fulfil'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 Shaâ—l with a sigh to Pompey's Heart be sent Nor can you at a less rate then 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 lay'd The Interest of Kingdoms is betray'd Extreamest Rigour is the Right of Kings When Timorous Equity their Ruine brings Who fears a Crime shall ever be affraid But hee 'l 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 choose some other way But this I know whatever others like They fear no Conquerour who the Conquer'd strike Achil. Photin says true Sir but though Pompey we Divested of his former Grandeur see Yet that Blood Pretious 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 Conquerour fear You may be Neuâ—er 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 Offring for his Shrine To Mars himself should this Head offer'd be 'T would fix on Yours tooâ— 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 Româ— mov'd by him Help'd our last King his Scepter to redeem But Gratitude and Hospitality In Monarchs Brests must regulated be Nor can a King Contract so great a Debr But that his Subjects claim a greater yet And all Engagements are to Princes void To Cancel which their Blood 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 Caesars 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 is'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 Septim 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 suspence you will him leave What fate his future battles shall receive And both on you Revenge when weary grown The Ills which but for You they had not knownâ— 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 bestowes 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 'l purchase his as well as Pompey's hate His danger and dishonour then prevent Bâ—th make him great and keep him Innocâ—nt Whilst Pompey's Faction you in him destroy Let Caesar at your cost the Fruit enjoy By this â—dvice which you'â— 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 â—ose Ptol. 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 would active be Rome hath too long made an Injurious Claim That all men should adore the Roman Name Her lofty Freedom let us now throw down And a I Her scorn in Pompey's Blood le ts drown Cutting the Root by which that Pride does live To the Worlds Tyrants leâ—â—s a Tyrant give Now fate would chain an Arrogance so fierce Let 's help hâ—r to revenge the Universe Rome thou shalt serve and Kings which always yeâ— Th' hast daâ—'d with so much Insolence to treat Will Caesar now with less Regrer obey Since thou shalt be enslav'd as well as they Achillas and Septimius lose no time But make us Deathless by this glorious Crime Of Heavens Resentment I 'le the hazard run Who sent him hither sure to be undone Achil. A Kings Command must no dispute endure Ptol. Go then the Scepter which I bear secure For you by this Commission are become The Destinies of Egypt and of Rome SCENE 2. Ptolomy Photinus Ptol. I am mistaken Photin or by this My Sister will her expectation miss Pompey my Fathers Will having secur'd Her Coronation she believes assur'd And she her self the Mistress does esteem Of that divided Scepter left by him Their Antient Friendship she depends upon And inwardly already shares my Throne Whence her Ambition is become so vain That from its Ashes it revives again Photin Sir 'T was a motive I did not debate And yet which ought to hasten Pompey's Fate He your Pretentions doubtless will decide And by your Fathers Will your Claims Divide To which great Trust of Friendship being true You know how much he disobliges you Nor that by this Discourse I would remove The Sacred Cement of a Brothers Love I banish her not from your Heart buâ— Throne For he Reigns not that does not Reign alone Divided Empire all wise Kings avoid For Pow'r Communicated is Destroy'd And Policy But Sir she does appear SCENE 3. Ptolomy Cleopatra Photinus Cleop. Pompey is come Sir and can you be here Ptol. Tâ—at mighty Warriour I at home attend And him Achillas and Septimius send Cleop. What such Embassadours as those to him Ptol. You may go too if they too little seem Cleop. Is your own meeting him too great a thing Ptol. I must remember that I am a King Cleop. Câ—n you râ—flect on that and yet be slow To kiss the hand of him that made you so And pay your homage to a Man so great Ptol. Did he that Title in Pharsalia get Cleop. Though none did his misfortunes
