САТО. Rafh youth, forbear! PORTIU S. O let the prayers, th' entreaties of your friends, Their tears, their common danger, wreft it from you. CATO. Wouldst thou betray me? would'st thou give me up A flave, a captive, into Cæfar's hands? Retire, and learn obedience to a father, Or know, young man !- PORTIUS. Look not thus fternly on me; You know I'd rather die than difobey you. САТО. 'Tis well! again I'm master of myself. PORTIU S. O Sir, forgive your fon, Whofe grief hangs heavy on him! O my father! I e'er fhall call you fo! Be not displeas'd, And, in the anguish of my heart, befeech you To quit the dreadful purpose of your САТО. foul. Thou hast been ever good and dutiful. [Embracing him. Weep Weep not, my fon. All will be well again. PORTIU S. Your words give comfort to my drooping heart, CATO. Portius, thou may'st rely upon my conduct. PORTI U S. [Exit. My thoughts are more at eafe,, my heart revives.. Enter MARCIA. O Marcia, O my fifter, ftill there's hope!* So needful to us all, and to his country. He is retir'd to reft, and seems to cherish Thoughts full of peace. He has dispatch'd me hence With orders, that befpeak a mind compos'd, And studious for the safety of his friends. Marcia, take care that none disturb his flumbers. [Exit. MARCI A. O ye immortal powers, that guard the just, Enter Enter LUCIA. LUCIA. Where is your father, Marcia, where is Cato? MARCIA. Lucia, fpeak low ; he is retir'd to reft. Rife in my foul. We fhall be happy still. Alas, I tremble when I think on Cato. He knows not how to wink at human frailty, MARCIA. Though ftern and awful to the foes of Rome, 'Tis his confent alone can make us blefs'd. Thy brother Marcus, whom we both lament MARCIA. And ever fhall lament, unhappy youth! LUCIA. Has fet my foul at large, and now I stand Who knows how yet he may dispose of Portius, MARCIA. Let him but live! commit the reft to heaven. Enter LUCIUS. LUCIUS. Sweet are the flumbers of the virtuous man! O Marcia, I have feen thy godlike father: Some power invisible supports his soul, And bears it up in all its wonted greatness. A kind refreshing fleep is fall'n upon him : I faw him ftretch'd at ease, his fancy lost In pleafing dreams; as I drew near his couch, He fmil'd, and cry'd, Cæfar, thou canst not hurt me! MARCI A. His mind ftill labours with fome dreadful thought. LUCIUS. Lucia, why all this grief, these floods of forrow? Dry up thy tears, my child; we all are safe Enter JUBA. Lucius, the horsemen are return'd from viewing The number, ftrength, and posture of our foes, Who now encamp within a fhort hour's march. Ол On the high point of yon bright western tower Plays on their shining arms and burnish`d helmets, LUCIU S. Marcia, 'tis time we should awake thy father. Cæfar is ftill difpos'd to give us terms, And waits at diftance 'till he hears from Cato. Enter PORTIUS. Portius, thy looks speak fomewhat of importance. PORTIU S. As I was hafting to the port, where now My father's friends, impatient for a passage, Accuse the lingering winds, a fail arriv'd From Pompey's fon, who through the realms of Spain Calls out for vengeance on his father's death, And rouzes the whole nation up to arms. Were Cato at their head, once more might Rome Affert her rights, and claim her liberty. But hark! what means that groan? O give me way, And let me fly into my father's presence. LUCIUS. Cato, amidst his flumbers, thinks on Rome, Mourns o'er his country; ha! a fecond groan !--- 5 MARCIA, |