Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A59051
|
Antony and Cleopatra a tragedy, as it is acted at the Dukes Theatre / written by the Honourable Sir Charles Sedley, Baronet.; Antony and Cleopatra
|
Sedley, Charles, Sir, 1639?-1701.
|
1677
(1677)
|
Wing S2395; ESTC R14028
|
39,148
|
70
|
Fate of all succeeding Pow'r If this one day we can our Fate defer To morrow's Sun will see Ventidius here Victorious Legions to my Aid he brings Flesh't all in Parthian Blood and spoiles of Kings Ex. Anto. Canid. Lucil. Enter Photinus at another Door Cleop. My boading Heart sayes we shall meet no more And sends up thoughts I never knew before My Ears with dismal dying cryes are fill'd And my Eyes grow with ghastly Visions wild Methinks I see Antonius bleeding there And all his Souldiers pale with Death or Fear Charm Your wounded Fancy does these forms create Expect as you deserve a better Fate Cleop. O that betimes he had my Cause forsook Caesar with pity on a Queen must look Defenceless too Winds unoppos'd give o're And but 'mongst Trees and solid Buildings roar The Romans against me declared the War But caught Antonius Vertue in that snare Phot. When two fierce Bulls contend the doubtful Herd Stand gazing by a while of both afear'd But soon as one the fatal strife declines The Captive number with the Victor joyns And so should we Cleop. Yes if meer Brutes we were And knew no Nobler Passion than vile Fear Minutes move slowly when such weight they bear Each now is more important than a year I grow impatient can bear no delay But quickning Fate would through the shell survey Char. The strongest place and nearest is your Tomb Hear good news soon the bad too soon will come Be patient Madam Cleop. Who compos'd can be A Tempest heard and their whole Wealth at Sea Each Pile that flies may pierce Antonius Heart And they in showrs from meeting Romans part Let us move on no matter where you lead A breaking Heart and a distemper'd Head Noise of Arms. Ex. Cleop. Charm Phot. Clashing of Arms I heard and noise of Drums Nearer and nearer the fierce Clangor comes Photinus steals off unseen Enter Antonius Canidius Lucilius as beaten back into the Town Anto. Gape Hell and to thy dismal Bottom take The lost Antonius this was our last Stake Warn'd by my ruine let no Roman more Set Foot on this inhospitable shoar Cowards and Traytors fill this impious Land Faithless and fearful without Heart or Hand Some ran to Caesar like an headlong Tyde The rest their fear made useless on our side Canid. Their Fear their Treachery we are betrai'd By Hands we trust the surest Snares are laid The Queen no doubt does correspondence hold With Rome and Caesar and we all are sold. Anto. I had but one glad thought within my brest And thou to that one thought wilt give no rest Fortune hath seiz'd my Empire and Renown Honest Old Souldier let my Love alone But you my generous Friends to Caesar go Too much already to your Love I owe Let me now sink alone enough y' have done A falling Tow'r 't were madness not to shun Your guilt is small let early penitence Your Ties and Love to me plead your defence Lucil. No Sun shall see me living after you My Death shall tell you that my Life was true Canid. For what should I my bending years preserve Canidius will no second Master serve A shout without Enter a Messenger Mess. Your Navy Sir is joyn'd with Caesar's Fleet And with one voice their Emperor they greet Both sides their bloody hatred have laid down And in one Body row toward the Town Canid. Sir with Egyptians it was chiefly mann'd And is there yet no dealing underhand Still does the Queen so innocent appear Her people guilty she alone is clear Anto. Her peoples Love her Love to me has lost And now her Faith is by their Treason cros't Pity not blame the Queen who sinks this hour Crush't with the ruines of an Emperor By Land and Sea betray'd what shall we do Canid. Let 's fight and die in Arms upon the Foe Anto. We of resistance scarce can make a shoe Death shuns the naked Throat and proffer'd Brest He flies when call'd to be a welcome Guest I may be tane alive and made a scorn Where I have oft the highest Honours worn Rome never shall my conquer'd Face behold Death I have seiz'd and will not lose my hold Shout again Enter Souldier Sould. Caesar is entred and we all are lost Some Roman Souldiers still make good their Post. Anto. Their number speak Sould. Two Legions at the most Anto. Command 'em to yield easie Victory Their number is Too small to conquer and too great to dye Canid. What means our Emperor Anto. To spare your Blood Too long you have my angry Fate withstood What is Command for which we so contend Danger and Envy the High Charge attend A few we please and Multitudes offend Canid. to the Sould. Canid. Thou art a Coward fled'st before thy time And with pretence of News woud'st hide thy Crime 'T is false Sould. So it were false indeed I 'd gladly die But this shall show I did not basely flie Kills himself Enter Photinus Phot. Horror on horror Sir th' unhappy Queen Betray'd by a Report that you were slain Anto. I understand you she her self has kill'd And better knew to die than how to yield Phot. Alas she has I pull'd the reaking Steel From her warm Wound and with it rush't her life Her latest breath was busie with your name And the sweet pledges of your mutual flame Your Children she embrac't and then she dy'd Anto. How well had I been with great Iulius slain Or by some flying Parthians darted Cane Thy gentle Nature Brutus how I hate Through which I live to taste the dregs of Fate Such is the gloomy state of Mortals here We knew not what to wish or what to fear My Name in Arms my Friends and Empire gone Yet while she liv'd I was not quite undone Methought I still had something to do here Canid. Y'have more than ever Sir your Souldiers chear And bid 'em for a bold defence prepare Anto. Never let Romans now each other love Their tedious quarrel I will soon remove ' Twice has my Sword with Roman Blood been dy'd It draws no more but from Antonius side Had the just Gods intended I should live To hate my life such cause they wou'd not give They had preserv'd my Empire and my Queen Enough and more I have both Fortunes seen Strike good Lucilius 'T is a friendly part Let no Foes weapon pierce thy Masters Heart Lucil. goes behind makes as if he would kill him but passes the Weapon through his own Body The Noblest way thou show'st me what to do Thou giv'st th' Example and I 'le give the blow Antonius kills himself Phot. I 'le call some help A great shriek is given at his fall all run out of the room except Phot. But 't will but increase my pain For should'st thou stir I 'd stab my self again Canid. Let others sigh and weep but let us go Phot. makes towards the door Anto. stabs himself again and falls Phot. reenters And vent our grief in rage upon the