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JUBA.

Alas, thy ftory melts away my foul.

at beft of fathers! how fhall I discharge: e gratitude and duty which I owe him! SY PHA X.

By laying up his counfels in your heart.

UBA.

His counfels bade me yield to thy directions:
en, Syphax, chide me in severest terms,
ent all thy paffion, and I'll stand its shock,
alm and unruffled as a fummer-fea,

Then not a breath of wind flies o'er its surface.
SYPHA X.

Alas, my Prince, I'd guide you to your fafety.
JUBA.

I do believe thou would't: but tell me how ?
SYPHAX.

Fly from the fate that follows Cafar's foes.
JUBA

My father fcorn'd to do it.

STPHAX

And therefore dy'd.

JUBA.

Better to die ten thousand thousand deaths,

Than wound my honour.

SYPHAX.

Rather fay your love.

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JUBA.

JUBA.

Syphax, I've promis'd to preserve my temper.
Why wilt thou urge me to confess a flame,
I long have ftifled, and would fain conceal?
SYPHA X.

Believe me, Prince, tho' hard to conquer love,
"Tis easy to divert and break its force:
Abfence might cure it, or a fecond mistress
Light up another flame, and put out this.
The glowing dames of Zama's royal court
Have faces flusht with more exalted charms;
The Sun, that rolls his chariot o'er their heads,
Works up more fire and colour in their cheeks:
Were you with thefe, my Prince, you'd foon forget
The pale unripen'd beauties of the North.

JUBA

'Tis not a fet of features, or complexion,
The tincture of a skin, that I admire.
Beauty foon grows familiar to the lover,
Fades in his eye, and palls upon the sense.
The virtuous Marcia tow'rs above her fex:
True, fhe is fair, (Oh how divinely fair!)
But ftill the lovely maid improves her charms
With inward greatnefs, unaffected wisdom,
And fanctity of manners. Cato's foul

Shines out in every thing the acts or fpeaks,
While winning mildness and attractive smiles

Dwell

ell in her looks, and with becoming grace en the rigour of her father's virtue.

SY PHAX.

How does your tongue grow wanton in her praise ! on my knees I beg you would confider

JUBA.

Hah! Syphax, is't not the !-fhe moves this way: with her Lucia, Lucius's fair daughter. heart beats thick-I pr'ythee Syphax leave me. SYPHA X.

Ten thousand curfes faften on 'em both!

v will this woman with a fingle glance

do, what I've been labouring all this while. [Exit.

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Hail charming Maid! how does thy beauty fmooth e face of war, and make even Horror fmile! fight of thee my heart shakes off its forrows; zel a dawn of joy break in upon me, d for a while forget th' approach of Cæfar.

MARCIA.

fhould be griev'd, young Prince, to think my prefence bent your thoughts, and flacken'd 'em to arms,

While,

While, warm with flaughter, our victorious foe
Threatens aloud, and calls you to the field.
JUBA.

O Marcia, let me hope thy kind concerns
And gentle wishes follow me to battle!

The thought will give new vigour to my arm, Add strength and weight to my descending sword, And drive it in a tempeft on the foe.

MARCI A.

My prayers and wishes always fhall attend The friends of Rome, the glorious cause of virtue, And men approv'd of by the Gods and Cato.

TUBA.

That Juba may deserve thy pious cares,
I'll gaze for ever on thy god-like father,
Transplanting, one by one, into my life
His bright perfections, 'till I shine like him,

MARCI A.

My Father never at a time like this

Would lay out his great foul in words, and waste Such precious moments.

JUBA.

Thy reproofs are just,

Thou virtuous maid; I'll haften to my troops,
And fire their languid fouls with Cato's virtue.
If e'er I lead them to the field, when all
The war shall stand range'd in its just array,
And dreadful pomp: then will I think on thee!

Dvely Maid, then will I think on thee!

d, in the fhock of charging hofts, remember
at glorious deeds fhould grace the man, who hopes
- Marcia's love.

[Exit.

SCENE VI.

LUCIA, MARCIA.

LUCIA.

Marcia, you're too fevere:

ow could you chide the young good-natur'd Prince,
nd drive him from you with so ftern an air,
- Prince that loves and dotes on you to death?
MARCI A.

'Tis therefore, Lucia, that I chide him from me. His air, his voice, his looks, and honeft foul peak all fo movingly in his behalf,

dare not truft myself to hear him talk.

LUCIA.

Why will you fight againft fo fweet a paffion,

And steel

your

heart to fuch a world of charms?

MARCI A.

How, Lucia! would'st thou have me fink away
In pleafing dreams, and lose myself in love,
When every moment Cato's life's at stake!

Cæfar comes arm'd with terror and

revenge,

And

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