Part 14

_Zemp_. He was my brother, yet I scorned to pay Nature's mean debts, but threw those bonds away; When his own issue did my hopes remove, Not only from his empire, but his love. You, that in all my wrongs then bore a part, Now need not doubt a place within my heart: I could not offer you my crown and bed, Till fame and envy with long time were dead; But fortune does now happily present Occasions, fit to second my intent. Your valour may regain the public love, And make the people's choice their queen's approve.

[_Shout_.

Hark, hark, what noise is this, that strikes my ear!

_Trax_. 'Tis not a sound that should beget a fear; Such shouts as these have I heard often fly From conquering armies, crowned with victory.

_Zemp_. Great God of vengeance, here I firmly vow, Make but my Mexicans successful now, And with a thousand feasts thy flames I'll feed; And that I take shall on the altars bleed; Princes themselves shall fall, and make thy shrine, Died with their blood, in glorious blushes shine.

_Enter a Messenger_.

_Trax_. How now! What news is this that makes thy haste a flight?

_Mess_. Such as brings victory without a fight. The prince Acacis lives--

_Zemp_. Oh, I am blest!--

_Mess_. Reserve some joy till I have told the rest. He's safe, and only wants his liberty: But that great man, that carries victory Where'er he goes; that mighty man, by whom In three set battles we were overcome; Ill used (it seems) by his ungrateful king, Does to our camp his fate and valour bring. The troop gaze on him, as if some bright star Shot to their aids; call him the god of war: Whilst he, as if all conquest did of right Belong to him, bids them prepare to fight; Which if they should delay one hour, he swears He'll leave them to their dangers, or their fears, And shame, which is the ignoble coward's choice. At this the army seemed to have one voice, United in a shout, and called upon The god-like stranger, "Lead us, lead us on." Make haste, great sir, lest you should come too late, To share with them in victory, or fate.

_Zemp_. My general, go; the gods be on our side; Let valour act, but let discretion guide.

[_Exit_ TRAX.

Great god of vengeance, I see thou dost begin to hear me now: Make me thy offering, if I break my vow. [_Exeunt_.

## ACT II. SCENE I.

_Enter_ INCA _and_ ORAZIA, _as pursued in a battle_.

_Oraz_. O fly, sir, fly; like torrents your swift foes Come rolling on--

_Inca_. The gods can but destroy. The noblest way to fly is that death shows; I'll court her now, since victory's grown coy.

_Oraz_. Death's winged to your pursuit, and yet you wait To meet her--

_Inca_. Poor Orazia, time and fate Must once o'ertake me, though I now should fly.

_Oraz_. Do not meet death; but when it comes, then die.

_Enter three Soldiers_.

_3 Sold_. Stand, sir, and yield yourself, and that fair prey.

_Inca_. You speak to one, unpractised to obey.

_Enter_ MONTEZUMA.

_Mont_. Hold, villains, hold, or your rude lives shall be Lost in the midst of your own victory: These have I hunted for;--nay, do not stare; Be gone, and in the common plunder share.

[_Exeunt Soldiers_.

How different is my fate, from theirs, whose fame From conquest grows! from conquest grows my shame.

_Inca_. Why dost thou pause? thou canst not give me back, With fruitless grief, what I enjoyed before; No more than seas, repenting of a wreck, Can with a calm our buried wealth restore.

_Mont_. 'Twere vain to own repentance, since I know Thy scorn, which did my passions once despise, Once more would make my swelling anger flow, Which now ebbs lower than your miseries: The gods, that in my fortunes were unkind, Gave me not sceptres, nor such gilded things; But, whilst I wanted crowns, enlarged my mind To despise sceptres, and dispose of kings.

_Inca_. Thou art but grown a rebel by success, And I, that scorned Orazia should be tied To thee my slave, must now esteem thee less: Rebellion is a greater guilt than pride.

_Mont_. Princes see others' faults, but not their own; 'Twas you that broke that bond, and set me free: Yet I attempted not to climb your throne, And raise myself; but level you to me.

_Oraz_. O, Montezuma, could thy love engage Thy soul so little, or make banks so low About thy heart, that thy revenge and rage, Like sudden floods, so soon should overflow? Ye gods, how much I was mistaken here! I thought you gentle as the gall-less dove; But you as humoursome as winds appear, And subject to more passions than your love.

