University of Virginia Library

Scene the Third.

Cæsar, Cleopatra, Antonius, Lepidus, Charmion, Achoreus, Romans.
Cæsar.
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 Cæsar 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 Cæsar 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 Cæsar 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 Cæsar'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.

Cæsar.
When Love bids Cæsar 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 Cæsars 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 Cæsars 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 thats 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—

Cæsar.
—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—