Monument is fit But what 's beyond our love and wit On the little Regina Collier on the same Tomb-stone VErtue 's Blossom Beauty's Bud The Pride of all that 's fair and good By Death's fierce hand was snatched hence In her state of Innocence Who by it this advantage gains Her wages got without her pains Friendship LEt the dull brutish World that know not Love Continue Hereticks and disapprove That noble Flame but the refined know 'T is all the Heaven we have here below Nature subsists by Love and they do tie Things to their Causes but by Sympathy Love chains the different Elements in one Great Harmony link'd to the Heav'nly Throne And as on Earth so the blest Quire above Of Saints and Angels are maintain'd by Love That is their Business and Felicity And will be so to all Eternity That is the Ocean our Affections here Are but streams borrow'd from the Fountain there And 't is the noblest Argument to prove A Beauteous mind that it knows how to Love Those kind Impressions which Fate can't controul Are Heaven's mintage on a worthy Soul For Love is all the Arts Epitome And is the Sum of all Divinity He 's worse than Beast that cannot Love and yet It is not bought for Money Pains or Wit For no chance or design can Spirits move But the Eternal destiny of Love And when two Souls are chang'd and mixed so It is what they and none but they can do This this is Friendship that abstracted flame Which groveling Mortals know not how to name All Love is sacred and the Marriage-tie Hath much of Honour and Divinity But Lust Design or some unworthy ends May mingle there which are despis'd by Friends Passion hath violent extreams and thus All oppositions are contiguous So when the end is serv'd their Love will bate If Friendship make it not more fortunate Friendship that Love's Elixir that pure fire Which burns the clearer ' cause it burns the higher For Love like earthly fires which will decay If the material fuel be away Is with offensive smoke accompanied And by resistance only is supplied But Friendship like the fiery Element With its own Heat and Nourishment content Where neither hurt nor smoke nor noise is made Scorns the assistance of a foreign aid Friendship like Heraldry is hereby known Richest when plainest bravest when alone Calm as a Virgin and more Innocent Than sleeping Doves are and as much content As Saints in Visions quiet as the Night But clear and open as the Summer's light United more than Spirits Faculties Higher in thoughts than are the Eagle's eyes What shall I say when we true friends are grown W' are like Alas w' are like our selves alone The Enquiry 1. IF we no old Historian's name Authentick will admit But think all said of Friendship 's fame But Poetry or Wit Yet what 's rever'd by Minds so pure Must be a bright Idea sure 2. But as our Immortality By inward sense we find Judging that if it could not be It would not be design'd So here how could such Copies fall If there were no Original 3. But if Truth be in ancient Song Or Story we believe If the inspir'd and graver Throng Have scorned to deceive There have been Hearts whose Friendship gave Them thoughts at once both soft and brave 4. Among that consecrated Few Some more Seraphick shade Lend me a favourable Clew Now mists my eyes invade Why having fill'd the World with Fame Left you so little of your flame 5. Why is' t so difficult to see Two Bodies and one Mind And why are those who else agree So differently kind Hath Nature such fantastick art That she can vary every Heart 6. Why are the bands of Friendship tied With so remiss a knot That by the most it is defied And by the rest forgot Why do we step with so light sense From Friendship to Indifference 7. If Friendship Sympathy impart Why this ill-shuffled game That Heart can never meet with Heart Or Flame encounter Flame What does this Cruelty create Is' t the Intrigue of Love or Fate 8. Had Friendship ne're been known to Men The Ghost at last confest The World had been a stranger then To all that Heaven possest But could it all be here acquir'd Not Heaven it self would be desir'd To my Lucasia in defence of declared Friendship 1. O My Lucasia let us speak our Love And think not that impertinent can be Which to us both doth such assurance prove And whence we find how justly we agree 2. Before we knew the treasures of our Love Our noble aims our joys did entertain And shall enjoyment nothing then improve 'T were best for us then to begin again 3. Now we have gain'd we must not stop and sleep Out all the rest of our mysterious reign It is as hard and glorious to keep A victory as it is to obtain 4. Nay to what end did we once barter Minds Only to know and to neglect the claim Or like some Wantons our Pride pleasure finds To throw away the thing at which we aim 5. If this be all our Friendship does design We covet not enjoyment then but power To our Opinion we our Bliss confine And love to