_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. _Mont_. You are my prisoner, and I set you free. _Aca_. 'Twere baseness to accept such liberty. _Mont_. From him, that conquered you, it should be sought. _Aca_. No, but from him, for whom my conqueror fought. _Mont_. Still you are mine, his gift has made you so. _Aca_. He gave me to his general, not his foe. _Mont_. How poorly have you pleaded honour's laws! Yet shun the greatest in your country's cause. _Aca_. What succour can the captive give the free. _Mont_. A needless captive is an enemy. In painted honour you would seem to shine; But 'twould be clouded, were your wrongs like mine. _Aca_. When choler such unbridled power can have, Thy virtue seems but thy revenge's slave: If such injustice should my honour stain, My aid would prove my nation's loss, not gain. _Mont_. Be cozened by thy guilty honesty, To make thyself thy country's enemy. _Aca_. I do not mean in the next fight to stain My sword in blood of any Mexican, But will be present in the fatal strife, To guard Orazia's and the Inca's life. _Mont_. Orazia's life, fond man! First guard thy own; Her safety she must owe to me alone. _Aca_. Your sword, that does such wonders, cannot be, In an ill cause, secure of victory. _Mont_. Hark, hark! [_Noise of trampling_. _Aca_. What noise is this invades my ear? Fly, Montezuma! fly, the guards are near: To favour your retreat, I'll freely pay That life, which you so frankly gave this day. _Mont_. I must retire; but those, that follow me, Pursue their deaths, and not their victory. [_Exit_ MONT. _Aca_. Our quarrels kinder than our friendships prove: You for my country fight, I for your love. _Enter_ INCA _and Guards_. _Inca_. I was to blame to leave this madman free; Perhaps he may revolt to the enemy, Or stay, and raise some fatal mutiny. _Aca_. Stop your pursuits, for they must pass through me. _Inca_. Where is the slave? _Aca_. Gone. _Inca_. Whither? _Aca_. O'er the plain; Where he may soon the camp, or city, gain. _Inca_. Curse on my dull neglect! And yet I do less cause of wonder find, That he is gone, than that thou stayest behind. _Aca_. My treatment, since you took me, was so free, It wanted but the name of liberty. I with less shame can still your captive live, Than take that freedom, which you did not give. _Inca_. Thou brave young man, that hast thy years outdone, And, losing liberty, hast honour won, I must myself thy honour's rival make, And give that freedom, which thou would'st not take. Go, and be safe.--