The Indian Emperor/Act IV/Scene II
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 choose,
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.
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.
As when the head distempers does endure,
Each several part must join to effect the cure.
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.
{{right|[Exeunt Guyomar} and Messenger.
Enter Odmar.
Alib. I read some welcome message in his eye:
Prince Odmar comes: I1l 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.
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.