_Mont_. How have I been betrayed by guilty rage, Which, like a flame, rose to so vast a height, That nothing could resist, nor yet assuage, Till it wrapt all things in one cruel fate. But I'll redeem myself, and act such things, That you shall blush Orazia was denied; And yet make conquest, though with wearied wings, Take a new flight to your own fainting side.

_Inca_. Vain man, what foolish thoughts fill thy swelled mind! It is too late our ruin to recall; Those, that have once great buildings undermined, Will prove too weak to prop them in their fall.

_Enter_ TRAXALLA, _with the former soldiers_.

_1 Sold_. See, mighty sir, where the bold stranger stands, Who snatched these glorious prisoners from our hands.

_Trax_. 'Tis the great Inca; seize him as my prey, To crown the triumphs of this glorious day.

_Mont_. Stay your bold hands from reaching at what's mine, If any title springs from victory; You safer may attempt to rob a shrine, And hope forgiveness from the deity.

_Enter_ ACACIS.

_Trax_. O, my dear prince, my joys to see you live Are more than all that victory can give.

_Aca_. How are my best endeavours crost by fate! Else you had ne'er been lost, or found so late. Hurried by the wild fury of the fight, Far from your presence, and Orazia's sight, I could not all that care and duty show, Which, as your captive, mighty prince, I owe.

_Inca_. You often have preserved our lives this day, And one small debt with many bounties pay. But human actions hang on springs, that be Too small, or too remote, for us to see. My glories freely I to yours resign, And am your prisoner now, that once were mine.

_Mont_. These prisoners, sir, are mine by right of war; And I'll maintain that right, if any dare.

_Trax_. Yes, I would snatch them from thy weak defence; But that due reverence, which I owe my prince, Permits me not to quarrel in his sight; To him I shall refer his general's right.

_Mont_. I knew too well what justice I should find From an armed plaintiff, and a judge so kind.

_Aca_. Unkindly urged, that I should use thee so; Thy virtue is my rival, not my foe; The prisoners fortune gave thee shall be thine.

_Trax_. Would you so great a prize to him resign?

_Aca_. Should he, who boldly for his prey designed To dive the deepest under swelling tides, Have the less title if he chance to find The richest jewel that the ocean hides? They are his due-- But in his virtue I repose that trust, That he will be as kind as I am just: Dispute not my commands, but go with haste, Rally our men, they may pursue too fast, And the disorders of the inviting prey May turn again the fortune of the day.

[_Exit_ TRAX.

_Mont_. How gentle all this prince's actions be! Virtue is calm in him, but rough in me.

_Aca_. Can Montezuma place me in his breast?

_Mont_. My heart's not large enough for such a guest.

_Aca_. See, Montezuma, see, Orazia weeps.

[ORAZ. _weeps_.

_Mont_. Acacis! is he deaf, or, waking, sleeps? He does not hear me, sees me not, nor moves; How firm his eyes are on Orazia fixt! Gods, that take care of men, let not our loves Become divided by their being mixt.

_Aca_. Weep not, fair princess, nor believe you are A prisoner, subject to the chance of war; Why should you waste the stock of those fair eyes, That from mankind can take their liberties? And you, great sir, think not a generous mind To virtuous princes dares appear unkind, Because those princes are unfortunate, Since over all men hangs a doubtful fate: One gains by what another is bereft; The frugal deities have only left A common bank of happiness below, Maintained, like nature, by an ebb and flow.

[_Exeunt_.

## SCENE II.

ZEMPOALLA _appears seated upon a throne, frowning upon her attendants; then comes down and speaks.

Zemp_. No more, you, that above your prince's dare proclaim, With your rebellious breath, a stranger's name.

_1 Peru_. Dread empress--

_Zemp_. Slaves, perhaps you grieve to see Your young prince glorious, 'cause he sprang from me; Had he been one of base Amexia's brood, Your tongues, though silent now, had then been loud.

_Enter TRAXALLA_.

Traxalla, welcome; welcomer to me Than what thou bring'st, a crown and victory.

