I should appease Romes Anger with your Head VVithout regard to seeming Love your State Or too late Penitence Indulge my Fate And make your Throne it self the Tragick Stage Did not your Sister obviate my Rage Your guilty Blood my Pardon only gains Because it runs in Cleopatra's Veins On your base Flatterers the fault I lay And am content their Lives the forfeit pay Guilty or Innocent I shall Esteem You as you Spare or as you Punish them Mean while to Pompey let new Altars rise VVith Honours such as to the Deities Are paid with Sacrifice your Crime repair And in that Work imploy your Cheifest care Among your Courtiers order this Design And leave me otherwise imploy'd with mine Exit Ptolomey Scene the Third ANtonius have you Aegypts Princess seen Anton. Yes and all wonders met in that fair Queen Heav'n never yet in such a Union Joyn'd All Beauties Charms with an Accomplish'd mind Her Look with a sweet Majesty replete The coldest Hearts invades with Conquering heat Her Wit surprizes and her bright Eyes so That were I Caesar I should Love her too Caesar. But how does she our offer'd Love receive Anton. As if she durst not but yet did believe With Weak Denials she invites to sue And seems not worthy though she thinks it due Caesar. Shall I prevail Anton. What doubt if you Command Her that Expects a Scepter from your Hand How should your Passion fear to be repell'd What can oppose him that has Pompey quell'd All the Objection that her Caution brings Is the Contempt that Romans have of Kings Something she 's troubl'd with Calphurnia too But all will Vanish at the sight of you To pleasing Hopes these Fears will soon give place When you shall Woo her with a Conquerours Grace Caesar. Le ts go and free her from this Trivial fear By making Caesars matchless Love appear Come le ts away Anton. Before you wait on her Know that Cornelia is your Prisoner Brought by Septimius whom his late Crimes raise To great Expectance of your thanks and praise Your Guards by Order when they first took Shore Led them tow'rds you without Expressing more Caesar. She must come in these News untimely stay Impatient hopes with Languishing delay O the Excess of Greatness that Imploys Our Life in Business and Deferrs our Joys Scene the Fourth Enter Cornelia with a Guard Septim MY Lord Caesar. Septimius to your Master go No Traitors shall abide with Caesar no Degenerate wretch that Roman Swords could bring From Pompeys Camp or mine to serve a King Cornel. Caesar for Envious Fates that I out-brave Can make me but your Prisoner not your Slave Expect not that their Rage should make me Bow To call you Lord That Homage is below Young Crassus Pompey's Widdow Scipio's Blood And what 's yet more a Roman Born how shou'd I stoop to that who am so much above The power of Fortune in my Birth and Love For Life 't is that I Blush to own that I Could stay behind when I saw Pompey Dye Though Pity with rude Force impos'd restraint From Steel or Waves It is my shame to want Those borrowed helps for loss of such a Friend Excess of Grief should Lingring Torments end Death were my Glory that your Captive I Live is the last Degree of Misery Caesar. The Nature of your Grief so Violent Does to your Thoughts through a Dark Veil present All black like Aegypâ—s Monsters this belief Of them were Just not where a Roman's chief Cornel. O Heav'n upon my Birth what Planets shin'd That I must praise their Clemency to find My greatest Foe Rule here rather than one My Husbands hand Restor'd to his lost Throne Caesar upon your Triumphs set less rate Effects produc'd by my Disastrous fate Ruine my Portion to both Husbands paid Theirs and the whole Worlds Fortune has out-weigh'd 'T is I that with my Nuptial Knot ill ty'd Twice made the Gods forsake the Juster side O that on Caesar I had been bestow'd That Rome to my Misfortune might have ow'd Her freedome and thy Family the bane Of blasting Stars led thither as my Train Think not to change my Hate a Heart like mine Though force may Captivate can ne're incline Basely to sue what e're your Order Threats Cornelia neither Trembles nor Intreats Caesar. O worthy half of an Illustrious mate Your Courage we admire and mourn your Fate From whence you Sprung this great Heart amply proves And your Just Title to such Worthy Loves Young Crassus Pompey's Virtues whose reward Fate could not pay Scipio's great Soul the Guard Of our Distress'd and Threatned Deities Speak with your Voice and Sparkle in your Eyes No Dame so highly Married and so Born Does Rome the Mistress of the World Adorn Would Jove and all the Gods your Scipio sav'd From Punick Rage had heard but what I crav'd That in your Hero's Brest no mis-conceit Of my Design had made him thus retreat To Barbarous Courts on us he had rely'd And stop't his Flight to hear me Justified Then had I Triumph'd with a happier Doom Over Mistakes and Strife not Him and Rome And he his Losses recompenc'd might prove In the full Treasure of his Rivals Love To Live his Equal and to Dye his Friend Of my Contention was the only End His Mind once setled in a quiet state His Pardon I had got for partial Fate And with it gain'd Romes Alienated heart When she had known I had in his a part Cornel. Caesar great Promises are safely made Where the performance is but to a Shade The way 's too Common and we easily find Men to the Ashes of their Rivals kind Be still your self for we receive your Hate With better Welcome than a Love so Late Caesar. Yet Madam since with him these Hopes must Dye And Envious Fates so great a Joy deny To what is left of him that is to You Caesar shall render what to Both is due Be Mistriss of your Self I only pray The favour from you of a Two Days stay To be a Witness after all your Hate How I Resent his Loss Revenge his Fate That so the World for all the late Spilt flood May know the Price I set on Roman Blood Madam I leave you for a Moment see Good Lepidus that her Attendance be As Roman Ladies ought That is above What 's paid to greatest Queens let all things move At her Command Cornel. O Cruelty of Fate That I such Virtue should be forc't to Hate Exeunt Act Fourth Scene First Ptolomey Achillas Photinus Ptolom BEyond belief is the sad News you tell By the same Hand and Sword that Pompey fell Septimius slain Achillas wert thou there Saw'st thou the sad Effect of his Despair Achil. I saw him Dye and with his latest Breath Seem to advise us in the Pangs of Death To Judge of Caesars slow advised Rage Wrath soon Inflam'd as quickly may Asswage But study'd Anger and deliberate Hate Grows up with Time and carries certain fate Nor must
