_Aca_. You bid me live, and yet command me die! I am not worth your care;--Fly, madam, fly! (While I fall here unpitied) o'er this plain, Free from pursuit, the faithless mountains gain; And these I charge, As they would have me think their friendship true, Leave me alone, to serve, and follow you: Make haste, fair princess, to avoid that fate, Which does for your unhappy father wait. _Oraz_. Is he then left to die, and shall he see Himself forsaken, ere his death, by me? _Mont_. That would you do? _Oraz_. To prison I'll return, And there, in fetters, with my father mourn. _Mont_. That saves not his, but throws your life away. _Oraz_. Duty shall give what nature once must pay. _Aca_. Life is the gift, which heaven and parents give, And duty best preserves it, if you live. _Oraz_. I should but further from my fountain fly, And, like an unfed stream, run on and die: Urge me no more, and do not grieve to see Your honour rivalled by my piety. [_She goes softly of, and often looks back_. _Mont_. If honour would not, shame would lead the way; I'll back with her. _Aca_. Stay, Montezuma, stay!-- Thy rival cannot let thee go alone, My love will bear me, though my blood is gone. [_As they are going off,_ _Enter_ ZEMPOALLA, TRAXALLA, _the Indian that went to tell her, and the rest, and seize them_. _Zemp_. Seize them!-- _Aca_. Oh, Montezuma, thou art lost. _Mont_. No more, proud heart, thy useless courage boast!-- Courage, thou curse of the unfortunate! That canst encounter, not resist, ill fate. _Zemp_. Acacis bleeds!-- What barbarous hand has wounded thus my son? _Mont_. 'Twas I; by my unhappy sword 'twas done.-- Thou bleed'st, poor prince, and I am left to grieve My rival's fall. _Trax_. He bleeds, but yet may live. _Aca_. Friendship and love my failing strength renew; I dare not die, when I should live for you; My death were now my crime, as it would be My guilt to live when I have set you free: Thus I must still remain unfortunate, Your life and death are equally my fate. ORAZIA _comes back_. _Oraz_. A noise again!--alas, what do I see! Love, thou didst once give place to piety: Now, piety, let love triumph awhile;-- Here, bind my hands: Come, Montezuma, smile At fortune; since thou sufferest for my sake, Orazia will her captive's chains partake. _Mont_. Now, fate, thy worst. _Zemp_. Lead to the temple straight, A priest and altar for these lovers wait: They shall be joined, they shall. _Trax_. And I will prove Those joys in vengeance, which I want in love. _Aca_. I'll quench your thirst with blood, and will destroy Myself, and, with myself, your cruel joy. Now, Montezuma, since Orazia dies, I'll fall before thee, the first sacrifice; My title in her death shall exceed thine, As much as, in her life, thy hopes did mine: And when with our mixed blood the altar's dyed, Then our new title let the gods decide. [_Exeunt_. ACT V. SCENE I.