He was preceded by his Brother's fate CAMILLA Alas VALERIUS Yet breathless his revenge begun But quickly gives new conquest to your Son Who soon defeated all the Arts he try'd And laid him gasping by his Brothers side The Air resounds with noises thither sent From Roman Joy and Alban discontent Our Hero when so near his triumph drew Not only conquers now but braves them too I to my Brothers shades give what is past But to thee Rome I sacrifice this last Accept dear Country this so noble Blood Says he and flies to make his promise good The victory did scarce admit suspence The wounded Alban making small defence But as a Victim to the Altar goes And his Throat offers to the deadly blows So he gave up his undefended breath Securing Rome's Dominion by his Death Old HORACE O! my brave Son true heir of all renown Onely supporter of a falling Crown O Vertue worthy of Romes boast and mine Thy Country's succour glory of thy Line When into tenderness shall I convert All my injustice to thy great desert When shall I my repenting kindness show And with glad tears bathe thy victorious Brow VAL. That your Endearments may soon find a place The King will hasten him to your Embrace And therefore till to morrow is delay'd The Sacrifice which must to heav'n be paid This day no other Gratitude allows But Songs of Triumph and the publick Vows Where Horace waits the King by whom I 'm sent To ease your Grief and heighten your content But this is not enough for him to pay He 'll come himself and that perhaps to day This noble action does oblige him so That his own thanks he will on you bestow Who have resign'd your Sons to save his Throne Old HOR. That honour is too great for me to own And I 'm requited by what you have said For all the Blood my Sons have spilt or shed VAL. The King who no imperfect bounty knows His rescu'd Scepter from insulting Foes Values so much that all that he can do He thinks below either your Son or You But I shall tell him with what noble fire Heroick Vertue does your Soul inspire And how much Loyal Zeal to him you bear Old HOR. You 'l much oblige me by so kind a care SCEN. III. Old Horace Camilla Old HOR. Daughter your Tears are out of season now And misbecome the place where Honours grow Domestick losses we may well excuse When they do publick Victories produce It is enough Rome does o're Alba sway And all our sufferings that one word must pay You but a man lost when your Lover fell Whom you may quickly now repair as well What noble Roman after this success But would be proud to make you an address But to Sabina I this news must bear Whose blow must needs be very rude to her And her three Brothers by her Husband slain Will give her much more reason to complain But I despair not to appease her yet And she who is so brave and so discreet Will without pain her generous Soul dispose To that submission which her honour owes Till when suppress your grief you now resent Nor entertain him with this discontent In brief let him a Sister meet and find In the same blood the same heroick mind SCEN. IV. CAMILLA Yes I shall quickly to that Brother prove That none can fear to die who dares to love Nor can submit to those stern Parents sway Whom cruel Heav'n condemns us to obey You blame my grief you call it mean and poor But in revenge I 'll cherish it the more Relentless Father and my tears shall flow Till their streams rapid as their causes grow Never did Fortune shift her treacherous part So many times to break a single heart Sometimes she flatter'd and sometimes did fright Never in one day did one heart appear So toss'd from grief to joy from hope to fear An Oracle assures a Dream torments The Battel threatens and the Peace contents Just on my Marriage Eve the Cities chose My Lover and my Brother to be Foes The Souldiers murmure and revoke the choice The gods again confirm it by their voice Rome seems subdu'd and with my Brothers blood My Curtius only unpolluted stood But did my Heart too little grief contain To see my Country stoop and Brothers slain Or did my Fancy give too large a scope To love yet guiltless and yet living hope His death revenges on me that abuse With the sad way wherein I heard the news Valerius tells it and to brave my Fate The sad event does odiously relate An open gladness did his visage dress Less by Rome's glory caus'd than my distress Since by his Rival's death his hopes renew He seems to share my Brother's triumph too But this is nothing to my present wo I am requir'd with joy to meet the blow I to the Conqueror must my praise impart And kiss a hand that stabs me to the heart And when my grief so justly great appears They place an infamy upon my tears I must rejoice at what afflicts me thus And to be noble must be barbarous But from this Father I 'll degenerate And will deserve this gallant Brother's hate For humane frailty sure illustrious grows When brutishness for vertue they impose Appear my griefs why should you now forbear When all is lost what hath one left to fear This savage Conqueror I will not flye But will upbraid him with his Victory Offend his Conquest irritate his rage And if ought can let that my grief asswage He comes let my just sorrow now disclose What to a Lover slain a Mistress owes SCEN. V. Horace Camilla HORACE Sister this arm our Brothers has reveng'd And Rome's declining Destiny has chang'd Has to Rome's sway subjected Alba's Fate And in one day dispos'd of either State Behold what Trophies I have won and pay What 's due from you to such a glorious day CAMILLA Receive my tears then which are all I owe. HORACE Rome in her Triumphs will not those allow Bloud hath too well appeas'd our Brothers slain For you by tears to wash away their stain A loss that is reveng'd should be forgot CAMILLA Since then our hapless Brothers need them not I shall not think my tears to them are due Who are so fully satisfi'd by you But who will make my happiness return Or call that Lover back for whom I