 | The Tragedy of Sertorius |  |
SCEN. III.
Sertorius, Terentia, Cassius.Sert.
Who was't that call'd for help?—Ha! 'tis my self,
To bear with patience such a sight as this!
Gods, you're unkind; more cruel, than she's false!
By Heav'n, She weeps, and baths him with her tears!
Oh, the inconstancy of all the Sex;
That damns the living, and torments the dead!
I will retire from hence; and wish I could
Forget I e're had being.
Ter.
Oh, my Lord,
Stay you so long without a helping hand?
Sert.
Ha! by Heav'n, she'd make a Property of me!
Death, Hell, and Furies, 'tis too much to bear.
Ter.
See here, my Lord, the noble Cassius slain.
Sert.
What said'st thou? Cassius dying? How the word
Has calm'd the passion, at the name of Friend!
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Dissolve to Dew. Oh, Cassius! Oh, my Friend!
Tell me, how came this wound imprinted here?
Cass.
Give me your hand; and swear forgiveness to me.
Sert.
By all the Gods, I do.
Cass.
Then I shall dy
Freed of the bitter anguish of the mind.
I have offended, but it was in thought;
'Twas the ill bloud rebell'd within my Veins:
But from the sluces I have loos'd the slave,
And dy a Roman; yet my Rebel eyes
Will fix upon the Object of my Soul,
Now plunging o'r the mighty Main of Death.
Dyes.
Sert.
Forbear, thou saucy Tyrant, for a while;
If thou want'st Subjects for thy eager maw,
I'll give thee thousands, spare me but this one.
He's gon, he's gon; the fleeting Soul has past
The bounds of life! Night, out of Chaos take
The blackest of thy Wardrobe, thrust back day,
That all the World may mourn in endless Darkness.
Weep on, Terentia: for thy tears, like Balm,
Will please his Manes, and allay my grief.
Take up the Body, and erect a Pile
Great as a Pyramid: from the blest, look down,
And see thy last of Rites. Oh, might there rise
Another Phœnix from the Sacrifice.
[Exeunt.
| The Tragedy of Sertorius | |