SIBL

OCTAVIA

OCTAV I A.

Come, decent Venus! come, each modest grace! Assist the muse to draw a matron's face;

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To paint the chaste Octavia's matchless form,
Fresh Hebe's cheek with blushing softness warm;
The pure carnation in whose colour shewn,
By genial nature's balmiest breath was blown;
Unsullied lips suffus'd with roseate dew,

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Whence Hybla sounds the charm'd attention drew;

Juno's high stature, and majestick mien,

Her smiles improv'd with dignity serene;

For no repulsive arrogating air

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Proclaim'd her own proud conscience she was fair;
But turning from the fond admirer's gaze,
She felt the homage, but declin'd the praise.

execrable woman had in reality all the diabolical qualities which the imagination of our Shakspeare has combined in the character of Lady Macbeth. Cum ejus promissis legiones fortissimæ reclamassent, domum ad se venire jussit centuriones, quos bene de republicâ sentire cognoverat, eosque ante pedes suos, uxorisque suæ, quam secum gravis imperator ad exercitum duxerat, jugulari coegit. Cic. Philip.

2110

So, while by Rome's enamour'd youth besieg'd,
But one she favour'd, and yet all oblig'd.
Her form, her manners such; and nature join'd
Each sweet attraction of the female mind:
Not heaven's clear azure than her breast more pure,
Which winds disturb not, nor dark clouds obscure;
Yet not in stagnant apathy to sleep,
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Or like the reed-chok'd stream through life to creep;
When virtue's breath her kind affections mov'd,
She felt with energy, with ardour lov'd.
Grief shook the glass, ere half its sand was run,
And sunk her sorrowing for her darling son ;
No Pean could a medicine impart,

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To pluck that shaft from her too tender heart.
Dove-like, the intended pledge of peace she came,
Yet, hapless, but increas'd dissention's flame.
To avert the horrours of domestick war,
Young Cæsar gave her to his rival's care;
Reluctant sent her from a brother's side,
His house's ornament, and country's pride;

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Hoping, while she the sweet enticement stood,
To expel the evil passion by the good.
Vainly he hop'd. Some inauspicious power
Gloomy prepar'd her hymeneal bower;
There fading short-liv'd roses thinly grew,
But cypress much, and melancholy yew:
For Antony, unworthy of the bliss,
Scarce seal'd their union with a nuptial kiss;
A few slight decencies observ'd with pain,
Soon to his sensual sty he turn'd again.
A flagrant Cupid fir'd his lustful heart,

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2135

Opprobrious pleasures, and a strumpet's art; 2140 Strange drugs were mix'd in her Circean bowl, First to inflame, and then unman the soul.*

Steep'd

* It is related of Cleopatra that several of her admirers purchased the enjoyment of her favours for a single night, by an agreement to lose their heads next morning; which this queen, not less cruel than voluptuous and inconstant, never failed to have fulfilled literally.

Hæc [Cleopatra] tantæ libidinis erat, ut sæpe prostiterit; tantæ pulchritudinis, ut multi noctem illius morte emerint. AUR. VICTOR.

The generals of the French Republick seem to share the favours of the Convention