Part 20

_Cyd_. So strong an hatred does my nature sway. That, spite of duty, I must disobey: Besides, you warned me still of loving two; Can I love him, already loving you?

_Enter a Guard hastily_.

_Mont_. You look amazed, as if some sudden fear Had seized your hearts; is any danger near?

_1 Guard_. Behind the covert, where this temple stands, Thick as the shades, there issue swarming bands Of ambushed men, whom, by their arms and dress, To be Taxallan enemies I guess.

_2 Guard_. The temple, sir, is almost compassed round.

_Mont_. Some speedy way for passage must be found. Make to the city by the postern gate, I'll either force my victory, or fate; A glorious death in arms I'll rather prove, Than stay to perish tamely by my love.

[_Exeunt_.

_An alarm within. Enter_ MONTEZUMA, ODMAR, GUYOMAR, ALIBECH, ORBELLAN, CYDARIA, ALMERIA, _as pursued by Taxallans_.

_Mont_. No succour from the town?

_Odm_. None, none is nigh.

_Guy_. We are inclosed, and must resolve to die.

_Mont_. Fight for revenge, now hope of life is past But one stroke more, and that will be my last.

_Enter_ CORTEZ, VASQUEZ, PIZARRO, _to the Taxallans_: CORTEZ _stays them, just falling on_.

_Cort_. Contemned? my orders broke even in my sight? Did I not strictly charge, you should not fight?

[_To his Indians_.

_Ind_. Your choler, general, does unjustly rise, To see your friends pursue your enemies. The greatest and most cruel foes we have, Are these, whom you would ignorantly save. By ambushed men, behind their temple laid, We have the king of Mexico betrayed.

_Cort_. Where, banished virtue, wilt thou shew thy face, If treachery infects thy Indian race? Dismiss your rage, and lay your weapons by: Know I protect them, and they shall not die.

_Ind_. O wondrous mercy, shewn to foes distrest!

_Cort_. Call them not so, when once with odds opprest; Nor are they foes my clemency defends, Until they have refused the name of friends: Draw up our Spaniards by themselves, then fire Our guns on all, who do not strait retire.

[_To_ VASQ.

_Ind_. O mercy, mercy! at thy feet we fall, [_Indians kneeling_. Before thy roaring Gods destroy us all: See, we retreat without the least reply; Keep thy Gods silent! if they speak we die.

[_The Taxallans retire_.

_Mont_. The fierce Taxatlans lay their weapons down, Some miracle in our relief is shewn.

_Guy_. These bearded men in shape and colour be Like those I saw come floating on the sea.

[MONT. _kneels to_ CORT.

_Mont_. Patron of Mexico, and God of wars, Son of the sun, and brother of the stars--

_Cort_. Great monarch, your devotion you misplace.

_Mont_. Thy actions shew thee born of heavenly race. If then thou art that cruel God, whose eyes Delight in blood, and human sacrifice, Thy dreadful altars I with slaves will store, And feed thy nostrils with hot reeking gore; Or if that mild and gentle God thou be, Who dost mankind below with pity see, With breath of incense I will glad thy heart; But if, like us, of mortal seed thou art, Presents of choicest fowls, and fruits I'll bring, And in my realms thou shalt be more than king.

_Cort_. Monarch of empires, and deserving more Than the sun sees upon your western shore; Like you a man, and hither led by fame, Not by constraint, but by my choice, I came; Ambassador of peace, if peace you chuse, Or herald of a war, if you refuse.

_Mont_. Whence, or from whom, dost thou these offers bring?

_Cort_. From Charles the Fifth, the world's most potent king.

_Mont_. Some petty prince, and one of little fame, For to this hour I never heard his name: The two great empires of the world I know, That of Peru, and this of Mexico; And since the earth none larger does afford, This Charles is some poor tributary lord.

_Cort_. You speak of that small part of earth you know; But betwixt us and you wide oceans flow, And watry desarts of so vast extent, That passing hither four full moons we spent.

_Mont_. But say, what news, what offers dost thou bring From so remote, and so unknown a king?

[_While_ VASQUEZ _speaks_, CORTEZ _spies the ladies and goes to them, entertaining_ CYDARIA _with courtship in dumb shew_.

