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 sare him first, on Cydnos' bank, All sparkling, like a goddess; so adorn'd, Char. 'Tis done. Cleo. Now seat me by my lord. I claim this place; For I must conquer Cæsar too, like him, And win my share of the world.-Hail, you dear relicks Of my immortal love! O 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. Serap. The queen, where is she? The town is yielded, Cæsar's at the gates. [Within. Cleo. He comes too late to invade the rights of death. Haste, bare my arm, and rouse the serpent's fury. [Holds out her arm, and draws it back. Coward flesh, Would'st thou conspire with Cæsar to betray me, As thou wert none of mine? I'll force thee to it, And not be sent by him, But bring myself, my soul, to Antony. [Turns aside, and then shews her arm bloody. Take hence; the work is done. Serap. Break ope the door, And guard the traitor well. Iras. Now, Charmion, to be worthy Of our great queen and mistress. I [Within. [They apply the aspicks. Cleo. Already, death, I feel thee in my veins : go with such a will to find my lord, That we shall quickly meet. A heavy numbness creeps through every limb, And now 'tis at my head: My eye-lids fall, And my dear love is vanish'd in a mist. Where shall I find him, where? O turn me to him, And lay me on his breast!-Cæsar, thy worst; Now part us, if thou canst. [Dies. [IRAS sinks down at her feet, and dies; CHARMION stands behind her chair, as dressing her head. Enter SERAPION, two Priests, ALEXAS bound, Egyptians. Priest. Behold, Serapion, what havock death has made! Serap. "Twas what I fear'd.— Charmion, is this well done? Char. Yes, 'tis well done, and like a queen, the last Of her great race: I follow her. [Sinks down; dies. Alex. "Tis true, She has done well: Much better thus to die, Than live to make a holiday in Rome. Serap. See, how the lovers sit in state together, As they were giving laws to half mankind! The impression of a smile, left in her face, Shews she died pleased with him for whom she lived, And went to charm him in another world. To grace the imperial triumph.-Sleep, blest pair, No lovers lived so great, or died so well. [Exeunt. EPILOGUE. POETS, like disputants, when reasons fail, We wonder how the devil this difference grows, The last age is not copied in his play; Heaven help the man who for that face must drudge, Let not the young and beauteous join with those; END OF THE FIFTH VOLUME. EDINBURGH: |