Cleo. Oh, tell me so again! And take ten thousand kisses for that wordMy lord! my lord! speak, if you yet have being! Sign to me if you cannot speak! or cast Char. Remember, madam, He charged you not to grieve. I have not loved a Roman not to know And, oh! 'tis better far to have him thus, Enter CHARMION and IRAS, with the aspicks, &c. Char. To what end What should become his wife-his wife, my These ensigns of your pomp and royalty? Charmion! For 'tis to that high title I aspire; And now I'll not die less. Let dull Octavia Iras. Will you then die? Cleo. Why shouldst thou make that question? Fly both, and bring the cure of all our ills. Iras. Casar is merciful. - Cleo. Let him be so To those, that want his mercy: My poor lord Char. Whatever you resolve, I'll follow, even to death. Iras. I only feared For you, but more should fear to live without you. Cleo. Why, now, 'tis as it should be. Quick, my friends, ! Dispatch! ere this the town's in Cæsar's hands: My lord looks down concerned, and fears my stay, Lest I should be surprised: Keep him not waiting for his love too long. To rush into the dark abode of death We are now alone, in secrecy and silence, These pale cold lips-Octavia does not see me; Cleo. Dull, that thou art! why, 'tis to meet my love, As when I saw him first on Cydno's bank, Char. 'Tis done. Cleo. Now set me by my lord; I claim this place, For I must conquer Caesar, too, like him, And win my share of the world. Hail, you dear relicks Of my immortal love ! Oh, let no impious hand remove you hence, His death that peace, which it denied his life! Iras. Underneath the fruit the aspick lies. [Putting aside the leaves. [Within. Ser. The queen, where is she? The town is yielded, Cæsar's at the gates. Cleo. He comes too late to invade the rights of death. Cleo. Already, death, I feel thee in my veins; I go with such a will to find my lord, A heavy numbness creeps through every limb, And lay me on his breast!-Cæsar, thy worst! Enter SERAPION, two Priests, ALEXAS, bound, and Egyptians. Of her great race. I follow her. [Sinks down. Dies. She has done well: much better thus to die, Ser. See how the lovers lie in state together, And went to charm him in another world. 2 Priest. Behold, Serapion, what havoc death While all the storms of fate fly o'er your tomb: has made! Ser. "Twas what I feared. Charmion, is this well done? And fame to late posterity shall tell, No lovers lived so great, or died so well. [Exeunt omnes. CHAMONT, a young soldier of fortune, brother to MONIMIA, the Orphan, left under the guardian Monimia. ERNESTO. PAULING. ship of old Acasto. SERINA, Acasto's daughter. FLORELLA, Monimia's woman, Enter PAULINO and ERNESTO. Paul. Tis strange, Ernesto, this severity Should still reign powerful in Acasto's mind, To hate the court, where he was bred and lived, All honours heaped on him, that power could give. Ern. 'Tis true, he hither came a private gentleman, But young and brave, and of a family VOL. I. Paul. It was his virtue at first made me serve him; He is the best of masters and of friends: Ern. Has he not reason? When, for what he had borne, Long, hard, and painful toil, he might have claimed Paul. Yet still he holds just value for the king, Nor ever names him but with highest reverence. 'Tis noble that. Y Ern. Oh! I have heard him wanton in his praise, Speak things of him might charm the ears of en vy. Paul. Oh, may he live, till Nature's self grows old, And from her womb no more can bless the earth! Ern. No; he has two sons, that were ordained to be As well his virtues' as his fortune's heirs. Paul. They're both of nature mild, and full of sweetness; They came twins from the womb, and still they live, As if they would go twins, too, to the grave: Ern. Never was parent in an offspring hap- He has a daughter too, whose blooming age Paul. And as there is a friendship 'twixt the So has her infant nature chosen too A faithful partner of her thoughts and wishes, Paul. The same, the daughter of the brave He was our lord's companion in the wars; Where such a wondrous friendship grew between them, As only death could end. Chamont's estate To seek a fortune, or a noble fate; "Tis daily their petition to their father, Enter CASTALIO, POLYDORE, and Page. | Has been to-day much better for the danger; Cast. Ay, then, my brother, my friend, Polydore, Like Perseus mounted on his winged steed, Came on, and down the dangerous precipice leap'd, To save Castalio. 'Twas a godlike act! - Pol. But, when I came, I found you conqueror. Oh, my heart danced to see your danger past! The heat and fury of the chase was cold, And I had nothing in my mind but joy. Cast. So, Polydore, methinks, we might in war Rush on together; thou shouldst be my guard, And I be thine; what is it could hurt us then? Now half the youth of Europe are in arms, How fulsome must it be to stay behind, And die of rank diseases here at home? Pol. No! let me purchase in my youth re nown, To make me loved and valued, when I am old; Has taken himself a surfeit of the world, Pol. Castalio, I have doubts within my heart, Which you, and only you, can satisfy. Will you be free and candid to your friend? Cast. Have I a thought my Polydore should not know ? What can this mean? Pol. Nay, I'll conjure you too, By all the strictest bonds of faithful friendship, Pol. And should I chance to touch it nearly, bear it With all the sufferance of a tender friend. Cast. As calmly as the wounded patient bears The artist's hand, that ministers his cure. Pol. That's kindly said. You know our fa ther's ward, The fair Monimia. Is your heart at peace? Pol. Suppose you should not, brother? Pol. That would sound too roughly Twixt friends and brothers, as we two are. Pol. In one of us it may be. What if I love her? Cast. Then I must inform you I loved her first, and cannot quit the claim, But will preserve the birth-right of my passion. Pol. You will? Cast. I will. Pol. No more, I've done. Cast. Why not? Pol. I told you I had done : But you, Castalio, would dispute it. Not with my Polydore; though I must own Pol. Yet you will break this friendship. Pol. But for a toy you would, a woman's toy; Unjust Castalio! Cast. Prithee, where's my fault? Pol. You love Monimia. Whose chance it prove; but let's not quarrel for it. Pol. You would not wed Monimia, would you? No; were she all desire could wish, as fair She should not cheat me of my freedom. Marry! And take a wife to mortify withal. Pol. It is an elder brother's duty so To propagate his family and name: You would not have yours die and buried with you? Cast. Mere vanity, and silly dotage all. No, let me live at large, and when I die Pol. Who shall possess the estate you leave? If he survives me; if not, my king, Who may bestow it again on some brave man, Cast. By yon heaven, I love My Polydore beyond all worldly joys; Mon. So soon returned from hunting? This fair day Seems as if sent to invite the world abroad. Mon. Sure some ill fate's upon me. |