University of Virginia Library

ACT I.

SCENE I.

The Scene a pleasant Indian Country.
Enter Cortez, Vasquez, Pizarro, with Spaniards and Indians of their party.
Cort.
On what new happy Climate are we thrown,
So long kept secret, and so lately known;
As if our old world modestly withdrew,
And here, in private, had brought forth a new!

Vasq.
Corn, Wine, and Oyl are wanting to this ground,
In which our Countries fruitfully abound:
As if this Infant world, yet un-array'd,
Naked and bare, in Natures Lap were laid.
No useful Arts have yet found footing here;
But all untaught and salvage does appear.

Cort.
Wild and untaught are Terms which we alone
Invent, for fashions differing from our own:
For all their Customs are by Nature taught,
But we, by Art, unteach what Nature taught.

Piz.
In Spain our Springs, like Old Mens Children, be
Decay'd and wither'd from their Infancy:
No kindly showers fall on our barren earth,
To hatch the seasons in a timely birth.
Our Summer such a Russet Livery wears,
As in a Garment often dy'd appears.

Cort.
Here nature spreads her fruitful sweetness round,
Breaths on the Air and broods upon the ground.
Here days and nights the only season be,
The Sun no Climat does so gladly see:
When forc'd from hence to view our parts, he mourns:
Takes little journies, and makes quick returns.

Vasq.
Methinks we walk in dreams on fairy Land,
Where golden Ore lies mixt with common sand;
Each downfal of a flood the Mountains pour,
From their rich bowels rolls a silver shower.

Cort.
Heaven from all ages wisely did provide
This wealth, and for the bravest Nation hide,
Who with four hundred foot and forty horse,
We boldly go a New found World to force.

Piz.
Our men, though Valiant, we should find too few,
But Indians joyn the Indians to subdue,
Taxallan, shook by Montezumas powers,
Has to resist his forces, call'd in ours.

Vasq.
Rushly to arm against so great a King
I hold not safe, nor is it fit to bring
A War, without a fair defiance made.

Piz.
Declare we first our quarrel: then Invade.
My self, my Kings Ambassadour, will go;
Speak Indian Guide, how far to Mexico?

Indi.
Your eyes can scarce so far a prospect make,
As to discern the City on the Lake.
But that broad Caus-way will direct your way,
And you may reach the Town by noon of day.

Cort.
Command a party of our Indians out,
With a strict charge not to engage, but scout;
By noble ways we Conquest will prepare,
First offer peace, and that refus'd make war.

Exeunt.

SCENE II.

A Temple, and the high Priest with other Priests.
To them an Indian.
Ind.
Haste Holy Priest it is the Kings command.

High Pr.
When gets he forward?

Ind.
—He is near at hand.

High Pr.
The Incense is upon the Altar plac'd,
The bloody Sacrifice already past.
Five hundred Captives saw the rising Sun,
Who lost their light ere half his race was run.
That which remains we here must celebrate;
Where far from noise, without the City gate,
The peaceful power that governs love repairs,
To feast upon soft vows and silent pray'rs.
We for his Royal presence only stay,
To end the rights of this so solemn day:

Exit Indian.
Enter Montezuma; his eldest Son Odmar; his Daughter Cydaria, Almeria, Alibech, Orbellan, and Train. They place themselves.
Callib.
On your birth day, while we sing
To our Gods and to our King,
Her, among this beauteous quire,
Whose perfections you admire,
Her, who fairest does appear,
Crown her Queen of all the year.
Of the year and of the day,
And at her feet your Garland lay.

Odm.
My Father this way does his looks direct,
Heaven grant he give it not where I suspect.

Montezuma rises, goes about the Ladies, and at length stays at Almeria and bows.
Mont.
Since my Orazia's death I have not seen
A beauty so deserving to be Queen
As fair Almeria.

Alm.
—Sure he will not know
To her Brother and Sister aside.
My birth I to that injur'd Princess owe,
Whom his hard heart not only love deny'd,
But in her sufferings took unmanly pride.

Alib.
Since Montezuma will his choice renew,
In dead Orazia's room electing you,
'Twill please our Mothers Ghost that you succeed
To all the glories of her Rivals bed.

