Syph. How's this, my prince? What, cover'd with confusion?

You look as if yon stern philosopher

Had just now chid you.

Juba. Syphax, I'm undone!

Syph. I know it well.

Juba. Cato thinks meanly of me.
Syph. And so will all mankind.
Juba. I've open'd to him

The weakness of my soul, my love for Marcia.
Syph. Cato's a proper person to intrust
A love tale with!

Juba. Oh, I could pierce my heart,
My foolish heart!

Syph. Alas, my prince, how are you chang'd
of late!

I've known young Juba rise before the sun,
To beat the thicket, where the tiger slept,
Or seek the lion in his dreadful haunts.
I've seen you,

Ev'n in the Libyan dog-days, hunt him down,
Then charge him close,

And, stooping from your horse,

Rivet the panting savage to the ground.
Juba. Pr'ythee, no more.

Syph. How would the old king smile,

To see you weigh the paws, when tipp'd with

gold,
ders!

Still stands unfill'd, and that Numidia's crown
Hangs doubtful yet whose head it shall enclose,
Thou thus presum'st to treat thy prince with
scorn?

Syph. Why will you rive my heart with
such expressions?

Does not old Syphax follow you to war!

And throw the shaggy spoils about your shoul-What are his aims? to shed the slow remains,

Juba. Syphax, this old man's talk, though
honey flow'd

In ev'ry word, would now lose all its sweetness.
Cato's displeas'd, and Marcia lost for ever.
Syph. Young prince, I yet could give you
good advice;

Marcia might still be yours.

Juba. As how, dear Syphax?

Syph. Juba commands Numidia's hardy

troops,

Mounted on steeds unus'd to the restraint
Of curbs or bits, and fleeter than the winds:
Give but the word, we snatch this damsel up,
And bear her off.

Juba. Can such dishonest thoughts
Rise up in man! Wouldst thou seduce my youth
To do an act that would destroy mine honour?
Syph. Gods, I could tear my hair to hear
you talk!

Honour's a fine imaginary notion,
That draws in raw and inexperienc'd men
To real mischiefs, while they hunt a shadow.
Juba. Wouldst thou degrade thy prince

into a ruffian?

Syph. The boasted ancestors of these great

men,

Whose virtues you admire, were all such ruf-
fians.

This dread of nations, this almighty Rome,
That comprehends in her wide empire's bounds
All under heav'n, was founded on a rape;
Your Scipios, Caesars, Pompeys, and your Catos
(The gods on earth), are all the spurious blood
Of violated maids, of ravish'd Sabines.

His last poor ebb of blood in your defence?
Juba. Syphax, no more! I would not hear

you talk.

Syph. Not hear me talk! what, when my
faith to Juba,

My royal master's son, is call'd in question?
My prince may strike me dead, and I'lÎ be dumb;
But whilst I live I must not hold my tongue,
And languish out old age in his displeasure.
Juba. Thou know'st the way too well into
my heart.

I

do believe thee loyal to thy prince.
Syph. What greater instance can I give?
I've offer'd

To do an action which my soul abhors,
And gain you whom you love, at any price.
Juba. Was this thy motive? I have been
too hasty.

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

Juba. Sure thou mistak'st; I did not call thee so.

Syph. 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 sacrifice
His life, nay more, his honour, in your
service?
Juba. Syphax, I know thou lov'st me; but
indeed

Thy zeal for Juba carried thee too far.
Honour's a sacred tie, the law of kings,
The noble mind's distinguishing perfection,
That aids and strengthens virtue where it meets
her,

Juba. Syphax, I fear that hoary head of thine
Abounds too much in our Numidian wiles.
Syph. Indeed, my prince, you want to know And imitates her actions where she is not:
It ought not to be sported with.

the world.

Syph. Believe me, prince, you make old Sy-Unusual fastings, and will bear no more
Th's medley of philosophy and war.
Within an hour they'll storm the senate-house.
Syph. Meanwhile I'll draw up my Numi-
dian troops

To hear you talk-but 'tis with tears of joy.
If e'er your father's crown- adorn your brows,
Numidia will be blest by Cato's lectures.
Juba. Syphax, thy hand; we'll mutually forget Within the square, to exercise their arms,
The warmth of youth, and frowardness of age: And, as I see occasion, favour thee.
Thy prince esteems thy worth, and loves thy I laugh to see how your unshaken Cato
Will look aghast, while unforeseen destruction
Pours in upon him thus from every side.

