This must alarm and bring him to our Mind. I'll hasten to my Charge with utmost Speed, Strain every Nerve, and every Power exert; Plead, promise, swear like any Christian Trader; But I'll detain them till our Ends are answer'd, And you have won their Father to our Purpose. (Exit. PHILIP [solus). Oh! what a wretched Thing is a Man in Love! All Fear--all Hope--all Diffidence--all Faith-- Distrusts the greatest Strength, depends on Straws-- Soften'd, unprovident, disarm'd, unman'd, Led blindfold; every Power denies its Aid, And every Passion's but a Slave to this; Honour, Revenge, Ambition, Interest, all Upon its Altar bleed--Kingdoms and Crowns Are slighted and condemn'd, and all the Ties Of Nature are dissolv'd by this poor Passion: Once have I felt its Poison in my Heart, When this same Chekitan a Captive led The fair Donanta from the Illinois; I saw, admir'd, and lov'd the charming Maid, And as a Favour ask'd her from his Hands, But he refus'd and sold her for a Slave. My Love is dead, but my Resentment lives, And now's my Time to let the Flame break forth, For while I pay this ancient Debt of Vengeance, I'll serve my Country, and advance myself. He loves Monelia--Hendrick must be won-- Monelia and her Brother both must bleed-- This is my Vengeance on her Lover's Head-- Then I'll affirm, 'twas done by Englishmen-- And to gain Credit both with Friends and Foes, I'll wound myself, and say that I receiv'd it By striving to assist them in the Combat. This will rouse Hendrick's Wrath, and arm his Troops To Blood and Vengeance on the common Foe. And further still my Profit may extend; My Brother's Rage will lead him into Danger, And, he cut off, the Empire's all my own. Thus am I fix'd; my Scheme of Goodness laid, And I'll effect it, tho' thro' Blood I wade, To desperate Wounds apply a desperate Cure, And to tall Structures lay Foundations sure; To Fame and Empire hence my Course I bend, And every Step I take shall thither tend. (End of the Second Act.)

Chekitan Monologue from Ponteach; Or, The Savages of America

Rehearse Chekitan's monologue