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.