A pardonable pride I dare confess,
That generous pride that only knows to bless;
The love of Cleopatra, her alarms,
Augmented both my triumphs and my charms.
The conqu’ror crown’d his conquest with repose,
And own’d the laws affection dar’d impose.
With war and with Octavia shar’d his life,
Augustus rivalled and ador’d his wife.
What did I say—That Rome which saw thee yield,
Was not to shew me a sufficient field,