have but not to smell the flower 6. Ah! then let Misers bury thus their Gold Who though they starve no farthing will produce But we lov'd to enjoy and to behold And sure we cannot spend our stock by use 7. Think not 't is needless to repeat desires The fervent Turtles alwaies court and bill And yet their spotless passion never tires But does encrease by repetition still 8. Although we know we love yet while our Soul Is thus imprison'd by the Flesh we wear There 's no way left that bondage to controul But to convey transactions through the Ear. 9. Nay though we read our passions in the Eye It will oblige and please to tell them too Such joys as these by motion multiply Were 't but to find that our Souls told us true 10. Believe not then that being now secure Of either's heart we have no more to do The Spheres themselves by motion do endure And they move on by Circulation too 11. And as a River when it once hath paid The tribute which it to the Ocean owes Stops not but turns and having curl'd and play'd On its own waves the shore it overflows 12. So the Soul's motion does not end in b'iss But on her self she scatters and dilates And on the Object doubles till by this She finds new joys which that reflux creates 13. But then because it cannot all contain It seeks a vent by telling the glad news First to the Heart which did its joys obtain Then to the Heart which did those joys produce 14. When my Soul then doth such excursions make Unless thy Soul delight to meet it too What satisfaction can it give or take Thou being absent at the interview 15. 'T is not Distrust for were that plea allow'd Letters
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
March 16. 1661 2. Page 145 Poem 100 A Triton to Lucasia going to Sea Page 146 Poem 101 Orinda upon little Hector Philips Page 148 Poem 102 To the Lady E. Boyle Page 149 Poem 103 To my Lord Duke of Ormond upon the late Plot. Page 150 Poem 104 To the Countess of Roscomon with a Copy of Pompey Page 151 Poem 105 On the death of the truly honourable Sir Walter Lloyd Knight Page 152 Poem 106 Orinda to Lucasia Page 153 Poem 107 To Celimena Page 154 Poem 108 An Answer to another perswading a Lady to Marriage Page 155 Poem 109 Lucasia and Orinda parting with Pastora and Phillis at Ipswich Page 156 Poem 110 Epitaph on my truly honoured P. Scipio Page ib. Poem 111 To Mr. Sam. Cooper having taken Lucasia 's Picture given December 14. 1660. Page 158 Poem 112 Parting with a friend Page 159 Poem 113 To my dearest friend upon her shunning Grandeur Page 161 Poem 114 To Pastora being with her friend Page 163 Poem 115 To my Lord and Lady Dungannon on their marriage May 11. 1662. Page 165 Poem 116 To his Grace Gilbert Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury July 10. 1664. Page 166 Poem 117 La Solitude de St. Amant in French and English Page 170 Poem 118 Tendres desers out of French Prose Page 184 Poem 119 Amanti ch' in pianti c. Page ib. Poem 120 A Pastoral of Mons de Scudery 's in the first Volume of Almahide Englished Page ibid. Poem 121 Translation of Thomas a Kempis into verse out of Mons Corneille Page 196 Poem 122 Pompey a Tragedy Poem 123 Horace a Tragedy Translated from Monsieur Corneille IMPRIMATUR Aug. 20. 1667. Roger L'Estrange POEMS Vpon the double Murther of K. CHARLES I. in Answer to a Libellous Copy of Rimes by Vavasor Powell I Think not on the State nor am concern'd Which way soever the great Helm is turn'd But as that son whose father 's danger nigh Did force his native dumbness and untie The fetter'd organs so this is a cause That will excuse the breach of Nature's laws Silence were now a sin nay Passion now Wise men themselves for Merit would allow What noble eye could see and careless pass The dying Lion kick'd by every Ass Has Charles so broke God's Laws he must not have A quiet Crown nor yet a quiet Grave Tombs have been Sanctuaries Thieves lie there Secure from all their penalty and fear Great Charles his double misery was this Unfaithful Friends ignoble Enemies Had any Heathen been this Prince's foe He would have wept to see him injur'd so His Title was his Crime they 'd reason good To quarrel at the Right they had withstood He broke God's Laws and therefore he must die And what shall then become of thee and I Slander must follow Treason but yet stay Take not our Reason with our King away Though you have seiz'd upon all our defence Yet do not sequester our common Sense Christ will be King but I ne're understood His Subjects built his Kingdom up with blood Except their own or that he would dispence With his commands though for his own defence Oh! to what height of horrour are they come Who dare pull down a crown tear up a Tomb On the numerous Access of the English to wait upon the King in Flanders HAsten Great Prince unto thy British Isles Or all thy Subjects will become Exiles To thee they flock thy Presence is their home As Pompey's