Pompey who If he such Offers lik'd could shun them too Both Throne and King had honourd 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 Caesars Pride But though you would not own so brave a strife What right had you to that Illustrious Life Who that rich Blood to wâ—sh 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 then ever I durst do What Name think you will such a blow become Which has usurp'd the Sovereignty of Rome And in one Person did affront her more Then 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 Conquerour not me I but enjoy it by Felicity Dangerous Friendship Kindness to be fear'd Which turnes with Fortune and by her is steer'd But speak this Silence does encrease your Sin Ptol. 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 Command I see a New Courâ— 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 Trouâ—le cease Which my Respects create and Fears encrease And what can an astonish'd Prince express Who Anger sees in that Majestique 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 hâ—â— we ow'd Your Fâ—vour 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 Money 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 reveâ—'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 deâ—y But plead your Cause without a Calumny Ptol. Then let the Gods be Judges of his Thought I only say That in the Wars last â—ought To which so many Wrongs did you perswade Our Vows for your success were onely 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 wayes the Dispute renew Or if at length he fell into your Hand We fear'd your Mercy would your Right with-stand For to that pitch your sense of Honour flies As would to Fame your Safety Sacrifice Which made me Judge in so extreâ—m an Ill We ought to serve you Sir against yoâ—r Will My forward Zeal th' oâ—casion 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 diasapprove 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 affraid to see What all Mankind beg'd of the Gods should be And did to you such subtilties Convey As Stole the Fruit of all my Wars away Where Honour me engag'd and where the end Was of a Foe subdâ—'d to make a Friend Where the worst Enemies that I have met When they are conquer'd I as Brother Treat And my Ambition only this Dâ—sign'd To Kill their Hate and force them to be kind How blest a Period of the War 't had been If the glad World had in one Charriot seen Pompey and Caesar at once to have sate Triumphant over all their former Hate These were the Dangers you fear'd should befall O fear Ridiculous and Criminal You fear'd my Mercy but that trouble quit And wish it rather you have need of it For I am sure strict Justice would consent I should appease Rome with your punishment Not your Respects nor your Repentance now No nor your Râ—nk preserves you from that Blow Ev'n on your Throne I would revenge your Guilt But Cleopatra's Blood must not be spilt Wherefore your Flâ—â—terers only I condemn And must expect yoâ—'l do me Right on them For what in this I shâ—ll observe you do Must be the rule of my Esteem for you To the great Pompey Altars now erect And to him pay as to the Gods Respect By Sacrifices your Offence expell But have a Care you choose your Victims well Go then and whilst you do for this prepare I must stay here about another Care SCENE 3. Caesar Antonius Lepidus Caesar. Antonius have you this bright Princess seen Anton. Yes Siâ— I have and shee 's a matchless Queen With such proportion Heaven never yet All Beauties both of Minde and Body knit So sweet a Greatness in her Face does shine The Noblest Courage must to it resign Her Looks and Lâ—nguage with such ease subdue If I were Caesar I should love her too Caesar. How was the Offer of my Love receiv'd Anton. As doubted and yet inwardly believ'd She modestly declin'd her highest aims And thinks she Merits what she most disclaims Caesar. But can I hope her love Anton. Can she have yours As that your joyes so this her Crown secures To gain that Heart can you believe it hard Whose kindness you with Empire can reward Then let your Passâ—on all its Doubts disband For what can Pompey's Conquerour withstand But yet her Fear to her remembrance brings How little Rome hath ever valu'd Kings And more then that she dreads Calphurnia's Love But both these Rubs your presence will remove And your succesful Hope all Mists will break If you vouchsafe but for your Self to speak Caesar. Let 's go then and these needless scruples quitâ— Shewing my Heart to Her that wounded it Come let us stay no longer Anton. But first know Cornelia is within your Power now Septimius brings
choose the worst At the Pits brink Fate does their Reason bind Or if some hint they of their Danger find Yet that false Light amiss their Judgement steers Plunges them in and then it disappears Pho. I must confess I Caesar did miâ—take Since such a Service he a Crime does make But yet his side hath streâ—ms and those alone Can expiate your fault and fix your Throne I no more say you silently should bear And your Revenge till he be gone defer No I a better Remedy esteem To justifie his Rivals Death on him When you the First Act by the last make good And Caesar's shed as well as Pompey's Bâ—ood Rome will no difference in her Tyrants know But will to you from both her Freedom owe. Ptol. Yes Yes to this all reasons do perswade Let 's fear no more the Greatness we have made Caesar shall still from Us receive his Doom And twice in one day wee 'l dispose of Rome As Bondage first let 's Freedom next bestow Let not thy Actions Caesar swell Thee so But call to mind what thou hast seen me do Pompey was Mortal and so thou art too Thou envy'â—st him for his exceeding thee And I think thou hast no more Lives then he Thy own Compassion for my Fate does shew That thy Heart may be Penetrable too Thâ—n let thy Justice threaten as it please 'T is I must with thy ruine Rome appease And of that Cruel Mercy