Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-11-17
From ;he New- England GALAXY.
POCAHONTAS.

POCAHONTAS.
Captain John Smith, the hero Of the fol-
lowing poem, and the father OF the colony
Of Virginia, was a man Of romantic genius,
and delighted in daring exploits. In his
youth he studied military history and tao
tics. He embarked for Italy with some pill
grims; tempest obliged them to anchor,
and attributing their unlavorable voyage to
the presence o; Smith, whom they deemed
hereto, they threw him into the sea-but
by swimming, he reached the shore. he
afterwards entered the service OF the en-
peror OF Austria against the Turks, and by
his exploits soon obtained the.command OF
Two hundred and fifty horsemen. AT the
siege of Regal, the Ottomsns sent chal-
enge, purporting that one of their lords, 10
divert the ladies, would fight any OF the
Christian troops. Smith accepted it, and
meeting his antagonist on horseback, in
view of the ladies on the ba,tlements, kill
ed him, and bore away his head. A second
and third met the same fate. he was al
forwards taken prisoner, but killed his ty-
rannical master, and escaped to Russia.
When he returned 10 England, he resolved
10 seek adventures 10 North America, and
arrived with the first emigrants who made
o permanent settlement in Virginia. While
f.. exploring Chickshominy river, he was ia
Rem prisoner, after having killed, with his
own hand, three of the Indians. He was
carried to Powhatan, an Indian king, by
whom he was about 10 be beheaded. when
he was saved by the chiefs favorite daugh-
ter, Pocahontas. .Vide Belknap's I'm. Biog.
The chieftain is bound in the hut Of his foe,
And lar are the friends who should rescue him now
The stone for his head is just plac on the floor,
To pillow the sleep that shall 'waken no more.
What profits him now the renown Of the fight,
When the crest of the n6del how'd to his might.
While the crescent shone dim from afar DER the
plain islam
Where her champions by Smith in the combat were
What avails now the arm thatn combat ne er faild,
Andthe courage ofsoul that in danger ne'er quaird,
When the strife rag'd around him, and none could
Withstand
The dnt of his falchion, the skill Of his hand?
That arm is now weaponless, pinion'd with cords,
4
Is 10 bow to his fate without heaving a sigh,
And descend TO the grave as u soldier should die
Already his head on the stone is repos'd...
Fer the sleep Of the grave now his eyelids are
clos'd.. [ccase
And the weapon is ras'd, with whose falling shall!
The cares of the world, and his mind be at peace.
But ne'er shall ii ail-for one bosom is nigh
That grieves for his fate, and lamens he should die
On maiden! thy name from our minds should efiace
The crimes of thy sire and the guilt of thy race.
Her form DER the chieffain despairing she throws,
While wildly her soft arms his body enclose, blOw,
Shields his head with her own from the fast falling
Aud demands of her father the life Of his foe.
" My father thy bosom let pity once move,
And thine enemy spare for the child of thy love;
For my lite thou shalt take ere his death thou canst
give
Oh my father, consent that thy daughter may live"
Ayhast 81 ands the savage with weapon rails high,
While terror and anger flash fierce from his eye;
While affection and hatred his heart ierceiy rive,
And long in ais bosom for mastery strive.
But affection prevails, and his anger disarms--
His daughter he raises and clasps in his arms
Bids her terrors be soohd for the chief shall return
To the friends who in anguish his destiny mourn
- CO - d. ~ d =: 60 - g.