_Trax_. All I have done is nothing; fluttering fame Now tells no news, but of the stranger's name, And his great deeds; 'tis he, they cry, by whom Not men, but war itself is overcome; Who, bold with his success, dares think to have A prince to wear his chains, and be his slave.

_Zemp_. What prince?

_Trax_. The great Peruvian Inca, that of late In three set battles was so fortunate, Till this strange man had power to turn the tide, And carry conquest into any side.

_Zemp_. Would you permit a private man to have The great Peruvian Inca for his slave? Shame to all princes! was it not just now I made a sacred, and a solemn vow, To offer up (if blest with victory) The prisoners that were took? and they shall die.

_Trax_. I soon had snatched from this proud stranger's hand That too great object for his bold demand; Had not the prince, your son, to whom I owe A kind obedience, judged it should be so.

_Zemp_. I'll hear no more; go quickly take my guards, And from that man force those usurped rewards; That prince, upon whose ruins I must rise, Shall be the gods', but more my sacrifice: They, with my slaves, in triumph shall be tied, While my devotion justifies my pride: Those deities, in whom I place my trust, Shall see, when they are kind, that I am just. [_Exit_.

_Trax_. How gladly I obey! There's something shoots from my enlivened frame, Like a new soul, but yet without a name, Nor can I tell what the bold guest will prove; It must be envy, or it must be love: Let it be either, 'tis the greatest bliss For man to grant himself, all he dares wish; For he, that to himself himself denies, Proves meanly wretched, to be counted wise. [_Exit_ TRAXALLA.

## SCENE III.

_Enter_ MONTEZUMA _and_ ACACIS.

_Aca_. You wrong, me, my best friend, not to believe Your kindness gives me joy; and when I grieve, Unwillingly my sorrows I obey: Showers sometimes fall upon a shining day.

_Mont._. Let me, then, share your griefs, that in your fate Would have took part.

_Aca_. Why should you ask me that? Those must be mine, though I have such excess; Divided griefs increase, and not grow less.

_Mont_. It does not lessen fate, nor satisfy The grave, 'tis true, when friends together die; And yet they are unwilling to divide.

_Aca_. To such a friend nothing can be denied. You, when you hear my story, will forgive My grief, and rather wonder that I live; Unhappy in my title to a throne, Since blood made way for my succession: Blood of an uncle too, a prince so free From being cruel, it taught cruelty. His queen Amexia then was big with child; Nor was he gentler than his queen was mild; Th'impatient people longed for what should come From such a father, bred in such a womb; When false Traxalla, weary to obey, Took with his life their joys and hopes away. Amexia, by the assistance of the night, When this dark deed was acted, took her flight; Only with true Garucca for her aid: Since when, for all the searches that were made, The queen was never heard of more: Yet still This traitor lives, and prospers by the ill: Nor does my mother seem to reign alone, But with this monster shares the guilt and throne. Horror choaks up my words: now you'll believe, 'Tis just I should do nothing else but grieve.

_Mont_. Excellent prince! How great a proof of virtue have you shown, To be concerned for griefs, though not your own!

_Aca_. Pray, say no more.

_Enter a Messenger hastily_.

_Mont_. How now, whither so fast?

_Mess_. O sir, I come too slow with all my haste! The fair Orazia--

_Mont_. Ha, what dost thou say?

_Mess_. Orazia with the Inca's forced away Out of your tent; Traxalla, in the head Of the rude soldiers, forced the door, and led, Those glorious captives, who on thrones once shined, To grace the triumph, that is now designed. [_Exit_.

_Mont_. Orazia forced away!--what tempests roll About my thoughts, and toss my troubled soul! Can there be gods to see, and suffer this? Or does mankind make his own fate or bliss; While every good and bad happens by chance, Not from their orders, but their ignorance?-- I will pull a ruin on them all, And turn their triumph to a funeral.

_Aca_. Be temperate, friend.

_Mont_. You may as well advise That I should have less love, as grow more wise.

_Aca_. Yet stay--I did not think to have revealed A secret, which my heart has still concealed; But, in this cause since I must share with you, 'Tis fit you know--I love Orazia too: Delay not then, nor waste the time in words, Orazia's cause calls only for our swords.