but Deferr'd Cleop. That now he 's Sav'd declares Heav'n is appeas'd Acho. At least he had been if himself had pleas'd Cleop. Thy doubtfull Words still hold me in suspence Explane at last their ill Agreeing Sense Acho. Neither your Vows nor Caesars and your Care Were Arms enough against his High despair Madam he 's Dead yet all those Glories wait Upon him that can Crown a Princes fate Nearer his fall his Virtue more revives Changing his Own for many Roman Lives To his brave Charge Antonius 'gan to yield And our disordered Troops scarce kept the Field When Caesar comes whose presence never fails Of doubtfull Chance to turn the Tottering Scales There at his Masters feet Achillas fell The Traitor ne're deserv'd to Dye so well Ah! too weak Providence which cannot free The Bed of Honour from Adultery Caesar crys out aloud to save the King Words which instead of Comfort Terrour bring For he suspects that from Design they came To keep him for a Scaffolds publique shame His swelling Heart with this mistake abus'd Seeks for that Death which every where 's refus'd Our Ranks he peirces through and through and shows What Valour can when to Despair it grows His Bravest men lay Breathless on the ground And he himself was now Incompass'd round Wearied at length and out of Breath he spies A Vessel near the Shore and thither flies After their King the People press so fast The Bark o'recharged perishes at last Dying in Arms new Glory he receives To you a Crown to Caesar Conquest leaves Who on the place Proclames you Aegyts Queen Yet in his Face strange marks of Grief are seen He mourns his Fall though none of his did touch The Life wherein you are concern'd so much But here he comes who better can relate His Sense of that Unhappy Princes Fate Scene the Fourth Caesar Cornelia Cleopatra Achoreus c. Cornel. CAesar my Voyage now no more Retard The Traitors have receiv'd their full Reward Their King against thy Will has suffer'd too And my Revenge has nothing here to do This barbarous Shore let me no longer View Where every Object does my Grief renew And with fresh Horrour to my Fancy shows The Tragick Scene of my unequall'd Woes The Rabble Court thee with their Servile noise And thy new Triumph all their Throats imploys But what I suffer worse than all the rest I am Oblig'd by him I most Detest From this Affront 't is time to set me free And let my Hatred act with Liberty Only one favour I may still receive And that is all which Honour gives me leave That Pompey's Head you will to me return To add to what Expects it in this Urn. Caesar. 'T is fit I should the Head to you restore Since you may Claim it on so just a score But first let 's all the Sacred Rites attend Which peacefull Ghosts unto Elizium send A stately Pile your Hand and mine shall Light Which may the Meanness of the first requite And in an Urn more fit for their repose The Ashes thus United wee 'l inclose So shall his quiet Spirit rest in peace And by our Pious cares all Passion cease This Hand which once my Sword against him Drew Shall Build the Altars to his Virtue due On which as to the Gods wee 'l Incense pay And Honours he deserves as well as they Let us both this from your Impatience gain And for those Duties one Day more obtain That done y' are free go when you please away And this your Treasure to great Rome Convey Cornel. No Caesar though I know these Ashes be As dear to Rome as they are dear to me 'T is only thy Defeat can bring us home Without that Triumph we will ne're see Rome Over thy Grave our Passage thither lies We have no Country untill Caesar Dyes I am for Africk where the Warr's begun By Cato Scipio and my Pompey's Son To these King Juba has his Forces sent And Fortune her Injustice may repent The Reliques of Pharsalia there you 'l find Another World against your Arms combind My self will bring these Ashes to the Field And my just Tears shall their Assistance yield From Rank to Rank thus Arm'd about I 'le go And every step shall haste thy Overthrow The Souldiers then may lay their Eagles by This Urn shall lead them on to Victory This mournfull Object shall their Courage wake And in their Souls a deep Impression make To give him his last Honours you pretend Honours indeed which on your Self descend I must Assist the Victor I obey But never hope to move my Heart this way My Helpless loss admits of no relief My Hate must be as endless as my Grief That and my Life an Equal course shall run And end Persuing what I have Begun Caesar. Nature her Ignorance has here confest To place this Spirit in a Womans Breast Cornel. Yet as a Roman I must needs confess My Hate prevails not to Esteem thee less At once I Praise thee and thy Life persue That to thy Virtue this my Honour due Once set at Liberty I 'le use my Art T' engage both Men and Gods to take my part Those Gods who when our Cause was lately tryd So Partial seem'd against the Juster