Pompey a tragœdy, acted with great applause.
Corneille, Pierre, 1606-1684., Philips, Katherine, 1631-1664.
Page 1
POMPEY: ACT. 1. SCENE 1.
Ptolomey, Achillas, Photinus, Septimius.
Ptol.
FAte hath declar'd her self, and we may see
Th' Intrigue of th' great Rivals Destiny:
That quarrel which did all the Gods divide,
Pharsalia hath the Honour to decide.
Whose Rivers swelling with new bloody Tides
(Sent thither from so many Parricides)
The Horrour of torn Ensigns, Chariots, Shields,
Spread in Confusion o're th'infected Fields;
Those Slaughter'd heaps whose shades no rest obtain'd
By Nature to their own revenge constrain'd,
(Their Putrefactions seeming to Revive
The War with those that do remain alive,)
Are Dreadful rules by which the Sword thinks fit,
Pompey to cast, and Caesar to acquit.
That distress'd Leader of the Juster Side,
Whose wearied Fortune hath all Help deny'd,
A terrible Example will create
To future Times, of the Extreams of Fate:
He flies, whose happy Courage had, till now,
Confin'd the Bay to his Victorious Brow:
He in our Ports chooses his last Retreat;
And wanting Refuge from a Foe so Great,
His bold Misfortune seeks it in Abodes,
Which from the Titans once preserv'd the Gods;
Page 2And from so fam'd a Climate, doth expect
That it should Earth as well as Heav'n protect;
And lending his Despair a kinde Effort,
It should the staggering Universe support:
Yes, the World's Fortune Pompey with him brings,
And hopes a Land whose Fame such Wonder sings,
A Prop or Tomb might to her Freedom give,
And Pompey's Fall Attend, if not Releive.
This, Friends, the Subject is of our debate;
Our Triumphs he, or Ruine will create:
He hazards me, who did my Father save,
And does expose that Memphis which he gave:
We must now hasten or prevent his fate,
His Ruine hinder or precipitate:
That is unsafe, and this Ignoble is;
I dread injustice, or unhappiness;
And angry fortune each way offers me
Either much danger, or much infamy.
It is my part to choose, yours to advise
What you believe to be most safe and wise:
Pompey's Concern'd; nay, we the fame shall get,
Caesar's success to trouble, or compleat;
And never Monarchs Fortune did afford
So great a Subject for a Councel Board.
Photin.
When things, Sir, are determin'd by the sword,
Justice is nothing but an empty word:
And he who then Affairs would rightly weigh
Must not his Reasons, but his power o•ey:
View your own Strength, let Pompey be survey'd,
Whose Fortune Droop's, and Valour is betray'd;
Who not from Caesar only takes his flight,
But from the Senates just Reproach and •ight,
(Whose greater part, were cheaply left a Prey
To the Keen Vultures of Pharsalia)
He flies lost Rome, and every Roman now,
Who must to his defeat their Fetters owe.
Page 3He flies those Kings who would chastise his Guilt,
Of all the blood that in his cause was spilt.
Their Kingdoms now of Men and Money void,
Their broken Scepters and their Thrones destroy'd,
As Author of all Woes, abho•'d by all,
He flies the whole World, sha•ter'd by his Fall.
Can you alone resist so many Foes?
His safety he did in himself Repose:
He falls, and You may yield without a Blush
To such a weight as Rome her self does Crush;
A weight which hath the Universe prest down,
And the yet greater Pompey overthrown.
He that will save whom Heaven would have wrack't,
By too much Justice may a Guilt Contract.
And a fidelity so indiscreet
May a short Fame, but long Repentance meet:
He but a more Illustrious wound will have
Which will not smart the less for being brave:
Do not for Egypt Thunderbolts provide,
But choose with Fortune, and the Gods to side.
Believe not they can an Injustice do.
But where they favour, pay you homage too.
Whatever they decree for them declare,
And think it Impious where they frown to spare,
With Divine Anger Pompey now beset
Comes to involve you too, in his Defeat.
His Head for which both Gods and Men do call
Already shakes, and seeks but where to fall:
His coming hither an Offence does seem
And shew•s his Hatred rather then esteem.
He would his safety with Your Ruine buy,
And can you Doubt, if he deserve to dye?
