Chapter 27

_Enter_ INCA _and_ ORAZIA, _as pursued in a battle_.

_Oraz_. O fly, sir, fly; like torrents your swift foes Come rolling on--

_Inca_. The gods can but destroy. The noblest way to fly is that death shows; I'll court her now, since victory's grown coy.

_Oraz_. Death's winged to your pursuit, and yet you wait To meet her--

_Inca_. Poor Orazia, time and fate Must once o'ertake me, though I now should fly.

_Oraz_. Do not meet death; but when it comes, then die.

_Enter three Soldiers_.

_3 Sold_. Stand, sir, and yield yourself, and that fair prey.

_Inca_. You speak to one, unpractised to obey.

_Enter_ MONTEZUMA.

_Mont_. Hold, villains, hold, or your rude lives shall be Lost in the midst of your own victory: These have I hunted for;--nay, do not stare; Be gone, and in the common plunder share.

[_Exeunt Soldiers_.

How different is my fate, from theirs, whose fame From conquest grows! from conquest grows my shame.

_Inca_. Why dost thou pause? thou canst not give me back, With fruitless grief, what I enjoyed before; No more than seas, repenting of a wreck, Can with a calm our buried wealth restore.

_Mont_. 'Twere vain to own repentance, since I know Thy scorn, which did my passions once despise, Once more would make my swelling anger flow, Which now ebbs lower than your miseries: The gods, that in my fortunes were unkind, Gave me not sceptres, nor such gilded things; But, whilst I wanted crowns, enlarged my mind To despise sceptres, and dispose of kings.

_Inca_. Thou art but grown a rebel by success, And I, that scorned Orazia should be tied To thee my slave, must now esteem thee less: Rebellion is a greater guilt than pride.

_Mont_. Princes see others' faults, but not their own; 'Twas you that broke that bond, and set me free: Yet I attempted not to climb your throne, And raise myself; but level you to me.

_Oraz_. O, Montezuma, could thy love engage Thy soul so little, or make banks so low About thy heart, that thy revenge and rage, Like sudden floods, so soon should overflow? Ye gods, how much I was mistaken here! I thought you gentle as the gall-less dove; But you as humoursome as winds appear, And subject to more passions than your love.

_Mont_. How have I been betrayed by guilty rage, Which, like a flame, rose to so vast a height, That nothing could resist, nor yet assuage, Till it wrapt all things in one cruel fate. But I'll redeem myself, and act such things, That you shall blush Orazia was denied; And yet make conquest, though with wearied wings, Take a new flight to your own fainting side.

_Inca_. Vain man, what foolish thoughts fill thy swelled mind! It is too late our ruin to recall; Those, that have once great buildings undermined, Will prove too weak to prop them in their fall.

_Enter_ TRAXALLA, _with the former soldiers_.

_1 Sold_. See, mighty sir, where the bold stranger stands, Who snatched these glorious prisoners from our hands.

_Trax_. 'Tis the great Inca; seize him as my prey, To crown the triumphs of this glorious day.

_Mont_. Stay your bold hands from reaching at what's mine, If any title springs from victory; You safer may attempt to rob a shrine, And hope forgiveness from the deity.

_Enter_ ACACIS.

_Trax_. O, my dear prince, my joys to see you live Are more than all that victory can give.

_Aca_. How are my best endeavours crost by fate! Else you had ne'er been lost, or found so late. Hurried by the wild fury of the fight, Far from your presence, and Orazia's sight, I could not all that care and duty show, Which, as your captive, mighty prince, I owe.

_Inca_. You often have preserved our lives this day, And one small debt with many bounties pay. But human actions hang on springs, that be Too small, or too remote, for us to see. My glories freely I to yours resign, And am your prisoner now, that once were mine.

_Mont_. These prisoners, sir, are mine by right of war; And I'll maintain that right, if any dare.

_Trax_. Yes, I would snatch them from thy weak defence; But that due reverence, which I owe my prince, Permits me not to quarrel in his sight; To him I shall refer his general's right.

_Mont_. I knew too well what justice I should find From an armed plaintiff, and a judge so kind.

_Aca_. Unkindly urged, that I should use thee so; Thy virtue is my rival, not my foe; The prisoners fortune gave thee shall be thine.

_Trax_. Would you so great a prize to him resign?

_Aca_. Should he, who boldly for his prey designed To dive the deepest under swelling tides, Have the less title if he chance to find The richest jewel that the ocean hides? They are his due-- But in his virtue I repose that trust, That he will be as kind as I am just: Dispute not my commands, but go with haste, Rally our men, they may pursue too fast, And the disorders of the inviting prey May turn again the fortune of the day.

[_Exit_ TRAX.

_Mont_. How gentle all this prince's actions be! Virtue is calm in him, but rough in me.

_Aca_. Can Montezuma place me in his breast?

_Mont_. My heart's not large enough for such a guest.

_Aca_. See, Montezuma, see, Orazia weeps.

[ORAZ. _weeps_.

_Mont_. Acacis! is he deaf, or, waking, sleeps? He does not hear me, sees me not, nor moves; How firm his eyes are on Orazia fixt! Gods, that take care of men, let not our loves Become divided by their being mixt.

_Aca_. Weep not, fair princess, nor believe you are A prisoner, subject to the chance of war; Why should you waste the stock of those fair eyes, That from mankind can take their liberties? And you, great sir, think not a generous mind To virtuous princes dares appear unkind, Because those princes are unfortunate, Since over all men hangs a doubtful fate: One gains by what another is bereft; The frugal deities have only left A common bank of happiness below, Maintained, like nature, by an ebb and flow.

[_Exeunt_.