To-morrow should we thus express our friendship, This fun perhaps, this morning fun, 's the last PORTIU S. My father has this morning call'd together That bears down Rome, and all her gods, before it, SEMPRONIUS. Not all the pomp and majesty of Rome They ftrike with fomething like religious fear, Of armies flush'd with conqueft: O my Portius, Alas! Sempronius, would'ft thou talk of love SEMPRONIUS. The more I fee the wonders of thy race, The more I'm charm'd. Thou must take heed, my Portius ! The world has all its eyes on Cato's fon. PORTIU S. Well doft thou seem to check my lingering here On this important hour-I 'll strait away; And while the fathers of the Senate meet In clofe debate, to weigh th' events of war, I'll animate the foldiers' drooping courage, With love of freedom, and contempt of life. I'll thunder in their ears their country's cause, And try to rouze up all that 's Roman in them. 'Tis not in mortals to command fuccefs, But we 'll do more, Sempronius; we 'll deferve it. SEMPRONIUS. Curfe on the ftripling! How he apes his fire! Are bars to my ambition. Cæfar's favour, [Exit. That fhowers down greatnefs on his friends, will raise me To Rome's first honours. If I give up Cato, I claim in my reward his captive daughter. But Syphax comes ! S SCENE SCENE III. SYPHAX, SEMPRONIUS. SYPHA X. -Sempronius, all is ready. I've founded my Numidians, man by man, And wait but the command to change their master. Believe me, Syphax, there's no time to waste; way, Impatient for the battle: one day more ; Will set the victor thundering at our gates. But tell me, haft thou yet drawn-o'er young Juba? That ftill would recommend thee more to Cæfar, And challenge better terms— SYPHA X. -Alas! he 's loft, He's loft, Sempronius; all his thoughts are full (For (For every inftant I expect him here) If yet I can fubdue those ftubborn principles SEMPRONIUS. Be fure to prefs upon him every motive. But is it true, Sempronius, that your Senate Our frauds, unless they 're cover'd thick with art. SEMPRONIUS. Let me alone, good Syphax, I'll conceal My thoughts in paffion, ('tis the fureft way); I'll bellow out for Rome and for my country, And mouth at Cæfar till I thake the Senate. Your cold hypocrify 's a stale device, A worn-out trick: wouldst thou be thought in earnest ? Clothe thy feign'd zeal in rage, in fire, in fury! SYPHA X. In troth, thou 'rt able to inftruct grey-hairs, And teach the wily African deceit ! SEMPRONIUS. Once more, be sure to try thy skill on Juba; Mean while I'll haften to my Roman foldiers, Inflame the mutiny, and underhand Blow up Fill'd up with horror all, and big with death! SYPHAX. I'll try if yet I can reduce to reafon [Exit. This head-strong youth, and make him spurn at Cato. SCENE IV. JUBA, SYPHAX. JUBA. Syphax, I joy to meet thee thus alone. I have obferv'd of late thy looks are fallen, O'ercaft with gloomy cares, and discontent; Then tell me, Syphax, I conjure thee, tell me, What are the thoughts that knit thy brow in frowns, And turn thine eye thus coldly on thy Prince ? SYPHA X. 'Tis not my talent to conceal my thoughts, Nor carry fmiles and fun-fhine in my face, When |