Camp where e're it mov'd was Rome They that asserted thy Just Cause go hence To testifie their joy and reverence And those thâ—â— did not now by wonder taught Go to confess and expiate their fault So that if thou dost stay thy gasping Land It self will empty on the Belgick sand Where the affrighted Dutchman does profess He thinks it an Invasion not Address As we unmonarch'd were for want of thee So till thou come we shall unpeopled be None but the close Fanatick will remain Who by our Loyalty his ends will gain And he th' exhausted Land will quickly find As desolate a place as he design'd For England though grown old with woes will see Her long deny'd and Sovereign Remedy So when old Jacob could but credit give That his prodigious Joseph still did live Joseph that was preserved to restore Their lives that would have taken his before It is enough said he to Egypt I Will go and see him once before I die Arion on a Dolphin To his Majesty at his passage into England WHom does this stately Navy bring O! 't is Great Britain's Glorious King Convey him then ye Winds and Seas Swift as Desire and calm as Peace In your Respect let him survey What all his other Subjects pay And prophesie to them again The splendid smoothness of his Reign Charles and his mighty hopes you bear A greater now than Caesar's here Whose Veins a richer Purple boast Than ever Hero's yet engrost Sprung from a Father so august He triumphs in his very dust In him two Miracles we view His Vertue and his Safety too For when compell'd by Traitors crimes To breathe and bow in forreign Climes Expos'd to all the rigid fate That does on wither'd Greatness wait Plots against Life and Conscience laid By Foes pursu'd by Friends betray'd Then Heaven his secret potent friend Did him from Drugs and Stabs defend And what 's more yet kept him upright ' Midst flattering Hope and bloudy Fight Cromwell his whole Right never gain'd Defender of the Faith remain'd For which his Predecessors fought And writ but none so dearly bought Never was Prince so much besieged At home provok'd abroad obliged Nor ever Man resisted thus No not great Athanasius No help of Friends could or Foes spight To fierce Invasion him invite Revenge to him no pleasure is He spar'd their bloud who gap'd for his Blush'd any hands the English Crown Should fasten on him but their own As Peace and Freedom with him went With him they came from Banishment That he might his Dominions win He with himself did first begin And that best victory obtain'd His Kingdom quickly he regain'd Th' illustrious suff'rings of this Prince Did all reduce and all convince He only liv'd with such success That the whole world would fight with less Assistant Kings could but subdue Those Foes which he can pardon too He thinks no Slaughter-trophees good Nor Laurels dipt in Subjects blood But with a sweet resistless art Disarms the hand and wins the heart And like a God doth rescue those Who did themselves and him oppose Go wondrous Prince adorn that Throne Which Birth and Merit make your own And in your Mercy brighter shine Than in the Glories of your Line Find Love at home and abroad Fear And Veneration every where Th' united world will you allow Their Chief to whom the English bow And Monarchs shall to yours resort As Sheba's Queen to Judah's Court Returning thence constrained more To wonder envy and adore Discovered Rome will hate your Crown But she shall
THis is confest Presumption for had I All that rich stock of Ingenuity Which I could wish for this yet would it be Palaemon's blot a pious Injury But as no Votaries are scorn'd when they The meanest Victim in Religion pay Not that the Pow'r they worship needs a Gum But that they speak their thanks for all with some So though the most contemptible of all That do themselves Palaemon's Servants call I know that Zeal is more than Sacrifice For God did not the Widow's Mite despise And that Palaemon hath Divinity And Mercy is his highest property He that doth such transcendent Merit own Must have imperfect Offerings or none He 's one rich Lustre which doth Rayes dispense As Knowledge will when set in Innocence For Learning did select his noble breast Where in her native Majesty to rest Free from the Tyranny and Pride of Schools Who have confin'd her to Pedantick Rules And that gentiler Errour which does take Offence at Learning for her Habit 's sake Palaemon hath redeem'd her who may be Esteem'd himself an University And yet so much a Gentleman that he Needs not though he enjoys a Pedigree Sure he was built and sent to let us know What man completed could both be and do Freedom from Vice is in him Nature's part Without the help of Discipline or Art He 's his own Happiness and his own Law Whereby he keeps Passion and Fate in awe Nor was this wrought in him by Time and Growth His genius had anticipated both Had all men been Palaemons Pride had ne're Taught one man