Had he fulfil'd what we both wisht and thought,
And a Victorious Navy hither brought,
We then should him a Joyful welcom shew,
Who must the Gods blame for his usage now.
Page 4I of his Fortune, not of him Complain,
But with Regret Act what the Gods Ordain,
And the same Ponyard, once for Caesar meant
Sha•l with a sigh to Pompey's Heart be sent.
Nor can you at a less rate then his Head
Secure Your Own, and shun the storm You Dread,
Let this be thought a Crime, if so it must,
'Tis not a States-man's Virtue to be Just.
When Right and Wrong are in the Ballance lay'd,
The Interest of Kingdoms is betray'd,
Extreamest Rigour is the Right of Kings,
When Timorous Equity their Ruine brings,
Who fears a Crime shall ever be affraid,
But hee'l rule all who all things dares invade,
Who Dangerous Virtue, as Disgrace, does shun,
And to an Useful Crime as swiftly run.
This is my Thought, Sir, but Achillas may,
Or else Septimius, choose some other way.
But this I know, whatever others like,
They fear no Conquerour who the Conquer'd strike.
Achil.
Photin says true, Sir, but though Pompey we
Divested of his former Grandeur see,
Yet that Blood Pretious does to me appear
Which the Gods did in Thessaly revere,
Not that a Crime of State should be refrain'd,
But 'tis not lawful, till it be constrain'd:
And what need is there of such Rigour here?
Who quits the Conquer'd needs no Conquerour fear.
You may be Neu•er, as You were before:
And Caesar may, if him you must adore;
But though you treat him as a Power Divine,
This is too great an Offring for his Shrine.
To Mars himself should this Head offer'd be,
'T would fix on Yours too• black an Infamy:
Let him not be Assisted nor Destroy'd,
And such a Conduct will all blame avoid.
Page 5You owe him much, Sir, for Rom•, mov'd by him,
Help'd our last King his Scepter to redeem,
But Gratitude and Hospitality,
In Monarchs Brests must regulated be,
Nor can a King Contract so great a Debr,
But that his Subjects claim a greater yet.
And all Engagements are to Princes void,
To Cancel which, their Blood must be Imploy'd:
Consider too, what Pompey did expose,
When he your Father help'd against his Foes:
By that he made his Power the greater seem,
And rais'd his own Fame, by restoring him:
He did in serving him but language spend;
but Caesar's Purse appear'd the better Friend,
Had we not Caesars thousand Talents seen,
Pompey's Orations had small succours been.
Let him not then his Verbal merits boast,
For Caesar's Actions have Oblig'd You most.
But if a benefit to Him be due,
Speak now for Him, as he did once for You:
His kindness safely thus requite you may;
But here receiv'd, He will your Scepter sway:
This Conquer'd Roman yet a King will brave,
And in your own Dominions you enslave.
Refuse him Welcome then, but spare his Head;
But is't must fall, this arm shall strike him dead:
I can obey (Sir) and should Jealous grow,
If any Hand but mine should strike the blow.
Septim.
Sir, I'm a Roman, and these Hero's know
Pompey needs aid, and from you seeks it now;
You are his fate, may his lost hopes revive,
Banish, or Kill, or give him up alive:
The first would cost you much too dear a Rate,
I'le only then the other three debate.
His exile draws on You enraged Pow'r,
And does but half oblige the Conquerour;
Page 6Since to a long suspence you will him leave,
What fate his future battles shall receive;
And both on you Revenge, when weary grown
The Ills which, but for You, they had not known•
To render him to Caesar were the same,
Who must forgive him, to Augment his Fame:
He will a brav'ry on himself impose,
And swell in that false mercy he bestowes;
Glad if that way he Pompey can o'recome,
And in the same Act please subjected Rome:
But whilst you him to this necessitate,
You'l purchase his, as well as Pompey's hate:
His danger and dishonour then prevent,
B•th make him great, and keep him Innoc•nt;
Whilst Pompey's Faction, you in him, destroy,
Let Caesar, at your cost, the Fruit enjoy:
By this •dvice, which you'•, I hope, allow,
You'l gain a Friend, and need not fear a Foe;
But if Achillas unsafe course you choose,
You neither gain, but both their Friendships •ose.