side Those Gods that let their Thunder idle lye When they saw Pompey for his Country Dye In time we hope their Errour they may see And to the VVorld repair that Injury But though they never mend the Fault they made I have a Zeal which does not want their Aid And to Destroy thee if no means prevail Here 's Cleopatra that can never fail I see your Flames and know her Beauties force That you already think of a Divorce Your Country's Laws under your Feet you 'l tread To make your way to an Aegyptians Bed Then the free Romans shall attempt your Life VVithout all Scruple when a Queen 's your VVife In your neglected Friends you 'l hope in vain VVho in your Blood will wash their Countrys stain Keeping your word Farewell for in my stay Your Love and Ruine find the same Delay Exit Scene the Fifth Cleopatra Caesar Achoreus c. RAther than Caesar's Life expos'd shall be Unto these Dangers for the Love of me I 'le Sacrifice my Self to his repose And Bless that Death from whence his Safety grows Sure in his Memory of a better Life Though too Unworthy to have Liv'd his Wife Caesar. Madam when only Vain designs are left To such high Spirits of all means bereft Nothing their Weakness does so well express As Aiming high because they can do less Kind Heav'n will make these ill Presages vain And my unwonted Fortune mock their pain Ah! Could my Love as easie Conquest find Over these Tears and Calm your Troubled mind With such a Lover 't is no small Disgrace The worst of Brothers should dispute the place You may have heard with what Unwearied care I sought to save him from his last Despair My Clemency had so Beset
you commanded to the place I follow'd 'em where I in little space Saw the whole Treason the Great Pompey bleed And every passage of that Barbarous deed And since you do command me here proclame That glorious Death which covers us with shame Hearken admire and his strange Fate deplore His Vessel now in sight of our false Shore Had strucken Sail and he with Joy beheld Our Gally's coming which his Murderers fill'd Thought our brave King toucht with a generous sense Of the Sad Fortunes of so Great a Prince Had sent his Fleet but when that he perceiv'd The Armed Boat he soon was undeceiv'd Found the Base man Ingratefull to such Worth Instead of Aid had sent his Murderers forth Cleop. How great a Curse Heaven on that Prince does send Whom they do Power without Virtue lend How much more Blest are they that cannot reach That height of Mischief which their Natures teach Whose Lives and Faults are private so that Fame Can lay no lasting Blot upon their name But this base Stain will stick upon our House Whilst Memphis stands or Nilus overflows But how did Pompey on the Villains look Achor He was with Wonder and not Terror strook Some little Fear surpriz'd him but he soon Recall'd his Temper and then thought alone Regardless of himself how he might save His dear Cornelia from the present Grave Let us expose alone these Silver hairs To the reception that base Land prepares Fly then he said whâ—lst the whole Storm I bear And to take Vengeance by thy restless care Our noble Juba bears a Braver mind With him thy Father and my Sons thou'lt find Yet if they fail and meet untimely Deaths Never despair whilst the bold Cato breaths Thus whilst their Loves contest the fatal Bark Makes towards them Septimius as a mark Of Service gives his hand in his own Tongue Salutes him Emperour as from the Young Aegyptian Monarch Step great Sir he said Into this Boat Quick-sands and Shelves have made Our Ports unsafe for greater Ships even then Our Heroe saw the baseness of the Men Yet shew'd no Change but keeping in his face His wonted Majesty and fearless Grace With the same Count'nance towards his Death doth go Wherewith he wont whole Kingdoms to bestow His Virtue intire attends him in his fate Of all the followers of his happier State His freed-man Philip then remain'd alone From him I learnt what I have now made known And this is all Madam that he exprest My Eyes have seen my Heart would sigh the rest Caesar himself when his sad Fate he hears To such Misfortunes cann't deny his Tears Cleop. O spare not mine proceed this one relief I have that nothing can increase my grief Achor Far off we saw him coming and not one Of all that Troop but his Discourse did shun Which strange contempt made him too well perceive The Entertainment he should soon receive At length they came to Land and as he stept A shore Achillas that base Traitor leapt Forth of the Boat and the first Wound he made Then all at once basely his Life invade All of one Land degenerate Sons of Rome That should his Guard his Murderers become Achillas's self that set the Villains on Stood yet amaz'd to see 't so boldly done Cleop. Ye Gods that give the World to civil War When ye Revenge his Death our City Spare Find out the Hands and punish not the Town The crime of Memphis was by Romans done But how does he receive their Treachearous blows Achor Part of his Robe over his Face he throws And without seeing it his Fate obey'd Disdain'd the Heav'ns that had his cause betray'd To look at then lest Dying he might seem Or Aid or Vengeance to implore of them No feeble part though of his failing breath â—ut shew'd him worthy of a Nobler Death His Head cut off is by the Villains shew'n Like some proud Trophie when a Battels won And his Dead Body to the Seas expos'd Floats now at randome in no Urn inclos'd At such a sight the poor Cornelia lost Cleop. Great Gods in what Distraction was she Tost Achor Her Mournfull hands to cruel Heaven she lifts Yet pays Subbmission to its hidden Drifts And then again o'recome with suddain grief Falls in a Sound and seems to hate Relief Her men the while plying the Oars amain