Tyranny the other Fear Ambition had been full as Monstrous then As this ill World doth render Worthy men Had men his Spirit they would soon forbear Groveling for dirt and quarrelling for air Were his harmonious Soul diffus'd in all We should believe that men did never fall It is Palaemon's Soul that hath engrost Th' ingenuous candour that the World hath lost Whose one mind seats him quiet safe and high Above the reach of Time or Destiny 'T was he that rescu'd gasping Friendship when The Bell toll'd for her Funeral with men 'T was he that made Friends more then Lovers burn And then made Love to sacred Friendship turn 'T was he turn'd Honour inward set her free From Titles and from Popularity Now fix'd to Vertue she begs Praise of none But 's Witness'd and Rewarded both at home And in his breast this Honour 's so enshrin'd As the old Law was in the Ark confin'd To which Posterity shall all consent And less dispute then Acts of Parliament He 's our Original by whom we see How much we fail and what we ought to be But why do I to Copy him pretend My Rymes but libel whom they would commend 'T is true but none can reach what 's set so high And though I miss I 've noble Company For the most happy language must confess It doth obscure Palaemon not express To Mrs. M. A. at parting 1. I Have examin'd and do find Of all that favour me There 's none I grieve to leave behind But only only thee To part with thee I needs must die Could parting sep'rate thee and I. 2. But neither Chance nor Complement Did element our Love 'T was sacred Sympathy was lent Us from the Quire above That Friendship Fortune did create Still fears a wound from Time or Fate 3. Our chang'd and mingled Souls are grown To such acquaintance now That if each would resume their own Alas we know not how We have each other so engrost That each is in the Union lost 4. And thus we can no Absence know Nor shall we be confin'd Our active Souls will daily go To learn each others mind Nay should we never meet to Sense Our Souls would hold Intelligence 5. Inspired with a Flame Divine I scorn to court a stay For from that noble Soul of thine I ne're can be away But I shall weep when thou dost grieve Nor can I die whil'st thou dost live 6. By my own temper I shall guess At thy felicity And only like my happiness Because it pleaseth thee Our hearts at any time will tell If thou or I be sick or well 7. All Honour sure I must pretend All that is Good or Great She that would be Rosania's Friend Must be at least compleat If I have any bravery 'T is cause I have so much of thee 8. Thy Leiger Soul in me shall lie And all thy thoughts reveal Then back again with mine shall flie And thence to me shall steal Thus still to one another tend Such is the sacred name of Friend 9. Thus our twin-Souls in one shall grow And teach the World new Love Redeem the Age and Sex and shew A Flame Fate dares not move And courting Death to be our friend Our Lives together too shall end 10. A Dew shall dwell upon our Tomb Of such a quality That fighting Armies thither come Shall reconciled be We 'll ask no Epitaph but say ORINDA and ROSANIA To my dearest Antenor on his Parting THough it be just to grieve when I must part With him that is the Guardian of my Heart Yet by an happy change the loss of mine Is with advantage paid in having thine And I by that dear Guest instructed find Absence can do no hurt to Souls combin'd As we were born to love brought to agree By the impressions of Divine Decree So when united nearer we became It did not weaken but encrease our Flame Unlike to those who distant joys admire But slight them when possest of their desire Each of our Souls did its own temper fit And in the other's Mould so fashion'd it That now our Inclinations both are grown Like to our Interests and Persons one And Souls whom such an Union fortifies Passion can ne're destroy nor Fate surprize Now as in Watches though we do not know When the Hand moves we find it still doth go So I by secret Sympathy inclin'd Will absent meet and understand thy mind And thou at thy return shalt find thy Heart Still safe with all the love thou didst impart For though that treasure I have ne're deserv'd It shall with strong Religion be preserv'd And besides this thou shalt in me survey Thy self reflected while thou art away For what some forward Arts do undertake The Images of absent Friends to make And represent their actions in a Glass Friendship it self can only bring to pass That Magick which both Fate and Time beguiles And in a moment runs a thousand miles So in my Breast thy Picture drawn shall be My Guide Life Object Friend and Destiny And none shall know though they employ their wit Which is the right Antenor thou or it Engraven on Mr. John Collier 's Tomb-stone at Bedlington HEre what remains of him doth lie Who was the World's Epitome Religion's Darling Merchants Glory Mens true Delight and Vertue 's Story Who though a Prisoner to the Grave A glorious Freedom once shall have Till when no
