Chapter 26

_Enter_ ZEMPOALLA, TRAXALLA, _and attendants_.

_Zemp_. O my Acacis! Does not my grief, Traxalla, seem too rude, Thus to press out before my gratitude Has paid my debts to you?--yet it does move My rage and grief, to see those powers above Punish such men, as, if they be divine, They know will most adore, and least repine.

_Trax_. Those, that can only mourn when they are crost, May lose themselves with grieving for the lost. Rather to your retreated troops appear, And let them see a woman void of fear: The shame of that may call their spirits home. Were the prince safe, we were not overcome, Though we retired: O, his too youthful heat, That thrust him where the dangers were so great! Heaven wanted power his person to protect From that, which he had courage to neglect: But since he's lost, let us draw forth, and pay His funeral rites in blood; that we or they May, in our fates, perform his obsequies, And make death triumph when Acacis dies.

_Zemp_. That courage, thou hast shown in fight, seems less Than this, amidst despair to have excess: Let thy great deeds force fate to change her mind: He, that courts fortune boldly, makes her kind.

_Trax_. If e'er Traxalla so successful proves, May he then say he hopes, as well as loves; And that aspiring passion boldly own, Which gave my prince his fate, and you his throne? I did not feel remorse to see his blood Flow from the spring of life into a flood; Nor did it look like treason, since to me You were a sovereign much more great than he.

_Zemp_. He was my brother, yet I scorned to pay Nature's mean debts, but threw those bonds away; When his own issue did my hopes remove, Not only from his empire, but his love. You, that in all my wrongs then bore a part, Now need not doubt a place within my heart: I could not offer you my crown and bed, Till fame and envy with long time were dead; But fortune does now happily present Occasions, fit to second my intent. Your valour may regain the public love, And make the people's choice their queen's approve.

[_Shout_.

Hark, hark, what noise is this, that strikes my ear!

_Trax_. 'Tis not a sound that should beget a fear; Such shouts as these have I heard often fly From conquering armies, crowned with victory.

_Zemp_. Great God of vengeance, here I firmly vow, Make but my Mexicans successful now, And with a thousand feasts thy flames I'll feed; And that I take shall on the altars bleed; Princes themselves shall fall, and make thy shrine, Died with their blood, in glorious blushes shine.

_Enter a Messenger_.

_Trax_. How now! What news is this that makes thy haste a flight?

_Mess_. Such as brings victory without a fight. The prince Acacis lives--

_Zemp_. Oh, I am blest!--

_Mess_. Reserve some joy till I have told the rest. He's safe, and only wants his liberty: But that great man, that carries victory Where'er he goes; that mighty man, by whom In three set battles we were overcome; Ill used (it seems) by his ungrateful king, Does to our camp his fate and valour bring. The troop gaze on him, as if some bright star Shot to their aids; call him the god of war: Whilst he, as if all conquest did of right Belong to him, bids them prepare to fight; Which if they should delay one hour, he swears He'll leave them to their dangers, or their fears, And shame, which is the ignoble coward's choice. At this the army seemed to have one voice, United in a shout, and called upon The god-like stranger, "Lead us, lead us on." Make haste, great sir, lest you should come too late, To share with them in victory, or fate.

_Zemp_. My general, go; the gods be on our side; Let valour act, but let discretion guide.

[_Exit_ TRAX.

Great god of vengeance, I see thou dost begin to hear me now: Make me thy offering, if I break my vow. [_Exeunt_.