Luc. Now, Marcia, now call up to thy assistance Thy wonted strength and constancy of mind. 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? Enter JUBA, R. U. E. with Guards. Mar. Talk not of comfort, 'tis for lighter ills. That man, that best of men, deserv'd it from me.. nius That best of men? O, had I fall'n like him, And could have thus been mourn'd, I had been happy, And the last words he utter'd call'd me cruel? What Marcia thinks? All is Elysium round me. {Aside. Mar. Ye dear remains of the most lov'd of men, Nor modesty nor virtue here forbids A last embrace, while thus Juba. [Comes forward.] See, Marcia, see, The happy Juba lives: [She rises] he lives, to catch That dear embrace, and to return it too With mutual warmth and eagerness of love. [They embrace. Mar. With pleasure and amaze I stand transported. If thou art Juba, who lies there? Juba. (R.) A wretch, Disguis'd like Juba on a curs'd design. Mar. I've been surpris'd in an unguarded hour, Half smother'd in my breast, has broke through all I cannot, if I would, conceal it from thee. Juba. My joy! my best belov'd! my only wish! It quite o'ercomes me. Lead to my apartment. [Exit with LUCIA, L. Juba. (c.) I am so bless'd, I fear 'tis all a dream. Fortune, thou now hast made amends for all Thy past unkindness: I absolve my stars- Juba will never at his fate repine: Let Cæsar have the world, if Marcia's mine. [Exit, L. SCENE II.-A Square before the Palace.-Trumpets. Enter LUCIUS, CATO, and Freedmen, L. Luci. (R.) I stand astonish'd. What ! the bold Sem- That still broke foremost thro' the crowd of patriots, And, virtuous even to madness Cato. (L. c.) Trust me, my friend, Our civil discords have produc'd such crimes, Such monstrous crimes, I am surpris'd at nothing. O Lucius, I am sick of this bad world: The daylight and the sun grow painful to me. Enter PORCIUS, R. But see where Porcius comes.-What means this haste? Por. (c.) My heart is griev'd; I bring such news as will afflict my father. Cato. Has Cæsar shed more Roman blood? Por. Not so: The traitor Syphax, as within the square Flew off at once with his Numidian horse To the south gate, where Marcus holds the watch: Cato. Perfidious men !-But haste, my son, and see Thy brother Marcus acts a Roman's part. [Exit PORCIUS, R. and the Freedmen, with drawn Swords. Lucius, the torrent bears too hard upon me : Luci. While pride, oppression, and injustice reign, And reconcile thy mighty soul to life. Cato. Would Lucius have me live, to swell the number Of Cæsar's slaves ?-or, by a base submission, Give up the cause of Rome, and own a tyrant? (R.) The virtues of humanity are Cæsar's. Cato. Curse on his virtues! they've undone his country: Such popular humanity is treason. (L.) But Juba comes.-The ingenuous prince appears Enter JUBA, L. Juba. I blush, and am confounded, to appear Before thy presence, Cato. Cato. (L. C.) What's thy crime? Juba. I'm a Numidian. Cato. And a brave one too : Thou hast a Roman soul. Juba. Hast thou not heard Of my false countrymen? Falsehood and fraud shoot up in every soil, Juba. 'Tis generous, thus to comfort the distress'd. Cato. "Tis just, to give applause where 'tis deserv'd. Thy virtue, prince, has stood the test of fortune, Like purest gold, that, tortur'd in the furnace, Comes out more bright, and brings forth all its weight. Enter PORCIUS, R. Por. (c.) Misfortune on misfortune! grief on grief! My brother Mareus Cato. Hah! what has he done? Has he forsook his post? Has he given way? Did he look tamely on, and let them pass? Por. Scarce had I left my father, but I met him, Por. (R. C.) Nor did he fall, before His sword had piere'd thro' the false heart of Syphax. I saw the hoary traitor Grin in the pangs of death, and bite the ground. Cato. (c.) Thanks to the gods! my boy has done his duty. Porcius, when I am dead, be sure you place His urn near mine. Por. Long may they keep asunder ! [Crosses to L. Luci. O, Cato, arm thy soul with all its patience! See where the corpse of thy dead son approaches; The citizens and senators, alarm'd, Have gather'd round it, and attend it weeping. [A dead March, Enter R. Lictors, Senators-Soldiers, bearing the Body of MARCUS on a Bier, which they place c.-Freedmen, bearing his Helmet, Shield, Sword, and Spear -Eagle and other Ensigns S. P. Q. R.-and Guards with their arms reversed.-Enter R. U. E. six Lictors with Fasces; they divide at c. and range R. and L-Senators, two and two, pass the Lictors, and range R, and L.-CATO stands c, in front of the Bier. Cato. (c.) Welcome, my son!-Here set him down, my friends, Full in my sight; that I may view at leisure The bloody corse, and count those glorious wounds. Why sits this sadness on your brows, my friends? Porcius, behold thy brother; and remember, The Roman empire's fall'n-O, curs'd ambition !— With tears, that flow'd not o'er his own dead son. see Mankind enslav'd, and be asham'd of empire. Cato. Cæsar asham'd! Has he not seen Pharsalia? Luci. (R. C.) Cato, 'tis time, thou save thyself and us. Cato. Lose not a thought on me; I'm out of danger; Cæsar shall never say, "I've conquer'd Cato." But, O my friends, your safety fills my heart With anxious thoughts.-How shall I save my friends? "Tis now, O Cæsar, I begin to fear thee. Luci. Cæsar has mercy, if we ask it of him. Juba. If I forsake thee Whilst I have life, may Heaven abandon Juba! Cato. [Lays his hand on JUBA.] Thy virtues, prince, if I foresee aright, Will one day make thee great. At Rome, hereafter, "Twill be no crime to have been Cato's friend. Porcius, come hither to me. [Turning to POR.] Ah, my son, Despairing of success, Let me advise thee to withdraw betimes To our paternal seat, the Sabine field, Where the great Censor toil'd with his own hands, In humble virtues, and a rural life : |