'mong the flowers lye Day finds them wet when it appears And 't is too often with my Tears Hearken and thou wilt much approve The Warbling Consort of this Grove Compleat the pleasure of our Ears Mixing thy harmony with theirs Feather'd Musician step aside Thy self within these bushes hide While my Aminta's Voice affords Her charming Notes to cloath my words Hasten to sing them them my fair And put this proud one to despair Whose Voice the Base and Trebles part With so marvellous an Art Come Philomel and now make use Of all thy practice can produce All the harmonious Secrets thou Canst try will do no service now Thou must to her this Glory give For nothing can thy Fame relieve Then e're thou dost the Conquest try Chuse to be silent here or dye Come my Shepherdess survey While a hundred pipes do play From every Fold from every Shed How the Herds and Flocks are fed Hear the pleasing harmless voice Of thy Lambs now they rejoyce While with their bleating notes are mix'd Their pretty bounds and leaps betwixt See see how from the Thatched Rooms Of these our artless Cabbins comes A Rustick troop of Jolly Swains From every side unto the Plains Their Sheep-hooks steel so bright and clear How it shines both far and near A Bag-pipe here and there a Flute With merryer whistles do dispute Hear thy flocks which for thee bleat In Language Innocent and sweet See here thy Shepherd who attends 'em And from the Ravenous Wolf defends ' em Thy Melampus him endears And leaps and sports when he appears He complains that thy sloth is such And my poor heart does that as much Among the rest here 's a Ram we So white so blith so merry see In all our Flocks there is not one Deserves such praise as he alone On the grass he butts and leaps Flatters and then away he skips So gentle and yet proud is he That surely he hath learn'd of thee The fairest Garlands we can find Unworthy are his horns to bind But Flowers that death can never know Are fittest to adorn his Brow He is full of modest shame And as full of amorous flame Astrologers in heaven see A Beast less beautiful than he I have for thee a Sheep-hook brought On which thy Shepherd hard hath wrought Here he thy character hath trac'd Is it not neatly interlac'd To that a Scrip is ty'd for thee Which woven is so curiously That the Art does the stuff excell And Gold it self looks not so well Here 's in a Cage that he did make All the Birds that he could take How glorious is their slavery If they be not despis'd by thee A Garland too for thee hath staid And 't is of Fairest Flowers made Aurora had this offering kept And for its loss hath newly wept A lovely Fawn he brings along Nimble as thy self and young And greater presents he would bring But that a Shepherd is no King Come away my Lovely bliss To such divertisement as this And bring none to these Lovely places But onely Venus and the Graces Whatever company were nigh Would tedious be when thou art by Venus and Fortune would to me Be troublesome if I had thee She comes from far the Lovely Maid Is by her shining charms betray'd See how the Flowers sprout up to meet A Noble ruine from her feet How Sprightly and how Fair is she How much undone then must I be My torment is I know severe But who can think on 't when she 's near My heart leaps up within my breast And sinks again with Joy opprest But in her sight to yield my breath Would be an acceptable Death Come then and in this shade be sure That thy fair Skin shall be secure For else the Sun would wrong I fear The Colours which do flourish there His Flaming steeds do climb so fast While they to our Horizon hast That by this time his Radiant Coach Does to his highest house approach His fiercer Rays in heat and length Begin to rob us of our strength Directly on the Earth they dart And all the shadows are grown short This Valley hath a private seat Which is a cool and moist retreat Where the angry Planet which we spy Can ne're invade us with his Eye Behold this fresh and florid Grass Where never yet a foot did pass A Carpet spreads for us to sit And to thy Beauty offers it This delicate apartment is Roof'd o're with Aged stooping Trees Whose verdant shadow does secure This Place a native furniture The Courts of Naiades are such In shades like these ador'd so much Where thousand Fountains round about Perpetually gush water out How finely this thick moss doth look Which limits this transparent brook Whose sportful wave does swell and spread And is on flags and rushes shed Within this liquid Chrystal see The cause of all my Misery And judge by that fair Murtheress If I could love thy beauty less Thy either Eye does Rays dispence Of modesty and Innocence And with thy seriousness we find The gladness of an Infant joyn'd Thy frowns delight though they torment From thy looks Life and Death is sent