Mort de Pompée, La. Tragedy by Pierre Corneille, first performed 1644. It concerns the killing of Pompey in Egypt after his defeat at Pharsalia. In order to curry favour with César, the Egyptian king Ptolomée, egged on by evil counsellors, has Pompée put to death. But César, who is in love with Ptolomée's sister Cléopâtre, disowns the murder. Ptolomée then plots to kill César, but the plot is revealed by Pompée's widow, Cornélie, in spite of her desire for revenge, and the play ends with the death of the conspirators. Pompée is remarkable for the epic grandeur of its verse, its broad historical sweep, and its vivid depiction of Machiavellian politics set against the heroic ‘générosité’ of Cornélie.
[Peter France]
