Our marriage made—I hop’d to ratifie
Your union, and confirm the mutual tie.
Th’ Egyptian queen, her love, your weakness prov’d,
No apprehensions in my bosom mov’d.
Ev’n Cleopatra secretly defy’d,
I hop’d to humble guilty beauty’s pride,
And wish’d in loving thee, th’exalted fate,
To punish her, and greatly serve the state.
Rome sought, applauding, from my eyes to raise,
The pleasing prospect of serener days;