PORTIUS. Thou fee'ft not that thy Brother is thy Rival: But I must hide it, for I know thy temper. [Afide To quell the tyrant Love, and guard thy heart MARCU S. Portius, the counsel which I cannot take, Of thickest foes, and rush on certain death, PORTIU S. Behold young Juba, the Numidian Prince! But But ftill the fmother'd fondness burns within him. The fenfe of honour, and defire of fame MARCUS. Portius, no more! your words leave ftings behind 'em. When-e'er did Juba, or did Portius, show A virtue that has caft me at a distance, And thrown me out in the pursuits of honour? Marcus, I know thy gen'rous temper well; MARCU S. A Brother's fufferings claim a Brother's pity. Heaven knows I pity thee: behold my eyes Even whilst I speak-Do they not swim in tears? Were but my heart as naked to thy view, Marcus would fee it bleed in his behalf. MARCUS. Why then doft treat me with rebukes, instead Of kind condoling cares, and friendly forrow? PORTIU S. O Marcus, did I know the way to ease Thy troubled heart, and mitigate thy pains, Thou beft of brothers, and thou beft of Friends! With fudden gufts, and finks as foon in calms, The sport of paffions : but Sempronius comes: [Exit. He must not find this softness hanging on me. SCENE II. SEMPRONIUS, PORTIUS. SEMPRONIUS. Confpiracies no fooner fhould be form'd Good-morrow Portius! let us once embrace, PORTIUS. My father has this morning call'd together To this poor hall his little Roman Senate, The leavings of Pharfalia) to confult [Afide. If yet he can oppose the mighty torrent That bears down Rome, and all her gods, before it, Not all the pomp and majesty of Rome They strike with something like religious fear, Alas! Sempronius, would'st thou talk of love To Marcia, whilft her father's life's in danger? Thou might'ft as well court the pale trembling Veftal, When the beholds the holy flame expiring. SEMPRO NIU S. The more I fee the wonders of thy race, The more I'm charm'd. Thou must take heed, my Portius! The world has all its eyes on Cato's fon. Thy father's merit fets thee up to view, To make thy virtues, or thy faults, confpicuous. PORTIUS. Well doft thou feem to check my lingring here On this important hour-I'll ftrait away, And while the Fathers of the Senate meet, But we'll do more, Sempronius; we'll Deserve it. [Exit. Curfe on the Stripling! how he apes his Sire! Ambitiously fententious!but I wonder Old Syphax comes not; his Numidian genius Is well difpos'd to mischief, were he prompt And eager on it; but he must be spurr'd, And every moment quickned to the course. -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 raise me To Rome's first honours. If I give up Cato, I claim in my reward his captive daughter. But Syphax comes! SCENE |