Chapter 48

CORTEZ _discovered bound:_ ALMERIA _talking with him_.

_Alm_. I come not now your constancy to prove; You may believe me when I say I love.

_Cort_. You have too well instructed me before In your intentions, to believe you more.

_Alm_. I'm justly plagued by this your unbelief, And am myself the cause of my own grief: But to beg love, I cannot stoop so low; It is enough that you my passion know: 'Tis in your choice; love me, or love me not; I have not yet my brother's death forgot. [_Lays hold on the dagger_.

_Cort_. You menace me and court me in a breath: Your Cupid looks as dreadfully as death.

_Alm_. Your hopes, without, are vanished into smoke: Your captains taken, and your armies broke.

_Cort_. In vain you urge me with my miseries: When fortune falls, high courages can rise; Now should I change my love, it would appear Not the effect of gratitude, but fear.

_Alm_. I'll to the king, and make it my request, Or my command, that you may be releast; And make you judge, when I have set you free, Who best deserves your passion, I, or she.

_Cort_. You tempt my faith so generous a way, As without guilt might constancy betray: But I'm so far from meriting esteem, That, if I judge, I must myself condemn; Yet having given my worthless heart before, What I must ne'er possess, I will adore: Take my devotion then this humbler way; Devotion is the love which heaven we pay. [_Kisses her hand_.

_Enter_ CYDARIA.

_Cyd_. May I believe my eyes! what do I see! Is this her hate to him, his love to me! 'Tis in my breast she sheaths her dagger now. False man, is this thy faith? is this thy vow? [_To him_.

_Cort_. What words, dear saint, are these I hear you use? What faith, what vows, are those which you accuse?

_Cyd_. More cruel than the tyger o'er his spoil; And falser than the weeping crododile: Can you add vanity to guilt, and take A pride to hear the conquests, which you make? Go, publish your renown; let it be said, You have a woman, and that loved, betrayed.

_Cort_. With what injustice is my faith accused! Life, freedom, empire, I at once refused; And would again ten thousand times for you.

_Alm_. She'll have too great content to find him true; And therefore, since his love is not for me, I'll help to make my rival's misery. [_Aside_. Spaniard, I never thought you false before: [_To him_. Can you at once two mistresses adore? Keep the poor soul no longer in suspence, Your change is such as does not need defence.

_Cort_. Riddles like these I cannot understand.

_Alm_. Why should you blush? she saw you kiss my hand.

_Cyd_. Fear not; I will, while your first love's denied, Favour your shame, and turn my eyes aside; My feeble hopes in her deserts are lost: I neither can such power nor beauty boast: I have no tie upon you to be true, But that, which loosened yours, my love to you.

_Cort_. Could you have heard my words!

_Cyd_.--Alas, what needs To hear your words, when I beheld your deeds?

_Cort_. What shall I say? the fate of love is such, That still it sees too little or too much. That act of mine, which does your passion move, Was but a mark of my respect, not love.

_Alm_. Vex not yourself excuses to prepare: For one, you love not, is not worth your care.

_Cort_. Cruel Almeria, take that life you gave; Since you but worse destroy me, while you save.

_Cyd_. No, let me die, and I'll my claim resign; For while I live, methinks, you should be mine.

_Cort_. The bloodiest vengeance, which she could pursue, Would be a trifle to my loss of you.

_Cyd_. Your change was wise: for, had she been denied, A swift revenge had followed from her pride: You from my gentle nature had no fears, All my revenge is only in my tears.

_Cort_. Can you imagine I so mean could prove, To save my life by changing of my love?

_Cyd_. Since death is that which naturally we shun, You did no more than I, perhaps, had done.

_Cort_. Make me not doubt, fair soul, your constancy; You would have died for love, and so would I.

_Alm_. You may believe him; you have seen it proved.

_Cort_. Can I not gain belief how I have loved? What can thy ends, malicious beauty, be: Can he, who kill'd thy brother, live for thee?

[_A noise of clashing of swords_. [VASQUEZ _within, Indians against him_.

_Vasq_. Yield, slaves, or die; our swords shall force our way. [_Within_.

_Ind_. We cannot, though o'er-powered, our trust betray. [_Within_.

_Cort_. 'Tis Vasquez's voice, he brings me liberty.

_Vasq_. In spite of fate I'll set my general free; [_Within_. Now victory for us, the town's our own.

