Juba might make the proudeft of our fex

Any of woman-kind, but Marcia, happy.
LUCIA

And why not Marcia? come, you strive in vain
To hide your thoughts from one who knows too well
The inward glowings of a heart in love..

MARCI A.

While Cato lives, his daughter has no right To love or hate, but as his choice directs.

LUCIA.

But fhould this father give you to Sempronius?
MARCI A.

I dare not think he will: but if he should-
Why wilt thou add to all the griefs I fuffer
Imaginary ills, and fancy'd tortures ?

I hear the found of feet! they march this way!
Let us retire, and try if we can drown

Each fofter thought in fenfe 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 loft.

г

SCENE

CATO

SCENE H.

SEMPRONIUS, dress'd like JUBA, with
Numidian guards.

SEMPRONIU S.

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 feize upon your prey.
Let not her cries or tears have force to move you.
- How will the young Numidian rave, to fee
His mistress loft? if aught could glad my foul,
Beyond th' enjoyment of fo bright a prize,

'Twould be to torture that young gay Barbarian."

-But hark, what noise! death to my hopes ! 'tis he,

'Tis Juba's felf! there is but one way left

He must be murder'd, and a paffage cut

[tremble! Through thofe his guards.Hah, daftards, do you Or act like men, or by yon azure Heav'n

Enter JUBA.

JUBA.

What do I fee? who's this that dares ufurp
The guards and habit of Numidia's Prince?

SEMPRONIUS.

One that was born to fcourge thy arrogance,

Prefumptuous youth!

JUBA.

JUBA.

What can this mean? Sempronius!

SEMPRONIUS.

My sword shall answer thee. Have at thy heart.

JUBA.

Nay, then beware thy own, proud, barbarous man! [Semp. falls. His guards furrender.

SEMPRONIUS.

Curfe on my stars! am I then doom'd to fall-
By a boy's hand? disfigur'd in a vile
Numidian drefs, and for a worthless woman?
Gods, I'm diftracted! this my clofe of life!

O for a peal of thunder that would make

Earth, fea, and air, and Heav'n, and Cato tremble ! [Dies JUBA.

With what a spring his furious foul broke loose, And left the limbs ftill quivering on the ground! Hence let us carry off those flaves to Cato,

That we may there at length unravel all

This dark defign, this mystery of fate.

SCEN

t

SCENE III.

LUCIA, MARCI A.

LUCIA.

Sure 'twas the clash of fwords; my troubled heart

Is fo caft down, and funk amidst its forrows,

It throbs with fear, and akes at every found.

O Marcia, fhould thy brothers for my fake
I die away with horror at the thought.

MARCIA.

See, Lucia, fee! here's blood! here's blood and murder! Hah! a Numidian! Heavens preferve the prince :

The face lies muffled up within the

garment. But hah! death to my fight! a diadem,

And purple robes! O Gods! 'tis he, 'tis he!
Juba, the loveliest youth that ever warm'd
A Virgin's heart, Juba lies dead before us!
LUCIA.

Now, Marcia, now call up to thy afsistance
Thy wonted strength, and constancy of mind;
Thou can'ft not put it to a greater trial.
MARC1 A.

Lucia, look there, and wonder at my patience.
Have I not caufe to rave, and beat my breaft,
To rend my heart with grief, and run distracted?

VOL. II.

E

LUCIA.

LUCIA.

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

Talk not of comfort, 'tis for lighter ills:
Behold a fight, that ftrikes all comfort dead.

Enter JUBA liftning.

I will indulge my forrows, and give way
To all the pangs and fury of despair ;

That man, that best of men, deferv'd it from me.

JUBA.

What do I hear? and was the falle Sempronius

That beft of men? O had I fallen like him,

And could have thus been mourn'd, I had been happy LUCIA.

Here will I ftand, companion in thy woes, And help thee with my tears; when I behold A lofs like thine, I half forget my own.

MARCI A.

'Tis not in fate to ease my tortur'd breast. This empty world, to me a joyless defert, Has nothing left to make poor Marcia happy.

JUBA.

I'm on the rack! was he fo near her heart?

MARCI A.

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,