That he forgets his sleep, and loathes his food;

That youth, and health, and war, are joyless to him;

Describe his anxious days, and restless nights, And all the torments that thou see'st me suffer. Por. Marcus, I beg thee give me not an office That suits with me so ill. Thou know'st my temper.

Marc. Wilt thou behold me sinking in my woes,

And wilt thou not reach out a friendly arm, To raise me from amidst this plunge of sor

rows?

Por. Marcus, thou canst not ask what I'd refuse;

But here, believe me, I've a thousand rea

sons.

Marc. I know thou'lt say my passion's out of

season,

That Cato's great example and misfortunes Should both conspire to drive it from my thoughts.

From all my thoughts-as far as I am able. Por. What hast thou said!-I'm thunderstruck

Recall those hasty words, or I am lost for ever. Lucia. Has not the vow already pass'd my lips? [Heaven. The gods have heard it, and 'tis seal'd in May all the vengeance that was ever pour'd On perjur'd heads, o'erwhelm me if I break it! Por. Fix'd in astonishment, I gaze upon thee, Like one just blasted by a stroke from Heaven, Who pants for breath, and stiffens, yet alive, In dreadful looks; a monument of wrath! Lucia. Think, Portius, think thou see'st thy dying brother [blood, Stabb'd at his heart, and all besmear'd with Storming at Heaven and thee! Thy awful sire Sternly demands the cause, th' accursed cause, That robs him of his son:-farewell, my Portius! [ever? Farewell, though death is in the word-for Por. Thou must not go; my soul still hovers o'er thee,

And can't get loose.

Lucia. If the firm Portius shake, To hear of parting, think what Lucia suffers! Por. 'Tis true, unruffled and serene, I've

sion,

Our friendship's at an end; if I conceal it,
The world will call me false to friend and
brother.
[Aside.
Marc. But see, where Lucia, at her wonted
hour,

Amid the cool of yon high marble arch,
Enjoys the noon-day breeze! Observe her,
Portius;

That face, that shape, those eyes, that heaven of beauty!

Observe her well, and blame me if thou canst.
Por. She sees us, and advances.
Marc. I'll withdraw,

And leave you for awhile. Remember, Portius,

Thy brother's life depends upon thy tongue.

Enter LUCIA.

[Exit.

Lucia. Did not I see your brother Marcus here? [sence? Why did he fly the place, and shun my prePor. Oh, Lucia, language is too faint to show

His rage of love; it preys upon his life; He pines, he sickens, he despairs, he dies! Lucia. How wilt thou guard thy honour, in the shock [Portius, Of love and friendship? Think betimes my Think how the nuptial tie, that might ensure Our mutual bliss, would raise to such a height Thy brother's griefs, as might perhaps destroy him.

Por. Alas, poor youth! What dost thou think, my Lucia?

His generous, open, undesigning heart,
Has begg'd his rival to solicit for him!
Then do not strike him dead with a denial.
Lucia. No, Portius, no; I see thy sister's
tears,

Thy father's anguish, and thy brother's death,
In the pursuit of our ill-fated loves;

And, Portius, here I swear, to heaven I swear, To heaven, and all the powers that judge mankind,

Never to mix my plighted hands with thine, While such a cloud of mischief hangs upon us; But to forget our loves, and drive thee out

Such an unlook'd-for storm of ills falls on me,
It beats down all my strength, I cannot bear
We must not part.
[it.
Lucia. What dost thou say? Not part!
Hast thou forgot the vow that I have made?
Are not there heavens, and gods, that thunder
o'er us?

But see, thy brother Marcus bends his way;
I sicken at the sight. Once more, farewell,
Farewell, and know thou wrong'st me, if thou
think'st,

Ever was love, or ever grief, like mine. [Exit.

What new alarm?

[Shouts and trumpets repeated. Por. A second, louder yet, [us. Swells in the wind, and comes more full upon Marc. Oh, for some glorious cause to fall in battle!

Lucia, thou hast undone me: thy disdain
Has broke my heart: 'tis death must give me

ease.