mourn HORACE How 's that CAMILLA My Curtius ah too brave too dear HORACE Ha! what are those audacious words I hear Can my degenerate Sister then retain Love for a publick Foe whom I have slain Thy guilty passion to revenge aspires But govern better thy unjust desires Remove my blushes and thy flame suppress And be in love only with my success Let these great Trophies thy delight confine CAMILLA Give me Barbarian then a heart like thine And since my thoughts I can no more disclaim Restore my Curtius or excuse my flame All my delight with his dear life is fled I lov'd him living and lament him dead If thou the Sister seek'st thou left'st behind An injur'd Mistress only thou wilt find Who like a Fury still must thee pursue And still reproach thee with his murther too Inhumane Brother who forbid'st my tears To whom my ruine such a joy appears Who of thy cruel slaughters growing vain Would'st have me kill my Curtins o're again May such incessant sorrows follow thee That thou may'st be reduc'd to envy me And by some wretched action soon defame Thy so ador'd and yet so brutish Name HORACE O Heavens who ever saw such raging love Believ'st thou nothing can my temper move And in my blood can I this shame permit Love love that blow which so ennobles it And the remembrance of one man resign To th' interests of Rome if not to mine CAMILLA To Rome the only object of my hate To Rome whose quarrel caus'd my Lover's Fate To Rome where thou wert born to thee so dear Whom I abhor ' cause she does thee revere May all her neighbours in one knot combine Her yet unsure foundations t' undermine And if Italian Forces seem too small May East and West conspire to make her fall And all the Nations of the barbarous World To ruine her o're Hills and Seas be hurl'd Nor these loath'd Walls may her own fury spare But with her own hands her own bowels tear And may Heaven's angel kindled by my wo Whole deluges of fire upon her throw May my eyes see her Temples overturn'd These Houses ashes and thy Lawrels burn'd See the last gasp which the last Roman draws And die with joy for having been the cause HORACE CAMILLA Ah Traitor HORACE Perish and be that their doom Who dare lament an Enemy of Rome SCEN. VI. Horace Proculus PROCULUS What have you done HORACE An honourable act Such an offence does such revenge exact FINIS
Death of the Illustrious DVKE of GLOUCESTER GReat Glou'ster's dead and yet in this we must Confess that angry Heaven is wise and just We have so long and yet so ill endur'd The woes which our offences had procur'd That this new stroke would all our strength destroy Had we not known an interval of Joy And yet perhaps this stroke had been excus'd If we this interval had not abus'd But our Ingratitude and Discontent Deserv'd to know our mercies were but lent And those complaints Heaven in this rigid fate Does first chastise and then legitimate By this it our Divisions does reprove And makes us join in grief if not in love For Glorious Youth all Parties do agree As in admiring so lamenting thee The Sovereign's Subject's Foreiner's delight Thou wert the universal Favourite Not Rome's belov'd and brave Marcellus fell So much a Darling or a Miracle Though built of richest bloud and finest earth Thou hadst a heart more noble than thy birth Which by th' afflictive changes thou didst know Thou hadst but too much cause and time to show For when Fate did thy Infancy expose To the most barbarous and stupid Foes Yet thou didst then so much express the Prince As did even them amaze if not convince Nay that loose Tyrant whom no bound confin'd Whom neither laws nor oaths nor shame could bind Although his Soul was than his Look more grim Yet thy brave Innocence half softn'd him And he that Worth wherein thy Soul was drest By his ill-favour'd clemency confest Lessening the ill which he could not repent He call'd that Travel which was Banishment Escap'd from him thy Trials were encreas'd The scene was chang'd but not the danger ceas'd Thou from rough Guardians to Seducers gone Those made thy Temper these thy Judgm t known Whilst thou the noblest Champion wert for Truth Whether we view thy Courage or thy Youth If to foil Nature and Ambition claims Greater reward than to encounter Flames All that shall know the story must allow A Martyr's Crown prepared for thy brow But yet thou wert suspended from thy Throne Till thy Great Brother had regain'd his own Who though the bravest Suff'rer yet even He Could not at once have mist his Crown and Thee But as Commission'd Angels make no stay But having done their errand go their way So thy part done not thy restored State The future splendour which did for thee wait Nor that thy Prince and Country must mourn for Such a Support and such a Counsellor Could longer keep thee from that bliss whence thou Look'st down with pity on Earth's Monarchs now Where thy capacious Soul may quench her thirst And younger Brothers may inherit first While on our King Heav'n does this care express To make his Comforts safe he makes them less For this successful Heathens use to say It is too much great Gods send some allay To Her Royal Highness the Dutchess of York on her commanding me to send her some things that I had written TO you whose Dignity strikes us with aw And whose far greater Judgment gives us law Your Mind b'ing more transcendent than your State For while but Knees to this Hearts bow to that These humble Papers never durst come near Had not your pow'rful Word bid them appear In which such majesty such sweetness dwells As in one act obliges and compels None can dispute commands vouchsaf'd by you What shall my fears then and confusion do They must resign and by their just pretence Some value set on my obedience For in religious Duties 't is confest The most Implicite are accepted best If on that score your Highness will excuse This blushing tribute of an artless Muse She may encourag'd by your least regard Which first can worth create and then