PHILIP. Amongst the rest of mine extreme mishaps, I find my fortune not the least in this, That I have kept my master company, Both in his life and at his latest hour: Pompey the great, whom I have honoured With true devotion both alive and dead. One selfsame ship contain'd us, when I saw The murd'ring Egyptians bereave his life; And when the man that had affright the earth, Did homage to it with his dearest blood; O'er whom I shed full many a bitter tear, And did perform his exequies with sighs: And on the strand upon the river-side (Where to my sighs the water seem'd to turn), I wove a coffin for his corse of segs,[362] That with the wind did wave like bannerets, And laid his body to be burn'd thereon; Which, when it was consum'd, I kindly took, And sadly clos'd within an earthen urn The ashy relics of his hapless bones; Which having 'scap'd the rage of wind and sea, I bring to fair Cornelia to inter Within his elders' tomb, that honour'd her. CORNELIA. Ah me! what see I? PHILIP. Pompey's tender bones, Which (in extremes) an earthen urn containeth. CORNELIA. O sweet, dear, deplorable cinders? O miserable woman, living--dying! O poor Cornelia! born to be distress'd, Why liv'st thou toil'd, that (dead) might'st lie at rest? O faithless hands, that under cloak of love Did entertain him, to torment him so! O barbarous, inhumane, hateful traitors! This your disloyal dealing hath defam'd Your king and his inhospitable seat Of the extremest and most odious crime, That 'gainst the heavens might be imagined. For ye have basely broke the law of arms, And outrag'd over an afflicted soul; Murder'd a man that did submit himself, And injur'd him that ever us'd you kindly. For which misdeed be Egypt pestered With battle, famine, and perpetual plagues! Let aspics, serpents, snakes, and Libyan bears, Tigers and lions, breed with you for ever! And let fair Nilus (wont to nurse your corn) Cover your land with toads and crocodiles, That may infect, devour, and murder you! Else earth make way, and hell receive them quick-- A hateful race, 'mongst whom there doth abide All treason, luxury, and homicide. PHILIP. Cease these laments. CORNELIA. I do but what I ought To mourn his death. PHILIP. Alas! that profits nought. CORNELIA. Will Heaven let treason be unpunished? PHILIP. Heavens will perform what they have promised. CORNELIA. I fear the heavens will not hear our prayer. PHILIP. The plaints of men oppress'd do pierce the air. CORNELIA. Yet Cæsar liveth still.