Por. Quick let us hence. Who knows if Cato's life [heart Stands sure? Oh, Marcus, I am warm'd; my Leaps at the trumpet's voice, and burns for glory. [Exeunt ; trumpets and shouting. SCENE 11.-Before the Senate-House. Enter SEMPRONIUS, with the LEADERS of the Mutiny.

Sem. At length the winds are rais'd, the storm blows high!

Be it your care, my friends, to keep it up
In all its fury, and direct it right,
Till it has spent itself on Cato's head.
Meanwhile, I'll herd among his friends, and

seem

One of the number, that, whate'er arrive, My friends and fellow-soldiers may be safe.

[Exit. 1 Lead. We are all safe; Sempronius is our friend. Trumpets. [fast;

But, hark, Cato enters. Bear up boldly to him;

Be sure you beat him down, and bind him This day will end our toils.

Fear nothing, for Sempronius is our friend. Trumpets. Re-enter SEMPRONIUS, with CATO, LUCIUS, PORTIUS, MARCUS, and Guards. Cato. Where are those, bold intrepid sons of war,

That greatly turn their backs upon the foe, And, to their general, send a brave defiance? Sem. Curse on their dastard souls, they stand astonish'd!

Aside.

Cato. Perfidious men! And will you thus dishonour

Your past exploits, and sully all your wars?
Why could not Cato fall
Without your guilt? Behold, ungrateful men,
Behold my bosom naked to your swords,
And let the man that's injur'd strike the blow.
Which of you all suspects that he is wrong'd,
Or thinks he suffers greater ills than Cato?
Am I distinguish'd from you but by toils,
Superior toils, and heavier weight of cares?
Painful pre-eminence !

Sem. Confusion to the villains! all is lost!
Aside.
Cato. Hence, worthless men! hence! and
complain to Cæsar,

You could not undergo the toil of war,
Nor bear the hardships that your leader bore.
Luc. See, Cato, see the unhappy men! they
weep!

Fear and remorse, and sorrow for their crime,
Appear in every look, and plead for mercy.
Cato. Learn to be honest men, give up your

leaders,

And pardon shall descend on all the rest.

Sem. Cato, commit these wretches to my care: First let them each be broken on the rack, Then with what life remains, impal'd, and left To writhe at leisure, round the bloody stake; There let them hang, and taint the southern wind. [dience. The partners of their crime will learn obe

Cato. Forbear, Sempronius !-see they suffer death,

But, in their deaths, remember they are men; Lucius, the base degen'rate age requires Severity.

[perish, When, by just vengeance, guilty Fortals The gods behold the punishment with plea

sure,

And lay, th' uplifted thunderbolt aside.
Sem. Cato, I execute thy will with pleasure.
Cuto. Meanwhile we'll sacrifice to liberty.
Remember, O, my friends! the laws, the
rights,

The generous plan of power, deliver'd down
From age to age by your renown'd forefathers,
(So dearly bought, the price of so much blood :)
Oh, let it never perish in your hands!
But piously transmit it to your children.
And make our lives in thy possession happy,
Do thou, great liberty! inspire our souls,
Or our deaths glorious in thy just defence.
[Exeunt CATO, &c.

1 Lead. Sempronius, you have acted like yourself: [earnest. One would have thought you had been half in Sem. Villain, stand off; base, grov'ling, worthless, wretches,

[tors! Mongrels in faction, poor faint-hearted trai2 Lead. Nay, now you carry it too far. Sempronius! [friends. Throw off the mask, there are none here but Sem. Know, villains, when such paltry slaves presume To mix in treason, if the plot succeeds, They're thrown neglected by; but, if it fails, They're sure to die like dogs, as you shall do. To sudden death. Here, take these factious monsters, drag them [forth

1 Lead. Nay, since it comes to thisSem. Dispatch them quick, but first pluck out their tongues,

Lest with their dying breath they sow sedition. [Exeunt Guards, with the Leaders of the Mutiny,

Enter SYPHAX.