reward At modest distance with improved strains That Mercy celebrate which now she gains But should you that severer justice use Which these too prompt Approches may produce As the swift Hinde which hath escaped long Believes a Vulgar shot would be a wrong But wounded by a Prince falls without shame And what in life she loses gains in fame So if a Ray from you chance to be sent Which to consume and not to warm is meant My trembling Muse at least more nobly dies And falls by that a truer sacrifice On the Death of the Queen of Bohemia ALthough the most do with officious heat Only adore the Living and the Great Yet this Queen's Merits Fame so far hath spread That she rules still though dispossest and dead For losing one two other Crowns remain'd Over all hearts and her own griefs she reign'd Two Thrones so splendid as to none are less But to that third which she does now possess Her Heart and Birth Fortune so well did know That seeking her own fame in such a Foe She drest the spacious Theatre for the fight And the admiring World call'd to the sight An Army then of mighty Sorrows brought Who all against this single Vertue sought And sometimes stratagems and sometimes blows To her Heroick Soul they did oppose But at her feet their vain attempts did fall And she discover'd and subdu'd them all Till Fortune weary of her malice grew Became her Captive and her Trophee too And by too late a Tribute begg'd t' have been Admitted subject to so brave a Queen But as some Hero who a field hath wone Viewing the things he had so greatly done When by his spirit's flight he finds that he With his own Life must buy his Victory He makes the slaughter'd heap that next him lies His Funeral Pile and then in triumph dies So fell this Royal Dame with conquering spent And left in every breast her monument Wherein so high an Epitaph is writ As I must never dare to copy it But that bright Angel which did on her wait In fifty years contention with her fate And in that office did with wonder see How great her troubles how much greater she How she maintain'd her best Prerogative In keeping still the power to Forgive How high she did in her Devotion go And how her Condescention stoop'd as low With how much Glory she had ever been A Daughter Sister Mother Wife and Queen Will sure employ some deathless Muse to tell Our children this instructive Miracle Who may her sad Illustrious Life recite And after all her Wrongs may do her right On the 3. of September 1651. AS when the glorious Magazine of Light Approches to his Canopy of Night He with new splendour clothes his dying Rays And double brightness to his Beams conveys And as to brave and check his ending fate Puts on his highest looks in 's lowest state Drest in such terrour as to make us all Be Anti-Persians and adore his Fall Then quits the world depriving it of Day While every Herb and Plant does droop away So when our gasping English Royalty Perceiv'd her Period was now drawing nigh She summons her whole strength to give one blow To raise her self or pull
and various things Link'd to their Causes by such secret Springs Are held so fast and govern'd by such Art That nothing can out of its order start The World's God's watch where nothing is so small But makes a part of what composes all Could the least Pin be lost or else displac'd The World would be disorder'd and defac'd It beats no Pulse in vain but keeps its time And undiscern'd to its own height doth climb Strung first and daily wound up by his hand Who can its motions guide and understand No secret cunning then nor multitude Can Providence divert cross or delude And her just full decrees are hidden things Which harder are to find then Births of Springs Yet all in various Consorts fitly sound And by their Discords Harmony compound Hence is that Order Life and Energy Whereby Forms are preserv'd though Matters die And shifting dress keep their own living state So that what kills this does that propagate This made the ancient Sage in Rapture cry That sure the world had full Eternity For though it self to Time and Fate submit He 's above both who made and governs it And to each Creature hath such Portion lent As Love and Wisdom sees convenient For he 's no Tyrant nor delights to grieve The Beings which from him alone can live He 's most concern'd and hath the greatest share In man and therefore takes the greatest care To make him happy who alone can be So by Submission and Conformity For why should Changes here below surprize When the whole World its revolution tries Where were our Springs our Harvests pleasant use Unless Vicissitude did them produce Nay what can be so wearisome a pain As when no Alterations entertain To lose to suffer to be sick and die Arrest us by the same Necessity Nor could they trouble us but that our mind Hath its own glory unto dross confin'd For outward things remove not from their place Till our Souls run to beg their mean embrace Then doting on the choice make it our own By placing Trifles in th' Opinion's Throne So when they are divorc'd by some new cross Our Souls seem widow'd by the fatal loss But could we keep our Grandeur and our state Nothing below would seem unfortunate But Grace and Reason which best succours bring Would with advantage manage every thing And by right Judgment would prevent our moan For losing that which never was our own For right Opinion's like a Marble grott In Summer cool and in the Winter hot A Principle which in each Fortune lives Bestowing Catholick Preservatives 'T is this resolves there are no losses where Vertue and Reason are continued there The meanest Soul might such a Fortune share But no mean Soul could so that Fortune bear Thus I compose my thoughts grown insolent As th' Irish Harper doth his Instrument Which if once struck doth murmur and complain But the next touch will silence all again 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ Reconciling the World to himself WHen God