Cort.  Your love did that, and not your cruelty.

Enter a Spaniard.

Span.  Prince Guyomar the combat still maintains,
Our men retreat, and he their ground regains: 
But once encouraged by our general’s sight,
We boldly should renew the doubtful fight.

Cort.  Remove not hence, you shall not long attend; [To MONTEZUMA. 
I’ll aid my soldiers, yet preserve my friend.

Mont.  Excellent man! [Exeunt CORTEZ, &c. 
But I, by living, poorly take the way
To injure goodness, which I cannot pay.

Enter ALMERIA.

Alm.  Ruin and death run armed through every street;
And yet that fate, I seek, I cannot meet: 
What guards misfortunes are and misery! 
Death, that strikes all, yet seems afraid of me.

Mont.  Almeria here!  Oh turn away your face!  Must you be witness too of my disgrace?

Alm.  I am not that Almeria whom you knew,
But want that pity I denied to you: 
Your conqueror, alas, has vanquished me;
But he refuses his own victory: 
While all are captives in your conquered state,
I find a wretched freedom in his hate.

Mont.  Couldst thou thy love on one who scorned thee lose? 
He saw not with my eyes, who could refuse: 
Him, who could prove so much unkind to thee,
I ne’er will suffer to be kind to me.

Alm.  I am content in death to share your fate; And die for him I love, with him I hate.

Mont.  What shall I do in this perplexing strait! 
My tortured limbs refuse to bear my weight:  [Endeavouring to walk, not being able. 
I cannot go to death to set me free;
Death must be kind, and come himself to me.

Alm.  I’ve thought upon’t:  I have affairs below, [ALM. musing. 
Which I must needs despatch before I go: 
Sir, I have found a place where you may be, [To him. 
(Though not preserved) yet, like a king, die free;
The general left your daughter in the tower,
We may a while resist the Spaniards’ power,
If Guyomar prevail.

Mont.  Make haste and call; She’ll hear your voice, and answer from the wall.

Alm.  My voice she knows and fears, but use your own;
And, to gain entrance, feign you are alone. [ALM. steps behind.

Mont.  Cydaria!

Alm.  Louder.

Mont.  Daughter!

Alm.  Louder yet.

Mont.  Thou canst not, sure, thy father’s voice forget.

[He knocks at the door, at last CYDARIA looks over the balcony.

Cyd.  Since my love went, I have been frighted so,
With dismal groans, and noises from below;
I durst not send my eyes abroad, for fear
Of seeing dangers, which I yet but hear.

Mont.  Cydaria!