But let me now examine in my turn: Sy. Yes-but it is to Cato. Sem. Come, 'tis no matter; we fhall do without him. He'll make a pretty figure in a triumph, Sem. Syphax, I love that woman; tho' I curfe Her and myself, yet, fpite of me, I love her. Sy. Make Cato fure, and give up Utica, Cæfar will ne'er refufe thee fuch a trifle. But are thy troops prepar'd for a revolt? Does the fedition catch from man to man, And run among their ranks ? Sem. All, all is ready. The factious leaders are our friends, that fpread Murmurs and difcontents among the foldiers; They count their toilfome marches, long fa tigues, Unufual faftings, and will bear no more Mare, Portius, thou know'st my foul in all its weakness, Then pr'ythee fpare me on its tender fide. Por. When love 's well-tim'd, 'tis not a fault to love. The strong, the brave, the virtuous, and the wife, Sink in the foft captivity together. I would not urge thee to dimifs thy paffion, (I know 'twere vain) but to fupprefs its force, Till better times may make it look more graceful. Marc. Alas! thou talk't like one who never felt Th' impatient throbs and longings of a foul Por. What can thy Portius do to give thee help Mac. Portius, thou oft enjoy'ft the fair-one's profence; Then undertake my caufe, and plead it to her Defcribe his anxious days, and reftless nights, temper. Marc. Wilt thou behold me finking in my But here, believe me, I 've a thousand reafonsMarc. I know thou 'It fay my paflion's out of feafon, That Cato's great example and misfortunes Should both confpire to drive it from my thoughts. Marc. THANKS to my ftars, I have not rang'd But what's all this to one that loves like me? about The wilds of life, ere I could find a friend: oft Confed'racies in vice, or leagues of pleasure; Ours has fevereft virtue for its bafis, And such a friendship ends not but with life. O Portius, Portius, from my foul I with Enjoys the noon-day breeze! Obferve her, Portius; Obferve her well, and blame me if thou canst. And leave you for awhile. Remember, Portius, Enter Lucia. [Exit. Luc. Did not I fee your brother Marcus here? O Lucia! I'm diftreft; my heart bleeds for him: Of love and friendship? Think betimes, my Por- But, O! I'll think no more! the hand of fate Thofe killing founds! Why doft thou frown upon me? My blood runs cold, my heart forgets to heave, Por. Talk not of love, thou never knew'ft its I've been deluded, led into a dream Luc. O Portius, was this well-to frown on her Think how the nuptial tie, that might enfure him. Por. Alas, poor youth! what doft thou think, His gen'rous, open, undefigning heart us Luc. No, Portius, no; I fee thy fifter's tears, And, Portius, here I fwear, to Heaven I fwear, Thofe hafty words, or I am loft for ever. Luc. Has not the vow already pafs'd my lips? Luc. At length I've acted my feverest part; Forgets the vow in which my foul is bound. And ftartle into madnefs at the found. Luc, What wouldst thou have me do? Confider well The train of ills our love would draw behind it. brother Stabb'd at his heart, and all befmear'd with blood, Por. To my confusion, and eternal grief, Melt my refolves, and turn me all to love. It foftens me too much-farewel, my Portius; Xx3 Por. Por. Stay, Lucia, stay! What doft thou fay For ever? Luc. Have I not fworn? If, Portius, thy success Muft throw thy brother on his fate, farewelO, how thall I repeat the word, for ever! For. Thus o'er the dying lamp th'unfteady flame Hangs quiv'ring on a point, leaps off by fits, And falls again, as loth to quit its hold. -Thou must not go; my foul still hovers o'er thee, And can't get loose. Luc. If the firm Portius fhakes To hear of parting, think what Lucia fuffers! Por. 'Tis true, unruffled and ferene, I 've met The common accidents of life; but here Such an unlook'd-for ftorm of ills falls on me, It beats down all my ftrength. I cannot bear it. We must not part. Luc. What doft thou fay? Not part! Haft thou forgot the vow that I have made? Are there not heavens, and gods, that thunder o'er us? Marc. Thy down-caft looks, and thy disorder'd thoughts, Tell me my fate. I ask not the fuccefs My caufe has found. Por. I'm griev'd I undertook it. My aching heart, and triumph in my pains? To urge my caufe!- -Compaffionates my pains! [Exit. ift Lead. We are all fafe, Sempronius is our friend. Sempronius is as brave a man as Cato. Re-enter Sempronius, with Cato, Lucius, Portius, and Marcus. Cato. Where are thefe bold intrepid fons of war, That greatly turn their backs upon the foe, And to their general fend a brave defiance? Sem. Curfe on their daftard fouls, they fand aftonith'd. [Afide. Cato. Perfidious men! And will you thus difhonour Your paft exploits, and fully all your wars? Sem. By Heavens they droop! [Afide. Calo. Have you forgotten Libya's burning waste, Its barren rocks, parch'd earth, and hills of fand, Its tainted air, and all its broods of poifon ? Who was the first to explore th' untrodden path, When life was hazarded in ev'ry step? Or, fainting in the long laborious march, When on the banks of an unlook'd-for stream You You funk the river with repeated draughts, Scanty of waters, when you scoop'd it dry, You could not undergo the toil of war, Fear and remorfe, and forrow for their crime, Cato. Learn to be honest men, give up your leaders, And pardon fhall defcend on all the rest. Sem. Cato, commit thefe wretches to my care: First let 'em each be broken on the rack; Then, with what life remains, impal'd, and left To writhe at leifure round the bloody stake; There let 'em hang, and taint the fouthern wind. The partners of their crime will learn obedience, When they look up and fee their fellow traitors Stuck on a fork, and black'ning in the fun. Luc. Sempronius, why, why wilt thou urge the fate Of wretched men? Sem. How! wouldst thou clear rebellion? Lucius (good man) pities the poor offenders That would imbrue their hands in Cato's blood. Cato. Forbear, Sempronius !