[Exit Ind.

Enter MONTEZUMA; his eldest son, ODMAR; his daughter, CYDARIA; ALMERIA, ALIBECH, ORBELLAN, and Train.  They place themselves.

High Pr.  On your birthday, while we sing
To our gods and to our king,
Her, among this beauteous quire,
Whose perfections you admire,
Her, who fairest does appear,
Crown her queen of all the year,
Of the year and of the day,
And at her feet your garland lay.

Odm.  My father this way does his looks direct; Heaven grant, he give it not where I suspect!

[MONTEZUMA rises, goes about the Ladies, and at length stays at ALMERIA, and bows.

Mont.  Since my Orazia’s death, I have not seen
A beauty, so deserving to be queen
As fair Almeria.

Alm.  Sure he will not know [To her brother and sister, aside. 
My birth I to that injured princess owe,
Whom his hard heart not only love denied,
But in her sufferings took unmanly pride.

Alib.  Since Montezuma will his choice renew,
In dead Orazia’s room electing you,
’Twill please our mother’s ghost that you succeed
To all the glories of her rival’s bed.

Alm.  If news be carried to the shades below, The Indian queen will be more pleased, to know, That I his scorns on him, who scorned her, pay.

Orb.  Would you could right her some more noble way!

[She turns to him, who is kneeling all this while.

Mont.  Madam, this posture is for heaven designed, [Kneeling.  And what moves heaven I hope may make you kind.

Alm.  Heaven may be kind; the gods uninjured live. 
And crimes below cost little to forgive: 
By thee, inhuman, both my parents died;
One by thy sword, the other by thy pride.

Mont.  My haughty mind no fate could ever bow, Yet I must stoop to one, who scorns me now:  Is there no pity to my sufferings due?

Alm.  As much as what my mother found from you.

Mont.  Your mother’s wrongs a recompence shall meet; I lay my sceptre at her daughter’s feet.

Alm.  He, who does now my least commands obey, Would call me queen, and take my power away.

Odm.  Can he hear this, and not his fetters break? 
Is love so powerful, or his soul so weak? 
I’ll fright her from it.—­Madam, though you see
The king is kind, I hope your modesty
Will know, what distance to the crown is due.

Alm.  Distance and modesty prescribed by you!

Odm.  Almeria dares not think such thoughts as these.

Alm.  She dares both think and act what thoughts she please. 
Tis much below me on his throne to sit;
But when I do, you shall petition it.

Odm.  If, sir, Almeria does your bed partake, I mourn for my forgotten mother’s’ sake.