With frighted haste the Milder Sea regain But yet I fear they cannot scape for base Septimius does them with six Vessels chace VVho to compleat his Crime endeavours shews And Pompey even after Death persues Cleop. Unequall'd Villais O! Accursed brood Are they not Glutted with that Hero's Blood That thus his dearer half they do persue Forgetting all that to her Sex is due Achor Mean while Achillas doth in Triumph bring His horrid Present to our Faithless King The people as he goes astonisht mourn And from the hated sight their Faces turn A general horrour doth their Souls invade Some fear the Ground will open and be made Their common Grave others loud Thunder hear To every one does some strange Sight appear So does the Guilt distract them and present Unto their Thoughts th' excess of Punishment His freed-man Philip in a Servants mind Shews yet a Courage of the Noblest kind He follows his Dead Lord and watches where Or to what Shore the Angry main will bear The Headless Trunck that he may duely burn And put his Sacred Ashes in an Urn But as toward Africk they Cornelia chase Caesar appears and almost hide the face Of spacious Neptune with his Numerous Fleet. Cleop. It must be he in that we plainly see 't Tremble ye Villains of this impious Land Cleopatra now holds Thunder in her hand May throw 't on whom she will Caesar is come She is your Queen her angry Breath your Doom Let us admire the while th' uncertain state Of human greatness and by Pompey's fate Learn what our own may be This Prince that sway'd Th' Imperial Senate whom the world Obey'd Whom Fortune seem'd to have advanc'd above Her own proud reach who did more terrour move In Rome than Loudest Thunder whom she saw Three times her proud Triumphal Chariots draw Who in these last extremes and falling state Both Consulls had Companions of his Fate When Fortune once neglected him we see Aegyptian Monsters of his Head decree We see a Photin and Achillas straight The great Disposers of the highest Fate A King that from his Hands a Crown receives Him to the hands of Basest Villains gives So Pompey falls and so perhaps one Day The now Victorious and great Caesar may But O ye powerfull Gods that see my Tears Assist my Wishes and avert my Fears Achor Madam the King is coming Enter Ptolomey Photinus Ptolom Do you know the Honour we are like to have Cleop. Yes Caesar's come I 'm no more Photin's Slave Ptolom Sister you always hate that worthy Man Cleop. No but I now despise the worst he can Ptolom Of what design of his can you
enough to have Sense of th' Affront which to his Ghost they gave The mouth yet Gasping and the wandring sight Seem'd to recall the Soul but yet in Flight His Dying anger wanted only breath T' accuse the Gods for his Defeat and Death Charm Drawn in small space large Histories have been So in that point those Miseries were seen That like a Deluge the whole World o'respread E're they could swell so high to reach that Head Could horrour there Contracting all her power Make no Impression on the Conquerour Acho. The sight like Thunder strook him with surprize As one not knowing what or how t' advise His fixed Eye a while and deep suspence From all about him hid his Doubtfull sense If we may guess he labour'd to Destroy The rising Motions of uncomely Joy To which Ambition did his Thoughts allure Finding his Empire o're the World secure This Pleasure with Discretion did contest For a short pause till Reason got the best Though he loves Greatness Treachery he hates Weighs the Worlds Judgment and his own Debates What solid Motives urge his Joy or Woe At length Concluding Tears his Eyes o'reflow A generous Frailty in his Temper shines And to his Virtue Interest resigns Out of his Sight he sends them with their Gift And with his Eyes and Hands to Heav'n up lift Against the Fact in bitter Words declares Then silent stood as one opprest with Cares Nor to his Romans would he make reply But with deep Sighing or an angry Eye At length with Thirty Cohorts set on Land Both of our Ports and Gates he took Command Plac'd Guards with secret Orders every where To make Distrust as well as Grief appear Speaks as our Lord names Pompey not as one That was his Rival but his Dearest Son There 's what I saw Charm Here 's what the Queen would have And what her Prayers from just Osiris crave Shee 'l be Transported with this welcome News Which to encrease your faithfull Service use Acho. I shall but Caesar's come go let her hear How pale our Courtlers look how Dead with fear And we as Caesar shall his mind disclose Will soon inform her how this new World goes Exeunt Scene the Second Enter Ptolomey Caesar and Lepidus Antonius Ptolom MY Lord as Soveraign here our Throne ascend Caesar. That offer Sir speaks you not Caesar's friend Fortunes worst Malice could not set me down To less Advantage than upon a Throne Here Rome's hard usage would find Just excuse If such a weak Temptation could seduce A Roman heart from its true Character To stoop at Loyalty disdain'd by her And giv'n as Cheap 't is bred in our Souls frame To hate that Quality and slight the Name This from great Pompey you had sooner known If your Distressed friend y' had dar'd to own He had this offer of your Chair declin'd If to that Worthy you had been thus kind You might perhaps have fallen but strew'd with Bays No Trophees of Success had match't that praise When Fortune had betray'd your Enterprize Caesar had took delight to help you Rise But since your Thoughts had no regard of Fame To that Illustrious head whence grew your Claim Which way could he forfeit his Life to you Whose Homage is to the least Roman due Has fate made me Triumphant o're my Foes That Aegypts King the Conquest should dispose My too Destructive Sword did