contracted to Humanity Could sigh and suffer could be sick and die When all the heap of Miracles combin'd To form the greatest which was save Mankind Then God took stand in Christ studying a way How to repair the Ruin'd World's decay His Love Pow'r Wisdom must some means procure His Mercy to advance Justice secure And since Man in such Misery was hurl'd It cost him more to save then make the World Oh! what a desp'rate load of sins had we When God must plot for our Felicity When God must beg us that he may forgive And dye himself before Mankind could live And what still are we when our King in vain Begs his lost Rebels to be Friends again What flouds of Love proceed from Heaven's smile At once to pardon and to reconcile What God himself hath made he cannot hate For 't is one act to Love and to Create And he 's too perfect full of Majesty To need additions from our Misery He hath a Father's not a Tyrant's joy Shews more his Pow'r to save then to destroy Did there ten thousand Worlds to ruine fall One God could save one Christ redeem them all Be silent then ye narrow Souls take heed Lest you restrain the Mercy you will need But O my Soul from these be different Imitate thou a nobler Precedent As God with open Arms the World does woo Learn thou like God to be enlarged too As he begs thy consent to pardon thee Learn to submit unto thy Enemy As he stands ready thee to entertain Be thou as forward to return again As he was Crucify'd for and by thee Crucifie thou what caus'd his Agony And like to him be mortify'd to sin Die to the World as he dy'd for it then The World WE falsly think it due unto our Friends That we should grieve for their untimely ends He that surveys the World with serious eyes And strips her from her gross and weak disguise Shall find 't is Injury to mourn their Fate He only dies untimely who dies late For if 't were told to Children in the Womb To what a Stage of Mischiefs they must come Could they foresee with how much toil and sweat Men court that guilded nothing being Great What pains they take not to be what they seem Rating their bliss by others false esteem And sacrificing their Content to be Guilty of grave and serious Vanity How each Condition hath its proper Thorns And what one man admires another scorns How frequently their Happiness they miss So far even from agreeing what it is That the same Person we can hardly find Who is an hour together in one mind Sure they would beg a Period of their breath And what we call their Birth would count their Death Mankind is mad for none can live alone Because their Joys stand by comparison And yet they quarrel at Society And strive to kill they know not whom nor why We all live by Mistake delight in Dreams Lost to our selves and dwelling in Extremes Rejecting what we have though ne're so good And prizing what we never understood Compar'd t' our boisterous inconstancy Tempests are calm and Discords harmony Hence we reverse the World and yet do find The God that made can hardly please our Mind We live by chance and slip into Events Have all of Beasts except their Innocence The Soul which no man's pow'r can reach a thing That makes each Woman Man each Man a King Doth so much lose and from its height so fall That some contend to have no Soul at all 'T is either not observ'd or at the best By Passion fought withal by Sin deprest Freedom of Will God's Image is forgot And if we know it we improve it not Our Thoughts though nothing can be more our own Are still unguided very seldom known Time ' scapes our hands as Water in a Sieve We come to die e're we begin to live Truth the most sutable and noble prize Food of our Spirits yet neglected
Father save And does expose that Memphis which he gave We must now hasten or prevent his Fate His Ruine hinder or precipitate That is unsafe and this ignoble is I dread injustice or unhappiness And angry fortune each way offers me Either much danger or much infamy It is my part of chuse yours to advise What you believe to be most safe and wise Pompey's concern'd nay we the fame shall get Caesar's success to trouble or compleat And never Monarchs Fortune did afford So great a Subject for a Councel Board PHOTINUS When things Sir are determin'd by the Sword Justice is nothing but an empty word And he who then Affairs would rightly weigh Must not his Reasons but his power obey View your own strength let Pompey be survey'd Whose Fortune Droops and Valour is betray'd Who not from Caesar only takes his flight But from the Senates just reproach and sight Whose greater part were cheaply left a Prey To the keen Vultures of Pharsalia He flies lost Rome and every Roman now Who must to his defeat their Fetters owe. He flies those Kings who would chastise his Guilt Of all the blood that in this cause was spilt Their Kingdoms now of Men and Money void Their broken Scepters and their Thrones destroy'd As Author of all Woes abhor'd by all He flies the whole World shatter'd by his Fall Can you alone resist so many Foes His safety he did in himself Repose He falls and you may yield without a Blush To such a weight as Rome her self does Crush A weight which hath the Universe prest down And the yet greater Pompey overthrown He that will save whom Heaven will have wrackt By too much Justice may a Guilt Contract And a fidelity so indiscreet May a short Fame but long Repentance meet He but a more illustrious wound will have Which will not smart the less for being brave Do not for Egypt Thunderbolts provide But chuse with Fortune and the Gods to side Believe not they can an injustice do But where they favour pay your Homage too Whatever they decree for them declare And think it impious where they frown to spare With Divine Anger Pompey now beset Comes to involve you too in his Defeat His Head for which both Gods and Men do call Already shakes and seeks but where to fall His coming hither an Offence does seem And shews his hatred rather than esteem He would his safety