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CATO.
17
Luc.Why will you fight against so sweet a passion,
And steel your heart to such a world of charms?
Mar.How, Lucia, wou'dst thou have me sink away
In pleasing dreams, and lose myself in love,
When ev'ry moment Cato's life's at stake?
Cesar comes arm'd with terror and revenge,
And aims his thunder at my father's head:
Shou'd not the sad occasion swallow up
My other cares, and draw them all into it?
Luc.Why have I not this constancy of mind,
Who have so many griefs to try its force?
Sure, Nature form'd me of her softest mould,
Enfeebled all my soul with tender passions,
And sunk me ev'n below my own weak sex:
Pity, and love, by turns oppress my heart.
Mar.Lucia, disburden all thy cares on me,
And let me share thy most retir'd distress;
Tell me who raises up this conflict in thee?
Luc.I need not blush to name them, when I tell thee
They're Marcia's brothers, and the sons of Cato.
Mar.They both behold thee with their sister's eyes,
And often have reveal'd their passion to me:
But tell me, whose address thou fav'rest most?
I long to know, and yet I dread to hear it.
Luc.Which is it Marcia wishes for?
Mar.For neither———
And yet for both—the youths have equal share
In Marcia's wishes, and divide their sister:
But tell me, which of them is Lucia's choice?
Luc.Marcia, they both are high in my esteem,
But in my love—why wilt thou make me name him!
Thou know'st it is a blind and foolish passion,
Pleas'd and disgusted with it knows not what———
Mar.O Lucia, I'm perplex'd, O tell me which
I must hereafter call my happy brother?
Luc.Suppose 'twere Portius, could you blame my choice?
———O, Portius, thou hast stol'n away my soul!
With what a graceful tenderness he loves!
And breathes the softest, the sincerest vows!
Complacency, and truth, and manly sweetness
Dwell ever on his tongue, and smooth his thoughts.
And steel your heart to such a world of charms?
Mar.How, Lucia, wou'dst thou have me sink away
In pleasing dreams, and lose myself in love,
When ev'ry moment Cato's life's at stake?
Cesar comes arm'd with terror and revenge,
And aims his thunder at my father's head:
Shou'd not the sad occasion swallow up
My other cares, and draw them all into it?
Luc.Why have I not this constancy of mind,
Who have so many griefs to try its force?
Sure, Nature form'd me of her softest mould,
Enfeebled all my soul with tender passions,
And sunk me ev'n below my own weak sex:
Pity, and love, by turns oppress my heart.
Mar.Lucia, disburden all thy cares on me,
And let me share thy most retir'd distress;
Tell me who raises up this conflict in thee?
Luc.I need not blush to name them, when I tell thee
They're Marcia's brothers, and the sons of Cato.
Mar.They both behold thee with their sister's eyes,
And often have reveal'd their passion to me:
But tell me, whose address thou fav'rest most?
I long to know, and yet I dread to hear it.
Luc.Which is it Marcia wishes for?
Mar.For neither———
And yet for both—the youths have equal share
In Marcia's wishes, and divide their sister:
But tell me, which of them is Lucia's choice?
Luc.Marcia, they both are high in my esteem,
But in my love—why wilt thou make me name him!
Thou know'st it is a blind and foolish passion,
Pleas'd and disgusted with it knows not what———
Mar.O Lucia, I'm perplex'd, O tell me which
I must hereafter call my happy brother?
Luc.Suppose 'twere Portius, could you blame my choice?
———O, Portius, thou hast stol'n away my soul!
With what a graceful tenderness he loves!
And breathes the softest, the sincerest vows!
Complacency, and truth, and manly sweetness
Dwell ever on his tongue, and smooth his thoughts.
B 3
Marcus