_Vasq_. Spain's mighty monarch, to whom heaven thinks fit, That all the nations of the earth submit, In gracious clemency, does condescend On these conditions to become your friend. First, that of him you shall your sceptre hold; Next, you present him with your useless gold: Last, that you leave those idols you implore, And one true deity with him adore.

_Mont_. You speak your prince a mighty emperor, But his demands have spoke him proud and poor; He proudly at my free-born sceptre flies, Yet poorly begs a metal I despise. Gold thou mayest take, whatever thou canst find, Save what for sacred uses is designed: But, by what right pretends your king to be The sovereign lord of all the world and me?

_Piz_. The sovereign priest-- Who represents on earth the power of heaven, Has this your empire to our monarch given.

_Mont_. Ill does he represent the powers above, Who nourishes debate, not preaches love; Besides, what greater folly can be shewn? He gives another what is not his own.

_Vasq_. His power must needs unquestioned be below, For he in heaven an empire can bestow.

_Mont_. Empires in heaven he with more ease may give, And you, perhaps, would with less thanks receive; But heaven has need of no such viceroy here, Itself bestows the crowns that monarchs wear.

_Piz_. You wrong his power, as you mistake our end, Who came thus far religion to extend.

_Mont_. He, who religion truly understands, Knows its extent must be in men, not lands.

_Odm_. But who are those that truth must propagate Within the confines of my father's state?

_Vasq_. Religious men, who hither must be sent As awful guides of heavenly government; To teach you penance, fasts, and abstinence, To punish bodies for the soul's offence.

_Mont_. Cheaply you sin, and punish crimes with ease, Not as the offended, but the offenders please; First injure heaven, and, when its wrath is due, Yourselves prescribe it how to punish you.

_Odm_. What numbers of these holy men must come?

_Piz_. You shall not want, each village shall have some; Who, though the royal dignity they own, Are equal to it, and depend on none.

_Guy_. Depend on none! you treat them sure in state, For 'tis their plenty does their pride create.

_Mont_. Those ghostly kings would parcel out my power, And all the fatness of my land devour. That monarch sits not safely on his throne Who bears, within, a power that shocks his own. They teach obedience to imperial sway, But think it sin if they themselves obey.

_Vasq_. It seems, then, our religion you accuse, And peaceful homage to our king refuse.

_Mont_. Your Gods I slight not, but will keep my own; My crown is absolute, and holds of none. I cannot in a base subjection live, Nor suffer you to take, though I would give.

_Cort_. Is this your answer, sir?

_Mont_.--This, as a prince, Bound to my people's and my crown's defence, I must return; but, as a man, by you Redeemed from death, all gratitude is due.

_Cort_. It was an act my honour bound me to: But what I did, were I again to do, I could not do it on my honour's score, For love would now oblige me to do more. Is no way left that we may yet agree? Must I have war, yet have no enemy?

_Vasq_. He has refused all terms of peace to take.

_Mont_. Since we must fight, hear, heavens, what prayers I make! First, to preserve this ancient state and me, But if your doom the fall of both decree, Grant only he, who has such honour shewn, When I am dust, may fill my empty throne!

_Cort_. To make me happier than that wish can do, Lies not in all your Gods to grant, but you; Let this fair princess but one minute stay, A look from her will your obligements pay.

[_Exeunt_ MONTEZUMA, ODMAR, GUYOMAR, ORBELLAN, ALMERIA, and ALIBECH.

_Mont_. to _Cyd_. Your duty in your quick return be shewn.-- Stay you, and wait my daughter to the town. [_To his guards_.

[CYDARIA _is going, but turns and looks back upon_ CORTEZ, _who is looking on her all this while_.

_Cyd_. My father's gone, and yet I cannot go; Sure I have something lost or left behind!

[_Aside_.

_Cort_. Like travellers who wander in the snow, I on her beauty gaze 'till I am blind.

[_Aside_.

_Cyd_. Thick breath, quick pulse, and heaving of my heart, All signs of some unwonted change appear: I find myself unwilling to depart, And yet I know not why I would be here. Stranger, you raise such torments in my breast, That when I go, (if I must go again) I'll tell my father you have robbed my rest, And to him of your injuries complain.

