 | Cortez |  |
SCENE III.
A public place in Mexico.[Shouts, Trumpets, Horns, &c. heard in various directions. Indians running across the Stage, pursued by Spaniards.]
Enter Velasquez and Zelama.
VELASQUEZ.
Think not to 'scape me—Thou art fairly mine—
I won thee, and will keep thee.
ZELAMA.
Oh in pity!
If thou can'st feel compassion—if thy heart—
VELASQUEZ.
This prud'ry is mistim'd—I hold thee fast—
Let's see who'll rescue thee!
ZELAMA.
Hear me, oh hear me!
VELASQUEZ.
What! when thy beauties fire my soul?—No, no—
Come on—This is no place to parley in—
ZELAMA.
Where art thou, my Telasco!
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(Zelama breaks from Velasquez, and runs to him.
Gen'rous stranger!
Thou art not like thy fellows—Thou canst feel—
Save me! Protect me!
GONSALVO.
Heav'ns! Zelama here!
By what strange chance—Who tore thee from thy palace?
VELASQUEZ.
'Twas I! Velasquez! As with my brave comrades
Through Montezuma's halls I rang'd, I found her.
I left to other care his gems and gold,
And seiz'd her for myself.
GONSALVO.
Shame on the deed!
VELASQUEZ.
Wilt thou dispute her with me? I remember
Thou seem'd'st dispos'd to pick a quarrel with me.
If yet thy valour be awake, this may be
As good a cause as any.
GONSALVO.
Hence! be gone!
I'm her protector—touch her if thou dar'st.
VELASQUEZ.
These words to me?—Come on then—take thy fate!
(They fight.
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GONSALVO.
Retreat'st thou?
VELASQUEZ
(pointing to Telasco).
See'st him not?—What demon sent him
Here with his myrmidons?—This is no time
For private tilting.—We shall meet again.
[Exit.
ZELAMA.
Oh my Telasco!
TELASCO.
My Zelama here!
ZELAMA.
Now am I safe—
TELASCO.
Have then these ruffians dar'd—
But they shall answer for it.
ZELAMA.
Stop—forbear—
Aim not thy sword 'gainst him—he's my protector.
When the fierce Spaniards broke into the palace,
A stern barbarian seiz'd me as his prey.
Deaf to my cries, and reckless of my tears,
Here had he forc'd me on, when pitying heav'n
Sent this young warrior to mine aid. He sav'd me.
TELASCO.
Myriads of blessings light upon him for it!
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GONSALVO.
I've done no more
Than mere humanity requir'd. The soldier,
Who sees a lovely woman in distress
And flies not to her succour, is unworthy
Of that proud title.
TELASCO.
Thou art truly noble
'Tis pity thou'rt a Spaniard. I had sworn
To hate all those who bear that odious name;
But I cannot hate thee. No—by this hand
I love thee, and will recompence thy service.
GONSALVO.
I ask no recompence but mine own feelings,
And those are amply gratified already.
Farewell—another duty calls me hence.
ZELAMA.
Wilt thou then leave us?
GONSALVO.
Ask me not to stay.
Thou need'st no help; Telasco's arm protects thee.
But there's another and a graver cause
Which hurries me away. Thy Montezuma—
I know not what new perils may assail him.
My presence may—
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Oh stay not, I implore thee!
Lose not a moment—fly—
GONSALVO.
I will obey thee.
[Exit.
ZELAMA.
Heav'n's blessing light on thee, thou gen'rous youth!—
Where can I turn me now?
TELASCO.
I will conduct thee
Back to the palace.
ZELAMA.
There's no safety there.
The cruel Spaniards are its masters now.
I have no friend to save me but thyself.
Thou wilt not leave me?
TELASCO.
No! While this heart beats,
Mine arm shall guard thee. Come with me, my love—
Take courage—None shall harm thee. Since fate wills it,
We will together face the storm of war.
(To his followers)
—Behold, my gallant comrades, your new leader,
Your monarch's sister, now become associate
In the brave cause which animates us all!
