His thoufand talents (which are yet unpaid,)
Over the rebels us victorious made,

This knew our dying father; and bestow'd
Half that on Me, to whom the whole he ow'd;
He knew the kingdom was my beauty's prize,
And that he ow'd his fceptre to these eyes,
Betwixt us two, by his laft Will, the land
Reftor'd by CESAR does divided ftand,
And thus, you fee, it is no partial end,

But fenfe of honor, makes me POMPEY's friend.
PTOL. This story is contrived with address.
CLEOP, OF CESAR'S coming here is an Exprefs;
The cause I have bear me like a Queen,
Shall by yourself (this day perhaps) be seen.
For fome years paft, here treated like a slave,
My right with-held, which our father juft gave,
To flatter flaves I have employ'd my breath,
Left your bad Minifters should plot my death:
From PHOTIN and ACHILLAS' tyranny,
POMPEY, OF CESAR, now will fet me free:
One of those two our diff'rence shall decide;
And then you'll know the reason of my pride.

Confus'd uncertain in my thoughts, I find

No mean, whereby this ftorm may be declin'd
PTOL. Shall POMPEY live then?

PHOTIN. NO! the rather die :

This way you must with your fair sister vye
For CÆSAR's grace: whose gratitude may prove,
For fuch a service, equal to his love. [prevail.

PTOL. What if her charms with CESAR fhould
PHOTIN. She must be flatter'd :--if you think I fail,
With wife SEPTIMIUS, and ACHILLAS, YOU
May take advice what you are next to do.

PTOL. From the high tow'r we'll look on PoмPEY's fate;

And this affair at their return debate,

[Exeunt,

[241]

SPEECHES

A N D

LETTERS

By EDMUND WALLER, Efq;

Nec facundia deferit Hunc. **

HORAT.

A SPEECH to the House of Commons, April 22, 1540.

I

Mr. SPEAKER,

Will ufe no preface, as they do who prepare men for fomething in which they have a particular intereft: I will only propose what I conceive fit for the House to confider; and fhall be no more concerned in the event, than they that hall hear me.

Two things I obferve in his Majesty's demands.
First, The Supply.

Secondly, Our fpeedy difpatch thereof.

Touching the first: His Majesty's occafions for money are but too evident. For to fay nothing how we are neglected abroad, and diftracted at home; the calling of this parliament, and our fitting here (an effect which no light caufe could in thefe times have produced) is enough to make any reasonable. man believe, that that Exchequer abounds not fo much in

X

money,

money, at the State does in occafions to ufe it. And I he we shall all appear willing to difprove thole who have thought to diffuade his Majesty from this way of Parliaments, as us certain; and to let him fee, it is as ready, and more safe for the advancement of His affairs, than any new, or pretended old, way whatisever

For the speedy dispatch required, thing) not only His Majefty, but, occafion feems to importune no less.

us like an armed man!

66

(which was the second res ipía loquitur;" the Neceflity is come upor

Yet, the ufe of Parliaments heretofore (as appears by the Writs that call us hither) was to advife with His Majesty of things concerning the Church and Common-wealth. And it hath ever been the custom of Parliaments, by good and wholefome laws to refresh the Common-wealth in general; yea, and to defcend into the remedies of particular grievances; before any mention made of a Supply. Look back upon the best Parliaments, and ftill you shall find, that the last Acts are for the free gifts of Subfidies on the People's part, and general Pardons on the King's part. Even the wifeft Kings have first acquainted their Parliaments with their designs, and the reafons thereof; and then demanded the affistance, both of their counfel and purfes. But Phyficians, though they be called of the latest, must not ftomach it, or talk what might have been, but apply themselves roundly to the cure. Let us not stand too nicely upon circumstances, nor too rigidly poftpone the matter of Supply to the healing of our lighter wounds Let us do what poffibly may be done with reafon and honesty on our parts, to comply with His Majesty's defires, and to prevent the imminent ills which threaten us.

But confider, Mr. Speaker, that they who think themfelves already undone, can never apprehend themselves in danger and they that have nothing left, can never give freely. Nor fhall we ever discharge the truft of those that fent us hither, or make them believe that they contribute to their own defence, and fafety; unlefs His Majefty be pleased, first, to restore them to the propriety of their goods, and lawful liberties; whereof they esteem themselves now out of poffettion. One need not tell you that the propriety of goods is the mother of courage, and the nurfe of industry; makes us valiant in war, and good husbands in peace. The experience I have former Parliaments, and my prefent obfervation of the care

the

the country has had to choose persons of worth and courage, makes me think this House like the Spartans, whofe forward valor required some softer mufic to allay and quiet their spirits, too much moved with the found of martial inftruments. 'Tis not the fear of imprisonment, or, if need be, of death itself, that can keep a true-hearted English-man from the care to leave this part of his inheritance as entire to pofterity, as he. received it from his ancestors.

This therefore let us first do; and the more fpeedily, that we may come to the matter of Supply. Let us give new force to the many laws which have been heretofore made for the maintaining of our rights, and privileges; and endeavour to restore this nation to the fundamental, and vital liberties, the propriety of our goods, and the freedom of our perfons: no way doubting but we fhall find His Majefty as gracious, and ready, as any of his royal progenitors have been, to grant our juft defires therein. For, not only the people do think, but the wifeft do know, that what we have fuffered in this long vacancy of Parliaments, we have fuffered from his Minifters. That the perfon of no King was ever, better beloved of his people; and that no people were ever more unfatisfied with the ways of levying monies; are two truths which may ferve one to demonftrate the other. For, fuch is their averfion to the prefent courfes, that neither the admiration they have of His Majesty's native inclinations to juftice, and clemency; nor the pretended confent of the judges; could make them willingly fubmit themfelves to this late tax of Ship-Money. And fuch is their natural love, and just efteem, of his Majesty's goodnefs, that no late preffure could provoke them, nor any example invite them, to difloyalty, or difobedience.

But, what is it then that hath bred this misunderstanding betwixt the King and his people? How is it, that having fo good a King, we have fo much to complain of? Why, we are told of the ton of * Solomon, that he was a Prince of a tender heart; and yet we fee, by the advice of violent Counsellors, how rough an anfwer he gave to his people. † That his

finger fhould be thicker than his father's loins," was not his own, but the voice of fome perfons about him, that wanted the gravity and moderation requifite for the Counsellors of a young king. I love not to prefs allegories too far; but, the 2 Chron. x. 10.

* REHOBOAM.