I unsheath That you might Judge of Romans Life and Death I Fought to wrest that Power from Pompeys hands Shall I endure your Barbarous Commands What do you think for this can be your Doom Where you pretend a Soveraignty o're Rome Affronted more in this Illustrious head Than all the Blood that Mithridates shed Had I been Vanquish'd your Complying thought My head a present had to Pompey brought Thanks to my Fortune that I am ador'd From him Retreating I had met your Sword Friendship abhorr'd and formidable Love That Safe or Dangerous as our Fortunes prove But speak you have too long stood thus Confus'd Ptolom 'T is true but with Just cause may be Excus'd A Soveragn Born that always us'd Command I now in presence of my Master stand My Courtiers all with Reverence on me look But with like Awe I am by Caesar strook Judge then how I should presence have of mind Who from your Words such Cause of Terrour find Lost in profound Respect how should we Clear This double Cloud of Reverence and Fear But above all that which Confounds me most Is to find Caesar Friend to Pompeys Ghost You urge Ingratitude but this I know That more to Caesar than to him I owe Your favour first on our Dark Fortune shin'd To what he did he was by you inclin'd Our Cause i th' Senate he did undertake Protecting Injur'd Princes for your sake Yet vain had been whatever they Decreed Unless your Bounty had supply'd our need The Thousand Talents you so Nobly lent Restor'd us to our Throne from Banishment Your Son we Honour'd while he was your Friend Before his Force he did against you bend Before he Envy'd your Success in Warr And Tyrant like began this Civil Jarr Caesar. Hold Are you not contented with his Death That thus you Blast his Glory with your Breath Vent not such Slanders as may Rome offend Nor him Reproach while you your Self Defend Ptolom Then we referr to Heav'n his secret thought Which all our Vows during these Warrs besought That you by prosp'rous Arms might be redrest Whose slow Resentment was so rudely Press'd How could I think that it became your Friend To spare his Life that did your Death intend A man whose Rage no Victory could quel Might have fetch'd Succour from the lowest Hell Made the Wild Parthian the Sworn foe of Rome And all the East against his Father come Besides had you his Person got our fear Suppos'd your heart too generous would forbear Your Just Revenge and Clemency's Excess Had still Continu'd your Unhappiness These friendly fears of Accidents so ill Made us secure you though against your Will Our forward Zeal as Guilty you disown But 't was to Serve you what has been misdone Nor need you own the Fact by which you gain To keep you Innocent I took the stain The Blacker 't is the more it should be Priz'd My Fame to your Concernment Sacrifis'd Caesar. Reasons ill grounded your false Zeal misled If what the whole World pray'd for caus'd your Dread That your too Curious fear should thus delude The fairest hope our Civil Arms pursu'd Honour engag'd me my proud Foes to tame And then to pardon was my only aim The feircest Enemies I have o'rethrown For my Dear Friends and Confidents I own VVhat publique Joy had our sad Warr ensu'd If I and Pompey o're our former feud Triumphant had in the same Chariot Rid All which your narrow Policies forbid You fear'd my Clemency O gross mistake VVish it were greater now for your own sake If by strict Rules of Justice I were led
leapt in and bore The sacred Reliques in my Arms a Shore Hard by some pieces of a Wrack there lay Such as chance only offer'd in my way With these a Funeral pile I rudely dress The time and place might have afforded less And now the Body scarce had felt the Flame When to my pious Cares a Partner came Cordus a Roman from the Town does stray And the kind Heav'n guided his steps that way The Headless Trunk when once he did but view By the sad marks he straight great Pompey knew His Eyes then full of Tears O thou he crys Whom Fate hath Destind to so high a Prize Instead of Punishment which thou mayst fear Honour attends thee and Reward is near Caesar arriv'd does to the World proclame Himself Revenger of that sacred Name To which in silence thou dost here direct The mournfull Tribute of thy last respect Cornelia too forc't to this fatal Land Thou maist present these Ashes to her Hand With Reverence such the Victor does her treat None but the Gods can claim respect so great This said he runs while still the Corps does burn Back to the Town and with him brought this Urn Where of your Hero now inclos'd doth lie All that was Mortal or knew how to Dye Cornel. Such Piety what e're my Fortune be The Gods can never Unrewarded see Phil. Scarce had I entred when i' th' Crowded street An Armed Rout I in disorder meet Hasting unto the Gate at which their King Expected was some Greater strength to bring Each thinks though safe the Roman Sword he feels And makes no step but Câ—â—sar's at his Heels He Reeking in their Blood was in a round Of Armed Troops and with his Legions Crown'd I' th' midst Photinus by his Sentence stands Yielding his hated Head to th' Hangmans hands As soon as in his sight I did appear He knew me straight and bid me to draw near My Masters Ashes from my Arms he took And to his Listning Audience thus spoke Ye Reliques of a Hero whose great Fame I scarce can Equal with a Conquerours name See how the Traitor does to Justice pay Life which from you his Treachery took away Receive this Sacrifice and then expect The Altars we e're long to you erect Where greater Victims shall be offer'd Friend Thee to Cornelia with this Gift I send To her griev'd Heart carry this weak allay While to her full Revenge I make my way He left me with a Sigh and having first Kissed the Urn bequeath'd