with your ruine buy And can you doubt if he deserve to die Had he fulfill'd what we both wisht and thought And a victorious Navy hither brought We then should him a joyful welcom shew Who must the gods blame for his usage now I of his Fortune not of him complain But with regret Act what the Gods Ordain And the same Ponyard once for Caesar meant Shall with a sigh to Pompey's Heart be sent Nor can you at a less rate than his Head Secure your own and shun the storm you dread Let this be thought a Crime if so it must 'T is not a States-man's Virtue to be Just When Right and Wrong are in the Ballance laid The Interest of Kingdoms is betray'd Extreamest Rigour is the Right of Kings When Timerous Equity their Ruine brings Who fears a Crime shall ever be afraid But he 'll rule all who all things dares invade Who dangerous virtue as disgrace does shun And to an useful Crime as swiftly run This is my Thought Sir but Achillas may Or else Septimius chuse some other way But this I know whatever others like They fear no Conqueror who the conquer'd strike ACHILLAS Photin saies true Sir but though Pompey we Devested of his former Grandeur see Yet that Blood Precious does to me appear Which the Gods did in Thessaly revere Not that a crime of State should be refrain'd But 't is not lawful till it be constrain'd And what need is there of such Rigour here Who quits the conquer'd needs no Conqueror fear You may be Neuter as you were before And Caesar may if him you must adore But though you treat him as a Power Divine This is too great an Off'ring for his Shrine To Mars himself should this head offer'd be 'T would fix on yours too black an infamy Let him not be assisted nor destroy'd And such a Conduct will all blame avoid You owe him much Sir for Rome mov'd by him Help'd our last King his Scepter to redeem But Gratitude and Hospitality In Monarchs Breasts must regulated be Nor can a King Contract so great a debt But that his Subjects claim a greater yet And all Engagements are to Princes void To cancel which their bloud must be imploy'd Consider too what Pompey did expose When he your Father help'd against his Foes By that he made his Power the greater seem And rais'd his own Fame by restoring him He did in serving him but language spend But Caesar's Purse appear'd the better Friend Had we not Caesar's thousand Talents seen Pompey's Orations had small succours been Let him not then his verbal merits boast For Caesar's Actions have oblig'd you most But if a benefit to him be due Speak now for him as he did once for you His kindness safely thus requite you may But here receiv'd he will your Scepter sway This conquer'd Roman yet a King will brave And in your own Dominions you enslave Refuse him welcome then but spare his Head But if 't must fall this arm shall strike him dead I can obey Sir and should Jealous grow If any Hand but mine should strike the blow SEPTIMIUS Sir I 'm a Roman and these Hero's know Pompey needs aid and from you seeks it now You are his fate may his lost hopes revive Banish or kill or give him up alive The first would cost you much too dear a rate I 'le only then the other three debate His exile draws on you enraged Pow'r And does but half oblige the Conquerour Since to a long suspense you will him leave What fate his future battels shall receive And both on you Revenge when weary grown The Ills which but for you they had not known To render him to Caesar were the same Who must forgive him to augment his Fame He will a brav'ry on himself impose And swell in that false mercy he bestows Glad if that way he Pompey can o'recome And in the same Act please subjected Rome But whilst you him to this necessitate You 'll purchase his as well as Pompey's hate His danger and dishonour then prevent Both make him great and keep him innocent Whilst Pompey's Faction you in him destroy Let Caesar at your cost the fruit enjoy By this advice which you 'l I hope allow You 'l gain a Friend and need not fear a Foe But if Achillas unsafe course you choose You neither gain but both their Friendships lose PTOLOMY Let us no more debate what 's Just and fit But to the Worlds vicissitude submit Your Major votes do with my thoughts agree Who in so great a change
convenient he should bleed Your Sister hates you she is fair and fierce And if she such Victorious Charmes disperse The head of Pompey only can suffice To win the heart of Caesar from her Eyes PTOLOMY This dangerous Woman hath a busie wit PHOTIN But such a service will out-ballance it PTOLOMY But what if Caesar still her Pow'r obey PHOTIN Then flatter her yet mind not what I say Till first you ask in an affair so Nice Achillas and Septimius best advice PTOLOMY Le ts from the Tow'r see them act Pompey's doom And this Debate at their return resume After the first Act of Pompey the King and Photin should be discovered sitting and hearkning to this SONG SInce affairs of the State are already decreed Make room for Affairs of the Court Employment and Pleasure each other succeed Because they each other support Were Princes confin'd From slackening their Mind When by Care it is rufled and Curl'd A Crown would appear Too heavy to wear And no Man would govern the World If the Gods themselves who have power enough In diversions are various and oft Since the business of Kings is angry and rough Their Intervals ought to be soft Were Princes confin'd c. To our Monarch we owe whatsoer'e we enjoy And no grateful Subjects were those Who would not the safty he gives them employ To contribute to his repose Were Princes confin'd c. After which an Antick dance of Gypsies is presented Act. II. SCEN. I. Cleopatera Charmion CLEOPATRA I Love him but a Flame so much refin'd How bright soever dazles not my mind For Vertue makes my inclination know What Caesars Mistress does to Pompey owe And none dares own a passion so sublime But she that scorn's the shaddow of a crime I should but smal Respect to Caesar pay To seek his