They're thrown neglected by; but, if it fails,
They're sure to die like dogs, as you shall do.
Guards! take these factious monsters, drag them forth
To sudden death.
1 Lead. Nay, since it comes to this-
Sem. Dispatch them quick, but first pluck out their
Lest with their dying breath they sow sedition.
[Exeunt GUARDS, with the LEADERS.
Syph. Our first design, my friend, has proved abor
Still there remains an after-game to play;
My troops are mounted;
Let but Sempronius head us in our flight,
We'll force the gate, where Marcus keeps his guard,
And hew down all that would oppose our passage.
A day will bring us into Cæsar's camp.
Sem. Confusion! I have fail'd of half my purpose:
Marcia, the charming Marcia's left behind!
Syph. How will Sempronius turn a woman's slave?
Sem. Think not that I can ever feel the soft
Unmanly warmth and tenderness of love.
Syphax, I long to clasp that haughty maid,
And bend her stubborn virtue to my passion:
When I have gone thus far, I'd cast her off.
Syph. What hinders, then, but that thou find her
And hurry her away by manly force?
Sem. But how to gain admission? For access
Is given to none but Juba, and her brothers.
Syph. Thou shalt have Juba's dress, and Juba's
The doors will open, when Numidia's prince
Seems to appear before the slaves that watch them.
Sem. I thank thy friendly zeal: Marcia's my own!
How will my bosom swell with anxious joy,
Then, with what life remains, impaled, and left
To writhe at leisure round the bloody stake,
There let them hang, and taint the southern wind,
The partners of their crime will learn obedience,
When they look up and see their fellow traitors
Stuck on a fork, and blackening in the sun.
Cato. Forbear, Sempronius! - see they suffer death,
But in their deaths remember they are men.
Lucius, the base, degen'rate age requires
Severity, and justice in its rigour;
This curbs an impious bold offending world,
Commands obedience, and gives force to laws.
When by just vengeance guilty mortals perish,
The gods behold the punishment with pleasure,
And lay the uplifted thunderbolt aside.
Sem. Cato, I gladly execute thy will.
Cato. Meanwhile we'll sacrifice to liberty.
Remember, O my friends! the laws, the rights,
The gen'rous plan of power deliver'd down
From age to age by your renown'd forefathers,
(So dearly bought, the price of so much blood :)
Oh, let it never perish in your hands!
But piously transmit it to your children.
Do thou, great Liberty, inspire our souls,
And make our lives in thy possession happy,
Or our deaths glorious in thy just defence.
1 Lead. Sempronius, you have acted like yourself. One would have thought you had been half in earnest. Sem. Villain, stand off; base, grov'ling, worthless wretches,
Mongrels in faction, poor faint-hearted traitors!
1 Lead. Nay, now you carry it too far, Sempronius!
Throw off the mask; there are none here but friends. Sem. Know, villains, when such paltry slaves pre
To mix in treason, if the plot succeeds,
They're thrown neglected by; but, if it fails,
They're sure to die like dogs, as you shall do.
Guards! take these factious monsters, drag them forth
To sudden death.
1 Lead. Nay, since it comes to this-
Sem. Dispatch them quick, but first pluck out their
Lest with their dying breath they sow sedition.
[Exeunt GUARDS, with the LEADERS.
Syph. Our first design, my friend, has proved abor
Still there remains an after-game to play;
My troops are mounted;
Let but Sempronius head us in our flight,
We'll force the gate, where Marcus keeps his guard,
And hew down all that would oppose our passage.
A day will bring us into Cæsar's camp.
Sem. Confusion! I have fail'd of half my purpose: Marcia, the charming Marcia's left behind!
Syph. How will Sempronius turn a woman's slave?
Sem. Think not that I can ever feel the soft
Unmanly warmth and tenderness of love.
Syphax, I long to clasp that haughty maid,
And bend her stubborn virtue to my passion:
When I have gone thus far, I'd cast her off.
Syph. What hinders, then, but that thou find her
And hurry her away by manly force?
Sem. But how to gain admission? For access
Is given to none but Juba, and her brothers.
Syph. Thou shalt have Juba's dress, and Juba's
The doors will open, when Numidia's prince
Seems to appear before the slaves that watch them.
Sem. I thank thy friendly zeal: Marcia's my own!
How will my bosom swell with anxious joy,
When I behold her struggling in my arms,
With glowing beauty, and disorder'd charms,
While fear and anger, with alternate grace,
Pant in her breast, and vary in her face!
So Pluto seized off Proserpine, convey'd
To hell's tremendous gloom th' affrighted maid,
There grimly smiled, pleased with the beauteous prize,
Nor envy'd Jove his sunshine, and his skies.
Lucia. Now tell me, Marcia, tell me from thy soul, If thou believ'st 'tis possible for woman To suffer greater ills than Lucia suffers?
Marcia. Oh, Lucia, Lucia, might my big swol'n heart
Vent all its griefs, and give a loose to sorrow,
Marcia could answer thee in sighs, keep pace
With all thy woes, and count out tear for tear.
Lucia. I know thou'rt doom'd alike to be beloved
By Juba, and thy father's friend, Sempronius:
But which of these has power to charm like Portius?
Marcia. Still, I must beg thee not to name Sem-
Lucia, I like not that loud, boist'rouş man;
Juba, to all the brav'ry of a hero,
Adds softest love and sweetness: he, I own,
Might make the proudest woman happy.
Lucia. But should your father give you to Sempro
Marcia. I dare not think he will: but if he should
I hear the sound of feet! They march this way!
Let us retire, and try if we can drown
Each softer thought in sense of present danger :
When love once pleads admission to our hearts,
In spite of all the virtues we can boast,
The woman, that deliberates, is lost.
Enter SEMPRONIUS, dressed like JUBA, with
NUMIDIAN GUARDS.
Sem. The deer is lodged, I've track'd her to her
Be sure you mind the word; and when I give it,
Rush in at once, and seize upon your prey :
Let not her cries or tears have force to move you.
How will the young Numidian rave, to see
His mistress lost! If aught could glad my soul,
Beyond th' enjoyment of so bright a prize,
'Twould be to torture that young gay barbarian.
-But, hark! what noise! Death to my hopes! 'tis
'Tis Juba's self! there is but one way leftHe must be murder'd, and a passage cut
Through those his guards.-Ha! dastards! do you
Or act like men; or, by yon azure heaven,
Jub. What do I see? Who's this, that dares usurp
The guards and habits of Numidia's prince?
Sem. One, that was born to scourge thy arrogance,
Presumptuous youth!
Jub. What can this mean? Sempronius!
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