Page:All for love- or, The world well lost. A tragedy as it is acted at the Theatre-Royal; and written in imitation of Shakespeare's stile. By John Dryden, servant to His Majesty (IA allforloveorworl00indryd).pdf/29

Alex.O, there's the wonder.
Mecaenas and Agrippa, who can most
With Caesar are his Foes. His Wife Octavia,
Driv'n from his House, solicits her revenge;
And Dolabella, who was once his Friend,
Upon some private grudge, now seeks his ruine:
Yet still War seems on either side to sleep.

Serap.'Tis strange that Antony, for some dayes past,
Has not beheld the face of Cleopatra;
But here, in Isis Temple, lives retir'd,
And makes his Heart a Prey to black despair.

Alex.'Tis true; and we much fear he hopes by absence
To cure his mind of Love.

Serap.If he be vanquish'd,
Or make his peace, Ægypt is doom'd to be
A Roman Province; and our plenteous Harvests
Must then redeem the scarceness of their Soil.
While Antony stood firm, our Alexandria
Rival'd proud Rome (Dominions other Seat)
And fortune striding, like a vast Colossus,
Cou'd fix an equal foot of Empire here.

Alex.Had I my wish, these Tyrants of all Nature
Who Lord it o'er Mankind, should perish, perish,
Each by the others Sword; but, since our will
Is lamely follow'd by our pow'r, we must
Depend on one; with him to rise or fall.

Serap.How stands the Queen affected?

Alex.O, she dotes,
She dotes, Serapion, on this vanquish'd Man,
And winds her self about his mighty ruins,
Whom would she yet forsake, yet yield him up,
This hunted prey, to his pursuers hands,
She might preserve us all; but 'tis in vain ———
This changes my designs, this blasts my Counsels,
And makes me use all means to keep him here,
Whom I could wish divided from her Arms
Far as the Earth's deep Center. Well, you know
The state of things; no more of your ill Omens,
And black Prognosticks; labour to confirm
The peoples hearts.

Enter