And thy whole air does on us throw Arrows which cureless wounds bestow The stature of a Mountain Pine Is crooked when compar'd to thine Which does thy sex to envy move As much as it does ours to love From thy dividing lips do flye Those pointed shafts that make us dye Nor have our Gardens e're a Rose That to thy cheeks we dare oppose When by a happy liberty We may thy lovely bosom see The whitest Curds nor falling Snow Can any such complexion show Thyme and Majoram whose scent Of all perfumes most Innocent Less Fragrancy than thy breath have Which all our senses does enslave Even when thou scornest thou can'st please And make us love our own disease The blushes that our cherrys wear Do hardly to thy lips come near When upon the smoother Plains Thou to dance wilt take the pains No Hind when she employs her feet Is half so graceful or so fleet Of thy garments fair and white The neatness gives us most delight And I had rather them behold Then clothes embroidered with Gold I nothing in the World can see So rare as unadorned thee Who art as it must be confess'd Not by thy clothes but Beauty dress'd Thy Lovely hair thou up hast ty'd And in an unwrought Veil dost hide In the mean time thy single Face All other beauties does disgrace Yes yes thy negligence alone Does more than all their care hath done The Nymphs in all their pompous dress Do entertain my fancy less A Nosegay all thy Jewel is And all thy Art consists in this And what from this pure Spring does pass Is all thy paint and all thy Glass Adored beauty here may we Our selves in lovely glasses see Come then I pray thee let us look I in thy Eyes thou in the Brook Within this faithful Mirrour see The object which hath
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
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
so ill-guarded it By you I swear it then Mournful remain My only Deity now he is slain That no extinction or decay shall be In that revenge which must enoble me To Caesar Ptolomy by base surprize Rome of thy Pompey made a Sacrifice And I thy injur'd walls will never see Till Priest and God to him shall offer'd be Put me in mind and my just hate sustain O Ashes now my hope as well as Pain And to assist me in that great design Shed in all Hearts what now is felt by mine But Thou who on so infamous a shore Gavist him a flame so Pions though so Poor Tell me what God thy Fortune made so great To pay to such a Hero such a Debt PHILIP Cover'd with Blood and much more dead then he When I had curs'd the Royal Treachery My wandring Feet were by my grief convey'd Where yet the wind upon the Water plaid After long search I on a Rock did stand And saw the Headless Trunk approach the Sand Where th' angry Wave a pleasure seem'd to take To cast it off and then to snatch it back I to it leap'd and thrust it to the banks Then gathering a heap of Shipwrack'd Planks An hasty artless Pile I to him rais'd Such as I could and such as Fortune pleas'd 'T was hardly kindled when Heaven grew so kind To send me help in what I had design'd Codrus an Ancient Roman who lives here Returning from the City spy'd me there And when he did a headless Carcass view By that sad mark alone he Pompey knew Then weeping said O thou who e're thou art To whom the Gods such honours do impart Thy fortune's greater then thou dost believe Thou shalt rewards not Punishments receive Caesar's in Egypt and Revenge declares For him to whom thou pay'st these Pious Cares These Ashes to his Widow thou mayst bear In Alexandria for now she is there By Pompey's Conquerour so entertain'd As by a God it would not be disdain'd Go on till I return this said he went And quickly brought me this small Monument Then we betwixt us into it convey'd That Hero's Ashes which the fire had made CORNELIA With what great Praises should this act be crown'd PHILIP Entring the Town I great disorders found A numerous People to the Port did flye Which they believ'd the King would fortifie The eager Romans fiercely these pursu'd Rage in their eyes their hands with blood imbrew'd When Caesar with brave Justice did Command Photin to perish by a Hangmans hand On me appearing he vouchsaf'd to look And with these words my Masters Ashes took Remainders of a Demi-god whose Name I scarce can equal Conquerour as I am Behold guilt punish'd and till Altars call For other Victims let these Traytors fall Greater shall follow To the Court go thou On Pompey's Widow this from me bestow And whilst with it she makes with grief some truce Tell her how Caesar her Revenge pursues That great Man sighing then from me did turn And humbly kissing did restore the Urne CORNELIA O Formal Grief how easie is that Tear That 's shed for Foes whom we no longer fear How soon revenge for others fills that brest Which to it is by its own danger prest And when the Care we take to right the dead Secures our Life and does our glory spread Caesar