Alm.
If news be carried to the shades below,
The Indian Queen will be more pleas'd, to know
That I his scorns on him, that scorn'd her, pay.

Orb.
Would you could right her some more noble way.

She turns to him who is kneeling all this while.
Mont.
Madam, this posture is for Heaven design'd,
[Kneeling.
And what moves Heaven I hope may make you kind.

Alm.
Heaven may be kind, the Gods uninjur'd live,
And crimes below cost little to forgive.
By thee, Inhumane, both my Parents dy'd;
One by thy sword, the other by thy pride.

Mont.
My haughty mind no fate could ever bow,
Yet I must stoop to one that scorns me now:
Is there no pity to my sufferings due?

Alm.
As much as what my mother found from you.

Mont.
Your mothers wrongs a recompence shall meet,
I lay my Scepter at her Daughters feet.

Alm.
He, who does now my least commands obey,
Would call me Queen, and take my pow'r away.

Odm.
Can he hear this, and not his Fetters break?
Is love so pow'rful, or his soul so weak?
I'le fright her from it, Madam, though you see
The King is kind, I hope your modesty
Will know, what distance to the Crown is due.

Alm.
Distance and modesty prescrib'd by you?

Odm.
Almeria dares not think such thoughts as these.

Alm.
She dares both think and act what thoughts she please.
'Tis much below me on his Throne to sit;
But when I do, you shall petition it.

Odm.
If, Sir, Almeria does your bed partake,
I mourn for my forgotten mothers sake.

Mont.
When Parents loves are order'd by a Son,
Let streams prescribe their fountains where to run.

Odm.
In all I urge I keep my duty still,
Not rule your reason, but instruct your will.

Mont.
Small use of reason in that Prince is shown,
Who follows others, and neglects his own.

Almeria to Orbellan and Alibech, who are this while whispering to her.
Alm.
No, he shall ever love, and always be
The subject of my scorn and cruelty.

Orb.
To prove the lasting torment of his life,
You must not be his Mistress, but his Wife.
Few know what care, an Husbands peace destroys,
His real griefs, and his dissembled joys.

Alm.
What mark of pleasing vengeance could be shown,
If I to break his quiet lose my own?

Orb.
A brothers life upon your love relies,
Since I do homage to Cydarias eyes:
How can her Father to my hopes be kind
If, in your heart, he no example find.

Alm.
To save your life I'le suffer any thing,
Yet I'le not flatter this tempestuous King;
But work his stubborn soul a nobler way,
And, if he love, I'le force him to obey.
I take this Garland, not as given by you,
to Montez.
But as my merit, and my beauties due.
As for the Crown that you, my slave, possess,
To share it with you would but make me less.

Enter Guyomar hastily.
Odm.
My brother Guyomar! methinks I spye
Hast in his steps, and wonder in his eye.

Mont.
I sent thee to the frontiers, quickly tell
The cause of thy return, are all things well?

Guy.
I went, in order, Sir, to your command,
To view the utmost limits of the land:
To that Sea shore where no more world is found,
But foaming billows breaking on the ground,
Where, for a while, my eyes no object met
But distant skies that in the Ocean set:
And low hung clouds that dipt themselves in rain
To shake their fleeces on the earth again.
At last, as far as I could cast my eyes
Upon the Sea, somewhat, methought did rise
Like blewish mists, which still appearing more,
Took dreadful shapes, and mov'd towards the shore.

Mont.
What forms did these new wonders represent?

Guy.
More strange than what your wonder can invent.
The object I could first distinctly view
Was tall straight trees which on the waters flew,
Wings on their sides instead of leaves did grow,
Which gather'd all the breath the winds could blow.
And at their roots grew floating Palaces,
Whose out-bow'd bellies cut the yielding Seas.

Mont.
What Divine Monsters, O ye gods, were these
That float in air and flye upon the Seas!
Came they alive or dead upon the shore?

Guy.
Alas, they liv'd too sure, I heard them roar:
All turn'd their sides, and to each other spoke,
I saw their words break out in fire and smoke.
Sure 'tis their voice that Thunders from on high,
Or these the younger brothers of the Skie.
Deaf with the noyse I took my hasty flight,
No mortal courage can support the fright.

