That dear embrace, and to return it too

With mutual warmth and eagerness of love.

MARCIA.

With pleasure and amaze, I ftand transported! Sure 'tis a dream! dead and alive at once!

If thou art Juba, who lies there?

A wretch,

JUBA.

Difguis'd like Juba on a cars'd defign.
The tale is long, nor have I heard it out.
Thy father knows it all. I could not bear
To leave thee in the neighbourhood of death,
But flew in all the hafte of love to find thee ;
I found thee weeping, and confefs this once,
Am wrapp'd with joy to fee my Marcia's tears.

MARCI A.

I've been furpriz'd in an unguarded hour,
But muft not now go back: the love, that lay
Half fmother'd in my breaft, has broke through all
Its weak restraints, and burns in its full luftre,
I cannot, if I wou'd conceal it from thee.

JUBA.

I'm loft in extafy! and doft thou love,

Thou charming maid?

JUBA.

This, this is life indeed! life worth preferving, • Such life as Juba never felt till now!'

MARCI A.

Believe me, Prince, before Ithought thee dead, I did not know myself how much I lov'd thee.

JUBA.

⚫ fortunate mistake!

MARCI A.

O happy Marcia!

JUBA.

My joy! my best belov'd! my only wish! How shall I fpeak the tranfport of my foul!

MARCI A.

Lucia, thy arm! oh let me reft upon it!
The vital blood, that had forfook my heart,
Returns again in fuch tumultuous tides,

It quite o'ercomes ine. Lead to my apartment.
O Prince! I blufh to think what I have faid,
But fate has wrefted the confeffion from me;
Go on, and profper in the paths of honour,
Thy virtue will excufe my paffion for thee,
And make the gods propitious to our love.

JUBA.

[Ex. Marc. and Luc.

I am fo bleft, I fear 'tis all a dream,

Fortune, thou now haft made amends for all
Thy paft unkindness. I abfolve my stars.

What

What though Numidia add her conquer'd towns
And provinces to fwell the victor's triumph,

Juba will never at his fate repine;

Let Cæfar have the world, if Marcia's mine.

[Exit.

SCENE IV.

A March at a Distance.

CATO, and LUCIUS.

LUCIUS.

I ftand astonish'd! what, the bold Sempronius ! That still broke foremost through the crowd of patriots, As with a hurricane of zeal tranfported,

And virtuous ev'n to madness

Trust me, Lucius,

CATO.

Our civil difcords have produced fuch crimes,

Such monftrous crimes, I am furprized at nothing.

-O Lucius, I am fick of this bad world!

The day-light and the fun grow painful to me.

PORTIU S.

But fee where Partius comes! what means this hafte?

Why are thy looks thus changed?

Enter PORTIUS.

My heart is griev'd.

H 3

I bring

The traitor Syphax, as within the square
He exercis'd his troops, the fignal given,
Flew off at once with his Numidian horfe
To the fouth gate, where Marcus holds the watch.
I faw, and call'd to ftop him but in vain,
He caft his arm aloft, and proudly told me,
He would not stay and perish like Sempronius.
САТО.

Perfidious men! but hafte, my fon, and fee

'Thy brother Marcus acts a Roman's part. [Exit Portiuş.
-Lucius, the torrent bears too hard upon me :
Justice gives way to force: the conquer'd world
Is Cafar's: Cato has no business in it.

LUCIU S.

While pride, oppreffion, and injustice reign, The world will still demand her Cato's prefence. I pity to mankind, fubmit to Cæfar,

And reconcile thy mighty foul to life.

CATO.

Would Lucius have me live to fwell the number

Of Cafar's flaves, or by a base submission

Give up

the cause of Rome, and own a tyrant?

LU.

LUCIU S.

The victor never will impofe on Cato Ungen'rous terms. His enemies confess The virtues of humanity are Cafar's.

CATO.

Curfe on his virtues! they've undone his country.
Such popular humanity is treafon-

But fee young Juba! the good youth appears
Full of the guilt of his perfidious fubjects.

LUCIU S.

Alas, poor Prince! his fate deferves compaffion,

Enter JUBA.

JUBA.

I blush, and am confounded to appear

Before thy prefence, Cato.