And aims his thunder at my father's head:
Should not the fad occafion fwallow up
My other cares, and draw them all into it?
LUCIA.

Why have not I this conftancy of mind,
Who have so many griefs to try its force?
Sure, Nature form'd me of her fofteft mold,
Enfeebled all my foul with tender paffions,
And funk me even below my own weak fex:
Pity and love, by turns, opprefs my heart.
MARCIA.

Lucia, difburden all thy cares on me,
And let me share thy most retir'd distress;
Tell me who raises up this conflict in thee ?

LUCIA.

I need not blush to name them, when I tell thee
They're Marcia's brothers, and the fons of Cato.
MARCIA.

They both behold thee with their fifter's eyes:
And often have reveal'd their paffion to me.
But tell me, whofe addrefs thou favour'st most?
I long to know, and yet I dread to hear it.
LUCIA.

Which is it Marcia wifhes for?

For neither

MARCI A.

And yet for both the youths have equal share

In

In Marcia's wishes, and divide their fifter:

Put tell me, which of them is Lucia's choice?
LUCIA.

Marcia, they both are high in my efteem,

But in my love-why wilt thou make me name him?
Thou know'ft it is a blind and foolish passion,
Pleas'd and disgusted with it knows not what-
MARCI A.

O Lucia, I'm perplex'd, O tell me which
I muft hereafter call my happy brother?

LUCIA.

Suppofe 'twere Portius, could you blame my choice? -O Portius, thou haft ftol'n away my foul! With what a graceful tenderness he loves! And breathes the fofteft, the fincereft vows ! Complacency, and truth, and manly sweetness Dwell ever on his and smooth his thoughts.

tongue,

Marcus is over-warm, his fond complaints

Have fo much earneftness and paffion in them,
I hear him with a fecret kind of horror,

And tremble at his vehemence of temper.
MARCI A.

Alas poor youth! how can't thou throw him from thee?
Lucia, thou know'ft not half the love he bears thee?
Whene'er he speaks of thee, his heart's in flames,
He fends out all his foul in every word,

And thinks, and talks, and looks like one transported.

Unhappy

Unhappy youth! how will thy coldness raife
Tempests and ftorms in his afflicted bosom !

I dread the consequence.

Had Portius been the unfuccessful lover,

The fame compaffion would have fallen on him,
LUCIA.

Was ever virgin-love distress'd like mine!
Portius himself oft falls in tears before me,
As if he mourn'd his rival's ill fuccefs;
Then bids me hide the motions of my heart,
Nor show which way it turns. So much he fears
The fad effects that it would have on Marcus.

MARCI A.

He knows too well how eafily he's fired, And would not plunge his brother in despair,

But waits for happier times, and kinder moments.

LUCIA.

Alas! too late I find myself involved
In endless griefs, and labyrinths of woe,
Born to afflict my Marcia's family,

And fow diffenfion in the hearts of brothers.
Tormenting thought! it cuts into my foul.

MARCIA.

MARCIA.

Let us not, Lucia, aggravate our forrows, But to the Gods permit th' event of things. Our lives, discolour'd with our present woes,

May ftill grow white, and smile with happier hours.

So the pure limpid ftream, when foul with stains
Of rushing torrents, and defcending rains,
Works itself clear, and as it runs, refines;
"Till by degrees, the floating mirrour shines,
Reflects each flow'r that on the border grows,
And a new Heav'n in its fair bosom shows.

[Exeunt.

ACT

АСТ II.

SCENE I.

The SENA T E.

SEMPRONIUS.

ME ftill furvives in this affembled Senate!

ROME

Let us remember we are Cato's friends,

And act like men who claim that glorious title.
LUCIU S.

Cato wiil foon be here, and open to us

The occafion of our meeting. Hark! he comes!

[A found of trumpets. May all the guardian gods of Rome direct him!

Enter CAT O.

САТО.

Fathers, we once again are met in council. Cafar's approach has fummon'd us together, And Rome attends her fate from our refolves: How fhall we treat this bold aspiring man? Succefs ftill follows him, and backs his crimes: Pharfalia gave him Rome; Egypt has fince

Receiv'd his yoke, and the whole Nile is Cafar's.

Why