Why wilt thou add to all the griefs I suffer
Imaginary ills, and fancy'd 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 virtue we can boast
The woman that deliberates is lost.

[Excunt.

Enter SEMPRONIUS, dressed like JUBA, with Numi.

dian 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.
Let not her cries or tears have force to move you.

How will the young Numidian rave to see
His mistress lost! If ought 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-Hah, dastards, do you

tremble 1 Or act like men, or by yon azure heaven

Enter JUBA. Jub. What do I see i Who's this, that dares usurp The guards and habit of Numidia's prince ?

man.

Sem. One that was born to scourge thy arrogance, Presumptuous youth !

Jub. What can this mean? Sempronius!
Sem. My sword shall answer thee. Have at thy

heart. Jub. Nay, then beware thy own, proud, barbarous

[Sem. falls. His guards surrender. Sem. Curse on my stars! Am I then doom'd to fall By a boy's hand, disfigur'd in a vile Numidian dress, and for a worthless woman? Gods, I'm distracted! This my close of life! Oh, for a peal of thunder that would make Earth, sea, and air, and Heaven, and Cato tremble!

[Dies. Jub. With what a spring his furious soul broke

loose,
And left the limbs still quiv’ring on the ground!
Hence let us carry off those slaves to Cato,
That we may there at length unravel all
This dark design, this mystery of fate.

[Exit Juba with prisoners, &c.

Enter LUCIA and MARCIA.

Luc. 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 ev'ry sound,
Oh, Marcia, should ihy brothers, for my sake !-
I die away with horror at the thought.

Mar. See, Lucia, see! here's blood! here's blood

and murder!
Hah! a Numidian! Heav'n preserve the prince!
The face lies muffled up within the garment,
But, hah! death to my sight, a diadem,
And royal robes! O gods ! 'tis he, 'tis he!
“ Juba, the loveliest youth that ever warm’d
“A virgin's heart,” Juba lies dead before us !

Luc. Now, Marcia, now call up to thy assistance
Thy wonted strength and constancy of mind,
Thou can’st not put it to a greater trial.

Mar. Lucia, look there, and wonder at my patience;
Have I not cause to rave, and beat my breast,
To rend my heart with grief and run distracted !

Luc. What can I think or say to give thee comfort?

Mar. Talk not of comfort, 'tis for lighter ills : Behold a sight that strikes all comfort dead.

:

Enter JUBA listening. I will indulge my sorrows, and give way To all the pangs and fury of despair ; That man, that best of men, deserv'd it from me. Jub. What do I hear? And was the false Sem.

pronius That best of men? Oh, had I fall’n like him, And cou'd have been thus mourn’d, I had been happy.

“ Luc. Here will I stand, companion in thy woes, “ And hielp thee with my tears; when I behoid “ A loss like thine, I half forget my own." “ Mar. 'Tis not in fate to ease my tortur'd breast,

“ This empty world, to me a joyless desert,
“ Has nothing left to make poor Marcia happy.

“ Jub. I'm on the rack ! Was he so near her heart?

“ Mar. Oh, he was all made up of love and charms! “ Whatever maid could wish, or man admire : “ Delight of every eye; when he appear'd, “ A secret pleasure gladd’ned all that saw him ; “ But when he talk'd, the proudest Roman blush'd “ To hear his virtues, and old age grew worse.

Jub. I shall run mad—” “ Mar. Oh, Juba! Juba ! Juba ! Jub. What means that voice? Did she not call on

Juba? Mar. “Why do I think on what he was! he's dead! « He's dead, and never knew how much I lov'd him." Lucia, who knows but his poor bleeding heart, Amidst its agonies, remember'd Marcia, And the last words he utter'd, call'd me cruel ! Alas! he knew not, hapless youth, he knew not Marcia's whole soul was full of love and Juba !

Jub. Where am I? Do I live? or am indeed What Marcia thinks? All is Elysium round me!

Mar. Ye dear remains of the most lov'd of men, Nor modesty nor virtue here forbid A last embrace, while thus

Fub. 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.

Mar. With pleasure and amaze I stand transported !

« Sure 'tis a dream! dead and alive at once !"
If thou art Juba, who lies there?

Jub. A wretch,
Disguis'd like Juba on a curs'd design.
“ 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 few, 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.

Mar. I've been surpriz'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
Its weak restraints, and burns in its full lustre.
I cannot, if I would, conceal it from thee.

“ Jub. I'm lost in ecstacy; and dost thou love, “ Thou charming maid

“ Mar. And dost thou live to ask it? “ Jub. This, this is life indeed! life worth pre

serving, “ Such life as Juba never felt 'till now! “ Mar. Believe me, prince, before I thought thee

dead, “ I did not know myself how much I lov'd thee.

Jub. Oh, fortunate mistake! “ Mar. O happy Marcia !"

Jub. My joy, my best belov’d, my only wish! How shall I speak the transport of

my

soul Mar. Lucia, thy arm. « Oh, let me rest upon it! “ The vital blood that had forsook my heart,