[BRYCE] A RARE FIND IN THE CANADIAN ARCHIVES 19 
“T11 make thee king of all Canadian tribes, 
And the brave English and the Iroquoian nations 
Shall both support thy claim.” 
Frontenac is indignant and exclaims: 
“ll hear no more, say, wilt thou live or die!” 
Miramont begs Frontenac to listen to Ulamar. Detached from 
the heavy responsibilities that weigh upon Frontenac. Miramont is 
more at liberty to express his opinions. He describes his own sufferings 
and even those of Frontenac, through the tyranny of the French king, 
saying in conclusion: 
“Pray, what power is this that awes us so, 
What force has he but what we fondly give him, 
For what we wrongly call his power, is ours.” 
Ulamar thus contrasts the offer made by Frontenac to him with 
that which he makes to Frontenac. 
“Thou would’st have me betray my trust, my country, 
The solemnest and most sacred of all trusts. 
I would have thee deliver those thou rulest, 
And free them from the bonds that rend their hearts. 
To what height then thy happiness would soar, 
How would thy virtue and thy glory shine! 
Then impious war would here forever cease! 
Which never came upon these happy groves 
Till thy false race first landed on our shores 
For ’tis for liberty we war, not empire.” 
While they thus debate a messenger enters and shouts, “To arms! 
To arms, my lord!” He speaks of lights moving upon the mountain 
side and says: 
“Tis thought the routed Angians who escaped 
Are now returning with their English friends 
And by their lights direct their nightly march. 
Directly towards the southern gate they turn.” 
Frontenac prepares to lead his forces himself towards the southern 
gate. As he leaves he gives strict commands that Ulamar is to be 
guarded and gives him ten minutes more to choose between life and 
death. Miramont and Ulamar are now left alone, Miramont entreats 
Ulamar to embrace the French cause, only for an hour, assuring him 
that at the end of that time he will find that he, Miramont, has been 
a true friend and has risked all to save him. But Ulamar answers: 
“Virtue oft deserted for an hour 
Resents it deeply and upon the wing 
Is gone past all recall.” 