So, where our wide Numidian wastes extend, Sudden th' impetuous hurricanes descend, My joys grow burdensome, I shan't support it. Wheel through th' air, in circling eddies play, Juba. Syphax, farewell. I'll hence, and try Tear up the sands, and sweep whole plains

Some blest occasion, that may set me right The helpless traveller, with wild surprise, In Cato's thoughts. I'd rather have that man Sees the dry desert all around him rise, Approve my deeds, than worlds for my admir-And, smother'd in the dusty whirlwind, dies.

The factious leaders are our friends, that spread
Murmurs and discontents among the soldiers;
They count their toilsome marches, long fa- Describe his anxious days, and restless nights
And all the torments that thou see'st me suffer

But here, believe me, I've a thousand reasons--
Marc. I know thou'lt say my passion's out Stabb'd at his heart, and all besmear'd with

Our friendship's at an end; if I conceal it,
The world will call me false to friend and The common accidents of life; but here
Such an unlook'd-for storm of ills falls on me,
It beats down all my strength, I cannot bear it.
We must not part.

What new alarm?

[Shouts and Trumpeis repeated. Por. A second, louder yet, Swells in the wind, and comes more full upon

us.

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

ease.

Por. Quick, let us hence. Who knows

Cato's life

heart

me

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.

The partners of their crime will learn obedience.
Cato. Forbear, Sempronius!-see they suffer

death,

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

Stands sure? Oh, Marcus, I am warm'd; my When by just vengeance guilty mortals perish, The gods behold the punishment with pleasure, And lay th' uplifted thunderbolt aside.

Leaps at the trumpet's voice, and burns

for

glory.
[Exeunt. Trumpets and shouting.

SCENE II-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.
Mean while, 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.

But, hark, Cato enters. Bear up boldly to him;
Be sure you beat him down, and bind him fast;
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.

Sem. Cato, I execute thy will with pleasure. Cato. Mean while, we'll sacrifice to liberty. Remember, O my friends! the laws, the rights, The gen'rous 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. Do thou, great liberty, inspire our souls, And make our lives in thy possession happy, Or our deaths glorious in thy just defence. [Exeunt Cato, etc. 1 Lead. Sempronius, you have acted like yourself, One would have thought you had been half in earnest.

Sem. Villain, stand off; base, grov'ling, worthless wretches, Mongrels in faction, poor faint-hearted traitors! 2 Lead. Nay, now you carry it too far, Sempronius!

Throw off the mask, there are none here but

friends.

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.
Here, take these factious monsters, drag them
forth
To sudden death.

1 Lead. Nay, since it comes to this-
Sem. Dispatch them quick, but first pluck
out their tongues,
Lest with their dying breath they sow sedition.
[Exeunt Guards, with the Lea-
ders 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,

Cato. Hence, worthless men! hence! and And hew down all that would oppose our complain to Caesar,

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 ev'ry look, and plead for mercy.
Cato. Learn to be honest men, give up your
leaders,

And pardon shall descend on all the rest.

passage.

A day will bring us into Caesar's camp.
Sem. Confusion! I have fail'd of half my

Syphax, I long to clasp that haughty maid, Twould be to torture that young, gay barbarian.
And bend her stubborn virtue to my passion:-But hark! what noise! Death to my hopes!
When I have gone thus far, I'd cast her off.
'tis he,
Syph. What hinders, then, but that thou 'Tis Juba's self! there is but one way left—
He must be murder'd, and a passage cut
Through those his guards.

The doors will open, when Numidia's prince The guards and habits of Numidia's prince? Seems to appear before the slaves that watch Sem. One that was born to scourge thy ar

By a boy's hand, disfigur'd in a vile Numidian dress, and for a worthless woman? Nor envy'd Jove his sunshine and his skies. Gods, I'm distracted! this my close of life! Oh, for a peal of thunder, that would make Earth, sea, and air, and heav'n, and Cato tremble! [Dies.

By Juba, and thy father's friend, Sempronius: Is so cast down, and sunk amidst its sorrows, But which of these has pow'r to charm like It throbs with fear, and aches at ev'ry sound. Oh, Marcia, should thy brothers, for my sakeMarcia. Still I must beg thee not to name I die away with horror at the thought!