is generous 't is true but he By the King wrong'd and from his Rival free Might in an envious mind a doubt revive What he would do were Pompey yet alive His courage his own safety does provide Which does the Beauty of his actions hide Love is concern'd in 't too and he does fight In Pompey's Cause for Cleopatra's Right So many Int'rests with my Husband 's met Might to his Virtue take away my debt But as Great Hearts judge by themselves alone I chuse to guess his honour by my own And think we only make his fury such Since in his Fortune I should do as much SCEN. II. Cleopatra Charmion Cornelia Philip. CLEOPATRA I come not to disturb a grief so due To that affliction which hath wounded you But those remains t' adore which from the wave A faithful freed-man did so lately save To mourn your fortune Madam and to swear You 'd still enjoy'd a man so justly dear If Heaven which did persecute you still Had made my power equal to my will Yet if to what that Heaven sends you now Your grief can any room for joy allow If any sweetness in revenge there be Receive the certainty of yours from me The false Photinus But you may have heard CORNELIA Yes Princess that he hath his just reward CLEOPATRA Have you no comfort in that news discern'd CORNELIA If there be any you are most concern'd CLEOPATRA All hearts with joy receive a wish'd event CORNELIA Our thoughts are as our int'rests different Though Caesar add Achillas death 't will be To you a satisfaction not to me For nobler Rites to Pompey's Ghost belong These are too mean to expiate his wrong No reparation by such blood is made Either to my grief or his injur'd shade And the revenge which does my Soul enflame Till it hath Caesar Ptolomy doth claim Who though so much unfit to reign or live Caefar I know will for his safety strive But though his love hath dar'd to promise it Yet juster Heaven dares it not permit And if the Gods an Ear to me afford They shall both perish by each others Sword Such an event would my hearts grief destroy Which now is such a Stranger grown to joy But if ye gods think this too great a thing And but one fall O let it be the King CLEOPATRA Heaven does not govern as our Wills direct CORNELIA But gods what causes promise will effect And do the guilty with revenge pursue CLEOPATRA As they have justice they have mercy too CORNELIA But we may judge as here events have past They now the first will act and not the last CLEOPATRA Their Mercie oft does through their Justice break CORNELIA Queen you as Sister I as Widow speak Each hath her cause of kindness and of hate And both concern'd are in this Princes Fate But by the blood which hath to day been shed We shall perceive whose vows have better sped Behold your Achoreus SCEN. III. To them Achoreus CLEOPATRA But alas I read no good presages in his Face Speak Achoreus let us freely hear What yet deserves my sorrow or my fear ACHOREUS Assoon as Caesar did the Treason know CLEOPATRA 'T is not his Conduct I enquire of now I know he cut and stopt that secret vault Which to him should the Murtherers have brought That to secure the Streets his men he sent Where Photin did receive his Punishment Whose sudden fall Achillas so amaz'd That on th' abandon'd Port he quickly seiz'd Whom the King follow'd and that to the land Antonius all his Souldiers did command Where Caesar join'd him and I thence do guess Achillas punishment and his success ACHOREUS His
be CAMILLA Alas how treacherous is my Destiny HORACE Now by your constancy your birth confess And if my death allows him the success Let him not be your Brother's Murtherer thought But a brave man that does but what be ought Who serves his Country nobly and does shew By that great way how much be merits you Conclude your match as if I were alive But if this Sword shall him of life deprive My conquest then with equal candour use Nor of your Lover's death my hand accuse I see your grief by your approaching tears Exhale with him your sorrows and your fears Quarrel with Heaven and Earth of Fate complain But the fight done no more regret the slain You but a minute must with her bestow To Curtius And then where Honour calls us let us go SCEN. V. Camilla Curtius CAMILLA But wilt thou go and this sad Fame possess At the expence of all our happiness CURTIUS Alas what'ere I do I find that I Must by my grief if not by Horace die But as my Torture I this Honour see And curse the favour Alba does to me I hate that courage which she so esteems Nay my despairing passion impious seems And dares accuse the gods for all this woe I mourn our Fortune but yet I must go CAMILLA No thou would'st have me all my interest use And thee to Alba by my power excuse Thy former Acts have thee so famous made That to thy Country all thy debts are paid None better hath than thou the War upheld Nor with more deaths cover'd the guilty field Thy Name can be no greater than it is Suffer some other