To life or death? Por. What wouldst thou have me say? Marc. What means this pensive posture? Thou appear'st Like one amazed and terrified. Por. I've reason. Marc. Thy downcast looks, and thy disordered thoughts, Tell me my fate. I ask not the success Por. I'm grieved I undertook it. Marc. What? does the barbarous maid insult my heart, My aching heart, and triumph in my pains? me! What is compassion, when 'tis void of love? To urge my cause !-Compassionates my pains! Marc. What have I said! Oh, Portius, oh forgive me! A soul, exasperate in ills, falls out With every thing, its friend, itself-but, hah! What means that shout, big with the sounds of war? What new alarm? Por. A second, louder yet, Swells in the wind, and comes more full upon us. Marc. Oh, for some glorious cause to fall in battle! Lucia, thou hast undone me; thy disdain to's life Stands sure? Oh, Marcus, I am warmed, my heart Leaps at the trumpet's voice, and burns for glory. [Exeunt. Enter SEMPRONIUS, with the Leaders of the mutiny. Sem. At length the winds are raised, the storm blows high; Be it your care, my friends, to keep it up Be sure you beat him down, and bind him fast. Cato. Where are those bold intrepid sons of war, That greatly turn their backs upon their foe, And to their general send a brave defiance? Sem. Curse on their dastard souls, they stand astonished! [lide. Cato. Perfidious men! And will you thus dishonour Your past exploits, and sully all your wars? Sem. By Heavens, they droop! waste, Its barren rocks, parched earth, and hills of sand, peared, Scanty of waters, when you scooped it dry, Did he not lead you through the mid-day sun, You could not undergo the toil of war, Meanwhile I'll herd amongst his friends, and Nor bear the hardships that your leader bore. Luc. See, Cato, see the unhappy men; they weep! Fear and remorse, and sorrow for their crime, Appear in every look, and plead for mercy. Cato. Learn to be honest men, give up your leaders, And pardon shall descend to all the rest. Sem. Cato, commit these wretches to my care: Lucius, the base degenerate age requires This awes an impious, bold, offending world, Sem. Cato, I execute thy will with pleasure. Cato. Meanwhile we'll sacrifice to Liberty. Remember, O my friends! the laws, the rights, The generous plan of power delivered down From age to age, by your renowned forefathers (So dearly bought, the price of so much blood): Oh, let it never perish in your hands! But piously transmit it to your children. Do thou, great Liberty, inspire our souls, And make our lives, in thy possession, happy, Or our deaths glorious in thy just defence. [Exeunt CATO, &c. 1 Lead. Sempronius, you have acted like yourself. One would have thought you had been half in earnest. them. Sem. Heavens, what a thought is there! Mar cia's my own! How will my bosom swell with anxious joy, prize, Nor envied Jove his sunshine and his skies. [Exeunt SCENE I. Enter LUCIA and MARCIA. ACT IV. Luc. Now tell me, Marcia, tell me from thy soul, If thou believ'st 'tis possible for woman Mar. Oh, Lucia, Lucia, might thy big swoln heart, Vent all its griefs, and give a loose to sorrow, Marcia could answer thee in sighs, keep pace With all thy woes, and count out tear for tear. Luc. I know thou'rt doomed alike to be beloved By Juba, and thy father's friend, Sempronius: But which of these has power to charm like Portius! Mar. Still I must beg thee not to name Sempronius; Lucia, I like not that loud boisterous man. 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 right To love or hate, but as his choice directs. Luc. But should this father give you to Sempronius? Mar. I dare not think he will: but if he shouldWhy wilt thou add, to all the griefs I suffer, Imaginary ills, and fancied tortures? I hear the sound of feet! They march this way: Sem. The deer is lodged, I've tracked her to Be sure you mind the word, and, when I give it, And left the limbs still quivering on the ground! [Exit JUBA, with prisoners &c. Enter LUCIA and MARCIA. Luc. Sure 'twas the clash of swords; my troubled heart Is so cast down, and sunk amidst its sorrows, Mar. See, Lucia, see! here's blood! here's blood and murder! Ha! a Numidian! Heaven preserve the prince! Luc. Now, Marcia, now call up to thy assist ance Thy wonted strength and constancy of mind! Thou can'st not put it to a greater trial. Mar. Lucia, look there, and wonder at my patience; Have I not cause to rave, and beat my breast, To rend my heart with grief, and run distracted! Luc. What can I think or say to give thee comfort? Mar. Talk not of comfort! 'tis for lighter ills: happy. Luc. Here will I stand, companion in thy woes, And help thee with my tears; when I behold A loss like thine, I half forget my own. Mar.'Tis not in fate to ease my tortured breast; This empty world, to me a joyless desert, Has nothing left to make poor Marcia happy. Juba. I'm on the rack? Was he so near her heart? Mar. Oh, he was all made up of love and Whatever maid could wish, or man admire, Mar. Oh, Juba! Juba! Juba! Juba. What means that voice? did she not call on Juba? Mar. Why do I think on what he was! he's dead! He's dead, and never knew how much I loved him, Lucia, who knows but his poor bleeding heart, Nor modesty nor virtue here forbid Half smothered in my breast, has broke through all Its weak restraints, and burns in its full lustre. Mar. And dost thou live to ask it? Jaba. This, this is life indeed! life worth preserving, Such life as Juba never felt 'till now! Mar. Believe me, prince, before I thought I did not know myself how much I loved thee. Juba. My joy, my best beloved, my only wish! How shall I speak the transport of my soul! Mar. Lucia, thy arm. Oh, let me rest upon The vital blood, that had forsook my heart, Returns again in such tumultuous tides, It quite o'ercomes me. Lead to my apartmentOh, prince! I blush to think what I have said, But fate has wrested the confession from me; Go on, and prosper in the paths of honour. Thy virtue will excuse my passion for thee, And make the gods propitious to our love. it! [Exeunt MARCIA and LUCIA. Juba. I am so blest, I fear 'tis all a dream. Fortune, thou now hast made amends for all Thy past unkindness: I absolve my stars. What though Numidia add her conquered towns And provinces to swell the victor's triumph, Juba will never at his fate repine: Let Cæsar have the world, if Marcia's mine. [Exit. A march at a distance.-Enter CATO and Luc. I stand astonished! What, the bold Sem pronius, That still broke foremost through the crowd of patriots, As with a hurricane of zeal transported, Cato. Trust me, Lucius, Our civil discords have produced such crimes, The happy Juba lives! He lives to catch Sure 'tis a dream! dead and alive at once! thing. -Oh, Lucius, I am sick of this bad world! The day-light and the sun grow painful to me. Enter PORTIUS. But see where Portius comes: what means this haste? Why are thy looks thus changed? Por. My heart is grieved, I bring such news as will affect my father. The traitor Syphax, as within the square 2 s I saw, and called to stop him, but in vain: Thy brother Marcus acts a Roman's part. [Exit POR. -Lucius, the torrent bears too hard upon me: Justice gives way to force: the conquered world Is Cæsar's! Cato has no business in it. Luc. While pride, oppression, and injustice The world will still demand her Cato's presence. Long, at the head of his few faithful friends, Por. Nor did he fall before His sword had pierced through the false heart of Yonder he lies. I saw the hoary traitor -Portius, when I am dead, be sure you place Cato. Would Lucius have me live to swell the His urn near mine. |