Follow her steps to glory and to conquest!
(Loud cries.
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Alas! What mean those shouts, those piercing cries?
'Tis from the Spanish fort they come—My brother!
My hapless brother!—Hear'st thou?—There again—
Enter Capana.
CAPANA.
Oh day for ever curs'd!—Alas! I come
Charg'd with intelligence to rend your hearts.
ZELAMA.
It was! It was! My boding soul foretold it.
TELASCO.
Be not thus agitated.—Speak, I charge thee.
CAPANA.
When our brave troops had nearly scal'd the fort,
The warrior, who commanded on the summit,
Brought forth our king, and plac'd him in the front,
Where rag'd the strife most hotly. Struck with awe
Our host th' assault suspended; when the king
Address'd them—said he came there willingly—
TELASCO.
It cannot be—He never could say so—
CAPANA.
Our people seem'd confounded—
TELASCO.
Well they might—
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Oh! interrupt him not—
CAPANA.
A mournful silence
Reign'd for a moment; but, when they beheld
Their king surrounded by his foes, disrob'd
Of royal state, and as a captive led
To plead against himself, their fury rose—
A show'r of arrows—Can I say't?—He fell!
ZELAMA.
Curs'd be the hand which struck his sacred life!
My brain's on fire!—Oh brother! Montezuma!
[She faints.
TELASCO.
They fatal words have pierc'd her to the heart.
Oh! bear her from this scene of misery,
Defend, protect her in this hour of trial,
Find, if thou canst, some refuge for her woes,
'Till heav'n the doom of Mexico decide.
[Capana bears her off.
Now, fate, thy worst is o'er!—Come all the terrors
Which our indignant gods can pour upon us!
Havock, destruction, horror, and dismay,
Now we defy you. On to the proof, my friends!
Rush like a torrent on these perjur'd Spaniards—
See where they come propitious to my wish—
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Enter Cortez and Soldiers.
Turn, base dissembler!
Behold Telasco dares thee to the proof!
This blade shall reach thy trait'rous heart—
CORTEZ.
Away!
I scorn a foe like thee, thee whom the tongue
Of a weak, wheedling woman could seduce.
TELASCO.
Tax me with breach of faith! Yon heav'n, which witness'd
Thy monstrous perjuries, will nerve my arm
To wreak just vengeance for a murder'd king—
CORTEZ.
Take then the fate thou temp'st—
[They fight. Telasco falls.
TELASCO.
Thou hast prevail'd—
CORTEZ.
First to thy sov'reign faithless, then to me,
What else could'st thou expect?
TELASCO.
Rail on! Upbraid me
For having thought thee honest—hence! begone!
Thy sight is hateful to me—
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Fare thee well.
On, my brave friends, to conquest and to glory!
[Exeunt Cortez and Soldiers.
TELASCO.
Oh my poor country! Must these cruel spoilers
Thus triumph o'er thy downfall?—Guatimozin!
Enter Guatimozin and Soldiers.
Thou'rt come in time to take my last adieu—
GUATIMOZIN.
Oh my Telasco! Is it thus I meet thee?
Let me convey thee hence—
TELASCO.
Thy cares are vain—
This mortal conflict shortly will be o'er,
And I shall rest.—Defend our hapless country—
Avenge our murder'd king—and if Zelama—
Why that averted eye—that heaving breast?
Is she—speak quickly—
GUATIMOZIN.
All her cares are over.
Her brother's fate seal'd hers.
TELASCO.
High heav'n be thank'd!
Oh my Zelama! my belov'd! farewell!
Farewell a little space!—Though here we part,
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In those blest realms of rapturous delight,
Where joys eternal wait on suff'ring virtue,
Our disembodied souls, again united,
Shall meet to part no more!—Give me thy hand—
My breath grows short—a film comes o'er mine eyes—
Our country—Mexico—protect it!—oh!— (Dies.)
[Exeunt omnes.
| Cortez | |