Syph. Our first design, my friend, has prov'd abortive;

Still there remains an after-game to play.
My troops are mounted;

Let but Sempronius head us in our flight,
We'll force the gate where Marcus keeps his
guard,
[sage.
And hew down all that would oppose our pas-
A day will bring us into Cæsar's camp.
Sem. Confusion! I have fail'd of half my
purpose:

Marcia, the charming Marcia's left behind! Syph. How! will Sempronius turn a woman's slave?

Sem. Think not thy friend can ever feel the soft

Unmanly warmth and tenderness of love. Syphax, I long to clasp that haughty maid, And bend her stubborn virtue to my passion: When I have gone thus far, I'd cast her off. Syph. What hinders, then, but that thou

find her out,

And hurry her away by manly force?
Sem. But how to gain admission? For ac-

ACT IV.

Portius?

Marcia. Still I must beg thee not to name
Sempronius.

Lucia, I like not that loud, boisterous man.
Juba, to all the bravery of a hero,

Adds softest love and sweetness: he, I own,
Might make indeed the proudest woman happy.
Lucia. But should this father give you to
Sempronius?

Marcia. I dare not think he will: but if he
should-

Why wilt thou add, to all the griefs I suffer,
Imaginary ills and fancied tortures?
I hear the sound of feet! They march this
[way!
Let us retire, and try if we can drown
Each softer thought in sense of present danger:
When love once pleads admission to our
hearts,

In spite of all the virtues we can boast,

[ACT IV. Juba. What can this mean? Sempronius! Sem. My sword shall answer thee. Have at thy heart.

Juba. Nay, then, beware thy own, proud, barbarous man.

[They fight; SEMPRONIUS falls. Sem. Curse on my stars! Am I then doom'd to fall

By a boy's hand disfigur'd in a vile Gods, I'm distracted! this my close of life! Numidian dress, and for a worthless woman? Oh, for a peal of thunder, that would make Earth, sea, and air, and heaven, and Cato, tremble! Juba. With what a spring his furious soul [Dies. broke loose, And left the limbs still quivering on the [ground! Hence, let us carry off those slaves to Cato, This dark design, this mystery of fate. That we may there at length unravel all

[Exit JUBA; his Guards taking those of SEMPRONIUS as prisoners.

Enter LUCIA and MARCIA. Lucia. Sure 'twas the clash of swords; my troubled heart

Is so cast down, and sunk amidst its sorrows, It throbs with fear, and aches at every sound. Oh, Marcia, should thy brothers, for my sake

I die away with horror at the thought!

Marcia. See, Lucia, see! here's blood! here's
blood and murder!

Ha! a Numidian! Heaven preserve the prince!
The face lies muffled up within the garment,
But, ah! death to my sight! a diadem,
And royal robes! O gods! 'tis he, 'tis he!
Juba lies dead before us!

Lucia. Now, Marcia, now call up to thy
assistance

Thy wonted strength and constancy of mind;
Thou canst not put it to a greater trial.

Marcia. Lucia, look there, and wonder at

Have I not cause to rave, and beat my breast,
my patience;
To rend my heart with grief, and run dis-
tracted?

Lucia. What can I think, or say, to give

thee comfort?

Marcia. Talk not of comfort; 'tis for lighter

ills:

Enter SEMPRONIUS, dressed like JUBA, with

Numidian Guards.

Sem. The deer is lodg'd, I've track'd her to

her covert.:

Be sure you mind the word, and, when I give [it, Rush in at once, and seize upon your prey. How will the young Numidian rave, to see His mistress lost! If aught could glad my soul,

Beyond th' enjoyment of so bright a prize, "Twould be to torture that young, gay barbarian.

-But hark! what noise! Death to my hopes! 'tis he,

"Tis Juba's self! there is but one way leftHe must be murder'd, and a passage cut Through those his guards.

Enter JUBA, with Guards.

