SCENE VI.

SEMPRONIUS and the leaders of
the mutiny.

I

LEADER.

Sempronius, you have acted like yourself,

One would have thought you had been half in earnest. SEMPRO NIU S....

Villain, stand off! bafe, groveling, worthless wretches, Mongrels in faction, poor faint-hearted traitors!

2 LEADER.

Nay, now you carry it too far, Sempronius: Throw off the malk, there are none here but friends. SEMPRONIUS.

Know, villains, when fuch paltry flaves prefume To mix in treafon, if the plot fucceeds,

They're thrown neglected by: but if it fails,
They're fure to die like dogs, as you shall do.

Here, taks these factious, monfters, drag 'em forth
To fudden death.

Enter Guards.

1

1. LEADER.

Nay, fince it comes to this→→

SEM

SEMPRONIUS.

Dispatch 'em quick, but first pluck out their tongues, Left with their dying breath they fow sedition.

[Exeunt guards with the leaders.

SCENE VII.

SY PHAX and SEM PRONIUS.

SYPHA X.

Our first defign, my friend, has prov'd abortive;
Still there remains an after-game to play!
My troops are mounted; their Numidian steeds
Snuff up the wind, and long to fcour the defart:
Let but Sempronius head us in our flight,
We'll force the gate where Marcus keeps his guard,
And hew down all that would oppofe our paffage.
A day will bring us into Cafar's camp.

SEMPRONIUS.

Confufion! I have fail'd of half

my purpose.

Marcia, the charming Marcia's left behind!

SYPHA X.

How? will Sempronius turn a woman's flave!

SEMPRONIUS.

Think not thy friend can ever feel the soft Unmanly warmth, and tenderness of love. Syphax, I long to clasp that haughty inaid, And bend her stubborn virtue to my passion:

When

When I have gone thus far, I'd caft her off.

SYPHA X.

Well faid! that's spoken like thyself, Sempronius. What hinders then, but that thou find her out,

And hurry her away by manly force?

SEMPRONIUS.

But how to gain admiffion? for access
Is given to none but Juba, and her brothers.

SYPHA X.

Thou shalt have Juba's drefs, and Juba's guards: The doors will open, when Numidia's prince Seems to appear before the flaves, that watch them.

SEMPRONIUS.

Heav'ns! what a thought is there! Marcia's my own!

How will my bofom fwell with anxious joy,
When I behold her ftruggling in my arms,
With glowing beauty, and disorder'd charms.
While fear and anger, with alternate grace,
Pant in her breaft, and vary in her face!
So Pluto feiz'd of Proferpine, convey'd

To hell's tremendous gloom th' affrighted maid,

There grimly fmil'd, pleas'd with the beauteous prize, Nor envy'd Jove his fun-fhine and his skies.

[Exeunt

ACT

ACT IV. SCENE I

LUCIA and MARCIA.

LUCIA.

OW tell me, Marcia, tell me from thy foul,

N If woman

If thou believ'ft 'tis poffible for woman

To fuffer greater ills than Lucia fuffers

MARCI A.

O Lucia, Lucia! might my big-swoln heart Vent all its griefs, and give a loofe to forrow: Marcia could answer thee in fighs, keep pace With all thy woes, and count out tear for tear. LUCIA.

I know thou'rt doom'd alike, to be belov'd By Juba, and thy father's friend Sempronius; But which of these has power to charm like Partius! MARCI A.

Still I must beg thee not to name Sempronius !

Lucia, I like not that loud boist'rous man ;

Juba to all the brav'ry of a hero

Adds fofteft love, and more than female fweetness;

Juba might make the proudest 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.

MARCIA.

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

LUCIA.

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

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

way!

I hear the found of feet! they march this
Let us retire, and try if we can drown
Each fofter thought in fenfe of prefent danger.
When love once pleads admiffion to our hearts
(In fpite of all the virtue we can boast)

The woman that deliberates is loft.

[Exeunt.

SCENE