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Show <30 But nothing done for you defcrves that N a m e i I ftam d m y Hands, your Danger to remove, Which A<ft you may enjoy, and difapprove 5 Nay by m y Guilt, m y Merit higher grows; Since I my Glory gave for your Repofe, And by that greateft Viftim have procur d Your Glory and your Power to be aflurU CAESAR. You employ, Ptolomy, fuch Crafty Words, And weak Excufes as'your Caufe affords 5 Your Zeal was falfe, if'twere afraid to lee What all Mankind beg d of the Gods mould be : And did to you fuch Subtleties convey, As ftole the fruit of all m y Wars away ; Where Honour m e cngag'd, and where the end W a s of a Foe fubdu'd, to make a Friend ; Where the worft Enemies that I have met, W h e n they are conquer'd I as Brothers treat: And m y Ambition only this Defign'd, T o Kill their Hate, and force them to be kind. H o w bleft a Period of the War't had been, If the glad World had in one Chariot feen Pompey and Cdefar at once to have fate Triumphant over all their former Hate ! Thefe were the Dangers you fear d mould befal; O fear Ridiculous, and Criminal! You fear'd m y Mercy, but that trouble quit, And wifh it rather ; you have need of it. For I am fure ftricl: Juftice would confent I fhould appeafe Rome with your punifhment. Not your refpe&s, nor your Repentance now, N o nor your Rank, preferves you from that Blow: Evn on your Throne I would revenge your Guilt* But Cleopatras Blood muft not be fpilt: Wherefore your Flatterers only I condemn h And muft expecl you 1 do m e Right on them : For what in this I (hall obferve you do, Muft be the Rule of m y Efteem for you : To • To the great Pompey Altars n o w erecl. And to him pay, as to the gods, R d W fc By Sacrifices your Offence expel) But have a Care you chufe your' Victims Welf C o then, and whilft you J f e thi p " e I muft ftay here about another Care. SCEN. III. C*far, Antonius, Lepidus. C IE S A R Antonius, have you this bright Princefs feen ? A N T O N I US w-'i^' Ikve' M d fte's a matcJdefs Queen i With fuch proportion Heaven never y e f ' All Beauties both of Mind and Body knit; The Nobleft Courage muft to it refign Her Looks and Language with fuch eafe fubdue, If I were Ufar, I fhould love her too. ' C y£ s A R How was the Offer of my Love receivVj ? A J , , ANTONIUS. As doubted, and yet inwardly believ'd • She modeftly declin'd her higheft aims, And thmks lhe merits, what fhe moft difclaims. CAESAR. But can I hope her love > ANTONIUS. A , Can fhe have yours ? As that your Joys, fo this her Crown fecures. ^o gam that Heatt can you believe it hard, Whofe kindnefs you with Empire can reward > ihen let your Paffion ail its Doubts disband, £or what can Pompe/s Conquerour withftand ? Cut yet her Fear to her remembrance brings, How |