_Alm_. All hopes of safety and of love are gone: As when some dreadful thunder-clap is nigh, The winged fire shoots swiftly through the sky, Strikes and consumes, ere scarce it does appear, And by the sudden ill prevents the fear: Such is my state in this amazing woe, It leaves no power to think, much less to do. --But shall my rival live, shall she enjoy That love in peace, I laboured to destroy? [_Aside_.

_Cort_. Her looks grow black as a tempestuous wind; Some raging thoughts are rolling in her mind.

_Alm_. Rival, I must your jealousy remove, You shall, hereafter, be at rest for love.

_Cyd_. Now you are kind.

_Alm_.--He whom you love is true: But he shall never be possest by you.

[_Draws her dagger, and runs towards her_.

_Cort_. Hold, hold, ah barbarous woman! fly, oh fly!

_Cyd_. Ah pity, pity, is no succour nigh!

_Cort_. Run, run behind me, there you may be sure, While I have life, I will your life secure. [CYDARIA _gets behind him_.

_Alm_. On him, or thee,--light vengeance any where [_She stabs and hurts him_. --What have I done? I see his blood appear!

_Cyd_. It streams, it streams from every vital part: Was there no way but this to find his heart?

_Alm_. Ah! cursed woman, what was my design! This weapon's point shall mix that blood with mine!

[_Goes to stab herself, and being within his reach he snatches the dagger_.

_Cort_. Now neither life nor death are in your power.

_Alm_. Then sullenly I'll wait my fatal hour.

_Enter_ VASQUEZ _and_ PIZARRO, _with drawn swords_.

_Vasq_. He lives, he lives.

_Cort_.--Unfetter me with speed; Vasquez, I see you troubled that I bleed: But 'tis not deep, our army I can head.

_Vasq_. You to a certain victory are led; Your men, all armed, stand silently within: I with your freedom did the work begin.

_Piz_. What friends we have, and how we came so strong, We'll softly tell you as we march along.

_Cort_. In this safe place let me secure your fear: [_To_ CYDARIA. No clashing swords, no noise can enter here. Amidst our arms as quiet you shall be, As Halcyons brooding on a winter sea.

_Cyd_. Leave me not here alone, and full of fright, Amidst the terrors of a dreadful night: You judge, alas, my courage by your own; I never durst in darkness be alone: I beg, I throw me humbly at your feet.

_Cort_. You must not go where you may dangers meet. The unruly sword will no destinction make; And beauty will not there give wounds, but take.

_Alm_. Then stay and take me with you; tho' to be A slave to wait upon your victory. My heart unmoved can noise and horror bear: Parting from you is all the death I fear.

_Cort_. Almeria, 'tis enough I leave you free: You neither must stay here, nor go with me.

_Aim_. Then take my life, that will my rest restore: 'Tis all I ask, for saving yours before.

_Cort_. That were a barbarous return of love.

_Alm_. Yet, leaving it, you more inhuman prove. In both extremes I some relief should find; Oh! either hate me more, or be more kind.

_Cort_. Life of my soul, do not my absence mourn: But chear your heart in hopes of my return. [_To_ CYD. Your noble father's life shall be my care; And both your brothers I'm obliged to spare.

_Cyd_. Fate makes you deaf, while I in vain implore;-- My heart forebodes, I ne'er shall see you more: I have but one request,--when I am dead, Let not my rival to your love succeed.

_Cort_. Fate will be kinder than your fears foretell; Farewell, my dear.

_Cyd_.--A long and last farewell: --So eager to employ the cruel sword? Can you not one, not one last look afford!

_Cort_. I melt to womanish tears, and if I stay, I find my love, my courage will betray; Yon tower will keep you safe, but be so kind To your own life, that none may entrance find.

_Cyd_. Then lead me there.--[_He leads her_. For this one minute of your company, I go, methinks, with some content to die.

[_Exeunt_ CORTEZ, VASQUEZ, PIZARRO, _and_ CYDARIA.

_Alm_. Farewell, O too much lov'd, since lov'd in vain! What dismal fortune does for me remain! Night and despair my fatal footsteps guide; That chance may give the death which he denied. [_Exit_.

CORTEZ, VASQUEZ, PIZARRO, _and_ SPANIARDS _return again_.

_Cort_. All I hold dear I trust to your defence; [_To_ Piz. Guard her, and on your life, remove not hence. [_Exeunt_ CORTEZ _and_ VASQUEZ. _Piz_. I'll venture that.-- The Gods are good; I'll leave her to their care, Steal from my post, and in the plunder share. [_Exit_.