 | Montezuma |  |
SCENE I.
A Cave.To the High Priest Montezuma enters.
Mont.
Hail, holy pontiff!—It is not the fate
Of doubtful war, the froward turns of fortune,
The fall of kingdoms, or the change of states,
I would alone explore—I seek to know,
What haply scarce the gods can tell, the springs,
The secret turns and movements of the soul,
A woman's soul!—O, give me to unfold
The mystic volume of Almeria's mind,
And let me read my fate!
H. Priest.
My powerful charms not dæmons shall withstand,
And gods shall answer to my king's command.
279
I.
Moon, pale regent of the night,Goddess of each magic rite—
In this dread and dreary hour,
Aid us with thy light and power!
II.
O, ye stars, ye seeds of light,Radiant gems of gloomy night,
In whose ever-varying round
Present, past, and future's found;
Who, in characters, comprize
Falls of kingdoms, ere they rise,
To our favour'd sight reveal,
Whate'er, from vulgar eyes, with caution ye conceal!
III.
Ye spirits infernal, dark partners of woe!Ye dæmons who wield ebon sceptres below!
Ye goblins and fairies, or dusky or fair,
Who mine in the earth, or who dance in the air!
280
IV.
My wand demands ye, from hell, earth, and skies—Arise, arise, arise!
A Terrestrial Spirit ascends.
Spir.
Prince, mourn your search—your gods are all controul'd;
Silent, and bow'd before superior power!
I dare no more.
[Descends.
H. Priest.
Hence, dark and dastard spright!—
Calib, my ever smiling friend!
Circled with radiant light, descend;
Our bosoms with thy wonted tidings cheer,
Speak comfort to our heart, and music to our ear!
Calib descends in white, and sings.
Calib.
I.
Mighty emperor, attend;Heavy, heavy things impend!
Many a conflict, many a fight,
Desolation, fear, and flight,
Loss of empire, life, and light,
All rush upon my sight!
281
II.
Yet, thro' the horrors of this threatening sky,One radiant beam I spy.
It comes, the singly smiling hour,
That puts our Indian world again into thy power!
III.
They stand, they stand,Within thine hand,
This horrid, hostile, ruthless band—
Strike, strike, and save the land!
Mont.
Thanks, shining monitor!—If I reject
Thy counsel, let me perish!
Empire is now assured: but what of love,
What of Almeria?
H. Priest.
Ye spirits, o'er subtlest effluvia refined,
Who feed upon thought, and reside within mind;
Who mark, with a pleased unevadable eye,
The swiftness of feminine whims, as they fly—
Be your Almeria's purpose shewn,
Altho' to reason, rule, and right, and to herself unknown!
The Indian Queen rises with a Dagger in her Breast.
H. Priest.
Ha!—we call'd not for thee—
Hence, bloody spectre, visionary victim,
282
Freezes my blood!
Mont.
The gods, amidst the living and the dead,
Could not have found another form, like that,
To shake my soul!
Ind. Queen.
Ungrateful prince, your empty hopes resign;
Almeria's charms will soon be cold as mine.
Your course of empire, fame, and life, is run;
And all shall set, before a second sun—
I wait you on the ghastly brink of death,
To catch your spirit, and to drink your breath.
For your dear love, I did my life forego;
And thence I claim you in the realms below.
The morning dawns—I sicken at the view:
A sudden meeting fits a short adieu!
[Descends.
Mont.
Give me a narrower date!—ye adverse powers,
Finish your purposes! Why this dread knowledge
Of what we cannot shun?—worse, than the worst
That death can threaten, are the living pangs
Of curs'd anticipation!—
[Exeunt.
| Montezuma | |