The story so far

The whole action takes place in the New World, in the years before the Spanish Conquest.

Some twenty years or so ago, Amexia, the Queen of Mexico, became pregnant. Her husband’s sister, Zempoalla, was devoured by ambition – she herself had a young son – and arranging for her love Traxalla to kill the King, then exiled the rightful Queen and proceeded to rule with force where her brother had ruled with love. However, in the course of time, others also cast envious eyes on the rich realm of Mexico, and just before the play opens, the Inca of Peru has invaded. His armies, led by the brilliant stranger Montezuma, have just won three pitched battles.

Overture and Prologue

An Indian Boy and Girl lament the destruction of war, but see in the audience their own future, The trumpet’s playing brings, however, the arrival of the invading Peruvians, together with their prisoners who include the Mexican prince Acacis, son to the Queen Zempoalla.

Act I

The Inca refuses to give Montezuma the hand of his daughter Orazia as a reward for his success. Furious, Montezuma resolves to change sides and fight for the Mexicans. Acacis, whom he has freed, remonstrates with him, pleading honour and duty (even against Acacis’s own interests), but in vain.

Meanwhile at the Mexican court Zempoalla confesses her grief to her general and lover Traxalla. A messenger reveals that Acacis is alive, and Zempoalla vows that if she is victorious, she will sacrifice all her prisoners to the God of War – may she herself die if she fails to do so.

Act II

The Inca and Orazia are escaping from the Mexican army, given new heart by the defection of Montezuma. Traxalla’s soldiers capture them, but are forced to give them up to Montezuma, who is the real author of the victory.

The Mexicans prepare a Triumph, praising their new Hero Montezuma, but Zempoalla is furious at their apparent disloyalty to her and Acacis.

Acacis admits that his title to the throne stems from his mother’s crime. A messenger tells them that Princess Orazia and the Inca have been taken off by force to feature prominently in the forthcoming Triumph – and presumably the ensuing sacrifice as well.

Act III

The Triumph of Fame over Envy is interrupted by the arrival of Montezuma and Acacis, both of them furious at the treatment of Orazia and the Inca. Zempoalla would like to execute Montezuma too, but finds she cannot bear to – she has fallen in love with him though she must not admit it. Acacis pleasd for the lives of the prisoners, but Zempoalla’s vow cannot be set aside.

Zempoalla goes down to consult her sorcerer Ismeron, who is discovered in his cave amongst his familiar spirits. She tells him she has had a terrible dream, to interpret which he must call up the God of Dreams. But the God of Dreams will tell her nothing. Oddly moved by her plight, Ismeron calls up Aerial Spirits to cheer her up, but these are even more singularly unhelpful.

Act IV

Orazia in prison meditates on her sufferings. Traxalla offers to save Montezuma’s life, if Orazia will give herself to him. Neither Montezuma nor Orazia will agree to this, and Traxalla attacks Montezuma. Zempoalla arrvies, suspicious (with good reason) of Traxalla’s motives, and threatens to stab Orazia if Traxalla wounds Montezuma. She asks Montezuma to love her in return for the gift of his life. However, both Montezuma and Orazia prefer death to life on those terms, and Zempoalla orders the sacrifice to be prepared.

Acacis breaks into the prison and frees Montezuma and Orazia, leading them out of the city. Letting Orazia go, he challenges Montezuma to fight for Orazia, and is wounded in the duel. Zempoalla has been warned by a spy, and arrives in time to recapture both Montezuma and Orazia.

Act V

The priests prepare the sacrifice to the God of War. Acacis, desparing of gaining Orazia’s love, kills himself. Messengers announce the imminent arrival of the rightful Queen Amexia, and that Montezuma is her long lost son. Zempoalla goes to kill Montezuma, but releases him instead; Traxalla goes to kill him but is despatched by him. The true Queen arrives together with Montezuma’s fosterfather Garruca, and all is recounted. Zempoalla, bereft of everything, kills herself.

The Inca, finally satisfied that Montezuma’s bloodlines are suitable, allows him to marry Orazia.

Masque (music by Daniel Purcell)

Ismeron and the Mexicans celebrate by offering a wedding masque to Montezuma and Orazia. Marriages that have gone wrong are healed by the power of love in a jolly romp by Henry’s brother Daniel (written after Henry’s death) that nevertheless can be seen to have interesting parallels to the Prologue.