OCR Text |
Show (28) I thought his open mouth and ghaftly look, Rccalfd the Soul which (carce her leave had took s And his laft anger feem'd, with dying breath, To charge the gods with his Defeat and Death. Cdefar feem'd Thunder-ftricken at this view, As not rcfolv'd what to believe or do. Immoveably on that fad Objeft ty'd, He long from us his inward thought did hide, And I would fay, if I durft make a guefs, By what our Nature ufes to exprefs: Some fuch malignant pleafure he enjoy'd, As his offended^ honour fcarce deftroyU That the whole World now in his power lies, Could not but bring fome flattering furprize. But though a while this confM he endur'd, Yet his great Soul it felf foon re-afliir'd. Though he loves Power, yet he Treafon hates, Himfelf he judges, on himfelf debates. Each joy and grief at Reafon's Bar appears, At length refolv'd he firft let fall fome Tears. His Virtues Empire he by force regains, And nobleft thoughts by that^ weak fign explains: The horrid prefent from his fight expelfd, His Eyes and Hands he up to Heaven held. In a few words their infolence reprefs'd, And after did in pcnfive filence reft. Nor even to his Romans could reply, But with a heavy figh and furious eye. At laft with thirty Cohorts come to Land, To feize the Gates and Ports he does command. The Guards he fet, and fecret Orders fent, Shew his diftruft as well as difcontent. Egypt he fpeaks of as a Province won, And now calls Pompey not a Foe, but Son. This I obferv'd. CHARMION. By which the Queen may find The juft Ofiris to her Vows inclin'd : Whilft C*9> Whilft with this happy News to her * fly Do you preferve her your Fidelity. KT> 1 T • A C H O R E U S. Neer doubt ,t; but here Cafar comes, go the* Defcnbe the Cdnfternation of our Men? And whatfoever proves to be their Fate. * I'll firft obferve, and then to her relate.* SCEN.II. Ccefar, Ptolomy, Lepidns, Photinns, Achorens, Romait and Egyptian Souldiers. PTOLOMY. Great Sir, afcend the Throne, and govern Us, C JE S A R. Do you know Ctfar, and fpeak to him thus > What worfe could envious Fortune offer me ? Who alike hate a Crown and Infamy. This to accept, would all my boaft confute, That Rome did me unjuftly perfecute : Rome who both fcorns, and gives Crowns every where* And nothing fees in Kings to love or fear -, Nay, at our Birth does all our Souls enflame, To flight the Rank, and to abhorr the Name* This truth you might have learn'd from Pompey, who If he fuch Offers lik'd, could fliun them too, Both Throne and King had honour'd been, t Service to him who had them both reftor'd : So glorious had been even ill fuccefs, In fuch a Caufe, that Triumphs had been lefs: And if your Fortune fafety had deny'd, To ha?e beftow'd it, had been Cdefar s pride : But though you would not own fo brave a ftrife, What right had you to that illuftrious Life ? Who that rich blood to wafh your hands allow'd, That to the meaneft Roman mould have bow'd ? afford H h Wx |