t he can oppose the mighty torrent

bears down Rome, and all her gods, before it, nuft at length give up the world to Cæfar. SEMPRONIUS.

ot all the pomp and majefty of Rome
aife her Senate more than Cato's prefence.
virtues render our affembly awful,

- ftrike with something like religious fear,
make even Cafar tremble at the head
-mies flufh'd with conqueft: O my Portius,
d I but call that wondrous Man my Father,
Id but thy fifter Marcia be propitious
my friend's vows: I might be bless'd indeed!
PORTIU S.

as! Sempronius, wouldft thou talk of love larcia, whilft her father's life's in danger? might'ft as well court the pale trembling Vestal, n fhe beholds the holy flame expiring.

SEMPRONIUS.

Le more I fee the wonders of thy race,

more I'm charm'd. Thou must take heed,my Portius!

world has all its eyes on Cato's fon,

father's merit fets thee up to view,
hows thee in the faireft point of light,
ake thy virtues, or thy faults, confpicuous.
PORTIU S.

ell doft thou feem to check my lingring here
■is important hour

I'll ftraight away,

And while the Fathers of the Senate meet,
In clofe debate to weigh th' events of war,
I'll animate the foldier's drooping courage,
With love of freedom, and contempt of life:
I'll thunder in their ears their country's cause,
And try to roufe up all that's Roman in 'em.
'Tis not in mortals to Command fuccefs,

But we'll do more, Sempronius; we'll Deferve it. [Exit.
SEMPRONIUS folus.

Curfe on the Stripling! how he apes his Sire!"
Ambitiously fententious !-

but I wonder
Old Syphax comes not; his Numidian genius
Is well dispos'd to mifchief, were he prompt
And eager on it; but he must be spurr'd,
And every moment quickned to the courfe.

-Cato has us'd me ill: he has refused
His daughter Marcia to my ardent vows.
Befides, his baffled arms, and ruin'd caufe,

Are bars to my ambition. Cafar's favour,

That show'rs down greatness on his friends, will raife me
To Rome's first honours. If I give up Cato,

I claim in my reward his captive daughter.
But Syphax comes!

SCENE

SCENE

III.

Y PHAX, SEM PRONIUS.

SYPHAX.

•Sempronius, all is ready,

founded my Numidians, man by man,

find 'em ripe for a revolt: they all plain aloud of Cato's discipline,

wait but the command to change their mafter.
SEMPRONIUS.

elieve me, Syphax, there's no time to waste;
n whilst we speak, our Conqueror comes on,
gathers ground upon us every moment.
s! thou know't not Cæfar's active foul,
h what a dreadful course he rushes on
m war to war: in vain has nature form'd
untains and Oceans to oppose his passage;
bounds o'er all, victorious in his march:
Alps and Pyreneans fink before him,

rough winds and waves and storms he works his way, patient for the battle: one day more

Il fet the Victor thundering at our gates,

tell me, haft thou yet drawn o'er young Juba? at still would recommend thee more to Cæfar, ad challenge better terms.

Alas! he's loft,

SY PHA X.

He's loft, Sempronius; all his thoughts are full
Of Cato's virtues :————— -but I'll try once more
(For every inftant I expect him here)
If yet I can fubdue those stubborn principles
Of faith, of honour, and I know not what,
That have corrupted his Numidian temper,
And ftruck th' infection into all his foul.

SEMPRONIUS.

motive.

Be fure to prefs upon him every
Juba's furrender, fince his father's death,
Would give up Afric into Cæfar's hands,

And make him Lord of half the burning Zone.
SYPHA X.

But is it true, Sempronius, that your Senate
Is call'd together? Gods! thou must be cautious!
Cato has piercing eyes, and will difcern
Our frauds, unless they're cover'd thick with art.
SEMPRONIUS.

Let me alone, good Syphax, I'll conceal
My thoughts in paffion ('tis the fureft way ;)
I'll bellow out for Rome and for my country,-

And mouth at Cæfar 'till I fhake the Senate.
Your cold hypocrify's a ftale device,

A worn-out trick: would't thou be thought in earnest?
Clothe thy feign'd zeal in rage, in fire, in fury!

Sr.

SY PHA X.

troth, thou'rt able to inftruct gray-hairs, teach the wily African deceit !

SEMPRONIUS.

nce more be sure to try thy skill on Juba. an while I'll haften to my Roman foldiers, ame the mutiny, and underhand

w up their discontents, 'till they break out
ook'd for, and discharge themselves on Cato.
member, Syphax, we must work in hafte :
hink what anxious moments pass between
e birth of plots, and their last fatal periods,
I'tis a dreadful interval of time,
d up with horror all, and big with death!
truction hangs on every word we speak,
every thought, till the concluding stroke
termines all, and clofes our defign.

SYPHAX folus.

ll try if yet I can reduce to reafon

[Exit.

s head-ftrong youth, and make him fpurn at Cato. e time is fhort, Cafar comes rushing on ushold young Juba fees me, and approaches.