'That dear embrace, and to return it too With mutual warmth and eagerness of love.

MAR CIA.

With pleasure and amaze, I ftand transported!
Sure 'tis a dream! dead and alive at once!
If thou art Juba, who lies there?

JUBA.

A wretch,

Difguis'd like Juba on a cars'd defign.
The tale is long, nor have I heard it out.
Thy father knows it all. I could not bear
To leave thee in the neighbourhood of death,
But flew in all the hafte of love to find thee;
I found thee weeping, and confefs this once,
Am wrapp'd with joy to fee my Marcia's tears.
MARCI A.

I've been furpriz'd in an unguarded hour,
But muft not now go back: the love, that lay
Half fmother'd in my breaft, has broke through all
Its weak reftraints, and burns in its full luftre,
I cannot, if I wou'd conceal it from thee,

JUBA.

I'm loft in extafy! and doft thou love, Thou charming maid ?

MARCI A.

And doft thou live to afk it?

H 2

JUBA.

JUBA.

This, this is life indeed! life worth preserving, • Such life as Juba never felt till now!'

MARCIA.

་

Believe me, Prince, before Ithought thee dead, I did not know myself how much I lov'd thee.

JUB A.

JUBA.

My joy! my best belov'd! my only wish! How fhall I fpeak the tranfport of my foul! MARCI A.

Lucia, thy arm! oh let me reft upon it! The vital blood, that had forfook my heart, Returns again in fuch tumultuous tides,

It quite o'ercomes me. Lead to my apartment.-
O Prince! I blufh to think what I have said,
But fate has wrefted the confeffion from me;
Go on, and profper in the paths of honour,
Thy virtue will excufe my paffion for thee,
And make the gods propitious to our love.

[Ex. Marc. and Luc.

JUBA.

I am fo bleft, I fear 'tis all a dream, Fortune, thou now haft made amends for all Thy paft unkindness. I abfolve my stars.

What

What though Numidia add her conquer'd towns
And provinces to fwell the victor's triumph,
Juba will never at his fate repine;
Let Cafar have the world, if Marcia's mine.

SCENE IV.

A March at a Distance.

CATO, and LUCIUS.

LUCIUS.

I ftand aftonish'd! what, the bold Sempronius!

That still broke foremost through the crowd of patriots, As with a hurricane of zeal tranfported,

And virtuous ev'n to madness

CATO.

Enter PORT ÞÚS.

Trust me, Lucius,

Our civil difcords have produced fuch crimes,

Such monftrous crimes, I am furprized at nothing..
-O Lucius, I an fick of this bad world!

The day-light and the fun grow painful to me.

PORTIU S.

My heart is griev❜d.

[Exit.

I J I

But fee where Partius comes! what means this hate?
Why are thy looks thus changed?

I bring fuch news as will afflict my father,

CATO.

Has Cæfar fhed more Roman blood?
PORTIU S.

Not fo.

The traitor Syphax, as within the square
He exercis'd his troops, the fignal given,

Flew off at once with his Numidian horfe
To the fouth gate, where Marcus holds the watch.

I faw, and call'd to ftop him but in vain,
He caft his arm aloft, and proudly told me,
He would not stay and perish like Sempronius.

САТО.

Perfidious men! but hafte, my fon, and fee

'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 Cafar's: Cato has no business in it.

LUCIU S.

While pride, oppreffion, and injuftice reign, The world will still demand her Cato's presence. I pity to mankind, fubmit to Cæfar,

And reconcile thy mighty foul to life.

CATO.

Would Lucius have me live to fwell the number
Of Cafar's flaves, or by a base submission
Give

up the cause of Rome, and own a tyrant?

LU.

LUCIU S.

The victor never will impose on Cato Ungen'rous terms. His enemies confefs The virtues of humanity are Cæfar's.

CATO.

Curfe on his virtues! they've undone his country.
Such popular humanity is treason-
But fee young Juba! the good youth appears
Full of the guilt of his perfidious fubjects.

LUCIUS.

Alas, poor Prince! his fate deferves compaffion,

Enter JUBA.

JUBA.

I blush, and am confounded to appear

Before thy prefence, Cato.