John Dryden - Delphi Poets Series

by John Dryden

Odm. What numbers of these holy men must come?

  Piz. You shall not want, each village shall have some; Who, though the royal dignity they own, Are equal to it, and depend on none.

  Guy. Depend on none! you treat them sure in state, For ’tis their plenty does their pride create.

  Mont. Those ghostly kings would parcel out my power,

  And all the fatness of my land devour.

  That monarch sits not safely on his throne

  Who bears, within, a power that shocks his own.

  They teach obedience to imperial sway,

  But think it sin if they themselves obey.

  Vasq. It seems, then, our religion you accuse,

  And peaceful homage to our king refuse.

  Mont. Your Gods I slight not, but will keep my own;

  My crown is absolute, and holds of none.

  I cannot in a base subjection live,

  Nor suffer you to take, though I would give.

  Cort. Is this your answer, sir?

  Mont. — This, as a prince,

  Bound to my people’s and my crown’s defence,

  I must return; but, as a man, by you

  Redeemed from death, all gratitude is due.

  Cort. It was an act my honour bound me to:

  But what I did, were I again to do,

  I could not do it on my honour’s score,

  For love would now oblige me to do more.

  Is no way left that we may yet agree?

  Must I have war, yet have no enemy?

  Vasq. He has refused all terms of peace to take.

  Mont. Since we must fight, hear, heavens, what prayers I make!

  First, to preserve this ancient state and me,

  But if your doom the fall of both decree,

  Grant only he, who has such honour shewn,

  When I am dust, may fill my empty throne!

  Cort. To make me happier than that wish can do,

  Lies not in all your Gods to grant, but you;

  Let this fair princess but one minute stay,

  A look from her will your obligements pay.

  [Exeunt MONTEZUMA, ODMAR, GUYOMAR, ORBELLAN, ALMERIA, and ALIBECH.

  Mont. to Cyd. Your duty in your quick return be shewn. — Stay you, and wait my daughter to the town. [To his guards.

  [CYDARIA is going, but turns and looks back upon CORTEZ, who is looking on her all this while.

  Cyd. My father’s gone, and yet I cannot go; Sure I have something lost or left behind!

  [Aside.

  Cort. Like travellers who wander in the snow, I on her beauty gaze ‘till I am blind.

  [Aside.

  Cyd. Thick breath, quick pulse, and heaving of my heart,

  All signs of some unwonted change appear:

  I find myself unwilling to depart,

  And yet I know not why I would be here.

  Stranger, you raise such torments in my breast,

  That when I go, (if I must go again)

  I’ll tell my father you have robbed my rest,

  And to him of your injuries complain.

  Cort. Unknown, I swear, those wrongs were which I wrought,

  But my complaints will much more just appear,

  Who from another world my freedom brought,

  And to your conquering eyes have lost it here.

  Cyd. Where is that other world, from whence you came?

  Cort. Beyond the ocean, far from hence it lies.

  Cyd. Your other world, I fear, is then the same,

  That souls must go to when the body dies.

  But what’s the cause that keeps you here with me,

  That I may know what keeps me here with you?

  Cort. Mine is a love which must perpetual be, If you can be so just as I am true.

  Enter ORBELLAN.

  Orb. Your father wonders much at your delay.

  Cyd. So great a wonder for so small a stay!

  Orb. He has commanded you with me to go.

  Cyd. Has he not sent to bring the stranger too?

  Orb. If he to-morrow dares in fight appear, His high-placed love perhaps may cost him dear.

  Cort. Dares! — that word was never spoke to Spaniard yet,

  But forfeited his life, who gave him it;

  Haste quickly with thy pledge of safety hence,

  Thy guilt’s protected by her innocence.

  Cyd. Sure in some fatal hour my love was born,

  So soon o’ercast with absence in the morn!

  Cort. Turn hence those pointed glories of your eyes;

  For if more charms beneath those circles rise,

  So weak my virtue, they so strong appear,

  I shall turn ravisher to keep you here.

  [Exeunt.

  ACT II.

  SCENE I. — The Magician’s Cave.

  Enter MONTEZUMA, and High-Priest.

  Mont. Not that I fear the utmost fate can do,

  Come I the event of doubtful war to know;

  For life and death are things indifferent;

  Each to be chose as either brings content:

  My motive from a nobler cause does spring,

  Love rules my heart, and is your monarch’s king;

  I more desire to know Almeria’s mind,

  Than all that heaven has for my state designed.

  High Pr. By powerful charms, which nothing can withstand, I’ll force the Gods to tell what you demand.

  CHARM.

  Thou moon, that aidest us with thy magic might,

  And ye small stars, the scattered seeds of light,

  Dart your pale beams into this gloomy place,

  That the sad powers of the infernal race

  May read above what’s hid from human eyes,

  And in your walks see empires fall and rise.

  And ye, immortal souls, who once were men,

  And now, resolved to elements again,

  Who wait for mortal frames in depths below,

  And did before what we are doomed to do;

  Once, twice, and thrice, I wave my sacred wand,

  Ascend, ascend, ascend at my command.

  [An earthy spirit rises.

