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Show (42) His Clemency (not only falfe but Vain) Which courts Cornelia, that he Rome may gain, Will to his Perfon, give them fuch accefs, As may affureour Plot of a fuccefs. But Cleopatra comes ; to her appear Only pofiHsd with weaknefs, and with fear; Let us withdraw, Sir, for you know that we Are Obje&s (he will much abhorr to fee. P T O L O M Y . Go wait me.-- t SCEN. II. Ptolomy, Cleopatra. CLEOPATRA. Bother, I have Cxfar feen, And have to him your interceffor been. PTOLOMY. I never could expect an aft lefs kind From you who bear fo generous a Mind. But your great Lover quickly from you went. CLEOPATRA. 'Twas to the T o w n , t' appeafe fome difcontent, Which he was told had newly raifed been Betwixt the Soldier and the Citizen : Whilft I, with joyful hafte, come to allure You, that your Life and Kingdom were fecure j Th' illuftrious Cdefar on the courfe you took, Does with lefs anger than companion look, He pities you, w h o fuch vile States-men heard, As make their Kings not to be lov'd, but fear'd ; Whofe Souls the bafenefs of their birth confefs, And who in vain great Dignities poffefs: For Slavifh Spirits cannot guide the Helm, Thofe too much Power would quickly overwhelm. That (49) That Ufrk^ote Crimes alone do purchafe Fear, Will foon Ice fill a .Weight it cannot bear. PTOLOMY. Thofe Truths, and m y ill Fate do m e perfwadd H o w bad a choice: of Counfelloursl made i For had I a&cd Honourable things, Iha4'as:Giilrioi!s been, as other Kings; And better merited the Love you/bear ' A Brother, fo unworthy of your Care; Cafar and Pompey had been here agreed' And the Worlds Peace 'iA Egypt been decreed ; W h o her o w n Prince a friend to both had feen J Nay,. ii<r perhaps, an Arbiter had been. But fince to call this back is paft our Art Let m e difcharge to you m y troubled heart; You that for all the Wrongs tftat I have done, Could yet-pre(erveme both m y Life and Crown; Be truely great and vanqnifh all your Hate By changing Photin s and Achillas Fate. ' For their offiirding you, their Death h due, But that my:Glory fuffers in it too ; ' If for their Kings Crimes they mould puninYd be, 1 ne Infamy would wholly light on 'me; Cafdr, through, them wounds m e , theirs is m y Pain ' tor m y fake, therefore, your Juft tf £te conftrain t Xour heart is Noble, and what pleafure then ' Is th' abjccl Blood of two unhappy M e n > Let m e owe all to you, who O^far charm, And, with a Look, his Anger can difarm. CLEOPATRA. Were but their Life and Death in m e to give, M y fcorn is great enough to let them live : But I with Ctfar little can prevail, When Pompey s Blood lyes in the other fcale ; I boaft no Power to difpofe his will, For I have fpoke, and he hath fhun'd it ftill, And turning quickly to fome new Affair, He neither docs refufe, nor grant m y Prayer: K k Yec |