Ptol.
Let us no more debate what's Just and fit,
But to the Worlds vicissitude submit.
Your Major votes do with my Thoughts agree
Who in so great a change would active be,
Rome hath too long made an Injurious Claim
That all men should adore the Roman Name:
Her lofty Freedom let us now throw down,
And a I Her scorn in Pompey's Blood lets drown.
Cutting the Root by which that Pride does live,
To the Worlds Tyrants le••s a Tyrant give;
Now fate would chain an Arrogance so fierce,
Let's help h•r to revenge the Universe.
Rome, thou shalt serve, and Kings which always ye•
Th' hast da•'d with so much Insolence to treat,
Will Caesar now, with less Regrer, obey
Since thou shalt be enslav'd as well as they:
But make us Deathless by this glorious Crime,
Of Heavens Resentment I'le the hazard run,
Who sent him hither sure to be undone.
Achil.
A Kings Command must no dispute endure.
Ptol.
Go then, the Scepter which I bear, secure;
For you by this Commission are become
The Destinies of Egypt and of Rome.
SCENE 2.
Ptolomy, Photinus.
Ptol.
I am mistaken, Photin, or by this
My Sister will her expectation miss,
Pompey my Fathers Will having secur'd,
Her Coronation she believes assur'd.
And she her self the Mistress does esteem
Of that divided Scepter left by him.
Their Antient Friendship she depends upon,
And inwardly already shares my Throne.
Whence her Ambition is become so vain,
That from its Ashes it revives again.
Photin.
Sir, 'Twas a motive I did not debate,
And yet which ought to hasten Pompey's Fate.
He your Pretentions doubtless will decide,
And by your Fathers Will your Claims Divide.
To which great Trust of Friendship being true,
You know how much he disobliges you.
Nor that by this Discourse I would remove
The Sacred Cement of a Brothers Love,
I banish her not from your Heart, bu• Throne,
For he Reigns not that does not Reign alone.
Divided Empire all wise Kings avoid,
For Pow'r Communicated is Destroy'd;
And Policy. — But, Sir, she does appear.
Page 8
SCENE 3.
Ptolomy, Cleopatra, Photinus.
Cleop.
Pompey is come (Sir) and can you be here?
Ptol.
T•at mighty Warriour I at home attend,
And him Achillas and Septimius send.
Cleop.
What? such Embassadours as those to him?
Ptol.
You may go too, if they too little seem.
Cleop.
Is your own meeting him too great a thing?
Ptol.
I must remember, that I am a King.
Cleop.
C•n you r•flect on that, and yet be slow
To kiss the hand of him that made you so?
And pay your homage to a Man so great?
Ptol.
Did he that Title in Pharsalia get?
Cleop.
Though none did his misfortunes help afford,
Hee's still that Pompey who your Crown restor'd.
Ptol.
Rather his shade, and but my Father Crown'd,
By whose Ghost, not by me, it should be own'd.
Let him attend his Dust, and be content
To receive Thanks from his cold Monument.
Cleop.
Hath such a Benefit such usage met?
Ptol.
I both remember it and his Defeat.
Cleop.
You do indeed but with a scornful Pride.
Ptol.
Time is the Standard by which things are Try'd:
You, that so prize him may his greatness Court,
But know, He yet may perish in the Port.
Cleop.
What, may his Shipwrack in the Port arrive?
And have you dar'd his Ruine to contrive.
Ptol.
I have done only what the Gods inspir'd,
And what the safety of my State requir'd.
Cleop.
• know but too much, Photin, and his Crew
Have with their wicked Counsels poyson'd you:
Souls that are but of Natures Rubbish fram'd.
Photin.
The Counsel, Madam, will not be disclaim'd.
Ptol.
You must a little with her scorn dispense,
I know her hatred, and your innocence;
But she's my Sister, give her humour vent.
Cleop.
Sir, If too late it be not to repent,
Shake off at length a Yoke that is so vile,
And call your Virtue back from her exile:
That magnanimity so great, and good,
Which is convey'd to Princes, with thei• Blood.
Ptol.
Swell'd with a hope, in vain by you foreseen,
You speak to me of Pompey, like a Queen:
Through your false zeal fl•shes of Pride escape;
And Interest does act in Virtues shape:
Confess it then, you had been silent still,
Were it not for the King our Fathers Will;
You know who kept it?