_Mont_. That ties my hand, and turns from thee that rage Another way, thy blood should else assuage: The storm on our proud foes shall higher rise, And, changing, gather blackness as it flies: So, when winds turn, the wandering waves obey, And all the tempest rolls another way.

_Aca_. Draw then a rival's sword, as I draw mine. And, like friends suddenly to part, let's join In this one act, to seek one destiny; Rivals with honour may together die. [_Exeunt_.

## ACT III. SCENE I.

ZEMPOALLA _appears seated upon her Slaves in triumph, and the Indians, as to celebrate the victory, advance in a warlike dance; in the midst of which triumph_, ACACIS _and_ MONTEZUMA _fall in upon them_.

ZEMPOALLA _descends from her triumphant throne, and_ ACACIS _and_ MONTEZUMA _are brought in before her.

Zemp_. Shame of my blood, and traitor to thy own: Born to dishonour, not command a throne! Hast thou, with envious eyes, my triumph seen? Or couldst not see thy mother in thy queen? Couldst thou a stranger above me prefer?

_Aca_. It was my honour made my duty err; I could not see his prisoners forced away, To whom I owed my life, and you the day.

_Zemp_. Is that young man the warrior so renowned?

_Mont_. Yes, he, that made thy men thrice quit their ground. Do, smile at Montezuma's chains; but know, His valour gave thee power to use him so.

_Trax_. Grant that it did, what can his merits be, That sought his vengeance, not our victory? What has thy brutish fury gained us more, Than only healed the wounds, it gave before? Die then, for, whilst thou liv'st, wars cannot cease; Thou may'st bring victory, but never peace. Like a black storm thou roll'st about us all, Even to thyself unquiet, till thy fall. [_Draws to kill him_.

_Aca_. Unthankful villain, hold!

_Trax_. You must not give Him succour, sir.

_Aca_. Why then, I must not live. Posterity shall ne'er report, they had Such thankless fathers, or a prince so bad.

_Zemp_. You're both too bold to will or to deny: On me alone depends his destiny. Tell me, audacious stranger, whence could rise The confidence of this rash enterprise?

_Mont_. First tell me, how you dared to force from me The fairest spoils of my own victory?

_Zemp_. Kill him--hold, must he die?--why, let him die;-- Whence should proceed this strange diversity. In my resolves? Does he command in chains? What would he do, Proud slave, if he were free, and I were so? But is he bound, ye gods, or am I free? 'Tis love, 'tis love, that thus disorders me. How pride and love tear my divided soul! For each too narrow, yet both claim it whole: Love, as the younger, must be forced away.-- Hence with the captives, general, and convey To several prisons that young man, and this Peruvian woman.

_Trax_. How concerned she is! I must know more.

_Mont_. Fair princess, why should I Involve that sweetness in my destiny? I could out-brave my death, were I alone To suffer, but my fate must pull yours on. My breast is armed against all sense of fear; But where your image lies, 'tis tender there.

_Inca_. Forbear thy saucy love, she cannot be So low, but still she is too high for thee.

_Zemp_. Be gone, and do as I command; away!

_Mont_. I ne'er was truly wretched till this day.

_Oraz_. Think half your sorrows on Orazia fall, And be not so unkind to suffer all: Patience, in cowards, is tame hopeless fear, But, in brave minds, a scorn of what they bear. [_Exit Inca_, MONTEZUMA, ORAZIA, _and_ TRAXALLA.

_Zemp_. What grief is this which in your face appears?

_Aca_. The badge of sorrow, which my soul still wears.

_Zemp_. Though thy late actions did my anger move, It cannot rob thee of a mother's love. Why shouldst thou grieve? Grief seldom joined with blooming youth is seen; Can sorrow be where knowledge scarce has been? Fortune does well for heedless youth provide, But wisdom does unlucky age misguide; Cares are the train of present power and state, But hope lives best that on himself does wait: O happiest fortune if well understood, The certain prospect of a future good!

_Aca_. What joy can empire bring me, when I know That all my greatness to your crimes I owe:

_Zemp_. Yours be the joy, be mine the punishment.

_Aca_. In vain, alas, that wish to Heaven is sent For me, if fair Orazia must not live.

_Zemp_. Why should you ask me what I cannot give? She must be sacrificed: Can I bestow What to the gods, by former vows, I owe?

