SCENE IV.

CATO, JU BA.

CATO.

Juba, the Roman Senate has refolv'd

'Till time give better prospects; still to keep
The sword unfheath'd, and turn its edge on Cafar.
JUBA.

The refolution fits a Roman Senate.

But, Cato, lend me for a while thy patience
And condefcend to hear a young Man fpeak.

My father, when some days before his death
He order'd me to march for Utica

(Alas, I thought not then his death fo near !),
Wept o'er me, preft me in his aged arms,
And, as his griefs gave way, my fan, faid he,.
Whatever fortune fhall befal thy father,
Be Cato's friend, he'll train thee up to great
And virtuous deeds: do but obferve him well,

Thou'lt fhun misfortunes, or thou'lt learn to bear 'em.. CATO.

Juba, thy father was a worthy Prince,

And merited, alas! a better fate;

But Heaven thought otherwise.

My father's fate,

JUBA

In fpite of all the fortitude, that fhines

Before

Before my face, in Cato's great example,
Subdues my foul, and fills my eyes with tears.
CATO.

It is an honeft forrow, and becomes thee.
JUBA.

My father drew refpect from foreign climes:
The Kings of Afric fought him for their friend;
Kings far remote, that rule, as fame reports,
Behind the hidden fources of the Nile,

In diftant Worlds, on t'other fide the Sun:
Oft have their black ambassadors appeared,
Loaden with gifts, and fill'd the courts of Zama.
САТО.

I am no stranger to thy father's greatnefs?
JUBA.

I would not boaft the greatnefs of my father,

But point out new alliances to Cato.

Had we not better leave this Utica,

To arm Numidia in our caufe, and court
Th' affiftance of my father's powerful friends?
Did they know Cato, our remoteft Kings
Would pour embattled multitudes about him;
Their fwarthy hofts would darken all our plains,
Doubling the native horror of the war,

And making death more grim.

And canft thou think

CATO.

Cato will fly before the fword of Cafar?

Reduce'd

Reduce'd like Hannibal, to feek relief

From court to court, and wander up

A vagabond in Afric!

Cato, perhaps

JUBA.

and down

I'm too officious, but my forward cares
Would fain preserve a life of fo much value.
My heart is wounded, when I fee fuch virtue
Afflicted by the weight of fuch misfortunes.
GATO.

Thy nobleness of foul obliges me.
But know, young Prince, that value foars above
What the world calls misfortune and affliction.
These are not ills; elfe would they never fall
On Heaven's firft favourites, and the best of men :)
The Gods, in bounty, work up ftorms about us,
That give mankind occafion to exert

Their hidden ftrength, and throw out into practice
Virtues, which fhun the day, and lie conceal'd
In the smooth seasons and the calms of life.

JUBA.

I'm charm'd whene'er thou talk'ft! I pant for virtue! And all my foul endeavours at perfection.

CATO.

Doft thou love watchings, abftinence, and toil, Laborious virtues all ? learn them from Cato: Succefs and fortune must thou learn from Cæfar.

JUBA

JUBA.

The best good fortune that can fall on Juba, The whole fuccefs, at which my heart afpires, Depends on Cato.

CATO.

What does Juba say?

Thy words confound me.

JUBA.

I would fain retract them,

Give 'em me back again. They aim'd at nothing.

CATO.

Tell me thy wish, young Prince; make not my ear A ftranger to thy thoughts.

Adieu, young Prince: I would not hear a word

Should

Should leffen thee in my esteem: remember
The hand of fate is over us, and Heav'n
Exacts feverity from all our thoughts:
It is not now a time to talk of aught
But chains, or conqueft; liberty, or death.

SCENE V.

SY PHAX, JUBA.

SYPHA X.

How's this, my Prince! what, cover'd with confufion? You look as if yon ftern Philosopher

I've opened to him

The weakness of my foul, my love for Marcia

SYPHAX.

Cato's a proper perfon to intrust

A love-tale with.

JUBA.