_Cort_. Unknown, I swear, those wrongs were which I wrought, But my complaints will much more just appear, Who from another world my freedom brought, And to your conquering eyes have lost it here.

_Cyd_. Where is that other world, from whence you came?

_Cort_. Beyond the ocean, far from hence it lies.

_Cyd_. Your other world, I fear, is then the same, That souls must go to when the body dies. But what's the cause that keeps you here with me, That I may know what keeps me here with you?

_Cort_. Mine is a love which must perpetual be, If you can be so just as I am true.

_Enter_ ORBELLAN.

_Orb_. Your father wonders much at your delay.

_Cyd_. So great a wonder for so small a stay!

_Orb_. He has commanded you with me to go.

_Cyd_. Has he not sent to bring the stranger too?

_Orb_. If he to-morrow dares in fight appear, His high-placed love perhaps may cost him dear.

_Cort_. Dares!--that word was never spoke to Spaniard yet, But forfeited his life, who gave him it; Haste quickly with thy pledge of safety hence, Thy guilt's protected by her innocence.

_Cyd_. Sure in some fatal hour my love was born, So soon o'ercast with absence in the morn!

_Cort_. Turn hence those pointed glories of your eyes; For if more charms beneath those circles rise, So weak my virtue, they so strong appear, I shall turn ravisher to keep you here.

[_Exeunt_.

## ACT II.

## SCENE I.--_The Magician's Cave_.

_Enter_ MONTEZUMA, _and High-Priest_.

_Mont_. Not that I fear the utmost fate can do, Come I the event of doubtful war to know; For life and death are things indifferent; Each to be chose as either brings content: My motive from a nobler cause does spring, Love rules my heart, and is your monarch's king; I more desire to know Almeria's mind, Than all that heaven has for my state designed.

_High Pr_. By powerful charms, which nothing can withstand, I'll force the Gods to tell what you demand.

CHARM.

Thou moon, that aidest us with thy magic might, And ye small stars, the scattered seeds of light, Dart your pale beams into this gloomy place, That the sad powers of the infernal race May read above what's hid from human eyes, And in your walks see empires fall and rise. And ye, immortal souls, who once were men, And now, resolved to elements again, Who wait for mortal frames in depths below, And did before what we are doomed to do; Once, twice, and thrice, I wave my sacred wand, Ascend, ascend, ascend at my command.

[_An earthy spirit rises_.

_Spir_. In vain, O mortal men, your prayers implore The aid of powers below, which want it more: A God more strong, who all the Gods commands, Drives us to exile from our native lands; The air swarms thick with wandering deities, Which drowsily, like humming beetles, rise From our loved earth, where peacefully we slept, And, far from heaven, a long possession kept. The frighted satyrs, that in woods delight, Now into plains with pricked-up ears take flight; And scudding thence, while they their horn-feet ply, About their sires the little silvans cry. A nation loving gold must rule this place, Our temples ruin, and our rites deface: To them, O king, is thy lost sceptre given. Now mourn thy fatal search, for since wise heaven More ill than good to mortals does dispense, It is not safe to have too quick a sense.

[_Descends_.

_Mont_. Mourn they, who think repining can remove The firm decrees of those, who rule above; The brave are safe within, who still dare die: Whene'er I fall, I'll scorn my destiny. Doom as they please my empire not to stand, I'll grasp my sceptre with my dying hand.

_High Pr_. Those earthy spirits black and envious are; I'll call up other Gods, of form more fair: Who visions dress in pleasing colour still, Set all the good to shew, and hide the ill. Kalib, ascend, my fair-spoke servant rise, And sooth my heart with pleasing prophesies.

KALIB ascends all in white, in shape of a woman, and sings.

_Kal_. _I looked and saw within the book of fate, Where, many days did lowr, When lo one happy hour Leapt up, and smiled to save thy sinking state; A day shall come when in thy power Thy cruel foes shall be; Then shall thy land be free, And thou in peace shalt reign. But take, O take that opportunity, Which, once refused, will never come again._

[Descends.

_Mont_. I shall deserve my fate, if I refuse That happy hour which heaven allots to use: But of my crown thou too much care dost take; That which I value more, my love's at stake.

