And make our lives in thy poffeffion happy, Or our deaths glorious in thy just defence. [Exeunt CATO, &a SEMPRONIUS and the LEADERS of the Mutiny. FIRST LEADER. Sempronius, you have acted like yourself, One would have thought you had been half in earnest. SEMPRONIUS. Villain, ftand off! bafe groveling worthlefs wretches, Mongrels in faction, poor faint-hearted traitors! SECOND LEADER. Nay, now you carry it too far, Sempronius: Throw off the mafk, there are none here but friends. SEMPRONIUS. Know, villains, when fuch paltry flaves prefume To mix in treafon, if the plot fucceeds, They 're thrown neglected by: but if it fails, They 're fure to die like dogs, as you fhall do. Here, take these factious monfters, drag them forth To fudden death. Difpatch them quick; but first pluck out their tongues, Left with their dying breath they fow fedition. 5 [Exeunt GUARDS with the LEADERS. Enter Enter SYPHAX. SYPHAX. Our first defign, my friend, has prov'd abortive; Still there remains an after-game to play : My troops are mounted; their Numidian steeds SEMPRONIUS. Confufion! I have fail'd of half my purpose. Marcia, the charming Marcia 's left behind! SY PHAX, How! will Sempronius turn a woman's flave! SEMPRONIUS. Think not thy friend can ever feel the soft Unmanly warmth, and tenderness of love. Syphax, I long to clafp that haughty maid, And bend her ftubborn virtue to my paffion; When I have gone thus far, I'd cast her off. SYPHA X. Well faid that 's fpoken like thyfelf, Sempronius. What hinders then, but that thou find her out, And hurry her away by manly force? SEMPRONIUS. But how to gain admiffion? For accefs SYPHA X. Thou shalt have Juba's drefs, and Juba's guards: The doors will open, when Numidia's Prince Seems to appear before the flaves that watch them. SEMPRONIUS. Heavens, what a thought is there! Marcia 's my own! How will my bosom fwell with anxious joy, When I behold her struggling in my arms, With glowing beauty, and disorder'd charms, While fear and anger, with alternate grace, Pant in her breast, and vary in her face! So Pluto, feiz'd of Proferpine, convey'd To hell's tremendous gloom th' affrighted maid, There grimly fmil'd, pleas'd with the beauteous prize, Nor envy'd Jove his fun-fhine and his skies. END OF THE THIRD ACT. ACT ACT IV. SCENE I. NOW LUCIA and MARCIA. LUCIA. OW tell me, Marcia, tell me from thy foul; To fuffer greater ills than Lucia fuffers ? MARCI A. O Lucia, Lucia, might my big fwoln heart Vent all its griefs, and give a loose to forrow : Marcia could answer thee in fighs, keep pace With all thy woes, and count out tear for tear. LUCIA. I know thou'rt doom'd alike to be belov'd By Juba, and thy father's friend Sempronius; But which of these has power to charm like Portius! MARCIA. Still muft I beg thee not to name Sempronius ? Lucia, I like not that loud boisterous man : Juba to all the bravery of a heroe, Adds fofteft love, and more than female sweetness ; Any of woman-kind, but Marcia, happy. LUCIA. And why not Marcia? come, you strive in vain To hide your thoughts from one, who knows too well The inward glowings of a heart in love, MARCIA, MARCI A. While Cato lives, his daughter has no right To love or hate, but as his choice directs. LUCIA. But fhould this father give you to Sempronius? MARCIA. I dare not think he will: but if he fhould— I hear the found of feet! they march this way! Each fofter thought in fenfe of present danger. [Exeunt. Enter SEMPRONIUS, drefs'd like JUBA, with Numidian guards. SEMPRONIUS. The deer is lodg'd. I've track'd her to her covert. Be fure mind the word; you and when I give it, Rush in at once, and feize upon your prey. Let not her cries or tears have force to move you. -How will the young Numidian rave, to fee His mistress loft? If aught could glad my soul Beyond th' enjoyment of fo bright a prize, 'Twould be to torture that young, gay, barbarian. ---But hark, what noife! death to my hopes! 'tis he, is Juba's felf! there is but one way left He |