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_.