High Pr.
Old Prophecies foretel our fall at hand,
When bearded men in floating Castles Land,
I fear it is of dire portent.

Mont.
—Go see
What it fore-shows, and what the gods decree.
Mean time proceed we to what rites remain,
Odmar, of all this presence does contain,
Give her your wreath whom you esteem most fair.

Odm.
Above the rest I judge one beauty rare,
And may that beauty prove as kind to me
He gives Alibech the wreath.
As I am sure fair Alibech is she.

Mont.
You Guyomar must next perform your part.

Guy.
I want a Garland, but I'le give a heart:
My brothers pardon I must first implore,
Since I with him fair Alibech adore.

Odm.
That all should Alibech adore 'tis true,
But some respect is to my birth-right due.
My claim to her by Eldership I prove.

Guy.
Age is a plea in Empire, not in Love.

Odm.
I long have staid for this solemnity
To make my passion publick.

Guy.
—So have I.

Odm.
But from her birth my soul has been her slave,
My heart receiv'd the first wounds that she gave:
I watcht the early glories of her Eyes,
As men for day break watch the eastern Skies.

Guy.
It seems my soul then mov'd the quicker pace,
Yours first set out, mine reach'd her in the race.

Mont.
Odmar, your choice I cannot disapprove;
Nor justly Guyomar, can blame your love.
To Alibech alone refer your suit,
And let her sentence finish your dispute.

Alib.
You think me Sir a Mistress quickly won,
So soon to finish what is scarce begun:
In this surprise should I a judgment make,
'Tis answering Riddles ere I'm well awake:
If you oblige me suddenly to chuse,
The choice is made, for I must both refuse.
For to my self I owe this due regard
Not to make love my gift, but my reward,
Time best will show whose services will last.

Odm.
Then judge my future service by my past.
What I shall be by what I was, you know,
That love took deepest root which first did grow.

Guy.
That love which first was set will first decay,
Mine of a fresher date will longer stay.

Odm.
Still you forget my birth.

Guy.
—But you, I see,
Take care still to refresh my memory.

Mont.
My Sons, let your unseemly discord cease,
If not in friendship live at least in peace.
Orbellan, where you love bestow your wreath.

Orb.
My love I dare not, ev'n in whispers breath.

Mont.
A vertuous Love may venture any thing:

Orb.
Not to attempt the Daughter of my King?

Mont.
Whither is all my former fury gone?
Once more I have Traxalla's chains put on,
And by his Children am in triumph led,
Too well the living have reveng'd the dead!

Alm.
You think my brother born your enemy,
He's of Traxalla's blood, and so am I.

Mont.
In vain I strive,
My Lyon-heart is with Loves toyls beset,
Strugling I fall still deeper in the net.
Cydaria your new lovers Garland take,
And use him kindly for your Fathers sake.

Cyd.
So strong an hatred does my nature sway,
That spight of duty I must disobey.
Besides you warn'd me still of loving two,
Can I love him already loving you?

Mont.
How now—
Enter a Guard hastily.
You look amaz'd as if some sudden fear
Had seiz'd your hearts, is any danger near?

1 Guard.
Behind the covert where this Temple stands,
Thick as the shades, there issue swarming bands
Of ambush'd men, whom, by their arms and dress,
To be Taxcallan Enemies I guess.

Another Enters.
2 Guard.
The Temple, Sir, is almost compast round,

Mont.
Some speedy way for passage must be found.
Make to the City by the Postern Gate,
I'le either force my Victory, or Fate;
A glorious death in arms I'le rather prove,
Than stay to perish tamely by my Love.

An Alarm within, Enter Montez. Odm. Guy. Alib. Orb. Cyd. Alm. as pursued by Taxallans.
Mont.
No succour from the Town?

Odm.
—None, none is nigh.

Guy.
We are inclos'd and must resolve to dye.

Mont.
Fight for revenge now hope of life is past,
But one stroke more and that will be my last.

Enter Cortez, Vasquez, Pizarro, to the Taxallans, Cort. stays them, just falling on.
Cort.
Contemn'd? my orders broke even in my sight!
To his Indians
Did I not strictly charge you should not fight?

Ind.
Your choler, General, does unjustly rise,
To see your Friends pursue your Enemies;
The greatest and most cruel foes we have
Are these whom you would ignorantly save,
By ambush'd men, behind their Temple laid,
We have the King of Mexico betray'd.