Vengeance take Which spares a King but for his Sisters sake My Life and Power shall not exposed be To her resentment or thy Levity Lest thou to morrow should'st at such a Rate Reward her Love or else revenge her Hate More noble Maxims shall my fears expell Thou bad'st me once to choose my Victims well And my Obedience thou in this shalt see Who know no Victim worthier then thee Nor th' Immolation of whose Blood will draw Better Acceptance from thy Son in Law But vainly Friends we thus foment our Rage Unless we knew what Strength we could engage All this may be unprofitable heat The Tyrants Forces being here so great But of our Power let us be first agreed And in what time and method to proceed Achil. We may do much Sir in our present State Two miles from hence six thousand Souldiers wait Which I foreseeing some new Discontents Have kept in readiness for all Events Caesar with all his Arts could not foresee That underneath this Town a Vault should be By which this night we to the Palace may Our Men with Ease and without Noise convey T'â—ssâ—ult his Life by open force alone Would be the onely way to lose your Own We must surprize him and act our design When he is Drunk with Pleasure Love and Wine The People are all ours for when he made His entry Horrour did their Souls invadeâ— When with a Pomp so arrogantly grave His Fasces did our Royal Ensigns brave I mark'd what Rage at that Injurious view From their incensed Eyes like sparkles flew And they so much did with their fury strive That your least Countenance may it revive Septimius Souldiers fill'd with greater hate Struck with the Terrour of their Leaders Fate Seek nothing but revenge on him who them Did in their Captains Person so contemn Ptol. But what way to approach him can be foundâ— If at the Feast his Guards do him surround Photin Cornelia's Men who have already known Among your Romans Kinred of their own Seem to perswade us they would help afford To Sacrifice their Tyrant to their Lord Nay have assur'd it and much better may Then we to Caesar the first stabs convey His Clemency not only false but vain Which Courts Cornelia that He Rome mâ—y gain Will to his Person give them such access As may assure our Plot of a success But Cleopatra comes to Her appear Only possess'd with Weakness and with Fear Let us withdraw Siâ— for you know that we Are Objects she will much abhor to see Ptol. Go wait me SCENE 2. Ptolomy Cleopatra Cleop Brother I have Caesar seen And have to him your Intercessour been Ptol. I never could expect an Act less kind From you who bear so generous a Mind But your great Lover quickly from you went Cleop. 'T was to the Town t' appease some discontent Which he was told had newly raised been Betwixt the Souldier and the Citizen Whilst I with joyful haste come to assure You that your Life and Kingdom were secure Th' Illustrious Caesar on the Course you took Does with less anger then Compassion look He pities you who such vile States-men heard As make their Kings not to be lov'd but fear'd Whose Souls the baseness of their Birth confess And who in vain great Dignities possess For Slavish Spirits cannot guide the Helm Those too much Power would quickly overwhelm That hand whose Crimes alone do purchase Fearâ— Will soon let fall a Weight it cannot bear Pâ—ol Those Truths and my ill Fate do me perswade How bad a choice of Counsellours I made For had I acted Honourable things I had as Glorious been as other Kings And better merited the Love you bear A Brother so unworthy of your Care Caesar and Pompey had been here agreed And the Worlds Peace in Egypt been decreed Who her own Prince a friend to both had seen Nay he perhaps an Arbiter had been But since to call this back is past our Art Let me discharge to you my Troubled heart You that for all the Wrongs that I have done Could yet Preserve me both my Life and Crown Be truly great and vanquish all your Hate By changing Photin's and Achilla's Fate For their offending you their Death is due But that my Glory suffers in it too If for their Kings Crimes they should punish'd be The Infamy would wholly light on me Caesar through them wounds me their's is my Pain For my sake therefore your Just Hate restrain Your heart is Noble and what pleasure then Is th' abject Blood of two unhappy Men Let me owe all to you who Caesar charm And with a Look his Anger can disarm Cleop. Were but their Life and Death in me to give My scorn is great enough to let them live But I with Caesar little can prevail When Pompey's Blood lies in the other scale I boast no Power to Dispose his will For I have spoke and he hath shuâ—'d it still And turning quickly to some new Affair He neither does refuse nor grant my Prayer Yet I le once more on that harsh Theam proceed In hope a New attempt may better speed And I le believe Ptol. He comes let me be gone Lest I should chance to draw his anger on My presence may enflâ—me what t' would make less And you alone may act with more success SCENE 3. Caesar Cleopatra Antonius Lepidus Charmion Achoreus and Romans Caesar. The City now is quiet Beauteous Queen Which had alarm'd with little reason been Nor need they fear the troublesome event Of Souldiers Pride or Peoples