Pompey the Great a tragedy as it was acted by the servants of His Royal Highness the Duke of York / translated out of French by certain persons of honour.

About this Item

Title
Pompey the Great a tragedy as it was acted by the servants of His Royal Highness the Duke of York / translated out of French by certain persons of honour.
Author
Corneille, Pierre, 1606-1684.
Publication
London :: Printed for Henry Herringman ...,
1664.
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Subject terms
Pompey, -- the Great, 106-48 B.C. -- Drama.
Cite this Item
"Pompey the Great a tragedy as it was acted by the servants of His Royal Highness the Duke of York / translated out of French by certain persons of honour." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A34585.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 15, 2024.

Pages

Scene the Third.

Cornelia, Cleopatra, Philip, Charmion, Achoreus.
Cleop.
ALas, in's Looks I see Th' unlucky marks of some ill Angury; Speak good Achoreus, but without disguise, Banish my Fears, or else my Joy surprize.
Acho.
VVhen Caesar first the Horrid Treason knew—
Cleop.
Ah! 'tis not that which I expect from you; I know he Barricadoed up the Vault, Through which they hop't to have their Succours brought, There 'gainst Photinus all his Force he drew, VVho found the Recompence to Treason due.

Page 49

Achillas warn'd by his Companions fate, Escapes with ease at the abandon'd Gate, Him the King follows, whilst Antonius Lands, To joyn with Caesar all the Roman Bands; I doubt not but they've Fought, and by this time Achillas is Rewarded for his Crime.
Acho.
Madam, Success still waits on Caesar's Sword.
Cleop.
That's not the business, has he kept his Word? And is my Brother safe?
Acho.
All he could do He has perform'd.
Cleop.
That's all I wish to know. Madam, you see the Gods my Pray'rs have heard.
Cornel.
The Punishment deserv'd, is but Deferr'd.
Cleop.
That now he's Sav'd, declares Heav'n is appeas'd.
Acho.
At least he had been, if himself had pleas'd.
Cleop.
Thy doubtfull Words still hold me in suspence; Explane at last their ill Agreeing Sense.
Acho.
Neither your Vows, nor Caesars, and your Care, Were Arms enough against his High despair; Madam, he's Dead, yet all those Glories wait Upon him that can Crown a Princes fate, Nearer his fall his Virtue more revives, Changing his Own for many Roman Lives; To his brave Charge Antonius 'gan to yield, And our disordered Troops scarce kept the Field, When Caesar comes, whose presence never fails Of doubtfull Chance to turn the Tottering Scales; There at his Masters feet Achillas fell The Traitor ne're deserv'd to Dye so well. Ah! too weak Providence, which cannot free The Bed of Honour from Adultery, Caesar crys out aloud to save the King, Words which instead of Comfort Terrour bring; For he suspects that from Design they came, To keep him for a Scaffolds publique shame, His swelling Heart with this mistake abus'd, Seeks for that Death, which every where's refus'd:

Page 50

Our Ranks he peirces through and through, and shows What Valour can, when to Despair it grows; His Bravest men lay Breathless on the ground, And he himself was now Incompass'd round; Wearied at length, and out of Breath, he spies A Vessel near the Shore and thither flies, After their King the People press so fast, The Bark o'recharged perishes at last; Dying in Arms new Glory he receives, To you a Crown, to Caesar Conquest leaves, Who on the place Proclames you Aegyts Queen; Yet in his Face strange marks of Grief are seen, He mourns his Fall, though none of his did touch The Life wherein you are concern'd so much: But here he comes, who better can relate His Sense of that Unhappy Princes Fate.
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