Pompey the Great A Tragedy |
 | 1. |
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 2. |
| 1. |
| 3. |
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 4. |
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 5. |
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. | Scene the Fifth. |
 | Pompey the Great |  |
53
Scene the Fifth.
Cleopatra, Cæsar, Achoreus, &c.
Rather than Cæsar's Life expos'd shall be
Unto these Dangers for the Love of me,
I'le Sacrifice my Self to his repose,
And Bless that Death, from whence his Safety grows,
Sure in his Memory of a better Life,
Though too Unworthy to have Liv'd his Wife.
Cæsar.
Madam, when only Vain designs are left,
To such high Spirits of all means bereft,
Nothing their Weakness does so well express,
As Aiming high because they can do less;
Kind Heav'n will make these ill Presages vain,
And my unwonted Fortune mock their pain.
To such high Spirits of all means bereft,
Nothing their Weakness does so well express,
As Aiming high because they can do less;
Kind Heav'n will make these ill Presages vain,
And my unwonted Fortune mock their pain.
Ah! Could my Love as easie Conquest find
Over these Tears, and Calm your Troubled mind,
With such a Lover 'tis no small Disgrace,
The worst of Brothers should dispute the place.
Over these Tears, and Calm your Troubled mind,
With such a Lover 'tis no small Disgrace,
The worst of Brothers should dispute the place.
You may have heard with what Unwearied care
I sought to save him from his last Despair,
My Clemency had so Beset him round,
No way t'avoid it, but his Death was found;
Perhaps h' had Conquer'd, could my Arms but know
Resistance such as to my Love you shew:
Success in Vain, why didst thou with me stay,
Since Cleopatra I could not Obey?
Not justly me, but Heav'n you must accuse,
Which to the Guilty pardon does refuge,
Their Cruelty to him Exalts your Fate,
Now the Sole Mistress of th'Ægyptian state.
I sought to save him from his last Despair,
My Clemency had so Beset him round,
No way t'avoid it, but his Death was found;
Perhaps h' had Conquer'd, could my Arms but know
Resistance such as to my Love you shew:
Success in Vain, why didst thou with me stay,
Since Cleopatra I could not Obey?
Not justly me, but Heav'n you must accuse,
Which to the Guilty pardon does refuge,
Their Cruelty to him Exalts your Fate,
Now the Sole Mistress of th'Ægyptian state.
Cleop.
'Tis true, his Death has plac'd me on the Throne,
And that by no Miscarriage of my own.
While among Mortals here, my Lord, we stay,
Some Cloud will still O'recast our brightest Day.
54
I must receive the Conquerour with Tears;
His Fate was just my Reason does perswade,
Yet Nature too must be as well Obey'd;
A secret Murmur in my Soul does rise,
If on his empty Throne I cast my Eyes,
T'ascend it then what pleasure can I take,
When my Blood checks me at each step I make?
Acho.
My Lord, at Gate th'impatient people stand,
And with loud Crys to see their Queen demand,
Accusing those as Authors of their Wrong,
Who such a Blessing do Retard so long.
Cæsar.
Madam, let's go, and with the same success
Begin your Empire and their Happiness,
And now I hope amidst their Loud applause,
Your Sighs will cease Drown'd with that welcome Noise;
And let no Image in your Fancy rest,
Of other Wounds than what are in my Breast;
Mean while a Noble strife I see will Reign,
'Twixt your glad Court and my Ambitious train;
Contending who shall there appear most Gay,
And Glory most in this Triumphant Day,
Such just occasion for them both are found,
Pompey Reveng'd, and Cleopatra Crown'd;
These to your Throne, those to his Altars bow,
And I to both Eternal Honours Vow.
| Pompey the Great | |