SYPHAX.'

What greater inftance can I give? I've offer'd To do an action which my foul abhors,

And gain you whom you love at any price.

JUBA.

Was this thy motive? I have been too hafty.

SYPHAX.

And 'tis for this my prince has call'd me traitor.

JUBA.

Sure thou mistak ft; I did not call thee fo.

SYPHA X.

You did indeed, my Prince; you call'd me traitor: Nay, further, threaten'd you 'd complain to Cato. Of what, my prince, would you complain to Cato? That Syphax loves you, and would facrifice

His life, nay more, his honour, in

JUBA.

your

fervice?

Syphax, I know thou lov'ft me, but indeed

Thy zeal for Juba carried thee too far.
Honour's à facred tie, the law of kings,
The noble mind's diftinguishing perfection,

That aids and strengthens virtue, where it meets her,
And imitates her actions, where she is not:

It ought not to be sported with.

SY PHAX.

By heavens

I'm ravish'd when you talk thus, though you chide me. Alas, I've hitherto been us'd to think

A blind officious zeal to ferve my king

The ruling principle, that ought to burn
And quench all others in a subject's heart.
Happy the people who preferve their honour
By the fame duties that oblige their prince!

JUBA.

Syphax, thou now beginn'st to speak thyself.
Numidia's grown a fcorn among the nations
For breach of public vows. Our Punic faith
Is infamous, and branded to a proverb.
Syphax, we 'll join our cares, to purge away
Our country's crimes, and clear her reputation.

SYPHA X.

Believe me, prince, you make old Syphax weep
To hear you talk-but 'tis with tears of joy.
If e'er your father's crown adorn your brows,
Numidia will be bleft by Cato's lectures.

JUBA.

Syphax, thy hand! we 'll mutually forget The warmth of youth, and frowardness. of age: Thy prince esteems thy worth, and loves thy perfon. If e'er the scepter comes into my hand,

Syphax shall stand the second in my kingdom.

SY PHA X.

Why will you overwhelm my age with kindness? My joy grows burthenfome, I tha'n't support it.

JUBA.

Syphax, farewell. I'll hence, and try to find

Some bleft occafion that may fet me right

In

In Cato's thoughts. I'd rather have that man
Approve my deeds, than worlds for my admirers.

SY PHA X.

[Exit.

Young men foon give, and foon forget affronts;

Old age is flow in both-a falfe old traitor! Those words, rash boy, may chance to coft thee dear: My heart had still fome foolish fondness for thee: But hence! 'tis gone: I give it to the winds :Cæfar, I'm wholly thine

Enter SEMPRONIUS.

SYPHA X.

All hail, Sempronius!

Well, Cato's Senate is refolv'd to wait

The fury of a fiege, before it yields.

SEMPRONIUS.

Syphax, we both were on the verge of fate :
Lucius declar'd for peace, and terms were offer'd
To Cato by a ineflenger from Cæsar.

Should they fubmit, ere our designs are ripe,
We both muft perish in the common wreck,
Loft in a general undistinguish'd ruin.

SYPHA X.

But how ftands Cato?

SEMPRONIUS.

Thou haft feen Mount Atlas:

While forms and tempests thunder on its brows,
And oceans break their billows at its fect,
It stands unmov`d, and glories in its height.

U 3

Such

Such is that haughty man; his towering foul, 'Midft all the fhocks and injuries of fortune, Rifes fuperior, and look down on Cæfar.

SYPHA X.

But what 's this meffenger?

SEMPRONIUS.

I've practis'd with him,

And found a means to let the victor know

That Syphax and Sempronius are his friends..
But let me now examine in my turn:

Is Juba fix'd:?

SYPHA X.

Yes, but it is to Cato.

I've try'd the force of every reason on him,
Sooth'd and carefs'd, been angry, footh'd again,
Laid fafety, life, and intereft, in his fight;
But all are vain, he fcorns them all for Cato.

SEMPR ON I U S.

Come, 'tis no matter, we shall do without him,
He'll make a pretty figure in a triumph,
And ferve to trip before the victor's chariot.
Syphax, I now may hope thou haft forfook
Thy Juba's cause, and wishest Marcia mine.

SYPHA X.

May the be thine as faft as thou wouldst have her!

SEMPRONIUS.

Syphax, I love that woman; though I curfe Her and myself, yet, spight of me, I love her.

SYPHAX,

SYPHA X.

Make Cato fure, and give up Utica: Cæfar will ne'er refuse 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?

SEMPRONIUS.

All, all is ready.

The factious leaders are our friends, that spread
Murmurs and difcontents among the foldiers.
They count their toilfome marches, long fatigues,
Unusual faftings; and will bear no more
This medley of philofophy and war.

Within an hour they 'll ftorm the Senate-house.

SY PHAX.

Mean while I'll draw up my Numidian troops
Within the fquare, to exercife their arms,
And, as I fee occafion, favour thee.

I laugh to think how your unfhaken Cato
Will look aghaft, while unforeseen destruction
Pours in upon him thus from every side.
So, where our wide Numidian wastes extend,
Sudden, th' impetuous hurricanes defcend,
Wheel through the air, in circling eddies play,
Tear up the fands, and sweep whole plains away."
The helpless traveller, with wild surprize,

Sees the dry defert all around him rise,

And, fmother'd in the dusty whirlwind, dies.

END OF THE SECOND ACT.

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ACT