 | Pompey the Great |  |
Scene First.
Enter Charmion and Achoreus.Charm.
While Ptolomey with low respect does haste
Onr Ægypts Crown at Cæsars feet to Cast,
The Queen as unconcern'd at Home does stay,
Expecting Cæsar like respect should pay
To her; what think you of this haughty Dame?
Acho.
'Tis a just Value set upon the Fame
Of her great Beauty, and becomes her Place
And high Extraction of that Royal Race;
But may I have access?
Charm.
No, I am sent
Of the late Interview to know th'Event,
To learn what the strange Present did obtain,
The thanks of Cæsar or his Just disdain,
If his Reception of the King were kind,
And what Success our Murtherers do find.
Acho.
The Head presented will produce Effects
Much differing from what Ægypts Court expects,
Whose Flatteries have mis-led their Soveraign;
When he took Shipping I was in his Train;
Our Navy Anchor in good Order weigh'd,
And a League hence for Cæsars coming staid,
He with full Sails advanc't, as Mars had grac't
His Sword with Conquest, Neptune now as fast
Favours his Course, and to his Fleet, as kind
As his late Fortune, gives a prosperous Wind;
When they first meet, Our Prince dismay'd appears,
Forgetting what became the Crown he wears,
Shews Abject Fear, in Chearfulness ill feign'd,
A servil Baseness his Behaviour stain'd;
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To mighty Cæsar and no King appear;
Cæsar that saw Fear strike him in amaze,
With Flattering pity did his Spirits raise;
He faintly then the fatal Present shows,
Behold my Lord, the last of all your Foes.
Pompey, Cornelia, both from me receive
More than the Gods could at Pharsalia give;
Here is his Head, the other, though she flies,
Our Fleet persuing will soon make your prize.
The Head discover'd of great Pompey slain
Appear'd as though it would have Spoke again,
As if it yet were warm 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,
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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 Cæsar's come, go let her hear
How pale our Courtiers look, how Dead with fear,
And we, as Cæsar shall his mind disclose,
Will soon inform her how this new World goes.
Exeunt.
| Pompey the Great | |