University of Virginia Library

The Argument.

Cornelia the Daughter of Metellus Scipio, a young Romaine Lady, (as much accomplisht with the graces of the bodie, & the vertues of the minde as euer any was,) was first married to young Cressus, who died with his Father, in the disconfiture of the Romains against the Parthians; Afterward she tooke to second husbande Pompey the great, who (three yeeres after) vpon the first fiers of the ciuill warres betwixt him & Cæsar, sent her fro thence to Mitilen, there to attende the incertaine successe of those affaires. And when he sawe that hee was vanquisht at Pharsalia, returnd to find her out, & carrie her with him into Egipt, where his purpose was to haue re-enforc'd a newe Armie, and giue a second assault to Cæsar.

In this voyage, hee was murdred by Achillas and Septimius the Romaine before her eyes, and in the presence of his young Sonne Sextus, and some other Senators his friends. After which, shee retyred herselfe to Rome. But Scipio her Father, (being made

Generall of those that suruiued after the battaile) assembled new forces, and occupied the greater part of Afrique, allying himselfe to Iuba King of Numidia. Against all whō, Cæsar (after he had ordred the affayres of Egipt and the state of Rome) in the end of VVinter marched. And there (after many light encounters) was a fierce and furious battaile giuen amongst them, neere the walls of Tapsus. Where Scipio seeing himselfe subdued, and his Armie scattered, he betooke himselfe with some small troope, to certaine shippes which he had caused to stay for him.

Thence he sailed towarde Spayne, where Pompeys Faction commaunded, and where a suddaine tempest tooke him on the Sea, that draue him backe to Hippon a Towne in Affrique at the deuotion of Cæsar, where (lying at anchor) he was assailed, beaten & assaulted by the aduerse Fleete; And for hee woulde not fall aliue into the hands of his so mightie Enemie, hee stabd himselfe, and suddainly leapt ouer boorde into the Sea, and there dyed.

Cæsar (hauing finished these warres, and quietly reduc'd the Townes and places there-about to his obedience) return'd to Rome in tryumph for his victories; Where this most faire and miserable Ladie, hauing ouer-mour'd the death of her deere husband,

and vnderstanding of these crosse euents and haples newes of Affrique, together with the pitteous manner of her Fathers ende, shee tooke (as shee had cause) occasion to redouble both her teares and lamentations: wherewith she closeth the Catastrophe of this theyr Tragedie.