Chapter 46

_Enter_ MONTEZUMA, ODMAR, GUYOMAR, _and_ ALIBECH.

_Mont_. My ears are deaf with this impatient crowd.

_Odm_. Their wants are now grown mutinous and loud: The general's taken, but the siege remains; And their last food our dying men sustains.

_Guy_. One means is only left. I to this hour Have kept the captive from Almeria's power; And though, by your command, she often sent To urge his doom, do still his death prevent.

_Mont_. That hope is past: Him I have oft assailed; But neither threats nor kindness have prevailed; Hiding our wants, I offered to release His chains, and equally conclude a peace: He fiercely answered, I had now no way But to submit, and without terms obey: I told him, he in chains demanded more Than he imposed in victory before: He sullenly replied, he could not make These offers now; honour must give, not take.

_Odm_. Twice have I sallied, and was twice beat back: What desp'rate course remains for us to take!

_Mont_. If either death or bondage I must chuse, I'll keep my freedom, though my life I lose.

_Guy_. I'll not upbraid you, that you once refused Those means, you might have then with honour used; I'll lead your men, perhaps bring victory: They know to conquer best, who know to die. [_Exeunt_ MONTEZUMA _and_ ODMAR.

_Alib_. Ah me, what have I heard! stay, Guyomar, What hope you from this sally you prepare?

_Guy_. A death, with honour, for my country's good: A death, to which yourself designed my blood.

_Alib_. You heard, and I well know the town's distress, Which sword and famine both at once oppress: Famine so fierce, that what's denied man's use, Even deadly plants, and herbs of poisonous juice, Wild hunger seeks; and, to prolong our breath, We greedily devour our certain death: The soldier in th' assault of famine falls: And ghosts, not men, are watching on the walls. As callow birds-- Whose mother's killed in seeking of the prey, Cry in their nest, and think her long away; And at each leaf that stirs, each blast of wind, Gape for the food, which they must never find: So cry the people in their misery.

_Guy_. And what relief can they expect from me?

_Alib_. While Montezuma sleeps, call in the foe: The captive general your design may know: His noble heart, to honour ever true, Knows how to spare as well as to subdue.

_Guy_. What I have heard I blush to hear: And grieve, Those words you spoke I must your words believe. I to do this! I, whom you once thought brave, To sell my country, and my king enslave? All I have done by one foul act deface, And yield my right to you, by turning base? What more could Odmar wish that I should do, To lose your love, than you persuade me to? No, madam, no, I never can commit A deed so ill, nor can you suffer it: 'Tis but to try what virtue you can find Lodged in my soul.

_Alib_. I plainly speak my mind; Dear as my life my virtue I'll preserve, But virtue you too scrupulously serve: I loved not more than now my country's good, When for its service I employed your blood: But things are altered, I am still the same, By different ways still moving to one fame; And by disarming you, I now do more To save the town, than arming you before.

_Guy_. Things good or ill by circumstances be, In you 'tis virtue, what is vice in me.

_Alib_. That ill is pardoned, which does good procure.

_Guy_. The good's uncertain, but the ill is sure.

_Alib_. When kings grow stubborn, slothful, or unwise, Each private man for public good should rise.

_Guy_. Take heed, fair maid, how monarchs you accuse: Such reasons none but impious rebels use: Those, who to empire by dark paths aspire, Still plead a call to what they most desire; But kings by free consent their kingdoms take, Strict as those sacred ties which nuptials make; And whate'er faults in princes time reveal, None can be judge where can be no appeal.

_Alib_. In all debates you plainly let me see You love your virtue best, but Odmar me: Go, your mistaken piety pursue: I'll have from him what is denied by you; With my commands you shall no more be graced. Remember, sir, this trial was your last.

_Guy_. The gods inspire you with a better mind; Make you more just, and make you then more kind! But though from virtue's rules I cannot part, Think I deny you with a bleeding heart: 'Tis hard with me whatever choice I make; I must not merit you, or must forsake: But, in this strait, to honour I'll be true, And leave my fortune to the gods and you.

_Enter Messenger privately_.

_Mess_. Now is the time; be aiding to your fate; From the watch-tower, above the western-gate, I have discerned the foe securely lie, Too proud to fear a beaten enemy: Their careless chiefs to the cool grottoes run, The bowers of kings, to shade them from the sun.

_Guy_. Upon thy life disclose thy news to none; I'll make the conquest or the shame my own. [_Exeunt_ GUYOMAR _and Messenger_.

_Enter_ ODMAR.

_Alib_. I read some welcome message in his eye: Prince Odmar comes: I'll see if he'll deny.-- Odmar, I come to tell you pleasing news; I begged a thing, your brother did refuse.

_Odm_. The news both pleases me, and grieves me too; For nothing, sure, should be denied to you: But he was blessed who might commanded be; You never meant that happiness to me.

_Alib_. What he refused, your kindness might bestow, But my commands, perhaps, your burden grow.

_Odm_. Could I but live till burdensome they prove, My life would be immortal as my love. Your wish, ere it receive a name, I grant.

_Alib_. 'Tis to relieve your dying country's want; All hopes of succour from your arms is past, To save us now you must our ruin haste; Give up the town, and, to oblige him more. The captive general's liberty restore.

_Odm_. You speak to try my love; can you forgive So soon, to let your brother's murderer live?

_Alib_. Orbellan, though my brother, did disgrace, With treacherous deeds, our mighty mother's race; And to revenge his blood, so justly spilt, What is it less than to partake his guilt? Though my proud sister to revenge incline, I to my country's good my own resign.

_Odm_. To save our lives, our freedom I betray-- Yet, since I promised it, I will obey; I'll not my shame nor your commands dispute; You shall behold your empire's absolute. [_Exit_.

_Alib_. I should have thanked him for his speedy grant, And yet, I know not how, fit words I want: Sure I am grown distracted in my mind;-- That joy, this grant should bring, I cannot find: The one, denying, vexed my soul before; And this, obeying, has disturbed me more: The one, with grief, and slowly, did refuse, The other, in his grant, much haste did use: --He used too much--and, granting me so soon, He has the merit of the gift undone: Methought with wondrous ease he swallowed down His forfeit honour, to betray the town: My inward choice was Guyomar before, But now his virtue has confirmed me more-- I rave, I rave, for Odmar will obey, And then my promise must my choice betray. Fantastic honour, thou hast framed a toil Thyself, to make thy love thy virtue's spoil. [_Exit_.