liove in an unhandsom way CHARMION Can you love Caesar Madam and advise That Egypt should in Armes against him rise That they should Pompey against him Protect And his Pharsalian Triumphs should be checkt Sure Love in you does lttle Empire shew CLEOPATRA This to their high extraction Princes owe That by th' Assistance of their Royal Blood Their Passions are more easily subdu'd Their honour still the Victory will have And whilst they trust themselves they still are brave All the Disorders which in Kings we see To others Councels must imputed be This I the cause of Pompey's ruine Deem The King would help but Photin murthers him Whose Coucel hath his Masters faith o'rethrown Which still had sway'd had he observ'd his own CHARMION You then who Caesar love and yet oppose CLEOPATRA The Love I cherish no dishonour knows But worthy him CHARMION Are you of his secur'd CLEOPATRA I think I am CHARMION But are you well assur'd CLEOPATRA Know that a Princess by her glory mov'd No Love confesses till she be belov'd Nor the most noble passion ever shows When it shall her to a Contempt expose At Rome I first did Caesars Heart invade Where he the first expression of it made And ever since he did to me renew The Tribute of his Vows and Laurel too He march'd through Italy through Gaule and Spain With Love in 's Brest and fortune in his Train Nor did he ever make so brave a Price But he pay'd Homage for it to these Eyes With the same hand which did that weapon quit Wi'th ' Blood of Pompey's party reeking yet He writ complaints and put my fetters on Ev'n in the Field which he had newly won Yes from Pharsalia his submissions came And if his speed be equal to his flame Or rather if the Sea be friend his Fleet Egypt shall see him shortly at my feet He comes my Charmion and from me alone Seeks the reward of all that he hath done And all his glory to my Shrine he brings With the same hand that gives the law to Kings So that ev'n in his Triumphs my disdain Can make the Man that rules the World complain CHARMION Yet I dare swear your charms a pow'r enjoy Which though they boast of they will ne're employ And the great Caesar shall no trouble know If it can only from your rigour grow But what can you expect from Caesar's flames Wherein such right another Woman claims His freedom he by marriage hath resign'd And only to Calphurnia is confin'd CLEOPATRA But a Divorce at Rome so common now May remove her and my desires allow Caesar's Experience him to that may lead Since 't was Calphurnia's passage to his bed CHARMION But the same way may you at length remove CLEOPATRA Perhaps I better shall secure his love Perhaps my passion may find out an Art Better to manage that illustrious Heart But let 's to Heaven leave what may arrive And this Alliance if we can contrive Were it but one day 't were enough for me One day the Mistress of the World to be I have Ambition and be 't good or ill It is the only Sovereign of my Will And 't is this noble passion sure or none A Princess may without a blemish own But yet with Glory I would it enflame Nor would buy Greatness with the loss of Fame For I the brightest Crown can scorn to touch When 't is attended with the least Reproach Wonder not then that I so much pursue Pompey's defence and would my Duty do His injur'd vertue since I cannot right My secret wishes must invoke his flight That some kind storm may so his Ships disperse As may preserve him from his Murtherers But faithful Achoreus comes and he Will quickly tell us Pompey's Destiny SCEN. II. Cleopatra Charmion Achoreus CLEOPATRA What is it done and hath some Treacherous hand With that Rich bloud stain'd our unhappy strand ACHOREUS By your commands I to the shore did run And saw this Treason in its horrour done I saw the greatest Mortal lose his breath And though a sad I saw a glorious death And since a story you require from me So much his Honour and our Infamy Hear now his Fate and wonder and bewail His three Ships in the Harbour striking sail When to our ready Gallies he approach'd He thought the King with his misfortunes touch'd By noble sense of Honour did intend With all his Court to meet so brave a friend But when he only saw a Squiff prepar'd And that too fill'd with Ruffians of his guard Th' ingrateful Treachery did then appear And gave him some approaches of a fear But seeing arm'd Men on our Ships and Shore He blush'd his apprehensions were so Poor And when the Danger was so neer him brought He only on Cornelia's safety thought Let 's but expose saies he this single head To a Reception we may so much dread But whilst I only do the shock sustain Hasten thy flight and my revenge obtain King Juba is more generously enclin'd Where thou thy Father and my Sons shall find But if their Deaths should thee of them deprive Never despair while Cato is alive While their contest
but what 's my own You ne're shall anger from your Sister find Though you 're a cruel Brother I 'le be kind PTOLOMY But yet methinks you do discover pride CLEOPATRA Time is the Standard whereby things are try'd PTOLOMY Your present carriage that doth plainly shew CLEOPATRA Caesar is come and you 've a Master now PTOLOMY I made him mine who the Worlds Master is CLEOPATRA Pay him your homage while I look for his In this Address you may your self be seen But I 'le remember that I am a Queen Photin will help you to receive him now Advise with him he 'll tell you what 's to do Act. II. SCEN. IV. Ptolomy Photinus PTOLOMY I have observ'd thy Counsel but find since To flatter her but swells her insolence For with her Pride she did affront me so That I at last fell into Passion too This Arm enrag'd by her could scarce forbear Without a Thought that Caesar was so near Dispatching her as safe as she does seem To have complain'd to Pompey not to him She talks already at that haughty rate That if great Caesar please her Pride and Hate And she o're him her boasted Empire have Her Brother and her King must be