Cort.
Where banish'd Vertue, wilt thou shew thy face
If treachery infects thy Indian race!
Dismiss your rage, and lay your weapons by:
Know I protect them, and they shall not dye.

Ind.
O wond'rous mercy shown to foes distrest!

Cort.
Call them not so, when once with odds opprest,
Nor are they Foes my clemency defends,
Until they have refus'd the name of Friends:
Draw up our Spaniards by themselves, then Fire
To Vasq.
Our Guns on all that do not straight retire.

Ind.
O mercy, mercy, at thy feet we fall,
Ind. kneeling.
Before thy roaring gods destroy us all;
See we retreat without the least reply,
The Taxallans retire.
Keep thy gods silent, if they speak we dye.

Mont.
The fierce Taxallans lay their weapons down,
Some miracle in our relief is shown.

Guy.
These bearded men, in shape and colour be
Like those I saw come floating on the Sea.

[Mont. kneels to Cort.
Mont.
Patron of Mexico and god of Wars,
Son of the Sun, and brother of the Stars.

Cort.
Great Monarch, your devotion you misplace.

Mont.
Thy actions show thee born of Heavenly Race.
If then thou art that cruel god, whose eyes
Delight in Blood, and Humane Sacrifice,
Thy dreadful Altars I with Slaves will store,
And feed thy nostrils with hot reeking gore;
Or if that mild and gentle god thou be,
Who dost mankind below with pity see,
With breath of incense we will glad thy heart,
But if like us, of mortal seed thou art,
Presents of choicest Fowls, and Fruits I'le bring,
And in my Realms thou shalt be more then King.

Cort.
Monarch of Empires, and deserving more
Then the Sun sees upon your Western shore;
Like you a man, and hither led by fame,
Not by constraint but by my choice I came;
Ambassadour of Peace, if Peace you chuse,
Or Herauld of a War if you refuse.

Mont.
Whence or from whom dost thou these offers bring?

Cort.
From Charles the Fifth, the Worlds most Potent King.

Mont.
Some petty Prince, and one of little fame,
For to this hour I never heard his name:
The two great Empires of the World I know,
That of Peru, and this of Mexico;
And since the earth none larger does afford,
This Charles is some poor Tributary Lord.

Cort.
You speak of that small part of earth you know,
But betwixt us and you wide Oceans flow,
And watry desarts of so vast extent,
That passing hither, four Full Moons we spent.

Mont.
But say, what news, what offers dost thou bring
While Vasq. speaks, Cort. spies the Ladies and goes to them entertaining Cydaria with Courtship in dumb shew.
From so remote, and so unknown a King?

Vasq.
Spain's mighty Monarch, to whom Heaven thinks fit
That all the Nations of the Earth submit,
In gracious clemency, does condescend
On these conditions to become your Friend,
First, that of him you shall your Scepter hold,
Next, you present him with your useless Gold:
Last, that you leave those Idols you implore,
And one true Deity with him adore.

Mont.
You speak your Prince a mighty Emperour,
But his demands have spoke him Proud, and Poor;
He proudly at my free-born Scepter flies,
Yet poorly begs a mettal I despise.
Gold thou may'st take, what-ever thou canst find,
Save what for sacred uses is design'd:
But, by what right pretends your King to be
This Soveraign Lord of all the World, and me?

Piz.
The Soveraign Priest,—
Who represents on Earth the pow'r of Heaven,
Has this your Empire to our Monarch given.

Mont.
Ill does he represent the powers above,
Who nourishes debate not Preaches love;
Besides what greater folly can be shown?
He gives another what is not his own.

Vasq.
His pow'r must needs unquestion'd be below,
For he in Heaven an Empire can bestow.

Mont.
Empires in Heaven he with more ease may give,
And you perhaps would with least thanks receive;
But Heaven has need of no such Vice-roy here,
It self bestows the Crowns that Monarchs wear.

Piz.
You wrong his power as you mistake our end,
Who came thus far Religion to extend.

Mont.
He who Religion truely understands
Knows its extent must be in Men, not Lands.

Odm.
But who are those that truth must propagate
Within the confines of my Fathers state?