Cleop.
And you shall Know too,
Virtue alone prompts me to what I do.
For if I did my own advantage seek,
I should for Caesar, not for Pompey speak:
Receive a secret I conceal'd before,
And after that never reproach me more.
When none that bold Rebellion could withstand,
Which rob'd our Father of his Crown and Land,
The injur'd King forsook his Native shoar,
And Romes great Senate did for Aid Implore.
With him we went, their pity to engage,
You very Young; but I was in an Age,
When Nature had supply'd my Eyes with Darts,
Already Active in subduing hearts.
Caesar receiv'd, or else pretended love,
And by his Actions would his Passion prove.
But since the Senat•s Pique to him he knew,
He their lov'd Pompey to our par•y drew:
Whose high concern for us, on Caesar's score,
Page 10Was the last fruit their Friendship ever bore.
Of this you do inherit the event.
But such a Lover not with it content,
When by th'assistance of so great a Man,
In our behalf the Roman suffrage ran,
Resolving further Kindness to impart,
He gave his Treasure to attend his Heart:
And from the Bounty of his growing flame,
These sinews both of War and Power came:
Those Thousand Talents which we owe him yet,
For•'d our revolted Egypt to submit.
On this the King reflecting, when he dy'd
Betwixt us did his Dignity divide•
And by his Sovereign Right on me bestow'd
A part of what he to my Beauty ow'd:
Whilst you, who this great reason never knew,
Thought that his Favour, which was but my due;
And Your dread Father partial dar'd to call,
Who gave me half, when yet he ow'd me all.
Ptolomy.
This Story, you with Art enough contrive.
Cleopatra.
I am assur'd, Caesar will soon arrive.
And a few hours will such a change effect
As your Dark Policy did least expect.
And shew you why I spoke so like a Queen,
Who the loath'd O•ject of your scorn have been.
You in the Throne usurp'd my equal seat,
And as a Slave you did your Sister Treat;
Till I was forc'd, to shun a ruder Fate,
To stoop and Court your Ministers of State.
Whose steel or poyson I still fea•'d: but Know,
Pompey or Caesar will secure me now;
And whatsoe're your Sycophants Ordain,
I now am sure my Scepter to obtain:
Till when my Pride shall leave you, to divine
In thi• Contest, what could be my design.
Page 11
Ptolomy, Photin.
Ptolomy.
What think you, Photin, of this lofty Mind?
Photin.
My spirit, Sir, to wonder is resign'd,
And nothing but amazement can express;
At such a secret as I nere could guess,
My thoughts are so unquiet and confu'sd,
I scarce know what expedient should be us'd.
Ptol.
Shall we save Pompey?
Photin.
Had you that decreed,
Yet it were now convenient he should bleed.
Your Sister hates you, she is fair and fierce,
And if she such Victorious Charmes disperse;
The head of Pompey only can suffice
To win the heart of Caesar from her Eyes.
Ptol.
This dangerous woman hath a busie wit.
Photin.
But such a service will out-ballance it.
Ptol.
But what if Caesar still her Pow'r Obey?
Photin.
Then flatter her, yet mind not what I say,
Till first you ask, in an affair so Nice,
Achillas and Septimius best advice.
Ptol.
Lets from the Tow'r see them act Pompey's doom,
And this Debate at their return, resume.
After the first Act of Pompey, The King and Photin should be discovered, sitting and hearkning to this Song.
SInce Affairs of the State are already decreed,
Make room for Affairs of the Court,
Employment and Pleasure each other succeed,
Because they each other support.
Were Princes confin'd
From slackening their Mind,
When by Care it is rufled and Curl'd.
Page 12A Crown would appear
Too heavy to wear
And no man would govern the World.
If the Gods themselves who have power enough,
In the diversions are various, and oft
Since the business of Kings is angry and rough,
Their Intervals ought to be soft.
Were Princes confin'd, &c.
To our Monarch we owe whatsoer'e we enjoy:
And no grateful Subjects were those,
Who would not the safety, he gives them, employ
To contribute to his repose.
Were Princes confin'd, &c.
After which an Antick dance of Gypsies should be presented.