her Slave No no we needs must Frustrate that intent Nor poorly wait the Ills we may prevent Let 's spoil her of her Power to disdain And break those Charmes whereby she hopes to reign Nor after such indignities let 's brook That she should buy my Scepter with a look PHOTINUS Do not for Caesar Sir pretence provide That Egypt should be to his Triumphs ty'd For this Ambitious Man which through the world Hath War and Slavery together hurl'd Swell'd with his Conquest and a Rage so smart As such a loss writes in a Lovers Heart Though you but act what Equity approves Will thence ground his revenge for what he loves As for a crime Hee 'l you to Bondage bring Though you did only what became a King PTOLOMY If Cleopatra sees him shee 's a Queen PHOTINUS But if she dye your Ruine is foreseen PTOLOMY Who ruines me should on my fall attend PHOTINUS To ruine her you must your self befriend PTOLOMY What must my Crown upon her Temples shine No if my Scepter I must needs resign The Conquerour shall rather it command PHOTINUS You 'l sooner force it from a Sisters hand How great soever now his flames appear He must be gone and leave You Master here Love in such Men seldom that room can find Which to their Interest will not be resign'd With Juba Scipio and with Pompey's Sons Spain to Revenge he knows with Affrick runs And while that Party are not yet o'rethrown He cannot safely call the World his own Caesar's too great a Captain to o'resee The Pursuit of Pharsalia's Victory And leave such fierce Hearts on revenge intent To rise from their so late Astonishment If he his ends Obtain and them o'recome He his gain'd Empire must secure at Rome And there the fruit of his success enjoy Whilst he at pleasure does her laws Destroy Judge in that time what great things you may do See Caesar then and strive to please him too Resign him all but yet this Rule intend That future things on accidents Depend Your Throne and Scepter give into his hand And without murmur yield to his Command He will believe that Justice he shall do If he your Father's Testament pursue Besides this signal service you have done Will give you still some Title to your Throne Entire submission to his Orders shew Applaud his Judgment but then let him go That time for our Revenge will be most fit When we can Act as well as think of it With temper let these Passions then be born Which were excited by your Sisters scorn Boasts are but Air and he revenges best Who Acts his braver Thoughts yet talks the least PTOLOMY O thy Advice my greatest Comfort brings A Prudent Counsellour's the bliss of Kings Come dear Supporter of my Throne let 's go And to save all on Caesar all bestow His Pride let 's flatter with an empty State And with our whole Fleet on him hither Wait. After the second Act this Song is to be sung by two Egyptian Priests on the Stage 1. SEE how Victorious Caesar's Pride Does Neptune's Bosom sweep And with Thessalian Fortune ride In Triumph o're the Deep 2. What Rival of the Gods is this Who dare's do more then they Whose Feet the Fates themselves do kiss And Sea and Land obey 1. What can the Fortunate withstand For this resistless He Rivers of Blood brings on the Land And Bulwarks on the Sea 2. Since Gods as well as Men submit And Caesar's favour woe Virtue her self may think it fit That Egypt court him too 1. But Pompey's Head 's a rate too dear For by that impious price The God less Noble will appear Than do's the Sacrifice 2. If Justice be a thing divine The Gods should it maintain For us t' attempt what they decline Would be as rash as vain Chorus How desperate is our Princes Fate What hazzard doe's he run He must be wicked to be great Or to be just undone Act. III. SCEN. I. Charmion Achoreus CHARMION YEs whilst the King himself is gone to meet Caesar and lay his Scepter at his Feet To her Appartment Cleopatra went And there unmov'd expects his Complement What words have you to cloath this Humour in ACHOREUS 'T is Noble Pride and worthy of a Queen Who with Heroick courage does make good The Honour of her Rank and of her Blood May I speak to Her CHARMION No but she hath sent Me to enquire this meetings great event How Caesar on this Gift himself explain'd Whether it wene acknowledg'd or disdain'd If he the fierce takes or the gentler way And what he to our Murtherers could say ACHOREUS The head of Pompey hath already cost More than they will have any cause to boast For whether Caesar be or seem severe Yet I for them have ground enough to fear If they lov'd Ptolomy they serv'd him ill You saw him part and I pursu'd him still When from the City his well order'd Fleet Advanc'd a League that they might Caesar meet He with spread Sails arriv'd and as in Wars He still had been the Favourite of Mars So Neptune to his Navy was so kind His Fortune was not fairer than his Wind. Our Prince was so astonish'd when they met As if he did his Crowned head forget Through his false joy his terrour he confess'd And all his Actions his low Thoughts express'd I my self blush'd as at a shameful thing There to see Ptolomy but not the King Caesar who saw his Courage thus expire In pity flatter'd him to raise it higher He with low voice offering his fatal gift Now Sir says he you have no Rival left What in Thessalia not the gods could do I give you Pompey and Cornelia too Here 's one and though the other flight did take Six Ships of mine will
