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"Por. Name not the word, my frighted thoughts

run back,

"And startle into madness at the sound.

Luc. "What wouldst thou have me do? Consider

well

"The train of ills our love would draw behind it." Think, Portius, think thou seest thy dying brother Stabb'd at his heart, and all besmear'd with blood, Storming at Heav'n and thee! Thy awful sire Sternly demands the cause, th' accursed cause That robs him of his son: poor Marcia trembles, Then tears her hair, and frantic in her griefs, Calls out on Lucia. What could Lucia answer, Or how stand up in such a scene of sorrow? Por. To my confusion, and eternal grief, I must approve the sentence that destroys me. "The mist that hung upon my mind, clears up; "And now, athwart the terrors that thy vow "Has planted round thee, thou appear'st most fair, "More amiable, and risest in thy charms. "Loveliest of women! Heav'n is in thy soul; "Beauty and virtue shine for ever round thee, << Bright'ning each other: thou art all divine." Luc. Portius, no more; thy words shoot thro' my heart,

Melt my resolves, and turn me all to love.

Why are those tears of fondness in thy eyes?

Why heaves thy heart? Why swells thy soul with

sorrow?

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It softens me too much-farewell, my Portius
Farewell, though death is in the word for ever.
Por. Stay, Lucia, stay? What dost thou say? Forever?
Luc. Have I not sworn? If, Portius, thy success
Must throw thy brother on his fate, farewell-
Oh, how shall I repeat the word! for ever.

Por. "Thus o'er the dying lamp th' unsteady flame "Hangs quiv'ring on a point, leaps off by fits, "And falls again, as loth to quit its hold." -Thou must not go, my soul still hovers o'er thee, And can't get loose.

Luc. If the firm Portius shake

To hear of parting, think what Lucia suffers!
Por. 'Tis true, unruffled and serene, I've met
The common accidents of life, but here

Such an unlook'd-for storm of ills falls on me,
It beats down all my strength. I cannot bear it.
We must not part.

Luc. What dost thou say? Not part!

Hast thou forgot the vow that I have made?
Are not there heav'ns, and gods, that thunder o'er us?
But see, thy brother Marcus bends this way:

I sicken at the sight. Once more, farewell,

Farewell, and know thou wrong'st me, if thou think'st Ever was love, or ever grief like mine. [Exit Lucia.

Enter MARCUS.

Marc. Portius, what hopes? How stands she? Am
I doom'd

To life or death?

Por. What wouldst thou have me say?

Marc. What means this pensive posture? Thou ap

pear'st

Like one amaz❜d and terrify'd.

Por. I've reason.

Marc. Thy down-cast looks, and thy disorder'd thoughts,

Tell me my fate. I ask'd not the success

My cause has found.

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Por. I'm griev'd I undertook it.

Marc. What does the barbarous maid insult my heart,

My aching heart, and triumph in my pains?
That I could cast her from my thoughts for ever!
Por. Away, you're too suspicious in your griefs;
Lucia, though sworn never to think of love,
Compassionates your pains, and pities you.

Marc. Compassionates my pains, and pities me!
What is compassion, when 'tis void of love?
Fool that I was to choose so cold a friend

To urge my cause?- -Compassionates my pains!
Pr'ythee, what art, what rhet'ric didst thou use
To gain this mighty boon ?-She pities me!
To one that asks the warm returns of love,
Compassion's cruelty, 'tis scorn, 'tis death-

Por. Marcus, no more; have I deserv'd this treatment?

Marc. What have I said! Oh, Portius, oh forgive

me!

A soul exasperated in ills fall out

With ev'ry thing, its friend, itself—but, hah!

What means that shout, big with the sounds of

war?

What new alarm?

Por. A second, louder yet,

Swells in the wind, and comes more full upon us.

Marc. Oh, for some glorious cause to fall in battle! Lucia, thou hast undone me; thy disdain

Has broke my heart: 'tis death must give me ease. Por. Quick, let us hence. Who knows if Cato's

life

Stands sure? Oh, Marcus, I am warm'd, my heart Leaps at the trumpet's voice, and burns for glory. [Exeunt.

Enter SEMPRONIUS, with the Leaders of the mutiny. Sem. Atlength the winds are rais'd, the storm blows high,

Be it your care, my friends, to keep it up
In its full fury, and direct it right,
Till it has spent itself on Cato's head.

Mean-while I'll herd amongst his friends, and seem
One of the number, that whate'er arrive,

My friends, and fellow-soldiers may be safe. [Exit. 1 Lead. We are all safe, Sempronius is our friend. Sempronious is as brave a man as Cato.

But hark! he enters. Bear up boldly to him:
Be sure you beat him down, and bind him fast.
This day will end our toils, and give us rest:
Fear nothing, for Sempronius is our friend.

Re-enter SEMPRONIUS, with CATO, LUCIUS, PORTIUS, and MARCUS.

Cato. Where are those bold intrepid sons of war, That greatly turn their backs upon their foe, And to their general send a brave defiance?

Sem. Curse on their dastard souls, they stand astonish'd.

[Aside. Cato. Perfidious men! And will you thus dishonour Your past exploits, and sully all your wars?

Do you confess 'twas not a zeal for Rome,
Nor love of liberty, nor thirst of honour,
Drew you thus far; but hopes to share the spoil
Of conquer'd towns, and plunder'd provinces ?
Fir'd with such motives, you do well to join
With Cato's foes, and follow Cæsar's banners.
Why did I 'scape th' envenom'd aspic's rage,
And all the fiery monsters of the desert,
To see this day? Why could not Cato fall
Without your guilt Behold, ungrateful men,
Behold my bosom naked to your swords,

And let the man that's injur'd strike the blow.
Which of you all suspects that he is wrong'd?
Or thinks he suffers greater ills than Cato ?
Am I distinguish'd from you but by toils,
Superior toils, and heavier weight of cares?
Painful pre-eminence!

Sem. By heav'ns they droop!

Confusion to the villains; all is lost.

[Aside.

Cato. Have you forgotten Lybia's burning waste,

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