Classic Poem

The Printer to the Reader I Hope you expect no Eloquence from a Printer, nor Regularity in a Preface, which hath nothing to say to you, but that Pompey being a Translation out of the French of Monsieur Corneille, the band that did it is responsible for nothing but the English, and the Songs between the Acts, which were added only to lengthen the Play, and make it fitter for the Stage, when those that could not be resisted were resolved to have it acted, and that no abuses of Transcribers (though they were numerous) could have prevail'd to send it to the Press, if the Person most concern'd had not fear'd to disobey an excellent Lady, who commanded this publication, more than the severity of the Censorious World .

The Persons of the Play

Julius Caesar.
Marcus Antonius.
Lepidus.
Ptolomy , King of Ægypt
Cleopatra , His Sister
Photinus , His Governour.
Achillas , His Lieutenant General.
Septimius , A Roman in the Ægyptian Kings Army.
Achoreus, Cleopatra 's Gentleman Usher.
Charmion, Cleopatra 's Maid of Honour
Cornelia, Pompey 's Widdow.
Philip, Pompey 's Freedman
Romans and Ægyptians

The Scene Ptolomey 's Pallace in Alexandria .

PROLOGUE,

For the Theatre at Dublin , written by the Earl of Roscomon ,

The mighty Rivals, whose destructive Rage
Did the whole World in Civil Armes engage:
Are now agreed, and make it both their Choice,
To have their Fates determin'd by your Voice.
Caesar from none but You, will hear his Doom ,
He hates th' obsequious Flatteries of Rome:
He scorns, where once he rul'd, now to be try'd,
And he hath rul'd in all the World beside
When he the Thames, the Danube, and the Nile
Had stain'd with Blood, Peace flourished in this Isle,
And you alone may Boast, you never saw
Caesar 'till now, and now can give him Law :
Great Pompey too, comes as a suppliant here ,
But sayes He cannot now begin to fear.
He knowes your equal Justice, and (to tell
A Roman Truth) He knowes himself too well.
Success, tis true, waited on Caesar's side ,
But Pompey thinks he conquer'd when he dy'd .
His Fortune when she prov'd the most unkind,
Chang'd his Condition, but not Cato's Mind .
Then of what Doubt can Pompey' s Cause admit ,
Since here so many Cato's Judging sit .
But you bright Nymphs, give Caesar leave to woo .
The greatest Wonder of the world but you
And hear a Muse, who has that Hero taught
To speak as gen'rously, as e're he fought
Whose Eloquence from such a Theme deters
All Tongues but English, and all pens but Hers
By the just Fates your Sex is doubly blest,
You Conquer'd Caesar, and you praise him best
And You (Illustrious Sir) receive as due,
A Present Destiny reserv'd for You
Rome, France and England joyn their Forces here ,
To make a Poem worthy of your Ear.
Accept it then, and on that Pompey's Brow
Who gave so many Crowns, bestow one now. I Hope you expect no Eloquence from a Printer, nor Regularity in a Preface, which hath nothing to say to you, but that Pompey being a Translation out of the French of Monsieur Corneille, the hand that did it is responsible for nothing but the English, and the Songs between the Acts, which were added only to lengthen the Play, and make it fitter for the Stage, when those that could not be resisted were resolved to have it acted; and that no abuses of Transcribers (though they were numerous) could have prevail'd to send it to the Press, if the Person most concern'd had not fear'd to disobey an excellent Lady, who commanded this publication, more than the severity of the Censorious World .

The Persons of the Play.

Julius Caesar.
Marcus Antonius.
Lepidus.
Ptolomy , King of Ægypt .
Cleopatra , His Sister.
Photinus , His Governour.
Achillas , His Lieutenant General.
Septimius , A Roman in the Ægyptian Kings Army.
Achoreus, Cleopatra 's Gentleman Usher.
Charmion, Cleopatra 's Maid of Honour.
Cornelia, Pompey 's Widdow.
Philip, Pompey 's Freedman.
Romans and Ægyptians.

The Scene Ptolomey 's Pallace in Alexandria .

PROLOGUE

For the Theatre at Dublin , written by the Earl of Roscomon ,

The mighty Rivals, whose destructive Rage
Did the whole World in Civil Armes engage:
Are now agreed, and make it both their Choice,
To have their Fates determin'd by your Voice.
Caesar from none but You, will hear his Doom ,
He hates th' obsequious Flatteries of Rome:
He scorns, where once he rul'd, now to be try'd,
And he hath rul'd in all the World beside.
When he the Thames, the Danube, and the Nile
Had stain'd with Blood, Peace flourished in this Isle;
And you alone may Boast, you never saw
Caesar 'till now, and now can give him Law :
Great Pompey too, comes as a suppliant here .
But sayes He cannot now begin to fear.
He knowes your equal Justice, and (to tell
A Roman Truth) He knowes himself too well.
Success, tis true, waited on Caesar's side .
But Pompey thinks he conquer'd when he dy'd .
His Fortune when she prov'd the most unkind,
Chang'd his Condition, but not Cato's Mind .
Then of what Doubt can Pompey' s Cause admit ,
Since here so many Cato's Judging sit .
But you bright Nymphs, give Caesar leave to woo .
The greatest Wonder of the world but you.
And hear a Muse, who has that Hero taught
To speak as gen'rously, as e're he fought.
Whose Eloquence from such a Theme deters
All Tongues but English, and all pens but Hers.
By the just Fates your Sex is doubly blest,
You Conquer'd Caesar, and you praise him best .
And You (Illustrious Sir) receive as due,
A Present Destiny reserv'd for You.
Rome, France and England joyn their Forces here .
To make a Poem worthy of your Ear.
Accept it then, and on that Pompey's Brow
Who gave so many Crowns, bestow one now.