 | Montezuma |  |
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SCENE III.
Enter Montezuma, Odmar, Cyderia, Almeria, Alibech, Orbellan, and Train.They place themselves.
H. Priest.
All hail to Montezuma, to our King,
Son of the Sun, and father of his people!
May he behold his subjects celebrate
This happy natal day, from year to year,
Till time shall be no more—
Other Priests.
Hail! Hail! Hail!
H. Priest.
Sound instruments! and let the vocal choir
Perform the hymn to Beauty.
HYMN.
I.
Tell us, ye gods, what power is this,That rules with such resistless sway;
To whom the mightiest bow submiss,
Whom crouds adore, whom kings obey?
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II.
It is the power of Beauty's charm,That can all other powers subdue,
The savage tame, the fierce disarm,
And teach subjected pride to sue.
III.
Great monarch! if you haply findThe force of her enchantment here,
Her temples with your garland bind,
And crown her empress of the year.
[Montezuma rises, goes to Almeria, bows, and offers the Garland, which she rejects.
Mont.
Since my Orazia's death, I have not seen
A beauty so deserving of a crown,
As fair Almeria.
Alm.
Me, my lord, to me—
The daughter of those dear and royal parents,
Who fell the victims of your dire ambition;
Whose crown you have usurp'd, whose wretched subjects
Still bend beneath the weight of your oppression!
What may your mightiness demand, in lieu
Of such beneficence?
Mont.
Your pardon, first;
And next, your pity.
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Such as you conferr'd
On great Taxalla, my unhappy father,
Receive the like from me.
Mont.
Think, fair Almeria,
If I deprived thy father of a crown,
I lay a brighter at his daughter's feet;
And yeild myself and my dominions up,
The conquest of her charms.
Alm.
Yes, Montezuma,
It is a conquest I do glory in,
That I, with tyranny and pride, like thine,
May exercise my power.
Mont.
The gods, themselves,
Require but our submission for our faults,
And then delight to pardon. Heaven is thus
Best worship'd and appeased.
[Kneels.
Orbel.
Behold, Almeria,
[Kneels.
Your brother also bends, and joins the suit
Of supplicating majesty!
Alib.
Your sister,
[Kneels.
Low at your feet, with like prostration, bows,
And sues for favour to our royal master.
Orbel.
Think, with what joy, our late disastrous parents,
Will look from Heaven to see their crown restored,
And placed, with double lustre, on the head
Of their Almeria.
Alm.
Well—I do accept
Your garland; not as any instance, meant,
Of grace or favour in return; but merely,
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To the supremacy and rights of Beauty.
[Montezuma places the Garland on her Head.
| Montezuma | |