Vasq.
Religious Men, who hither must be sent
As awful guides of Heavenly Government;
To teach you Penance, Fasts, and Abstinence,
To punish Bodies for the Souls offence.

Mont.
Cheaply you sin, and punish crimes with ease,
Not as th'offended, but th'offenders please.
First injure Heaven, and when its wrath is due,
Your selves prescribe it how to punish you.

Odm.
What numbers of these Holy Men must come?

Piz.
You shall not want, each Village shall have some;
Who, though the Royal Dignity they own,
Are equal to it, and depend on none.

Guy.
Depend on none! you treat them sure in state,
For 'tis their plenty does their pride create.

Mont.
Those ghostly Kings would parcel out my pow'r,
And all the fatness of my Land devour;
That Monarch sits not safely on his Throne,
Who bears, within, a power that shocks his own,
They teach obedience to Imperial sway,
But think it sin if they themselves obey.

Vasq.
It seems then our Religion you accuse,
And peaceful homage to our King refuse.

Mont.
Your gods I slight not, but will keep my own,
My Crown is absolute, and holds of none;
I cannot in a base subjection live,
Nor suffer you to take, though I would give.

Cort.
Is this your answer Sir?

Mont.
—This as a Prince,
Bound to my Peoples and my Crowns defence,
I must return, but, as a man by you
Redeem'd from death, all gratitude is due.

Cort.
It was an act my Honour bound me to,
But what I did were I again to do,
I could not do it on my Honours score,
For Love would now oblige me to do more.
Is no way left that we may yet agree?
Must I have War, yet have no Enemy?

Vasq.
He has refus'd all terms of Peace to take.

Mont.
Since we must fight, hear Heavens, what Prayers I make,
First, to preserve this Antient State and me,
But if your doom the fall of both decree,
Grant only he who has such Honour shown,
When I am dust, may fill my empty Throne.

Cort.
To make me happier than that wish can do,
Lies not in all your gods to grant but you;
Let this fair Princess but one minute stay,
A look from her will your obligements pay.

Exeunt Mont. Odm. Guy. Orbel. Alm. and Alib.
Mont.
to Cyd.
Your duty in your quick return be shown,
Stay you, and wait my Daughter to the Town.

To his Guards.
Cyd. is going, but turns and looks back upon Cortez, who is looking on her all this while.
Cyd.
My Father's gone, and yet I cannot go,
Sure I have something lost or left behind!

Aside.
Cort.
Like Travellers that wander in the Snow,
I on her beauty gaze till I am blind.

Aside.
Cyd.
Thick breath, quick pulse, and heaving of my heart,
All signs of some unwonted change appear:
I find my self unwilling to depart,
And yet I know not why I would be here.
Stranger you raise such storms within my breast,
That when I go, if I must go again;
I'le tell my Father you have rob'd my rest,
And to him of your injuries complain.

Cort.
Unknown, I swear those wrongs were which I wrought,
But my complaints will much more just appear,
Who from another world my freedom brought,
And by your conquering Eyes have lost it here.

Cyd.
Where is that other world from whence you came?

Cort.
Beyond the Ocean, far from hence it lies.

Cyd.
Your other world, I fear, is then the same
That souls must go to when the body dies.
But what's the cause that keeps you here with me?
That I may know what keeps me here with you?

Cort.
Mine is a love which must perpetual be,
If you can be so just as I am true.

Enter Orb.
Orb.
Your Father wonders much at your delay.

Cyd.
So great a wonder for so small a stay!

Orb.
He has commanded you with me to go.

Cyd.
Has he not sent to bring the stranger too?

Orb.
If he to morrow, dares in fight appear,
His high plac'd Love, perhaps may cost him dear.

Cort.
Dares—that word was never spoke to Spaniard yet,
But forfeited his Life that gave him it;
Hast quickly with thy pledge of safety hence,
Thy guilt's protected by her innocence.

Cyd.
Sure in some fatal hour my Love was born,
So soon o'rcast with absence in the morn!

Cort.
Turn hence those pointed glories of your Eyes,
For if more charms beneath those Circles rise,
So weak my Vertue, they so strong appear,
I shall turn ravisher to keep you here.

Exeunt omnes.