The Inca of Peru. 
MONTEZUMA, his General. 
ACACIS, son to ZEMPOALLA. 
TRAXALLA, General to ZEMPOALLA. 
GARUCCA, a faithful subject to AMEXIA.
The God of Dreams. 
ISMERON, one of the prophets, a conjuror.
Officers and Soldiers. 
Peruvians and Mexicans. 
Priests.

AMEXIA, the lawful queen of Mexico. 
ZEMPOALLA, the usurping Indian Queen. 
ORAZIA,_daughter to the Inca_.
Attendants of Ladies.

THE INDIAN QUEEN.

ACT I. SCENE I.

Enter Inca, ORAZIA, MONTEZUMA, ACACIS, prisoners, with Peruvians.

Inca.  Thrice have the Mexicans before us fled,
Their armies broke, their prince in triumph led;
Both to thy valour, brave young man, we owe;
Ask thy reward, but such as it may show
It is a king thou hast obliged, whose mind
Is large, and, like his fortune, unconfined.

Mont.  Young, and a stranger, to your court I came, There, by your favour, raised to what I am:  I conquer, but in right of your great fate, And so your arms, not mine, are fortunate.

Inca.  I am impatient, till this debt be paid. 
Which still encreases on me while delayed;
A bounteous monarch to himself is kind: 
Ask such a gift as may for ever bind
Thy service to my empire, and to me.

Mont.  What can this gift, he bids me ask him, be! 
Perhaps he has perceived our mutual fires,
And now, with ours, would crown his own desires;
’Tis so, he sees my service is above
All other payments but his daughter’s love.

[Aside.

Inca.  So quick to merit, and to take so slow? 
I first prevent small wishes, and bestow
This prince, his sword and fortunes, to thy hand;
He’s thine unasked; now make thy free demand.

Mont.  Here, prince, receive this sword, as only due

[Gives ACACIS his sword.

To that excess of courage shown in you.—­
When you, without demand, a prince bestow,
Less than a prince to ask of you were low.

Inca.  Then ask a kingdom; say, where thou wilt reign.

Mont.  I beg not empires, those my sword can gain;
But, for my past and future service too,
What I have done, and what I mean to do;
For this of Mexico which I have won,
And kingdoms I will conquer yet unknown;
I only ask from fair Orazia’s eyes
To reap the fruits of all my victories.

1 Peru.  Our Inca’s colour mounts into his face.

2 Peru.  His looks speak death.

Inca.  Young man of unknown race,
Ask once again; so well thy merits plead,
Thou shall not die for that which thou hast said;
The price of what thou ask’st, thou dost not know;
That gift’s too high.