MONTEZUMA, Indian High Priest, bound; PIZARRO, Spaniards with swords drawn, a Christian Priest.
Piz. Thou hast not yet discovered all thy store.
Mont. I neither can nor will discover more; The gods will punish you, if they be just; The gods will plague your sacrilegious lust.
Chr. Priest. Mark how this impious heathen justifies
His own false gods, and our true God denies:
How wickedly he has refused his wealth,
And hid his gold, from christian hands, by stealth:
Down with him, kill him, merit heaven thereby.
Ind. High Pr. Can heaven be author of such cruelty?
Piz. Since neither threats nor kindness will prevail, We must by other means your minds assail; Fasten the engines; stretch 'em at their length, And pull the straitened cords with all your strength. [They fasten them to the rack, and then pull them.
Mont. The gods, who made me once a king, shall know,
I still am worthy to continue so:
Though now the subject of your tyranny,
I'll plague you worse than you can punish me.
Know, I have gold, which you shall never find;
No pains, no tortures, shall unlock my mind.
Chr. Pr. Pull harder yet; he does not feel the rack.
Mont. Pull 'till my veins break, and my sinews crack.
Ind. High Pr. When will you end your barbarous cruelty? I beg not to escape, I beg to die.