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.