Its barren rocks, parch'd earth, and hills of sand,
Its tainted air, and all its broods of poison?
Who was the first to explore th' untrodden path,
When life was hazarded in ev'ry step?
Or, fainting in the long laborious march,
When on the banks of an unlook'd for stream
You sunk the river with repeated draughts,
Who was the last of all your host that thirsted ?

Sem. If some penurious source by chance appear'd,
Scanty of waters, when you scoop'd it dry,
And offer'd the full helmet up to Cato,
Did he not dash th' untasted moisture from him?
Did he not lead you through the mid-day sun,
And clouds of dust? Did not his temples glow
In the same sultry winds, and scorching heats ?
Cato. Hence, worthless men! hence ! and com-

plain 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 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.

Sem. Cato, commit these wretches to my care:
First let 'em 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 'em lang, and taint the southern wind.
The partners of their crime will learn obedience,

When they look up and see their fellow-traitors Stuck on a fork, and black’ning in the sun. “ Luc. Sempronius, why, why wilt thou urge the

fate « Of wretched men?

“ Sem. How! wouldst thou clear rebellion? “ Lucius (good man) pities the poor offenders ". That would imbrue their hands in Cato's blood.”

Cato. Forbear, Sempronius !-see they suffer death, But in their deaths remember they are men; Strain not the laws to make their tortures grievous. Lucius, the base degen’rate age requires Severity, and justice in its rigour : This awes an impious, bold, offending world, Commands obedience, and gives force to laws. When by just vengeance guilty mortals perish, The gods behold the punishment with pleasure, And lay th' uplifted thunderbolt 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 pow'r 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, &c. 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 pre

sume

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 'em forth
To sudden death.

1 Lead. Nay, since it comes to this
Sem. Dispatch 'em quick, but first pluek out their

tongues, Lest with their dying breath they sow sedition.

[Exeunt guards, with their leaders.

Enter SYPHAX. Syph. Our first design, my friend, has prov'd abor

tive: Still there remains an after-game to play; My troops are mounted; their Numidian steeds Snuff up the wind, and long to scour the desert : Let but Sempronius head us in our flight, We'll force the gate where Marcus keeps his guard, And hew down all that would oppose our passage. 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. Well said! that's spoken like thyself, Sem.

pronius. What hinders, then, but that thou find her out, And hurry her away by manly force.

Sem. But how to gain admission ? For access Is given to none but Juba, and her brothers. Syph. Thou shalt have Juba's dress, and Juba's

guards, The doors will open when Numidia's prince Seems to appear before the slaves that watch them.

Sem. Heay’ns, what a thought is there! Marcia's

my own!

How will my bosom swell 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 seiz'd of Proserpine, convey'd
To Hell's tremendous gloom th’affrighted maid,
There grimly smil'd, pleas'd with the beauteous prize,
Nor envied Jove his sunshine and his skies. [Exeunt.

G

ACT IV. SCENE I.

Enter LUCIA and MARCIA.

Lucia.
Now tell me, Marcia, tell me from thy soul,
If thou believ’st 'tis possible for woman
To suffer greater ills than Lucia suffers?

Mar. Oh, Lucia, Lucia, might my big swoln heart,
Vent all its griefs, and give a loose to sorrow,
Marcia could answer thee in sighs, keep pace
With all thy woes, and count out tear for tear.

Luc. I know thou’rt doom'd alike to be beloy'd
By Juba, and thy father's friend, Sempronius :
But which of these has power to charm like Portius !

Mar. Still I must beg thee not to name Sempronius,
Lucia, I like not that loud boist'rous man;
Juba, to all the brav'ry of a hero,
Adds softest love, and more than female sweetness;
Juba might make the proudest of our sex,
Any of woman kind, but Marcia, happy.
Luc. And why not Marcia i Come, you strive in

vain
To hide your thoughts from one who knows too well
The inward glowings of a heart in love.

Mar. While Cato lives, his daughter has no right
To love or hate, but as his choice directs.

Luc. But should this father give you to Sempronius?
Mar. I dare not think he will; but if he should

a