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, I have not loved a Roman not to know What should become his wife-his wife, my For 'tis to that high title I aspire; Let dull Octavia Survive, to mourn him dead: my noble fate Iras. Will you then die? Cleo. Why shouldst thou make that question? Fly both, and bring the cure of all our ills. Iras. Cæsar 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. Quick, Cleo. Why, now 'tis as it should be. 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. With them the wreath of victory I made [Ex. Char. and Iras. 'Tis sweet to die, when they would force life on me, 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; 1 And, oh! 'tis better far to have him thus, Than see him in her arms!-O welcome, welcome! Enter CHARMION and IRAs, with the aspicks, &c. Char. What must be done? Cleo. Short ceremony, friends; But yet it must be decent. First, this laurel Shall crown my hero's head: he fell not basely, Nor left his shield behind him. Only thou Couldst triumph o'er thyself, and thou alone Wert worthy so to triumph. Char. To what end These ensigns of your pomp and royalty? Cleo. Dull, that thou art! why, 'tis to meet my love, As when I saw him first on Cydno's bank, Char. "Tis done. Oh, let no impious hand remove yoụ hence, Irus. 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 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! [Dies. [Iras sinks down at her feet and dies, Charmion stands behind her chair as dressing her head. Enter SERAPION, two Priests, ALEXAS, bound, and Egyptians. a Char. Yes, 'tis well done, and like a queen, 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, CASTALIO, POLYDORE, his sons. Servant. WOMEN. CHAMONT, 4 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. Scene--Bohemia. SCENE I. ACT I. 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 gen- But young and brave, and of a family Paul. It was his virtue at first made me serve He is the best of masters and of friends: Ern, Has he not reason? When, for what he 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 happier; He has a daughter too, whose blooming age 1 Paul. And as there is a friendship 'twixt the brethren, So has her infant nature chosen too A faithful partner of her thoughts and wishes, And kind companion of her harmless pleasures. Ern. You mean the beauteous orphan, fair Monimia, Paul. The same, the daughter of the brave Chamont; 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 á fortune, or a noble fate; 'Tis daily their petition to their father, To send them forth where glory's to be gotten: They cry, they're weary of their lazy home, Restless to do something, that fame may talk of. To-day they chased the boar, and near this time Should be returned, Paul. Oh, that's a royal sport! We yet may see the old man in a morning, Lusty as health, come ruddy to the field, And there pursue the chase, as if he meant To o'ertake time, and bring back youth again. Exeunt. SCENE II.-A Garden. Enter CASTALIO, POLYDORE, and Page. Has been to-day much better for the danger; Cast. Ay, then, my brother, my friend, Poly- 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, 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. 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. Pol. It is an elder brother's duty so To propagate his family and name: 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; Cast. No matter whose. Pol. Were you not with her privately last night? Cast. I was, and should have met her here But the opportunity shall now be thine; But wrong not mine. Pol. Heaven blast me, if I do. Cast. If it prove thy fortune, Polydore, to conquer, (For thou hast all the arts of soft persuasion) Trust me, and let me know thy love's success, That I may ever after stifle mine. Pol. Though she be dearer to my soul than rest To weary pilgrims, or to misers gold, For if ye, powers, have happiness in store, When ye would shower down joys on Polydore, In one great blessing all your bounty send, That I may never lose so dear a friend. [Exeunt Castalio and Polydore. Enter MONIMIA. 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. You would not have yours die and buried with I fear its harm, and fain would have it back. you?. Cast. Mere vanity, and silly dotage all. No, let me live at large, and when I die |