Cato: A Tragedy, and Selected Essays

ACT IV

ACT IV—scene i Lucia, Marcia. 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 O Lucia, Lucia, might my big-swoln heart Vent all its griefs, and give a loose to sorrow: 5 Marcia could answer thee in sighs, keep pace With all thy woes, and count out tear for tear. Lucia I know thou ’rt doomed, alike, to be beloved By Juba and thy father’s friend, Sempronius; But which of these has power to charm like Portius! 10 Marcia Still must I beg thee not to name Sempronius? Lucia, I like not that loud, boisterous man; Juba to all the bravery of a hero Adds softest love, and more than female sweetness: Juba might make the proudest of our sex, 15 Any of woman-kind, but Marcia, happy. Lucia And why not Marcia? come, you strive in vain To hide your thoughts from one who knows too well The inward glowings of a heart in love. Marcia While Cato lives, his daughter has no right 20 To love or hate, but as his choice directs. act iv 73 1. Tracked to its den. 2. Hiding place. Lucia But should this father give you to Sempronius? Marcia I dare not think he will: but if he should— Why wilt thou add to all the griefs I suffer Imaginary ills, and fancied tortures? 25 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 virtue we can boast,) 30 The woman that deliberates is lost. scene ii Sempronius, dressed like Juba, with Numidian guards. Sempronius The deer is lodged.1 I’ve tracked her to her covert.2 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 5 His mistress lost! if aught could glad my soul, Beyond the enjoyment of so bright a prize, ’Twould be to torture that young gay barbarian. —But, hark, what noise! death to my hopes! ’tis he, ’Tis Juba’s self! there is but one way left— 10 He must be murdered, and a passage cut Through those his guards—Hah! dastards, do you tremble! Or act like men, or by yon azure heaven— Enter Juba. 74 cato, a tragedy Juba What do I see? who’s this that dare usurp The guards and habit of Numidia’s prince? 15 Sempronius One that was born to scourge thy arrogance, Presumptuous youth! Juba What can this mean? Sempronius! Sempronius My sword shall answer thee. Have at thy heart. Juba Nay, then beware thy own, proud, barbarous man! [Sempronius falls. His guards surrender.] Sempronius Curse on my stars! am I then doomed to fall 20 By a boy’s hand? disfigured in a vile Numidian dress, and for a worthless woman? Gods, I’m distracted! this my close of life! Oh for a peal of thunder that would make Earth, sea, and air, and heaven, and Cato tremble! 25 [Dies.] Juba With what a spring his furious soul broke loose, And left the limbs still quivering on the ground! Hence let us carry off those slaves to Cato, That we may there at length unravel all This dark design, this mystery of fate. 30 act iv 75 3. A crown. scene iii Lucia, Marcia. Lucia Sure ’twas the clash of swords; my troubled heart Is so cast down, and sunk amidst its sorrows, It throbs with fear and aches at every sound. O Marcia, should thy brothers for my sake!— I die away with horror at the thought. 5 Marcia See, Lucia, see! here’s blood! here’s blood and murder! Hah! a Numidian! heavens preserve the prince; The face lies muffled up within the garment. But, hah! death to my sight; a diadem,3 And purple robes! O gods! ’tis he, ’tis he! 10 Juba, the loveliest youth that ever warmed A virgin’s heart, Juba lies dead before us! Lucia Now, Marcia, now call up to thy assistance Thy wonted strength and constancy of mind; Thou canst not put it to a...