quickly bring her back Achillas then the great Head did expose Which still to speak it self seem'd to dispose At this new injury some warm remain Did in imperfect groans seem to complain I thought his open mouth and ghastly look Recall'd the Soul which scarce her leave had took And his last anger seem'd with dying breath To charge the gods with his Defeat and Death Caesar seem'd Thunder-stricken at this view As not resolv'd what to believe or do Immoveably on that sad Object ty'd He long from us his inward thought did hide And I would say if I durst make a guess By what our Nature uses to express Some such malignant pleasure he enjoy'd As his offended honour scarce destroy'd That the whole World now in his power lies Could not but bring some flattering surprize But though a while this conflict he endur'd Yet his great Soul it self soon re-assur'd Though he loves Power yet he Treason hates Himself he judges on himself debates Each joy and grief at Reason's Bar appears At length resolv'd he first let fall some Tears His Virtues Empire he by force regains And noblest thoughts by that weak sign explains The horrid present from his sight expell'd His Eyes and Hands he up to Heaven held In a few words their insolence repress'd And after did in pensive silence rest Nor even to his Romans could reply But with a heavy sigh and furious eye At last with thirty Cohorts come to Land To seiz the Gates and Ports he does command The Guards he set and secret Orders sent Shew his distrust as well as discontent Egypt he speaks of as a Province won And now calls Pompey not a Foe but Son This I observ'd CHARMION By which the Queen may find The just Osiris to her Vows inclin'd Whilst with this happy News to her I flye Do you preserve her your Fidelity ACHOREUS Ne're doubt it but here Caesar comes go then Describe the Consternation of our Men And whatsoever proves to be their Fate I 'le first observe and then to her relate SCEN. II. Caesar Ptolomy Lepidus Photinus Achoreus Roman and Egyptian Souldiers PTOLOMY Great Sir ascend the Throne and govern Us. CAESAR Do you know Caesar and speak to him thus What worse could envious Fortune offer me Who alike hate a Crown and Infamy This to accept would all my boast confute That Rome did me unjustly persecute Rome who both scorns gives Crowns every where And nothing sees in Kings to love or fear Nay at our Birth does all our Souls enflame To slight the Rank and to abhor the Name This truth you might have learn'd from Pompey who If he such Offers lik'd could shun them too Both Throne and King had honour'd been t' afford Service to him who had them both restor'd So glorious had been even ill success In such a Cause that Triumphs had been less And if your Fortune safety had deny'd To have bestow'd it had been Caesar's pride But though you would not own so brave a strife What right had you to that illustrious Life Who that rich blood to wash your hands allow'd That to the meanest Roman should have bow'd Was it for you Pharsalia's Field I won Wherein so many Nations were undone And did I purchase at so high a rate That you should be the Arbiters of Fate If I in Pompey that could ne're admit Shall you escape o're him assuming it How much is my success abus'd by you Who attempt more than ever I durst do What Name think you will such a blow become Which has usurp'd the Soveraignty of Rome And in one Person did affront her more Than could the Asian Massacre before Do you imagine I shall e're agree You would have been more scrupulous for me No had you Pompey here Victorious seen My Head to him had such a Present been I to my Conquest your Submissions owe When all wrongs had pursu'd my Overthrow You do adore the Conqueror not me I but enjoy it by Felicity Dangerous Friendship Kindness to be fear'd Which turns with Fortune and by her is steer'd But speak this silence does encrease your sin PTOLOMY Never hath my Confusion greater been And I believe Sir you 'l allow it me Since I a King born now a Master see Where at my frown each man did trembling stand And every word of mine was a Command I see a new Court and another sway And I have nothing left but to obey Your very look abates my spirits force And can it be regain'd by your Discourse Judge how I can from such a Trouble cease Which my Respects create and Fears encrease And what can an astonisht Prince express Who anger sees in that Majestick Dress And whose Amazements do his Soul subdue That Pompey's Death should be reveng'd by You. Yet I must say whatever he bestow'd We owe you more then ever him we ow'd Your Favour was the first to us exprest And all he did was done at your Request He did the Senate move for injur'd Kings And them that Prayer to our Assistance brings But all that He for Egypt could obtain Without your Mony Sir had been in vain By that his Rebels our late King subdu'd And you have Right to all our Gratitude We Pompey as your Friend and Son rever'd But when he your Competitour appear'd When of your Fortune he suspicious grew Tyranny sought and dar'd to fight with you CAESAR Forbear your hatreds Thirst his Blood supplies Touch not his Glory let his Life suffice Say nothing here that Rome still dares deny But plead your Cause without a Calumny PTOLOMY Then let the Gods be Judges of his Thought I only say that in the Wars last fought To which so many Wrongs did you perswade Our Vows for your success were only made And since he ever sought your Blood to spill I thought his Death a necessary Ill. For as his groundless Hatred daily grew He would by all ways the Dispute renew Or if at length he fell into your Hand We fear'd your Mercy would your Right withstand For to that Pitch your sense of Honour flies As would to Fame your Safety sacrifice Which made me Judge in so extream an Ill We ought to serve you Sir against your will My forward Zeal th' occasion did embrace Without your leave and to my own disgrace And this you as a Crime in me disclaim But nothing done for you deserves that Name I stain'd my Hands your Danger to remove Which Act you may enjoy and disapprove Nay by my Guilt my Merit higher grows Since I my Glory gave for your Repose And by that greatest Victim have procur'd Your Glory and your Power to be assur'd CAESAR You employ Ptolomy such Crafty Words And weak Excuses as your Cause affords Your Zeal was false if 't were afraid to see What all Mankind beg'd of the Gods should be And did to you such subtleties Convey As stole the Fruit of all my Wars away Where Honour me engag'd and where the end Was of