Alm.  A burning blush has covered all my face;
Why am I forced to publish my disgrace? 
What if I love? you know it cannot be,
And yet I blush to put the case—­’twere me. 
If I could love you with a flame so true,
I could forget what hand my brother slew—­
—­Make out the rest—­I am disordered so,
I know not farther what to say or do: 
—­But answer me to what you think I meant.

Cort.  Reason or wit no answer can invent:  Of words confused who can the meaning find?

Alm.  Disordered words show a distempered mind.

Cort.  She has obliged me so, that could I chuse, I would not answer what I must refuse. [Aside.

Alm.  His mind is shook—­suppose I loved you, speak, Would you for me Cydaria’s fetters break?

Cort.  Things, meant in jest, no serious answer need.

Alm.  But, put the case that it were so indeed.

Cort.  If it were so,—­which but to think were pride,—­
My constant love would dangerously be tried: 
For since you could a brother’s death forgive,
He, whom you save, for you alone should live: 
But I, the most unhappy of mankind,
Ere I knew yours, have all my love resigned: 
’Tis my own loss I grieve, who have no more: 
You go a-begging to a bankrupt’s door. 
Yet could I change, as sure I never can,
How could you love so infamous a man? 
For love, once given from her, and placed in you,
Would leave no ground I ever could be true.

Alm.  You construed me aright—­I was in jest: 
And, by that offer, meant to sound your breast;
Which since I find so constant to your love,
Will much my value of your worth improve. 
Spaniard, assure yourself you shall not be
Obliged to quit Cydaria for me: 
’Tis dangerous though to treat me in this sort,
And to refuse my offers, though in sport. [Exit.

Cort.  In what a strange condition am I left? 
More than I wish I have, of all I wish bereft! 
In wishing nothing, we enjoy still most;
For even our wish is, in possession, lost: 
Restless, we wander to a new desire,
And burn ourselves, by blowing up the fire: 
We toss and turn about our feverish will,
When all our ease must come by lying still: 
For all the happiness mankind can gain
Is not in pleasure, but in rest from pain. [Goes in, and the scene closes upon him.

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.