it to my trust Cornel. Alas 't is no intolerable pain They feel who for a Rivals loss complain Well may he spend a Sigh upon this Urn Whose restless fears to softer pity turn Well may he run to his Revenge with haste When his own Danger spurrs him on as fast Since the Concern he puts on for our Fate Both gains him Glory and secures his State â—ut Caesar's Noble nor will I suspect What Grief and Envy justly might Object His Rivals Death has ended all their strife And this false King conspires against his Life His peril Arms him now and all that 's done On Honours score must not Consus'dly run Love too 's ingag'd and Cleopatra draws The Sword that seems to favour Pompeys cause So many Interests in this Action joyn I need not think that he considers mine Yet I 'le perswade my Self he Fights for me Because I 'de do no less if I were he For noble Minds must on themselves reflect Their guess at others Meaning to direct Scene the Second Cleopatra Cornelia Philip Charmion Cleop. I Come not here to interrupt the Course Of those just Tears your powerfull Griefs inforce Madam I can no more than you neglect What this Urn justly may from me expect Your Hero's Reliques by a pious hand Restor'd this duty too from me Command Be pleas'd t' admit to these his Funeral Rites A fellow Mourner whom true Grief invites And had my Power been equal to my Will This bewail'd Hero had been Living still I had preserv'd the Owner of your Heart If cruel Heav'n had let me play my part Yet if the sight of what it now does send Could for a while your Sadder thoughts suspend If by Revenge your Sorrows might decrease I bring you News that cannot fail to please If yet you know it not Photinus's Head Cornel. Yes Princess I have heard the Traitor 's Dead Cleop. His hastned Suffering makes the more amends Cornel. Perhaps to you who in that meet your ends Cleop. Wish't for Success to all must pleasant be Cornel. Where Interests differ how can Thoughts agree If false Achillas the same Course should run Your Vengeance ends when mine is scarce begun I Blush to think that to my Hero's Shade So poor a Sacrifice as that is made No if in order my Revenge succeed Till Caesar's turn your Ptolomey must bleed I know that Caesar by your Love inclin'd To save him though unworthy has design'd But the just Gods will make his Labour vain For one deserving neither Life nor Reign And to my Prayers perhaps this grace afford That both may perish by each others Sword Then joy once more might be a welcome Guest VVhich else for ever is forbid this Breast But if my Bolder wishes fly too high May your King bleed if only one must Dye Cleop. The Gods not always give what we expect Cornel. Yet by the Cause we hope for the Effect And seldome 't is the Guilty miss their due Cleop. Though Gods have Justice they have Mercy too Cornel. Yet by the Course they have begun to Chuse 'T is not their Clemency they mean to use Cleop. Though Angry once they often Milder grow Cornel. Our wishes only our Concernment show An injur'd VViddow may have other Thoughts Than a kind Sister for a Brothers faults But when 't is known what Blood is spilt you 'l see VVhose Prayers are Juster and with Heav'n agree Here comes Achoreus Scene the Third Cornelia Cleopatra Philip Charmion Achoreus Cleop. ALas in 's Looks I see Th' unlucky marks of some ill Angury Speak good Achoreus but without disguise Banish my Fears or else my Joy surprize Acho. VVhen Caesar first the Horrid Treason knew Cleop. Ah! 't is not that which I expect from you I know he Barricadoed up the Vault Through which they hop't to have their Succours brought There 'gainst Photinus all his Force he drew VVho found the Recompence to Treason due Achillas warn'd by his Companions fate Escapes with ease at the abandon'd Gate Him the King follows whilst Antonius Lands To joyn with Caesar all the Roman Bands I doubt not but they 've Fought and by this time Achillas is Rewarded for his Crime Acho. Madam Success still waits on Caesar's Sword Cleop. That 's not the business has he kept his Word And is my Brother safe Acho. All he could do He has perform'd Cleop. That 's all I wish to know Madam you see the Gods my Pray'rs have heard Cornel. The Punishment deserv'd is
we hope his Fury will decline He calls it Just Revenge 't is meer Design With Pompey's Ghost a League he would Contract And Punishing that much Repented Act Strives to obtain for Caesar Grasps at all Empire and Glory by his Rivals fall Ptolom Ah! had thy good Advice Belief obtain'd Without a Master Ptolomey had Reign'd But Kings still chuse Govern'd by some ill Fate The worst Advice after a Long debate Destiny blinds them or if any Light Seem to inform it but deceives their Sight And with delusive Glimmerings leads them on Till they have Reach'd their own Destruction Photin I was deceiv'd in Caesar all this while For he his Rivals Death doth Murder style But since th' ungratefull Tyrant can Defame So a Great a Service with so Foul a Name By the same Hand let his own Blood be spilt And we in that will wash our former Guilt Now I prescribe no Bounds to your Swoln heart Nor would deferr Revenge till he depart This sharp Disease must have a Sudden Cure Let us no more his Insolence indure By Caesar's Death wee 'l Pompey 's Ghost appease Secure our Selves and give the whole World ease When Rome her Self shall call him Tyrant too And owe her Peace and Liberty to you Ptolom Photinus now thy Reasons must perswade Shall I descend to be of him Affraid VVhom I have Rais'd and made thus to be Fear'd No no my Vengeance shall not be Deferr'd That in one day Aegypt may twice become The great Disposer of the Fates of Rome Caesar forget thy Pride for Battel 's won And only think of what my Power has done