John Dryden - Delphi Poets Series

by John Dryden

  For even our wish is, in possession, lost:

  Restless, we wander to a new desire,

  And burn ourselves, by blowing up the fire:

  We toss and turn about our feverish will,

  When all our ease must come by lying still:

  For all the happiness mankind can gain

  Is not in pleasure, but in rest from pain.

  [Goes in, and the scene closes upon him.

  SCENE II. — Chamber-royal.

  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.

  SCENE III.

  A pleasant grotto discovered; in it a fountain spouting; round about it Vasquez, Pizarro, and other Spaniards, lying carelessly unarmed, and by them many Indian women, one of which sings the following song.

  SONG.

  Ah fading joy! how quickly art thou past!

  Yet we thy ruin haste.

  As if the cares of human life were few,

  We seek out new:

  And follow fate, which would too fast pursue.

  See, how on every bough the birds express,

  In their sweet notes, their happiness.

  They all enjoy, and nothing spare;

  But on their mother nature lay their care:

  Why then should man, the lord of all below,

  Such troubles chuse to know,

  As none of all his subjects undergo?

  Hark, hark, the waters, fall, fall, fall,

  And with a murmuring sound

  Dash, dash, upon the ground,

  To gentle slumbers call.

  After the song two Spaniards arise, and dance a saraband with castanietas: At the end of which Guyomar and his Indians enter, and, ere the Spaniards can recover their swords, seize them.

  Guy. Those, whom you took without, in triumph bring; But see these strait conducted to the king.

  Piz. Vasquez, what now remains in these extremes?

  Vasq. Only to wake us from our golden dreams.

  Piz. Since by our shameful conduct we have lost

  Freedom, wealth, honour, which we value most,

  I wish they would our lives a period give:

  They live too long, who happiness out-live.

  [Spaniards are led out.

  Ind. See, sir, how quickly your success is spread; The king comes marching in the army’s head.

  Enter Montezuma, Alibech, Odmar discontented.

  Mont. Now all the Gods reward and bless my son. [Embracing. Thou hast this day thy father’s youth outdone.

  Alib. Just heaven all happiness upon him shower, Till it confess its will beyond its power.

  Guy. The heavens are kind, the Gods propitious

  be,

  I only doubt a mortal deity:

  I neither fought for Conquest, nor for fame,

  Your love alone can recompence my flame.

  Alib. I gave my love to the most brave in war; But that the king must judge.

  Mont.— ’Tis Guyomar.

  [Soldiers shout, A Guyomar, &c.

  Mont. This day your nuptials we will celebrate;

  But guard these haughty captives ‘till their fate:

  Odmar, this night to keep them be your care,

  To-morrow for their sacrifice prepare.

  Alib. Blot not your conquest with your cruelty.

  Mont. Fate says, we are not safe unless they die:

  The spirit, that foretold this happy day,

  Bid me use caution and avoid delay:

  Posterity be juster to my fame;

  Nor call it murder, when each private man

  In his defence may justly do the same:

  But private persons more than monarchs can:

  All weigh our acts, and whate’er seems unjust,

  Impute not to necessity, but lust.

  [Exeunt MONTEZUMA, GUYOMAR and ALIBECH.

  Odm. Lost and undone! he had my father’s voice,

  And Alibech seemed pleased with her new choice:

  Alas, it was not new! too late I see,

  Since one she hated, that it must be me.

  — I feel a strange temptation in my will

  To do an action, great at once and ill:

  Virtue, ill treated, from my soul is fled;

  I by revenge and love am wholly led:

  Yet conscience would against my rage rebel —

  Conscience, the foolish pride of doing well!

  Sink empire, father perish, brother fall,

  Revenge does more than recompence you all.

  Conduct the prisoners in.

  Enter VASQUEZ, and PIZARRO.

  Spaniards, you See your own deplored estate:

  What dare you do to reconcile your fate?

  Vasq. All that despair, with courage joined, can do.

  Odm. An easy way to victory I’ll shew;

  When all are buried in their sleep or joy,

  I’ll give you arms, burn, ravish, and destroy;

  For my own share one beauty I design;

  Engage your honour that she shall be mine.

  Piz. I gladly swear.

  Vasq. — And I; but I request That, in return, one, who has touched my breast, Whose name I know not, may be given to me.

  Odm. Spaniard, ’tis just; she’s yours, whoe’er she be.

  Vasq. The night comes on: if fortune bless the bold, I shall possess the beauty.

  Piz. I the gold. [Exeunt.

  SCENE IV. — A Prison.

  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 t
he 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.