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Show * The Mian Emperour: Or, S C E N E II. Chamber Royal. Enter Montezuma, Odmar> Guyomar, Alibech. Mont. My Ears are deaf with this impatient crowd. Odm. Their wants arc now grown mutinous and loud : The Gen'rals taken, but the Siege remains; And their laft Food our dying M e n fuftains. Guy. One means is only left, I to this hour, Have kept the Captive from Almeria's Power, And though by your Command fhe often fent T o urge his Doom, do ftill his Death prevent. Mont. That hope is paft : him I have oft affail'd, But neither Threats nor Kindnefs have prevail'd ; Hiding our Wants, I offer'd to releafe His Chains, and equally conclude a Peace: He fiercely anfwer'd, I had now no way But to fubmit, and without Terms obey: I told him, H e in Chains demanded more Than he impos'd in Victory before : H e fullenly reply'd, H e could not make Thofe Offers now ; Honour muft give, not take. Odm. Twice have I fally'd, and was twice beat back: What defp'rate Courfe remains for us to take! Mont. If either Death or Bondage I muft choofe, I'll keep m y Freedom, though m y Life I lofe. Guy. I'll not upbraid you that you once refus'd Thofe Means you might have then with Honour us'd : I'll lead your Men, perhaps bring Victory : They know to Conquer beft, w h o know to Die. [Exeunt Mont. Odmar. Alib. Ah me, what have I heard! ftay, Guyomar, What hope you from this Sally you prepare ? Guy. A Death, with Honour for m y Country's good : A Death, to which your felf defign'd m y Blood. Alib. You heard, and I well know the Town's Diftrefs, Which Sword and Famine both at once opprefs: Famine fo fierce, that what's deny'd Man's Ufe, E'en deadly Plants, and Herbs of pois'nous Juice Wild Hunger feeks ; and to prolong our Breath, W e greedily devour our certain Death : The Soldier in th' Affault of Famine falls : And Ghofts, not Men, are watching on the Walls. As Callow Birds Whofe Mother's kill'd in feeking of the Prey, Cry in their Neft, and think her long away : And at each Leaf that ftirs, each blaft of Wind, Gape for the Food, which they muft never find : So cry the People in their Mifery. Guy. And what Relief can they expect from m e ? Alibi, While Montezuma fleeps, call in the Foe: The Captive Gen'ral your Defign may know: His Noble Heart, to Honour ever true, Knows how to fpare as well as to fubdue. Guy. What I have heard I blufh to hear : and grieve Thofe words you fpoke, I muft your words believe; I to do this! I, w h o m you once thought brave, I o fell m y Country, and m y King enflave ? All I have done by one foul act deface, And yield m y right to you by turning bafe ? What more could Odmar with that I fhould do i o lofe your Love, than you perfuade m e to ? No, Madam, no, I never can commit A deed fo ill, nor can you fuffer it: 'Tis 134- The Conqueft of Mexico. Tis but to try what Vertue you can find Lodg'd in m y Soul. Alib. I plainly fpeak m y Mind; Dear as m y Life m y Vertue I'll preferve: But Vertue you too ferupuloufly ferve : I lov'd not more than now m y Countries good, W h e n for it's fervice I employ'd your Blood: But things are alter'd, I am ftill the fame, By different ways ftill moving to one fame; And by dif-arming you, I now do more T o fave the T o w n , than arming you before. Guy. Things good or ill by circumftances be ; In you 'tis Vertue, what is Vice in me. Alib. That ill is pardon'd which does good procure. Guy. The good's uncertain, but the ill is fure. Alib. W h e n Kings grow ftubborn, flothful, or unwife, Each private M a n for publick good fhould rife. Guy. Take heed, fair Maid, how Monarchs vou accufc : Such reafons none but impious Rebels ufe : Thofe w h o to Empire by dark paths afpire, Still plead a call to what they moft defire; But Kings by free content their Kingdoms take, Strict as thofe Sacred Ties which Nuptials make; And what e'er faults in Princes time reveal, None can be Judge where can be no Appeal. Alib. In all debates you plainly let m e fee You love your Vertue belt,, but Odmar m e: Go, your miftaken Piety purfue : I'll have from him what is deny'd by you ; With m y Commands you fhall no more be grae'd, Remember, Sir, this Trial was your laft. Guy. The Gods infpire you with a better mind; Make you more juft, and make you then more kind; But though from Vertue's Rules I cannot part, Think I deny you with a bleeding Heart: 'Tis hard with m e whatever choice I make ; I muft not merit you, or muft forfake : But in this ftrait, to Honour I'll be true, And leave m y Fortune to the Gods and you. Enter Meffenger privately, Meff. N o w is the time ; be aiding to your Fate: From the Watch-Tower, above the Weftern-Gate, I have difeern'd the Foe fecurely lie, Too proud to fear a beaten Enemy: Their carelefs Chiefs to the cool Grottoes run, The Bowers of Kings, to made them from the Sun. Guy. Upon thy life difclofe thy News to none ; I'll make the Conqueft, or the fhame m y own. [Exit Guyomar and Meffenger. Enter Odmar. Alib. I read fome welcome Meffage in his Eye : Prince Odmar comes: I'll fee if he'll deny. Odmar, I come to tell you pleafing News, I begg'd a thing your Brother did refute. Odm. The N e w s both pleafes me, and grieves m e too ; For nothing, fure, fhould be deny'd to you : But he was bleft w h o might commanded be ; You never meant that happinefs to me. Alib. What he refus'd your kindnefs might beftow, But m y Commands, perhaps, your burden grow. Odm. Could I but live till burthenfome they prove. M y Life would be Immortal as m y Love. Your wifh, e'er it receive a name, I grant. Alib. 'Tis to relieve your dying Countries want 9 |