The fond embraces, and repeated blessings tions : Then, Syphax, chide me in severest terms, When not a breath of wind flies o'er its surface. safety! Jub. I do believe thou would'st; but tell me how. Syph. Fly from the fate that follows Cæsar's foes. Jub. My father Scorn'd to do it. Syph. And therefore dy'd. Jub. Better to die ten thousand thousand deaths, Than wound my honour. Syph. Rather say your love. Jab. Syphax, I've promis'd to preserve my tem per : Why wilt thou urge me to confess a flame 'Tis easy to divert and break its force : The pale unripen'd beauties of the North. Jub. 'Tis not a set of features, or complexion, The virtuous Marcia tow'rs above her sex: Shines out in ev'ry thing she acts or speaks, I1 CHA P. VIIL Cato's Soliloquy. CATO. T must be SO -Plato thou reason'st wellElse whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire, This longing after immortality? Or whence this secret dread, and inward horror Eternity! thou pleasing dreadful thought! Thro' what new scenes and changes must we pass! Cæsar, Book viij. I'm weary of conjectures-this must end 'em. Thus am I doubly ara'd-my death and life, My bane and antidote, are both before me. This in a moment brings me to an end; But this informs me I shall never die. The soul, secur'd in her existence, smiles. At the drawn dagger, and defies its point: The stars shall fade away, the sun himself Grow dim with age, and nature sink in years; But thou shalt flourish in immortal youth, Unhurt amidst the war of elements, The wreck of matter, and the crush of worlds. CHAP. IX. Southampton and Essex. Officer. My r Lord, We bring an order for your execution, South. Indeed! the time is sudden ! CATO Ess. Is death th' event of all my flatter'd hope? False Sex! and Queen more perjur'd than them all! But die I will without the least complaint, My soul shall yanish silent as the dew, Attracted by the sun from verdant fields, And leaves of weeping flowers-Come, my dear friend Partner in fate, give me thy body in These faithful arms-and O now let me tell thee, South. And I protest by the same powers divine, Το To grant particular mercy to your person; A South. O my unguarded soul! Sure never was man with mercy wounded so before. Ess. Then I am loose to steer my wand'ring voyage Like a bad vessel that has long been crost, I South. O be less kind, my friend, or move less pity, Or I shall sink beneath the weight of sadness! weep that I am doom'd to live without you, And should have smil'd to share the death of Essex. Ess. O spare this tenderness for one that needs it, For her that I commit to thee-'tis all that I That is not meant to her-be a kind friend more: One last farewel, before the greedy axe Farewel. me Ess. Why, that's well said-Farewel to thee Then let us part, just like two travellers, Take distant paths, only this difference is, Thine is the longest, mine the shortest wayNow let me go if there's a throne in heav'n For the most brave of men and best of friends, I will bespeak it for Southampton. South. And I, while I have life, will hoard thy When I am dead, we then shall meet again. South. Till then, Farewell. CHA P. X. EARL OF ESSEX. Jaffier and Pierre. Jaff. By Heaven you stir not, I must be heard, I must have leave to speak: Pier. What whining monk art thou? what holy cheat, That would'st incroach upon my credulous ears, And cant'st thus vilely? hence! I know thee not, Jaff, Not know me Pierre! Pier. No, know thee not: What art thou? Jaff. Jaffier, thy friend, thy once lov'd valu'd friend! Tho' now deservedly scorn'd, and us'd most hardly. Pier. Thou Jaffier! thou my once lov'd valu'd friend! By heav'n's thou ly'st; the man so call'd my friend, |