Juba. What do I see? Who's this that dares usurp

The guards and habits of Numidia's prince?
Sem. One that was born to scourge thy
Presumptuous youth!
[arrogance,

breast.

much I lov'd him!

deed

What Marcia thinks?

me!

All is Elysium round [Aside. Marcia. Ye dear remains of the most lov'd of men,

Nor modesty nor virtue here forbid
A last embrace, while thus-
Juba. See, Marcia, see,

[Throwing himself before her. The happy Juba lives! he lives to catch That dear embrace, and to return it, too, With mutual warmth and eagerness of love. Marcia. With pleasure and amaze I stand transported!

If thou art Juba, who lies there?
Juba. A wretch,

Disguis'd like Juba on a curs'd design.
I could not bear

To leave thee in the neighbourhood of death,
But flew, in all the haste of love, to find thee;
I found thee weeping, and confess this once
Am rapt with joy, to see my Marcia's tears.
Marcia. I've been surpris'd in an unguarded
hour,

But must not now go back; the love, that lay Half-smother'd in my breast, has broke through

all

ment.

Oh, prince! I blush to think what I have said, But fate has wrested the confession from me; Go on, and prosper in the paths of honour. Thy virtue will excuse my passion for thee, And make the gods propitious to our love.

[Exeunt MARCIA and LUCIA. Juba. 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. What though Numidia add her conquer'd towns

And provinces to swell the victor's triumph, Juba will never at his fate repine:

Let Cæsar have the world, if Marcia's mine.

[Exit.

SCENE II.-Before the Palace.-A March at a distance.

Enter CATO and LUCIUS. Luc. I stand astonish'd! What, the bold Sempronius,

That still broke foremost through the crowd of patriots,

As with a hurricane of zeal transported,
And virtuous e'en to madness-

Cato. Trust me, Lucius,

Our civil discords have produc'd such crimes, Such monstrous crimes, I am surpris'd at nothing.

-Oh, Lucius, I am sick of this bad world! The daylight and the sun grow painful to me.

Enter PORTIUS.

But see where Portius comes: what means this haste?

Why are thy looks thus chang'd?

Por. My heart is griev'd:

I bring such news as will afflict my father.

309 Cato. Has Cæsar shed more Roman blood? Por. Not so.

The traitor Syphax, as within the square
He exercis'd his troops, the signal given,
Flew off at once with his Numidian horse
To the south gate, where Marcus holds the
watch;

I saw, and call'd to stop him, but in vain :
He toss'd his arm aloft, and proudly told me,
He would not stay and perish like Sempro-
nius.

Cato. Perfidious man! But haste, my son,
and see

Thy brother Marcus acts a Roman's part.
[Exit PORTIUS.
-Lucius, the torrent bears too hard upon me:
Justice gives way to force: the conquer'd
world

Is Casar's! Cato has no business in it.
Luc. While pride, oppression, and injustice,

reign,

The world will still demand her Cato's pre-
[sence.
In pity to mankind submit to Cæsar,
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 name of Rome, and own a tyrant?
Luc. The victor never will impose on Cato
Ungenerous terms. His enemies confess
The virtues of humanity are Cæsar's.

Cato. Curse on his virtues! they've undone his country.

Such popular humanity is treason-
But see young Juba; the good youth appears,
Full of the guilt of his perfidious subjects!
Luc. Alas, poor prince! his fate deserves
compassion.

Cato. I'm satisfied..

Por. Nor did he fall, before His sword had pierc'd through the false heart of Syphax.

Yonder he lies, I saw the hoary traitor
Grin in the pangs of death, and bite the ground.
Cato. Thanks to the gods, my boy has done
his duty.

-Portius, when I'm dead, be sure you place
His urn near mine.

Por. Long may they keep asunder! Luc. Oh, Cato, arm thy soul with all its patience! [proaches! See where the corpse of thy dead son apThe citizens and senators, alarm'd, [ing. Have gather'd round it, and attend it, weep

Dead march. CATO meets the corpse. LUCIUS, Senators, Guards, &c. attending.

