University of Virginia Library

Scene the Fourth.

Cæsar, Cornelia, Cleopatra, Achoreus, Antonius, Lepidus, Charmion and Romans.
Cornel.
Cæsar , make some Defence,
They have Design'd thy Death, and that thy Blood
With Pompey's Gore should make one Purple flood.
If not prevented, this their close Compact,
The Bloody Villains straight will put in Act.
My Slaves are in, from them by Tortures try
To know the Depth of this Conspiracy,
For I Disclaim them.

Cæsar.
These are Resentments of a Roman heart,
Worthy the man of whom you were a part,
His Manes sure, who saw that this my Care
Of his Revenge did my own Death prepare,
Have so forgot our Quarrel and all Hate,
They're now the Guardian Angels of my Fate,
And in a Gratefull and far Nobler strife,
By you his Living part have sav'd my Life.
In spight of all that Treachery could do,
Pompey's not Dead, he still Survives in you;
His noble Soul did in your Breast make stay,
To Vanquish Cæsar this most Generous way.

Cornel.
Thou art become thine own base Flatterer.
Canst thou believe that I will ought preferr
To my Revenge? no, the deplored Fate
Of my Dead Lord, so just a cause of Hate,
Shall ever be of Force to Disallow
All terms of Reconcilement 'twixt us two.
My promis'd Liberty, let me enjoy,
That I that freedome wholly may employ
To thy Destruction, for where e're I go
Each man I meet I'le strive to make thy Foe,
And in the Quarrel of my Murder'd Lord,
Engage the World, if thou dar'st keep thy word;
I will pursue thee with a Changeless hate,
Yet here prevent thy base Assassinate;
For my Desires on Juster grounds are Built,
Than to obtain them by so foul a Guilt.

Cæsar.
Madam, but that your Self my Death prevent,
You'd been at once Reveng'd and Innocent.

Cornel.
Who knows and suffers it, does Guilty grow;
I wish thy Death, but as a noble Foe,
That none but Pompey's Sons their Hands should stain,
In the high Blood of Cæsar nobly Slain;
Who Arm'd with brave Revenge, shall at the Head
Of all thy Dreadfull Legions strike thee Dead,
And to my Hero's Ghost a Victim make,
Whose just Revenge you Nobly undertake.
T'obtain an intire Vengeance I'le ingage
All th'Active powers of Wit inspir'd by Rage;
Thy Life is Threatn'd, I am thy Defence,
My Hate is full of Care and Providence:
For now I need not in some forein Coast
Go seek Revenge, which so deferr'd were lost,
Nor for Joves Thunder travel Africks Sands,
I see it Graspt already in thy Hands;
No Mortal power can the Stroak prevent,
On thee I might have turn'd the Punishment,
But that my Reason forc'd me to preferr
My Pompey's Victor to his Murderer.
Nor am I so with Rage and Passion blind,
But that my Honour too engag'd I find,
To punish the Audacious Treachery
Of their base Crimes, before thy Victory.
Great Rome will have it so, who else would spread
Her sacred Fore-head with a blushing Red,
That both her Noblest Heads at once should feel,
Though Crown'd with Lawrel, an unworthy Steel;
And her great Heart which thou believ'st (in vain)
So shrunk as for to suffer thee to Reign,
Would count thy Murderers more her Enemies,
And her Adored Liberty despise:
None but a Roman could impose the Yoak,
Which by a Roman only must be broke;
Thy Ruine here, Heav'ns Justice would prevent,
And be a Crime instead of Punishment,
Defrauding my Just Vengeance, and Mankind,
Of that Example thou should'st leave behind.
Do thou Revenge great Rome of Ægypts crime,
And I'le revenge Her if I can of thine;
But now make haste to save thy Threaten'd Life,
And boast thou wert preserv'd by Pompey's Wife.

Exeunt.