  Spir. In vain, O mortal men, your prayers implore

  The aid of powers below, which want it more:

  A God more strong, who all the Gods commands,

  Drives us to exile from our native lands;

  The air swarms thick with wandering deities,

  Which drowsily, like humming beetles, rise

  From our loved earth, where peacefully we slept,

  And, far from heaven, a long possession kept.

  The frighted satyrs, that in woods delight,

  Now into plains with pricked-up ears take flight;

  And scudding thence, while they their horn-feet ply,

  About their sires the little silvans cry.

  A nation loving gold must rule this place,

  Our temples ruin, and our rites deface:

  To them, O king, is thy lost sceptre given.

  Now mourn thy fatal search, for since wise heaven

  More ill than good to mortals does dispense,

  It is not safe to have too quick a sense.

  [Descends.

  Mont. Mourn they, who think repining can remove

  The firm decrees of those, who rule above;

  The brave are safe within, who still dare die:

  Whene’er I fall, I’ll scorn my destiny.

  Doom as they please my empire not to stand,

  I’ll grasp my sceptre with my dying hand.

  High Pr. Those earthy spirits black and envious are;

  I’ll call up other Gods, of form more fair:

  Who visions dress in pleasing colour still,

  Set all the good to shew, and hide the ill.

  Kalib, ascend, my fair-spoke servant rise,

  And sooth my heart with pleasing prophesies.

  KALIB ascends all in white, in shape of a woman, and sings.

  Kal. I looked and saw within
the book of fate,

  Where, many days did lowr,

  When lo one happy hour

  Leapt up, and smiled to save thy sinking state;

  A day shall come when in thy power

  Thy cruel foes shall be;

  Then shall thy land be free,

  And thou in peace shalt reign.

  But take, O take that opportunity,

  Which, once refused, will never come again.

  [Descends.

  Mont. I shall deserve my fate, if I refuse

  That happy hour which heaven allots to use:

  But of my crown thou too much care dost take;

  That which I value more, my love’s at stake.

  High Pr. Arise, ye subtle spirits, that can spy,

  When love is entered in a female’s eye;

  You, that can read it in the midst of doubt,

  And in the midst of frowns can find it out;

  You, that can search those many cornered minds,

  Where women’s crooked fancy turns and winds;

  You, that can love explore, and truth impart,

  Where both lie deepest hid in woman’s heart,

  Arise —

  [The ghosts of TRAXALLA and ACACIS arise; they stand still, and point at MONTEZUMA.

  High Pr. I did not for these ghastly visions send;

  Their sudden coming does some ill portend.

  Begone, — begone, — they will not disappear!

  My soul is seized with an unusual fear.

  Mont. Point on, point on, and see whom you can fright.

  Shame and confusion seize these shades of night!

  Ye thin and empty forms, am I your sport?

  [They smile.

  If you were flesh —

  You know you durst not use me in this sort.

  [The ghost of the Indian Queen rises betwixt the ghosts, with a dagger in her breast.

  Mont. Ha!

  I feel my hair grow stiff, my eye-balls roll!

  This is the only form could shake my soul.

  Ghost. The hopes of thy successful love resign;

  Know, Montezuma, thou art only mine;

  For those, who here on earth their passion shew

  By death for love, receive their right below.

  Why dost thou then delay my longing arms?

  Have cares, and age, and mortal life such charms?

  The moon grows sickly at the sight of day,

  And early cocks have summoned me away:

  Yet I’ll appoint a meeting place below,

  For there fierce winds o’er dusky vallies blow,

  Whose every puff bears empty shades away,

  Which guidless in those dark dominions stray.

  Just at the entrance of the fields below,

  Thou shalt behold a tall black poplar grow;

  Safe in its hollow trunk I will attend,

  And seize thy spirit when thou dost descend.

  [Descends.

  Mont. I’ll seize thee there, thou messenger of fate. —

  Would my short life had yet a shorter date!

  I’m weary of this flesh which holds us here,

  And dastards manly souls with hope and fear;

  These heats and colds still in our breast make war,

  Agues and fevers all our passions are. [Exeunt.

  SCENE II.

  CYDARIA and ALIBECH, betwixt the two armies.

  Alib. Blessings will crown your name, if you prevent

  That blood, which in this battle will be spent;

  Nor need you fear so just a suit to move,

  Which both becomes your duty and your love.

  Cyd. But think you he will come? their camp is near, And he already knows I wait him here.

  Alib. You are too young your power to understand, Lovers take wing upon the least command; Already he is here.

  Enter CORTEZ and VASQUEZ to them.

  Cort. Methinks, like two black storms on either hand,

  Our Spanish army and your Indians stand;

  This only space betwixt the clouds is clear,

  Where you, like day, broke loose from both appear.

  Cyd. Those closing skies might still continue bright,

  But who can help it, if you’ll make it night?

  The Gods have given you power of life and death,

  Like them to save, or ruin, with a breath.

  Cort. That power they to your father did dispose,

  ’Twas in his choice to make us friends or foes.

  Alib. Injurious strength would rapine still excuse,

  By offering terms the weaker must refuse;

  And such as these your hard conditions are,

  You threaten peace, and you invite a war.