Cato. Welcome, my son! Here lay him down, my friends,

Full in my sight, that I may view at leisure The bloody corse, and count those glorious wounds. [tue! -How beautiful is death, when earn'd by virWho would not be that youth? What pity is it That we can die but once to serve our country! -Why sits this sadness on your brows, my friends?

I should have blush'd if Cato's house had stood Secure, and flourish'd in a civil war. Portius, behold thy brother, and remember Thy life is not thy own, when Rome demands it. [more. When Rome demands ?-But Rome is now no Oh, liberty! ob, virtue! oh, my country!, Juba. Behold that upright man! Rome fills his eyes

son.

With tears, that flow'd not o'er his own dear [Aside. Cato. Whate'er the Roman virtue has subdu'd, [Cæsar's: The sun's whole course, the day and year, are For him the self-devoted Decii died, The Fabii fell, and the great Scipio's conquer'd: [friends! Even Pompey fought for Cæsar. Oh, my How is the toil of fate, the work of ages, The Roman empire, fallen! Oh, curs'd ambition! [fathers Fallen into Cæsar's hands! Our great foreHad left him nought to conquer but his coun

try.

Juba. While Cato lives, Cæsar will blush to

see

Rise in my soul. How shall I save my friends? 'Tis now, O Cæsar, I begin to fear thee!

Luc. Cæsar has mercy, if we ask it of him. Cato. Then ask it, I conjure you; let him know

Whate'er was done against him, Cato did it. Add, if you please, that I request it of himThat I myself, with tears, request it of himThe virtue of my friends may pass unpunish'd. Juka, my heart is troubled for thy sake.

Should I advise thee to regain Numidia, Or seek the conqueror ?—

Juba. If I forsake thee

Whilst I have life, may Heaven abandon Juba! Cato. Thy virtues, prince, if I forsee aright, Will one day make thee great; at Rome, hereafter,

'Twill be no crime to have been Cato's friend. Portius, draw near-my son, thou oft hast

seen

Thy sire engag'd in a corrupted state, Wrestling with vice and faction: now thou

seest me

Spent, overpower'd, despairing of success;
Let me advise thee to retreat betimes
To thy paternal state, the Sabine field;
Where the great Censor toil'd with his own
hands,

And all our frugal ancestors were bless'd
In humble virtues, and a rural life;
There live retir'd, pray for the peace of Rome;
Content thyself to be obscurely good.
When vice prevails, and impious men bear
sway,

The post of honour is a private station.

Por. I hope my father does not recommend A life to Portius, that he scorns himself. Cato. Farewell, my friends! If there be any of you

Who dare not trust the victor's clemency, Know there are ships prepar'd, by my command,

That shall convey you to the wish'd-for port. Is there aught else, my friends, I can do for you? [well! The conqueror draws near. Once more, fareIf e'er we meet hereafter, we shall meet In happier climes, and on a safer shore, Where Cæsar never shall approach us more. [Pointing to his dead son. There the brave youth, with love of virtue fir'd, Who greatly in his country's cause expir'd, Shall know he conquer'd. The firm patriot there, Who made the welfare of mankind his care, Though still by faction, vice, and fortune cross'd, Shall find the generous labour was not lost. [Dead march; exeunt in funeral procession.

ACT V.

SCENE I-A Chamber.

CATO solus, sitting in a thoughtful posture; in his hand, Plato's Book on the Immortality of the Soul; a drawn Sword on the table, by him.

Cato. It must be so-Plato, thou reason'st well[sire, Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond deThis longing after immortality? Or whence this secret dread, this inward horror,

[soul Of falling into nought! Why shrinks the Back on herself, and startles at destruction? 'Tis the divinity that stirs within us; "Tis Heaven itself that points out an hereafter, And intimates eternity to man. Eternity! thou pleasing, dreadful thought! Through what variety of untried being, Through what new scenes and changes, must [me:

we pass?

The wide, the unbounded prospect lies before But shadows, clouds, and darkness rest upon it.

Here will I hold. If there's a power above us