the complete writings-3-第52章
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news came to the fort much was their sorrow for his losse； fewe expecting what ensued。 A month those Barbarians kept him prisoner； many strange triumphs and conjurations they made of him； yet he so demeaned himselfe amongst them； as he not only diverted them from surprising the Fort； but procured his own liberty； and got himselfe and his company such estimation amongst them； that those Salvages admired him as a demi…God。 So returning safe to the Fort； once more staied the pinnas her flight for England； which til his returne could not set saile； so extreme was the weather and so great the frost。〃
The first allusion to the salvation of Captain Smith by Pocahontas occurs in a letter or 〃little booke〃 which he wrote to Queen Anne in 1616； about the time of the arrival in England of the Indian Princess； who was then called the Lady Rebecca； and was wife of John Rolfe； by whom she had a son； who accompanied them。 Pocahontas had by this time become a person of some importance。 Her friendship had been of substantial service to the colony。 Smith had acknowledged this in his 〃True Relation；〃 where he referred to her as the 〃nonpareil〃 of Virginia。 He was kind…hearted and naturally magnanimous； and would take some pains to do the Indian convert a favor； even to the invention of an incident that would make her attractive。 To be sure； he was vain as well as inventive； and here was an opportunity to attract the attention of his sovereign and increase his own importance by connecting his name with hers in a romantic manner。 Still； we believe that the main motive that dictated this epistle was kindness to Pocahontas。 The sentence that refers to her heroic act is this： 〃After some six weeks ＇he was absent only four weeks＇ fatting amongst those Salvage Countries； at the minute of my execution she hazarded the beating out of her own braines to save mine； and not only that； but so prevailed with her father ＇of whom he says； in a previous paragraph； 〃I received from this great Salvage exceeding great courtesie〃＇； that I was safely conducted to Jamestown。〃
This guarded allusion to the rescue stood for all known account of it； except a brief reference to it in his 〃New England's Trials〃 of 1622； until the appearance of Smith's 〃General Historie 〃 in London； 1624。 In the first edition of 〃New England's Trials；〃 1620； there is no reference to it。 In the enlarged edition of 1622； Smith gives a new version to his capture； as resulting from 〃the folly of them that fled；〃 and says： 〃God made Pocahontas； the King's daughter the means to deliver me。〃
The 〃General Historie 〃 was compiledas was the custom in making up such books at the time from a great variety of sources。 Such parts of it as are not written by Smithand these constitute a considerable portion of the historybear marks here and there of his touch。 It begins with his description of Virginia； which appeared in the Oxford tract of 1612； following this are the several narratives by his comrades； which formed the appendix of that tract。 The one that concerns us here is that already quoted； signed Thomas Studley。 It is reproduced here as 〃written by Thomas Studley；〃 the first Cape Merchant in Virginia； Robert Fenton； Edward Harrington； and I。 S。〃 ＇John Smith＇。 It is； however； considerably extended； and into it is interjected a detailed account of the captivity and the story of the stones； the clubs； and the saved brains。
It is worthy of special note that the 〃True Relation〃 is not incorporated in the 〃General Historie。〃 This is the more remarkable because it was an original statement； written when the occurrences it describes were fresh； and is much more in detail regarding many things that happened during the period it covered than the narratives that Smith uses in the 〃 General Historie。〃 It was his habit to use over and over again his own publications。 Was this discarded because it contradicted the Pocahontas storybecause that story could not be fitted into it as it could be into the Studley relation？
It should be added； also； that Purchas printed an abstract of the Oxford tract in his 〃Pilgrimage；〃 in 1613； from material furnished him by Smith。 The Oxford tract was also republished by Purchas in his 〃Pilgrimes；〃 extended by new matter in manuscript supplied by Smith。 The 〃Pilgrimes〃 did not appear till 1625； a year after the 〃 General Historie；〃 but was in preparation long before。 The Pocahontas legend appears in the 〃Pilgrimes；〃 but not in the earlier 〃Pilgrimage。〃
We have before had occasion to remark that Smith's memory had the peculiarity of growing stronger and more minute in details the further he was removed in point of time from any event he describes。 The revamped narrative is worth quoting in full for other reasons。 It exhibits Smith's skill as a writer and his capacity for rising into poetic moods。 This is the story from the 〃General Historie〃：
〃The next voyage hee proceeded so farre that with much labour by cutting of trees in sunder he made his passage； but when his Barge could pass no farther； he left her in a broad bay out of danger of shot； commanding none should goe ashore till his return： himselfe with two English and two Salvages went up higher in a Canowe； but he was not long absent； but his men went ashore； whose want of government； gave both occasion and opportunity to the Salvages to surprise one George Cassen； whom they slew； and much failed not to have cut of the boat and all the rest。 Smith little dreaming of that accident； being got to the marshes at the river's head； twentie myles in the desert； had his two men slaine （as is supposed） sleeping by the Canowe； whilst himselfe by fowling sought them victuall； who finding he was beset with 200 Salvages； two of them hee slew； still defending himself with the ayd of a Salvage his guide； whom he bound to his arme with his garters； and used him as a buckler； yet he was shot in his thigh a little； and had many arrowes stucke in his cloathes but no great hurt； till at last they tooke him prisoner。 When this newes came to Jamestowne； much was their sorrow for his losse； fewe expecting what ensued。 Sixe or seven weekes those Barbarians kept him prisoner； many strange triumphes and conjurations they made of him； yet hee so demeaned himselfe amongst them； as he not onely diverted them from surprising the Fort； but procured his owne libertie； and got himself and his company such estimation amongst them； that those Salvages admired him more than their owne Quiyouckosucks。 The manner how they used and delivered him； is as followeth。
〃The Salvages having drawne from George Cassen whether Captaine Smith was gone； prosecuting that opportunity they followed him with 300 bowmen； conducted by the King of Pamaunkee； who in divisions searching the turnings of the river； found Robinson and Entry by the fireside； those they shot full of arrowes and slew。 Then finding the Captaine as is said； that used the Salvage that was his guide as his shield （three of them being slaine and divers others so gauld） all the rest would not come neere him。 Thinking thus to have returned to his boat； regarding them； as he marched； more then his way； slipped up to the middle in an oasie creeke and his Salvage with him； yet durst they not come to him till being neere dead with cold； he threw away his armes。 Then according to their composition they drew him forth and led him to the fire； where his men were slaine。 Diligently they chafed his benumbed limbs。 He demanding for their Captaine； they shewed him Opechankanough； King of Pamaunkee； to whom he gave a round Ivory double compass Dyall。 Much they marvailed at the playing of the Fly and Needle； which they could see so plainly； and yet not touch it； because of the glass that covered them。 But when he demonstrated by that Globe…like Jewell； the roundnesse of the earth and skies； the spheare of the Sunne； Moone； and Starres； and how the Sunne did chase the night round about the world continually： the greatnesse of the Land and Sea； the diversitie of Nations； varietie of Complexions； and how we were to them Antipodes； and many other such like matters； they all stood as amazed with admiration。 Notwithstanding within an houre after they tyed him to a tree； and as many as co
