalt be _my_ lover; I will be _thy_ lover.

ROLFE. Enchanting, lovely creature! [_Kisses her ardently._

PRINCESS. Lover, thou hast made my cheek to burn, and my heart to beat!

Mark it.

ROLFE. Dear innocence! [_Putting his hand to her heart._

PRINCESS. Lover, why is it so? To-day before my heart beat, and mine eyes were full of tears; but then my white brother was in danger. Thou art not in danger, and yet behold--[_Wipes a tear from her eye._] Besides, then, my heart hurt me, but now! Oh, now!--Lover, why is it so?