OCR Text |
Show (IO) Through your falfe zeal, flaflies of Pride efcape; And Intereft does aft in Virtues fhape : Confefs it then, you had been filent ftil! Were it not for the King our Fathers Will} You know who keep's it 5 CLEOPATRA. And you fhall know too, Virtue alone prompts m e to what I do. For if I did m y o w n advantage feek, I fhould for cJfar, nqt for Pompey fpeak : Receive a fecret I conceal'd before, And after that, never reproach m e more. W h e n none that bold Rebellion could withftand, Which rob/d our Father of his Crown and L and; The injur'd King forfook his Native fliore, And Romes great Senate did for Aid Implore. With him w e went, their pity to engage, You very Young*, but I was in an Age, W h e n Nature had fupply'd m y Eyes with Darts, Already Active in fubduing hearts. Cdfar receivd, or elfe pretended love, And by his Actions, would his Paffion prove. But fince the Senate s Pique to him he knew, He their lov'd Pompey, to our party drew, Whofe high concern for us, on Cafars fcore, W a s the laft fruit their Friendihip ever bore. O f this you do inherit the event, But fuch a Lover not with it content, W h e n by th' afliftaricc of fo great a M a n, In our behalf the Roman fuffrage ran, Refolving further Kindnefs to impart, He gave'his Trcafure to attend his Heart: And from the bounty of his growing flame, Thofe fmews both of W a r and Power came : Thofe thoufand Talents which w e owe him yet, Forcd our revolted Egypt to fubmit. O n this the King reflecting, when he dyd, Betwixt us did his Dignity divide 5 And And by his Sovereign Right, on m e beftow'd A part of what he to m y Beauty ow'd : Whilft you, who this great reafon never knew, Thought that his Favour, which was but m y due * A. d Your dread Fattier partial dar'd to call W h o gave m e half, when yet he ow'd m e all. PTOLOMY. this Story, you with Art enough contrive. CLEOPATRA. I am afford, Ctfar will foon arrive. And a few hours will fuch a change erTeft As your Dark Policy did leaft expect. ' And fhew you why I fpoke fo like a Queen, W h o the loath d Object of your fcorn have been, You m the Throne, ufurp'd m y equal feat, And as a Slave you did your Sifter Treat ; Till I was forc*d to fhun a ruder Fate l^°r°l ai!d C o u r t y°m l i t e r s of State. Whofe fteel or poyfon, I ftill fear'd ! but Know, Pompey or Ctfar will fecure m e n o w; And whatfoe're your Sycophants Ordain, I now am fure m y Scepter to obtain i Till when m y Pride fhall leave you, to divine In this Conteft, what could be m y defign. Ptolomy, Photin, PTOLOMY. What think you' Photin, of this lofty Mind ? PHOTIN. M y fpirit, Sir, to wonder is refign'd, And nothing but amazement can exprefs; At fuch a fecret as I ne're could guefs, M y thoughts are fo unquiet and confuVd, I fcarce know what expedient fhould be u s U PTOLOMY. Shall W e fave Pompey ? F f PHft |