University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Cortez's Camp.
Enter Cortez and Velasquez, with Soldiers.
CORTEZ.
Is all prepar'd? Have you throughout our line
Issued mine orders?

VELASQUEZ.
Ev'ry thing is ready.

CORTEZ.
Let us 'bove all maintain strict discipline,
And gain firm footing in yon Mexico.
We shall have time enough to drop the mask,
When we're once 'stablish'd in their confidence.
Be this attended to.

(He stands musing.
VELASQUEZ.
'Tis well advis'd.
When once we're safely lodg'd, let 'em look to it.
The courtly train that waited on their king
Gave us a tempting sample of the wealth
We may expect to find within the town.
'Twill be a booty to enrich us all.

CORTEZ.
And hark, Velasquez! Search Telasco out.
That hair-brain'd savage may defeat our plans
Should we neglect to watch him. Had the king
Met us in arms, he might have serv'd us well:
As 'tis, observe him closely; take good heed
He go not with us to the town.—How now!
What brings him here o' th' sudden?

Enter Telasco.
TELASCO.
(To the soldiers)
—Stand aside—
(To Cortez)
—'Tis well I've found thee—Tell me, thou deceiver,
Hath Montezuma visited the camp,
While I was unappriz'd, as if I were
An abject thing, unworthy of regard?
Thou knew'st I would have met him face to face—

CORTEZ.
Be patient, valiant prince! The time will come—

TELASCO.
I tell thee that the time is come—is past—
Shame on thy promises! Is this thy faith?
Did'st thou not swear thou would'st espouse my cause,
That thou would'st ne'er with Montezuma treat,
'Till all my wrongs should be redress'd?

CORTEZ.
I did.—
Charge me with perfidy and breach of faith!
But I forgive thee. I was not inform'd
Of his intended visit, and so brief
Our conf'rence prov'd, had I implor'd thy presence,
His quick return had frustrated thy meeting.
But shortly shalt thou fit occasion find
Effectually to urge thy rightful claims.

TELASCO.
When wil't arrive?

CORTEZ.
This day.

TELASCO.
Comes he so shortly?

CORTEZ.
He comes not hither—we repair to him.
He hath with lib'ral confidence invited
Me and my friends to visit Mexico.

TELASCO.
That's well—exceeding well—In Mexico?
Within his walls?—I thank thee for the tidings.
How could I doubt thee, how suspect thy faith?
I do repent me—If my hasty nature
Hath wrought perversely in me, pass it over.—
In Mexico!—Then shall I view Zelama,
Bask in her heav'nly smiles—Oh gen'rous Spaniard!
If in thy native clime thou'st own'd the pow'r
Of all-subduing love—

CORTEZ.
I have not been
Insensible to beauty—I have lov'd—

TELASCO.
I knew it—thou'rt too noble and too brave
Not to have bow'd to his resistless sway.
But when thou seest the virgin whom I love,
When thou shalt hear her eloquently speak,
Shalt see her eyes beaming with tenderness—

CORTEZ.
I shall impatiently expect to meet her.
Announce me as thy friend; bid her receive me
As one who loves thee.

TELASCO.
She will love thee then—
But let's away—my soul is on the wing—
Each moment lost is treason to my love.

CORTEZ.
Forward then—on to Mexico, to glory,
To the completion of thy fondest hopes.
Array thy force—hold them prepar'd to march
When the loud clarion breathes its warning note.
'Till then in yonder vale let them remain.
Farewell—I hasten to draw forth my line,
And then—

TELASCO.
And then for vengeance and Zelama!
I pray thee haste—issue thine orders quickly—
Let but thy clarion give its welcome call,
And swifter than heav'n's bolt we follow thee!

[Exit Telasco.
CORTEZ.
So—we're well rid of him—let him but wait
Where I have plac'd him 'till my clarion sounds,
And he's secure enough—we need not watch him.
Ere this impetuous savage shall have rang'd
His rude battalions, on yon lofty walls
In proud defiance shall my banners wave.
Then let him dare me if he will!—Velasquez!
Give orders for our instant march—away!

[Exeunt.