Page:Cato, a tragedy (Addison, 1712).djvu/56

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48
CATO.

Jub.I'm lost in ecstasy! and dost thou love,
Thou charming maid?

Marc. And dost thou live to ask it?

Jub. This, this is life indeed! life worth preserving,
Such life as Juba never felt till now.

Marc. Believe me, prince, before I thought thee dead,
I did not know myself how much I lov'd thee.

Jub.O fortunate mistake!

Marc.O happy Marcia!

Jub.My joy! my best belov'd! my only wish!
How shall speak the transport of my soul!

Marc.Lucia, thy arm! Oh let me rest upon it!
The vital blood, that had forsook my heart,
Returns again in such tumultuous tides,
It quite o'ercomes me. Lead to my apartment. ——
O Prince, I blush to think what I have said,
But fate has wrested the confession from me;
Go on and prosper in the paths of honour.
Thy virtue will excuse my passion for thee,
And make the gods propitious to our love.
[Ex. Marc. and Luc.

Jub.I am so blest, I fear 'tis all a dream.
Fortune, thou now hast made amends for all
Thy past unkindness. I absolve my stars.
What tho' Numidia add her conquer'd towns
And provinces to swell the victor's triumph!
Juba will never at his fate repine;
Let Cesar have the world, if Marcia's mine. [Exit.


SCENE IV.

A March at a distance.

Enter Cato and Lucius.
Luc.I stand astonish'd! what, the bold Sempronius!
That still broke foremost through the croud of patriots,
As with a hurricane of zeal transported,
And virtuous ev'n to madness ——

Cato.