-fee they fuffer death, But in their deaths remember they are men; This awes an impious, bold offending world, Sem. Cato, I execute thy will with pleasure. Cato. Meanwhile we 'll facrifice to liberty. Remember, O my friends, the laws, the rights, The gen'rous plan of pow'r deliver'd down, From age to age, by your renown'd forefathers, (So dearly bought, the price of fo much blood:) O let it never perifh in your hands! But piously tranfmit it to your children. Do thou, great Liberty, infpire our fouls, And make our lives in thy poffeffion happy, Or our deaths glorious in thy juft defence. [Exeunt Cato, &c. ift Leader. Sempronius, you have acted like yourself. One would have thought you had been half in earneft. 2d Lead. Nay, now you carry it too far, Sempronius; Throw off the mafk, there are none here but friends. Sem. Know, villains, when such paltry flaves To mix in treafon, if the plot fucceeds, ft Lead. Nay, fince it comes to this-- Left with their dying breath they fow fedition. [Exeunt Guards, with the Leaders. Enter Sypbax. Sy. Our first defign, my friend, has prov'd aborStill there remains an after-game to play: [tive: My troops are mounted; their Numidian steeds Snuff up the wind, and long to fcour the defert: Let but Sempronius head us in our flight, We'll force the gate where Marcus keeps his guard, And hew down all that would oppofe our paffage. A day will bring us into Cæfar's camp. Sem. Confufion! I have fail'd of half my purpofe; Marcia, the charming Marcia, 's left behind! Sy. How will Sempronius turn a woman's flave? Sem. Think not thy friend can ever feel the foft Unmanly warmth and tenderness of love. Syphax, I long to clafp that haughty maid, And bend her ftubborn virtue to my paffion : When I have gone thus far, I'd caft her off. Sy. Well faid! that's fpoken like thyself, Sem pronius. What hinders, then, but that thou find her out, Sem. But how to gain admiffion? For access Sy. Thou shalt have Juba's drefs, and Juba's The doors will open when Numidia's prince Sem. Heavens, what a thought is there! Mar cia 's my own! How will my bofom fwell with anxious joy Nor envied Jove his funfhine and his skies. Sem. Villain, ftand off, bafe, grov'ling, worth-Luc. ACT IV. Enter Lucia and Marcia. [Exeung NOW tell me, Marcia,tell me from thyfoul, If thou believ'ft 'tis poffible for woman Mongrels in faction, poor faint-hearted traitors! To fuffer greater ill than Lucia fuffers lefs wretches, X x 4 Ma Mar. O Lucia, Lucia! might my big-swoln heart Vent all its griefs, and give a loose to sorrow, Mar. Still I muft beg thee not to name Sem- Lucia, I like not that loud boift'rous man; Adds fofteft love and more than female sweetness; Luc. And why not Marcia? Come, you ftrive in vain To hide your thoughts from one who knows too well The inward glowings of a heart in love. Mar. While Cato lives, his daughter has no To love or hate, but as his choice directs. pronius ? Jub. Nay, then beware thy own, proud, barbarous man! [They fight. Sem.falls; bis guards furrender.] By a boy's hand, disfigur'd in a vile Jub. With what a spring his furious soul broke And left the limbs ftill quiv'ring on the ground! [Exit Juba, with prifoners, &c. Enter Lucia and Marcia. Luc. Sure 't was the clash of fwords; my troubled heart Is fo caft down, and funk amidst its forrows, Sem-O Marcia, fhould thy brothers for my fake !It throbs with fear, and aches at ev'ry found. I die away with horror at the thought. Mar. I dare not think he will: but if he fhould- I hear the found of feet! They march this way! [Exeunt. Enter Sempronius, dressed like Juba, witb Nu midian Guards. Sem. The deer is lodg'd, I 've track'd her to Be sure you mind the word, and when I give it How will the young Numidian rave to fee 'tis he, Mar. See, Lucia, fee! here's blood! here's blood and murder ! The face lies muffled up within the garment, Luc. Now, Marcia, call up to thy affiftance Mar. Lucia, look there, and wonder at my pa- To rend my heart with grief, and run distracted? fort? Behold a fight that ftrikes all comfort dead. Enter Juba liftening. I will indulge my forrows, and give way 'Tis Juba's felf! there is but one way leftThat man, that beft of men, deferv'd it from me. He must be murder'd, and a paffage cut Through those his guards-Hah,dastards, do you tremble? Or act like men, or by yon azure heaven- Jub. What do I hear? and was the false Sem- That beft of men? O, had I fall'n like him, happy. And help thee with my tears; when I behold This empty world, to me a joyless defert, Mar. O, he was all made up of love and charms! Delight |