The works of John Dryden, $c now first collected in eighteen volumes. $p Volume 02 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 434 pages of information about The works of John Dryden, $c now first collected in eighteen volumes. $p Volume 02.

The works of John Dryden, $c now first collected in eighteen volumes. $p Volume 02 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 434 pages of information about The works of John Dryden, $c now first collected in eighteen volumes. $p Volume 02.

Mont.  And all besides too low.

Inca.  Once more I bid thee ask.

Mont.  Once more I make The same demand.

Inca.  The Inca bids thee take Thy choice, what towns, what kingdoms thou would’st have.

Mont.  Thou giv’st me only what before I gave.  Give me thy daughter.

Inca.  Thou deserv’st to die. 
O thou great author of our progeny,
Thou glorious sun, dost thou not blush to shine,
While such base blood attempts to mix with thine!

Mont.  That sun, thou speak’st of, did not hide his face, When he beheld me conquering with his race.

Inca.  My fortunes gave thee thy success in fight! 
Convey thy boasted valour from my sight;
I can o’ercome without thy feeble aid.

[Exeunt Inca, ORAZIA, and Peruvians.

Mont.  And is it thus my services are paid?  Not all his guards—­

[Offers to go, ACACIS holds him.

Aca.  Hold, sir.

Mont.  Unhand me.

Aca.  No, I must your rage prevent
From doing what your reason would repent;
Like the vast seas, your mind no limits knows,
Like them, lies open to each wind that blows.

Mont.  Can a revenge, that is so just, be ill?

Aca.  It is Orazia’s father, you would kill.

Mont.  Orazia! how that name has charmed my sword!

Aca.  Compose these wild distempers in your breast; Anger, like madness, is appeased by rest.

Mont.  Bid children sleep, my spirits boil too high;
But, since Orazia’s father must not die,
A nobler vengeance shall my actions guide;
I’ll bear the conquest to the conquered side,
Until this Inca for my friendship sues,
And proffers what his pride does now refuse.

Aca.  Your honour is obliged to keep your trust.

Mont.  He broke that bond, in ceasing to be just.

Aca.  Subjects to kings should more obedience pay.

Mont.  Subjects are bound, not strangers, to obey.

Aca.  Can you so little your Orazia prize,
To give the conquest to her enemies? 
Can you so easily forego her sight? 
I, that hold liberty more dear than light,
Yet to my freedom should my chains prefer,
And think it were well lost to stay with her.

Mont.  How unsuccessfully I still o’ercome! 
I brought a rival, not a captive, home;
Yet I may be deceived; but ’tis too late
To clear those doubts, my stay brings certain fate.
[Aside
Come, prince, you shall to Mexico return,
Where your sad armies do your absence mourn;
And in one battle I will gain you more
Than I have made you lose in three before.

Aca.  No, Montezuma, though you change your side, I, as a prisoner, am by honour tied.

Copyrights
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The works of John Dryden, $c now first collected in eighteen volumes. $p Volume 02 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.