_High Pr_. Arise, ye subtle spirits, that can spy, When love is entered in a female's eye; You, that can read it in the midst of doubt, And in the midst of frowns can find it out; You, that can search those many cornered minds, Where women's crooked fancy turns and winds; You, that can love explore, and truth impart, Where both lie deepest hid in woman's heart, Arise--

[_The ghosts of_ TRAXALLA _and_ ACACIS _arise; they stand still, and point at_ MONTEZUMA.

_High Pr_. I did not for these ghastly visions send; Their sudden coming does some ill portend. Begone,--begone,--they will not disappear! My soul is seized with an unusual fear.

_Mont_. Point on, point on, and see whom you can fright. Shame and confusion seize these shades of night! Ye thin and empty forms, am I your sport? [_They smile_. If you were flesh-- You know you durst not use me in this sort.

[_The ghost of the Indian Queen rises betwixt the ghosts, with a dagger in her breast_.

_Mont_. Ha! I feel my hair grow stiff, my eye-balls roll! This is the only form could shake my soul.

_Ghost_. The hopes of thy successful love resign; Know, Montezuma, thou art only mine; For those, who here on earth their passion shew By death for love, receive their right below. Why dost thou then delay my longing arms? Have cares, and age, and mortal life such charms? The moon grows sickly at the sight of day, And early cocks have summoned me away: Yet I'll appoint a meeting place below, For there fierce winds o'er dusky vallies blow, Whose every puff bears empty shades away, Which guidless in those dark dominions stray. Just at the entrance of the fields below, Thou shalt behold a tall black poplar grow; Safe in its hollow trunk I will attend, And seize thy spirit when thou dost descend.

[_Descends_.

_Mont_. I'll seize thee there, thou messenger of fate.-- Would my short life had yet a shorter date! I'm weary of this flesh which holds us here, And dastards manly souls with hope and fear; These heats and colds still in our breast make war, Agues and fevers all our passions are. [_Exeunt_.

## SCENE II.

CYDARIA _and_ ALIBECH, _betwixt the two armies_.

_Alib_. Blessings will crown your name, if you prevent That blood, which in this battle will be spent; Nor need you fear so just a suit to move, Which both becomes your duty and your love.

_Cyd_. But think you he will come? their camp is near, And he already knows I wait him here.

_Alib_. You are too young your power to understand, Lovers take wing upon the least command; Already he is here.

_Enter_ CORTEZ _and_ VASQUEZ _to them_.

_Cort_. Methinks, like two black storms on either hand, Our Spanish army and your Indians stand; This only space betwixt the clouds is clear, Where you, like day, broke loose from both appear.

_Cyd_. Those closing skies might still continue bright, But who can help it, if you'll make it night? The Gods have given you power of life and death, Like them to save, or ruin, with a breath.

_Cort_. That power they to your father did dispose, 'Twas in his choice to make us friends or foes.

_Alib_. Injurious strength would rapine still excuse, By offering terms the weaker must refuse; And such as these your hard conditions are, You threaten peace, and you invite a war.

_Cort_. If for myself to conquer here I came, You might perhaps my actions justly blame: Now I am sent, and am not to dispute My prince's orders, but to execute.

_Alib_. He, who his prince so blindly does obey, To keep his faith his virtue throws away.

_Cort_. Monarchs may err; but should each private breast Judge their ill acts, they would dispute their best.

_Cyd_. Then all your care is for your prince, I see; Your truth to him out-weighs your love to me: You may so cruel to deny me prove, But never after that pretend to love.

_Cort_. Command my life, and I will soon obey; To save my honour I my blood will pay.

_Cyd_. What is this honour which does love controul?

_Cort_. A raging fit of virtue in the soul; A painful burden which great minds must bear, Obtained with danger, and possest with fear.

_Cyd_. Lay down that burden if it painful grow; You'll find, without it, love will lighter go.

_Cort_. Honour, once lost, is never to be found.

_Alib_. Perhaps he looks to have both passions crowned; First dye his honour in a purple flood, Then court the daughter in the father's blood.

_Cort_. The edge of war I'll from the battle take, And spare her father's subjects for her sake.

