Plays, Prose and Poetry (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1848 Excerpt: ... THE FOREST PRINCESS, TWO CENTURIES AGO. AN HISTORICAL PLAY, IN THREE PARTS. in To the official courtesy and kindness of our minister, the Hon. Edward Everett, and to the facilities afforded by that admirable institution, the Library of the British Museum, I am indebted for the historical details of this play. It would appear only an affectation of pedantry to name the works, (at least twenty in number, ) which were consulted previous to the writing of this ephemeral production. London, 1844. INTRODUCTION. The lack of intelligible chronicles has left the early history of the red men imperfect; the prejudice and injustice of their disposaessors have too often falsified or obscured their traditions; and the various dialects and rapid disappearance of many tribes render perishable the historic songs some rude Homer may have chanted. The life of Pocahontas is an exception to this rule: the great charm of all connected with her is its certainty and truth. All the particulars of her biography are confirmed by relatively distant and unimpeachable testimony, recorded by writers who, (so far from adding to narrative a single charm, ) by their uncouth style and barren enumeration of events denude them of all beauty save their intrinsic worth. While the mere fact that some of the most worthy families in our land are the living descendants of Pocahontas, gives an almost prosaic reality to her existence. Considered in her individual career, Pocahontas stands forth from first to last the animated type of mercy and peace, unselfishness and truth. Her benevolence, (of which the limits of this play can record but a small part, ) is neither a momentary impulse nor a cold system of utility: it is a warm, all-pervading and abiding principle. Her life was pure, active, and affectio