For Pompey fell beneath the Fatal stroke Pompey who once thy Envy could provoke And therefore was as Great the VVorld shall see That thou art Mortal too as well as he To the Dead Hero thou art grown so kind 'T were Cruelty to keep thee here behind Achil. Sir to our Selves it were at once his fall Gives full Revenge and Safety to us all Revenge and Safety dear to all Mankind And in his Death their Interests are Joyn'd Ptolom Nor shalt thou Caesar of thy Justice boast I must appease both Romes and Pompey's Ghost And of thy Insolence Revenge will take VVho spar'st a King but for his Sisters sake Nor shall my Fortunes still in Danger lye Both of her Hate and thy Inconstancy That when you please those Toyes my Life and Crown Reward a Smile or Punishes a Frown No my Respects and Fears are laid aside Thou shalt not long enjoy thy cruel Pride And since thou didst Command me to prepare Victims for Pompey with advice and care I have Obey'd thee Tyrant and I see There is no fitter Sacrifice than thee Whose Blood might sooner on the Altar spilt Appease his Ghost or Expiate our Guilt But 't is in Vain my Friends with Angry words To threaten Caesar we must know what Swords We can Employ to Exectue our Will The Tyrants Army are our Masters still Let us consult and suddenly advise How to Destroy 'em by a close Surprize Achil. Sir Let us first secure our own Defence You have six Thousand men some two Miles hence Which I from several Quarters have drawn down For fear of Stirs in this Tumultuous Town With all their Care the Romans have not found A secret Sally we have under Ground Through which by Night unknown to Caesars Guard We may Conduct them to the Palace Yard For should we now the Roman Host invade With Trumpets Sounding Ensigns wide Display'd Head-long we might to Death and Danger run And vainly perish e're our Work were done No at the Feast let him receive his Doom Doubly before with Love and Wine o'recome Then if we can but Muster all our Powers I 'm Consident the Towns-men will be ours For I perceive the Tyrant does Incense Their Anger 's by his Pomp and Insolence And when they saw his Vessels under Sail Proudly inforce our fearfull Fleet to Vail They scarcely could those Sparks of Anger tame Which we will quickly Blow into a Flame But above all the Valiant Roman Band Whom Dead Septimius lately did Command By all the Gods and Powers above have Sworn To be Reveng'd of Caesar's Bloody scorn Ptolom But how to fix our Weapons in his Breast If all his Guard surround him at the Feast Photin Great Sir the Roman Souldiers in your Pay Amongst the Servants of Cornelia Have met with Friends and Kinsmen who may be Fit Actors all in this Great Tragedy These we shall soon perswade to undertake Their Tyrants Slaughter for their Masters sake They as Cornelia's Train have free access Which may assure us of a good Success So that whilst Caesar flatters Pompey's Wife He would secure but shall expose his Life But Cleopatra comes smooth your Rough Brow And wisely seem with Servil fear to bow We must begon being Objects of her Hate Ptolom Go and expect me I 'le be with you straight Scene the Second Ptolomey Cleopatra Charmion Cleop. BRother with Caesar I have done my best To make your Peace and Calm his Angry breast Ptolom 'T was nobly done I could have hop'd no more Though I had us'd you like your Self before But your brave Lover Sister left you soon Cleop. Some little Tumult raised in the Town Lest that their Rage and Numbers should encrease He would himself secure the publique Peace And I was glad that I had time to tell This happy News since none can do 't so well I saw great Caesars brow without a frown You need not fear your Person nor your Crown Caesars so much your Friend that for your sake He 's mov'd to Pity the advice you take Of such base Counsel who in every thing Will make ye more a Tyrant than a King These men Composed of the Coursest Earth Whose Souls are baser than their Obscure Birth You give 'em power and set 'em up to Reign Cloath 'em with Purple but 't is all in Vain Their Native Baseness is a foul Disease Which none can Cure and such Men as these Faintly let fall when Rais'd to high Commands The Weighty Scepters from their Trembling hands Ptolom Sister 't is true and now I find too late How ill I chose my Ministers of State Had I left them and been Advis'd by you I 'd Liv'd with Glory as my Equals do And had deserv'd the Kindness which you still Retain for me though I have usd you Ill My Palace then had been the Happy place VVhere Caesar might his Conquer'd Son Imbrace And when the World had found all Troubles cease She ' d been oblig'd to Aegypt for her Peace I as a Friend to both had by the Laws Of Aegypt Judg'd of the great Roman Cause But since what 's past can now find no redress To you I freely may my Griefs express I us'd you Ill and your Revenge was shewn In the preserving both my Life and Crown Subdue your Self still in this Noble strife And save Photinus and Achillas Life They merit