now t ' ennoble his CURTIUS What shall my Eies anothers Temples see bound with those Lawrels Fame prepares for me Or by Posterity shall it be thought Alba had conquer'd if I would have fought No since to me she dares entrust her doom She shall by me or fall or overcome A good account I 'le of her Fortune give And die with honour or with conquest live CAMILLA But to betray me then thy love endures CURTIUS I was my Country's e're I could be yours CAMILLA Wilt thou thy Sisters misery create And widow her CURTIUS Such is my cruel Fate Brother and Sister names so sweet before By Alba's choice and Rome's are so no more CAMILLA Wilt thou present me with my Brother's head And on that step mount to the Bridal bed CURTIUS All I dare think so dear my fame will cost Is still to love though all my hope be lost You weep my Dear CAMILLA How can I tears avoid Who by my cruel Lover am destroy'd When Hymen would his kindled Torch have lent He puts out that to dig my Monument This savage heart my ruine can decree And says he loves when yet he murthers me CURTIUS How eloquent are tears from eyes we love How strong does Beauty with that succour prove My heart dissolves at such a mournful sight Nor against that can all my vertue fight Strike not my Fame in this subduing shape But let my honour from your tears escape I feel it shake and scarce defend the place For Curtius to the Lover yields apace With Friendship it hath had enough to do And must it strive with Love and Pity too Go love me not nor one tear more expose For him that dares offend such charms as those I better with your anger should have fought And to deserve it all I love you not Punish this treacherous this ingrateful heart At such an injury do you not start I do not love you can you me endure Needs there more yet my Faith I here abjure O! rigid Virtue at whose shrine I fall Must thou a Crime to thy assistance call CAMILLA Commit no more and I the gods attest My love shall not be lessen'd but encreas'd My kindness shall ev'n in thy falshood live All but a Brother's death I can forgive Why am I Roman or why art thou none That I my self might put thy Lawrels on I should thy valour heighten not forbid And treat thee just as I my Brother did But ah how blind I now those vows esteem Since against thee were all I made for him But he returns O! may Sabina be More prevalent with him than I 'm with thee SCEN. VI. Curtius Camilla Horace Sabina CURTIUS Sabina too my heart to undermine And with Camilla must you Sister join Leaving her tears her Brother to attaque Hope you by yours to call my purpose back SABINA No Brother no I only visit you To give you my embrace and last adieu Your blood 's too good nor need you apprehend From me what can your great resolves offend If either were by this brave shock o'rethrown He that first yielded I should first disown But may not I one favour beg of you Worthy this Brother and this Husband too I wish your quarrel might less impious grow And would refine the glory of the blow That free from guilt it might no splendour miss I would fain make you lawful Enemies I the sole link am of your sacred knot Which will unty assoon as I am not Break then the chain whence that alliance grows And since your Honour now will have you Foes Buy by my death right to each others hate And Rome's and Alba's Vote legitimate Your hand destroying his revenging me Your Combat will appear no Prodigy And one at least will justly stake his life That he may right his Sister or his Wife But what you think your Fame would be less bright If for another quarrel you should fight Your Country's cause will no new heats admit Did you love less you would act less for it A Brother you must kill a lov'd one too Well then defer not what you ought to do But by his Sister him begin to kill Or by his Wife his blood begin to spill And by Sabina's blood if her you prize Make your own lives the braver sacrifice You are a Foe to Rome to Alba you And my aversion to them both is due What must I live to such a Victory Whose highest triumph will but let me see A Brother or a Husband Lawrels wear Reaking with blood that is to me so dear How shall I then decide my inward strife Or well express the Sister and the Wife The Conqueror embrace the conquer'd grieve No no Sabina's death shall her relieve From whomsoe're my grief that blow procures And my hands must bestow it if not yours Go then what does your savage hearts restrain Against your will I my desire shall gain For you no sooner shall begin your blows But you shall see this bosom interpose Nor shall your impious Swords your rage pursue Unless through me they make their way to you HORACE O Wife CURTIUS O Sister CAMILLA Courage they dissolve SABINA What can you sigh paleness your cheek involve What makes you shrink are these the hearts so brave Who in their hands the fates of Empire have HORACE Tell me Sabina what thy quarrel is