_Aca_. O plead not vows; I wish you had not shown You slighted all things sacred for a throne.

_Zemp_. I love thee so, that, though fear follows still, And horror urges, all that have been ill, I could for thee Act o'er my crimes again; and not repent, Even when I bore the shame and punishment.

_Aca_. Could you so many ill acts undertake, And not perform one good one for my sake?

_Zemp_. Prudence permits not pity should be shown To those, that raised the war to shake my throne.

_Aca_. As you are wise, permit me to be just; What prudence will not venture, honour must; We owe our conquest to the stranger's sword, Tis just his prisoners be to him restored. I love Orazia; but a nobler way, Than for my love my honour to betray.

_Zemp_. Honour is but an itch of youthful blood, Of doing acts extravagantly good; We call that virtue, which is only heat That reigns in youth, till age finds out the cheat.

_Aca_. Great actions first did her affections move, And I, by greater, would regain her love.

_Zemp_. Urge not a suit which I must still deny; Orazia and her father both shall die: Begone, I'll hear no more.

_Aca_. You stop your ears-- But though a mother will not, Heaven will hear; Like you I vow, when to the powers divine You pay her guiltless blood, I'll offer mine. [_Exit_.

_Zemp_. She dies, this happy rival, that enjoys The stranger's love, and all my hopes destroys; Had she triumphed, what could she more have done, Than robbed the mother, and enslaved the son? Nor will I, at the name of cruel, stay: Let dull successive monarchs mildly sway: Their conquering fathers did the laws forsake, And broke the old, ere they the new could make, I must pursue my love; yet love, enjoyed, Will, with esteem, that caused it first, grow less: But thirst and hunger fear not to be cloyed, And when they be, are cured by their excess.

_Enter_ TRAXALLA.

_Trax_. Now I shall see, what thoughts her heart conceals; For that, which wisdom covers, love reveals. [_Aside_. Madam, the prisoners are disposed.

_Zemp_. They are? And how fares our young blustering man of war? Does he support his chains with patience yet?

_Trax_. He, and the princess, madam--

_Zemp_. Are they met?

_Trax_. No: but from whence is all this passion grown?

_Zemp_. 'Twas a mistake.

_Trax_. I find this rash unknown Is dangerous; and, if not timely slain, May plunge your empire in new wars again.

_Zemp_. Thank ye; I shall consider.

_Trax_. Is that all? The army doat on him, already call You cruel; and, for aught I know, they may By force unchain, and crown him in a day.

_Zemp_. You say, I have already had their curse For his bad usage; should I use him worse?

_Trax_. Yet once you feared his reputation might Obscure the prince's in the people's sight.

_Zemp_. Time will inform us best what course to steer, But let us not our sacred vows defer: The Inca and his daughter both shall die.

_Trax_. He suffers justly for the war; but why Should she share his sad fate? A poor pretence, That birth should make a crime of innocence.

_Zemp_. Yet we destroy the poisonous viper's young, Not for themselves, but those from whom they sprung.

_Trax_. O no, they die not for their parents' sake, But for the poisonous seed which they partake. Once more behold her, and then let her die, If in that face or person you can see But any place to fix a cruelty. The heavens have clouds, and spots are in the moon; But faultless beauty shines in her alone.

_Zemp_. Beauty has wrought compassion in your mind!

_Trax_. And you to valour are become as kind. To former services there's something due, Yet be advised--

_Zemp_. Yes, by myself, not you.

_Trax_. Princes are sacred.

_Zemp_. True, whilst they are free: But power once lost, farewell their sanctity: 'Tis power, to which the gods their worship owe, Which, uncontrouled, makes all things just below: Thou dost the plea of saucy rebels use; They will be judge of what their prince must chuse: Hard fate of monarchs, not allowed to know When safe, but as their subjects tell them so. Then princes but like public pageants move, And seem to sway, because they sit above. [_Exit_.

_Trax_. She loves him; in one moment this new guest Has drove me out from this false woman's breast; They, that would fetter love with constancy, Make bonds to chain themselves, but leave him free With what impatience I her falsehood bear! Yet do myself that, which I blame in her; But interest in my own cause makes me see That act unjust in her, but just in me. [_Exit_.

## SCENE II.