Death since they Offended you But then my Reputation suffers too If for my Crimes these VVorthless VVretches Dye I shall Live Heir to all their Infamy Oblige me Sister let your Eyes bright Charms Melt the Stern man like Lightning through his Arms That I to you may Owe with gratefull shame My Life my Kingdome and what 's more my Fame Cleop. VVere it in me to Punish or Forgive My Scorn is great enough to let them Live But to solicit Caesar 't will be Vain Since by their Hands Pompey was basely Slain His Blood with Caesar's Justice will oppose This strange Desire of mine to save my Foes Once for your Sake I did their Pardons crave He the Discourse to something else did VVave And such a Kind of careless Cunning us'd My Prayer was neither Suffer'd nor Refus'd But now at your Request I 'le fully prove VVhat Interest I have in Caesar's Love And I dare Hope Ptolom He comes let me begone You 'l have more Power when you are alone My presence might another Passion move I 'le wholly leave him to your Self and Love Exeunt Scene the Third Caesar Cleopatra Antonius Lepidus Charmion Achoreus Romans Caesar. MY Queen this Storm is laid without much harm A small Commotion gave a great Alarm But when I left you I began to find A greater Tumult in my Troubled mind Love my most powerfull Passion made me hate Success and Greatness Curse the Cruel fate That rais'd me since thus great I cannot spare My self one hour of Joy but some new Care Still calls me from you yet I straight again Am reconcil'd to Fortune and restrain My Causeless passion nay adore my Bays Since they my Hopes as well as Person raise To that Auspicious height from whence I see So fair a Prospect of Felicity That I dare hope Requital of my Flame Though my Ambitious Love make you his Aim You now may Caesar with like Ardour meet Kings cast their Crowns and Scepters at my feet But if the World a Monarch yet contains Who more deserves the Glory of your Chains On whose high Throne you might with greater State Give Laws to Nations and Dispose of Fate By force of Arms I would my Title prove His Rival less for Empire than for Love Nor should I hope you would my Flames allow Till I had made so great a Rival bow These were the Ambitious hopes which have thus farr Engag'd your Caesar in a Civil Warr And that I might this glorious Right maintain I Conquer'd Pompey on Pharsalia's Plain Where e're I Fought your Beauty did afford Strength to my Arm and Sharpness to my Sword And all the fair Success I had in Arms Were the Effects of your Bright Beauties Charms Which in my Breast did first this Passion move And now has Rais'd me Equal to your Love Since I without a Rival am become Master of all the World and Head of Rome These are the Titles that my Valour gave Which love innobles by the name of Slave And I am more than Blest if you approve And perfect the Success of humble Love Cleop. These Honours are too great I needs must know What Cleopatra does to Caesar owe And should I nicely still conceal my Flame I must my Love and Reason too Disclaim Your high Affections did my Child-hood grace When Beauty only Budded in my Face Then first you gave and since restor'd my Crown After all this I must a Passion own And that my Heart no longer can exclude The force of Love and that of Gratitude But yet alas my glorious Birth and Fate The Restoration of my Crown and State And all the Honours I from you enjoy My better Hopes and my Desires Destroy If Rome be still the same my Lofty Throne Instead of Raising casts me lower down And marks of Regal power like Brands of shame Render me more Unworthy of your Flame Yet I dare hope since I your Power know And what the Gods to so much Virtue owe That I by you this haughty Rome shall see Bound in the Golden Chains of Monarchy Then she shall soon forget the Cruel hate She always bore to Kings while yet a State Growing Enamour'd of your Scepters awe Whilst your Examples serve her for a Law She shall from you far Nobler Maxims take And Love all Princes for her Caesar's sake How well may I expect this Change of Rome From him that could great Pompey overcome Your Power I know can greater Wonders do And I implore no other God but you Caesar. When Love bids Caesar use his utmost Force Wonders grow easie and ne're stop my Course My Ensigns stain'd with Gore should I display I in a March might Conquer Africa And the Remains of my Despised Foes Would to my Arms their Flying Backs oppose Then wanting Power this proud this haughty Rome Should Caesars servil Flatterer become At my return she shall our Triumph meet And cast her Pride and Hatred at your feet And whilst I here persue my glorious Fate She shall e're long become my Advocate And with all humble Duty beg a Race Of glorious Caesars from your Chaste imbrace This Fruit I hope from my Victorious Bays Rather than large Dominion or high Praise But e're I reach this height of Happiness I must forsake all that I now possess Oh that my Foes were Men so void of Fear That they durst come and bid me Battel here Now at too dear a Rate I Conquest buy Since I lose you to gain a Victory But this my Fondness Love will disallow To gain you ever I must leave you now Where e're they fly I thither must remove To perfect Conquest and deserve your Love But e're I go from those all Conquering Eyes Let me receive the Soul of Victories That all my Foes may cry struck with pale Dread He comes he sees and we are Conquered Cleop. Too much great Sir I must such Love abuse Which makes me Sin and will my Fault excuse You gave me Freedome Life and Scepter too Which gives me Confidence to Trouble you And I Conjure you by Loves powerfull Charms By the Success which still attends your Arms By your fair Hopes and mine by all that 's good You would not Die my Royal Robes in Blood Be gracious Sir and pardon or let me As my first Act of Soveraignty Photin and Achillas we should Disdain And they are Punish'd now they see me Reign And this their Crime Caesar. Ah take some other way To shew your Power how soon should I obey But this my Queen is more than Tyranny To lay their Baseness and their Crimes on me Some Worthier Subjects to your Mercy take And think what 's done already for your Sake That with the King himself I dare dispence Were not my Flames Scene the Fourth Caesar Cornelia Cleopatra Achoreus Antonius Lepidus Charmion and Romans Cornel. CAesar make some Defence They have Design'd thy Death and that thy Blood With Pompey's Gore should make one Purple flood If not prevented this