_Cyd_. I cannot love you less when I'm refused. But I can die to be unkindly used; Where shall a maid's distracted heart find rest. If she can miss it in her lover's breast?

_Cort_. I till to-morrow will the fight delay; Remember you have conquered me to-day.

_Alib_. This grant destroys all you have urged before; Honour could not give this, or can give more. Our women in the foremost ranks appear; March to the fight, and meet your mistress there: Into the thickest squadrons she must run, Kill her, and see what honour will be won.

_Cyd_. I must he in the battle, but I'll go With empty quiver, and unbended bow; Not draw an arrow in this fatal strife, For fear its point should reach your noble life.

_Enter_ PIZARRO.

_Cort_. No more: your kindness wounds me to the death: Honour, be gone! what art thou but a breath? I'll live, proud of my infamy and shame, Graced with no triumph but a lover's name; Men can but say, love did his reason blind, And love's the noblest frailty of the mind.-- Draw off my men; the war's already done.

_Piz_. Your orders come too late, the fight's begun; The enemy gives on, with fury led, And fierce Orbellan combats at their head.

_Cort_. He justly fears, a peace with me would prove Of ill concernment to his haughty love; Retire, fair excellence! I go to meet New honour, but to lay it at your feet.

[_Exeunt_ CORTEZ, VASQUEZ, _and_ PIZARRO.]

_Enter_ ODMAR _and_ GUTOMAR, _to_ ALIBECH _and_ CYDARIA.

_Odm_. Now, madam, since a danger does appear Worthy my courage, though below my fear; Give leave to him, who may in battle die, Before his death, to ask his destiny.

_Guy_. He cannot die, whom you command to live; Before the fight, you can the conquest give; Speak, where you'll place it?

_Alib_. Briefly, then, to both, One I in secret love, the other loathe; But where I hate, my hate I will not show, And he, I love, my love shall never know; True worth shall gain me, that it may be said, Desert, not fancy, once a woman led. He who, in fight, his courage shall oppose, With most success, against his country's foes, From me shall all that recompence receive, That valour merits, or that love can give. 'Tis true, my hopes and fears are all for one, But hopes and fears are to myself alone. Let him not shun the danger of the strife; I but his love, his country claims his life.

_Odm_. All obstacles my courage shall remove.

_Guy_. Fall on, fall on.

_Odm_. For liberty!

_Guy_. For love!

[_Exeunt, the women following_.

## SCENE III.--_Changes to the Indian country_.

_Enter_ Montezuma, _attended by the Indians_.

_Mont_. Charge, charge! their ground the faint Taxallans yield! Bold in close ambush, base in open field. The envious devil did my fortune wrong:-- Thus fought, thus conquered I, when I was young.

[_Exit_.

_Alarm. Enter CORTEZ bloody_.

_Cort_. Furies pursue these false Taxallans' flight; Dare they be friends to us, and dare not fight? What friends can cowards be, what hopes appear Of help from such, who, where they hate, show fear!

_Enter_ PIZARRO _and_ VASQUEZ.

_Piz_. The field grows thin; and those, that now remain, Appear but like the shadows of the slain.

_Vasq_. The fierce old king is vanished from the place, And, in a cloud of dust, pursues the chase.

_Cort_. Their eager chase disordered does appear, Command our horse to charge them in the rear: [_To_ PIZARRO. You to our old Castilian foot retire, [_To_ VASQ. Who yet stand firm, and at their backs give fire. [_Exeunt severally._

## SCENE IV.

_Enter_ ODMAR _and_ GUTOMAR, _meeting each other in the battle_.

_Odm_. Where hast thou been, since first the fight began, Thou less than woman in the shape of man?

_Guy_. Where I have done what may thy envy move, Things worthy of my birth, and of my love.

_Odm_. Two bold Taxallans with one dart I slew, And left it sticking ere my sword I drew.

_Guy_. I sought not honour on so base a train, Such cowards by our women may be slain; I felled along a man of bearded face, His limbs all covered with a shining case: So wondrous hard, and so secure of wound, It made my sword, though edged with flint, re-bound.

_Odm_. I killed a double man; the one half lay Upon the ground, the other ran away.

[_Guns go off within.

Enter_ Montezuma, _out of breath, with him_ Alibech, _and an Indian_.