Mont.  Into my eyes sorrow begins to creep; When hands are tied, it is no shame to weep.

Aca.  Dear Montezuma,
I may be still your friend, though I must die
Your rival in her love:  Eternity
Has room enough for both; there’s no desire,
Where to enjoy is only to admire: 
There we’ll meet friends, when this short storm is past.

Mont.  Why must I tamely wait to perish last?

Aca.  Orazia weeps, and my parched soul appears
Refreshed by that kind shower of pitying tears;
Forgive those faults my passion did commit,
’Tis punished with the life that nourished it;
I had no power in this extremity
To save your life, and less to see you die. 
My eyes would ever on this object stay,
But sinking nature takes the props away. 
Kind death,
To end with pleasures all my miseries,
Shuts up your image in my closing eyes.

[Dies.

Enter a Messenger.

Mess.  To arms, to arms!

Trax.  From whence this sudden fear?

Mess.  Stand to your guard, my lord, the danger’s near:  From every quarter crowds of people meet, And, leaving houses empty, fill the street.

[Exit Mess.

Trax.  Fond queen, thy fruitless tears a while defer;
Rise, we must join again—­Not speak, nor stir! 
I hear the people’s voice like winds that roar,
When they pursue the flying waves to shore.

Enter Second Messenger.

2 Mess.  Prepare to fight, my lord; the banished queen, With old Garucca, in the streets are seen.

Trax.  We must go meet them or it be too late; Yet, madam, rise; have you no sense of fate?

Enter third Messenger.

3 Mess.  King Montezuma their loud shouts proclaim,
The city rings with their new sovereign’s name;
The banished queen declares he is her son,
And to his succour all the people run.

 [ZEMPOALLA rises.

Zemp.  Can this be true?  O love!  O fate! have I Thus doated on my mortal enemy?

Trax.  To my new prince I thus my homage pay; Your reign is short, young king—­

Zemp.  Traxalla, stay—­ ’Tis to my hand that he must owe his fate, I will revenge at once my love and hate.

[She sets a dagger to MONTEZUMA’S breast.

Trax.  Strike, strike, the conquering enemy is near.  My guards are passed, while you detain me here.

Zemp.  Die then, ungrateful, die; Amexia’s son
Shall never triumph on Acacis’ throne. 
Thy death must my unhappy flames remove: 
Now where is thy defence—­against my love?

[She cuts the cords, and gives him the dagger.

Trax.  Am I betrayed? [He draws and thrusts at MONTEZUMA, he puts it by and kills him.

Mont.  So may all rebels die:  This end has treason joined with cruelty.