  Cort. If for myself to conquer here I came,

  You might perhaps my actions justly blame:

  Now I am sent, and am not to dispute

  My prince’s orders, but to execute.

  Alib. He, who his prince so blindly does obey, To keep his faith his virtue throws away.

  Cort. Monarchs may err; but should each private breast Judge their ill acts, they would dispute their best.

  Cyd. Then all your care is for your prince, I see;

  Your truth to him out-weighs your love to me:

  You may so cruel to deny me prove,

  But never after that pretend to love.

  Cort. Command my life, and I will soon obey; To save my honour I my blood will pay.

  Cyd. What is this honour which does love controul?

  Cort. A raging fit of virtue in the soul; A painful burden which great minds must bear, Obtained with danger, and possest with fear.

  Cyd. Lay down that burden if it painful grow; You’ll find, without it, love will lighter go.

  Cort. Honour, once lost, is never to be found.

  Alib. Perhaps he looks to have both passions crowned; First dye his honour in a purple flood, Then court the daughter in the father’s blood.

  Cort. The edge of war I’ll from the battle take, And spare her father’s subjects for her sake.

  Cyd. I cannot love you less when I’m refused.

  But I can die to be unkindly used;

  Where shall a maid’s distracted heart find rest.

  If she can miss it in her lover’s breast?

  Cort. I till to-morrow will the fight delay;

  Remember you have conquered me to-day.

  Alib. This grant destroys all you have urged before;

  Honour could not give this, or can give more.

  Our women in the foremost ranks appear;

  March to the fight, and meet your mistress there:

  Into the thickest squadrons she must run,

  Kill her, and see what honour will be won.

  Cyd. I must he in the battle, but I’ll go

  With empty quiver, and unbended bow;

  Not draw an arrow in this fatal strife,

  For fear its point should reach your noble life.

  Enter PIZARRO.

  Cort. No more: your kindness wounds me to the death:

  Honour, be gone! what art thou but a breath?

  I’ll live, proud of my infamy and shame,

  Graced with no triumph but a lover’s name;

  Men can but say, love did his reason blind,

  And love’s the noblest frailty of the mind. —

  Draw off my men; the war’s already done.

  Piz. Your orders come too late, the fight’s begun; The enemy gives on, with fury led, And fierce Orbellan combats at their head.

  Cort. He justly fears, a peace with me would

  prove

  Of ill concernment to his haughty love;

  Retire, fair excellence! I go to meet

  New honour, but to lay it at your feet.

  [Exeunt CORTEZ, VASQUEZ, and PIZARRO.]

  Enter ODMAR and GUTOMAR, to ALIBECH and CYDARIA.

  Odm. Now, madam, since a danger does appear

  Worthy my courage, though below my fear;

  Give
leave to him, who may in battle die,

  Before his death, to ask his destiny.

  Guy. He cannot die, whom you command to live; Before the fight, you can the conquest give; Speak, where you’ll place it?

  Alib. Briefly, then, to both,

  One I in secret love, the other loathe;

  But where I hate, my hate I will not show,

  And he, I love, my love shall never know;

  True worth shall gain me, that it may be said,

  Desert, not fancy, once a woman led.

  He who, in fight, his courage shall oppose,

  With most success, against his country’s foes,

  From me shall all that recompence receive,

  That valour merits, or that love can give.

  ’Tis true, my hopes and fears are all for one,

  But hopes and fears are to myself alone.

  Let him not shun the danger of the strife;

  I but his love, his country claims his life.

  Odm. All obstacles my courage shall remove.

  Guy. Fall on, fall on.

  Odm. For liberty!

  Guy. For love!

  [Exeunt, the women following.

  SCENE III. — Changes to the Indian country.

  Enter Montezuma, attended by the Indians.

  Mont. Charge, charge! their ground the faint Taxallans yield!

  Bold in close ambush, base in open field.

  The envious devil did my fortune wrong: —

  Thus fought, thus conquered I, when I was young.

  [Exit.

  Alarm. Enter CORTEZ bloody.

  Cort. Furies pursue these false Taxallans’ flight;

  Dare they be friends to us, and dare not fight?

  What friends can cowards be, what hopes appear

  Of help from such, who, where they hate, show fear!

  Enter PIZARRO and VASQUEZ.

  Piz. The field grows thin; and those, that now remain, Appear but like the shadows of the slain.

  Vasq. The fierce old king is vanished from the place, And, in a cloud of dust, pursues the chase.

  Cort. Their eager chase disordered does appear, Command our horse to charge them in the rear: [To PIZARRO. You to our old Castilian foot retire, [To VASQ. Who yet stand firm, and at their backs give fire. [Exeunt severally.

  SCENE IV.

  Enter ODMAR and GUTOMAR, meeting each other in the battle.

  Odm. Where hast thou been, since first the fight began, Thou less than woman in the shape of man?

  Guy. Where I have done what may thy envy move, Things worthy of my birth, and of my love.

  Odm. Two bold Taxallans with one dart I slew, And left it sticking ere my sword I drew.

  Guy. I sought not honour on so base a train,

  Such cowards by our women may be slain;

  I felled along a man of bearded face,