_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.