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CATO.
Work in your heart unseen, and plead for Cato.
No wonder you are deaf to all I say.
Jub.Syphax, your zeal becomes importunate;
I've hitherto permitted it to rave,
And talk at large; but learn to keep it in,
Lest it should take more freedom than I'll give it.
Syph.Sir, your great father never us'd me thus.
Alas, he's dead! but can you e'er forget
The tender sorrows and the pangs of nature,
The fond embraces, and repeated blessings,
Which you drew from him in your last farewell?
Still must I cherish the dear, sad remembrance,
At once to torture, and to please my soul.
The good old King, at parting wrung my hand,
(His eyes brim-full of tears) then sighing cry'd,
Pry'thee be careful of my son!———his grief
Swell'd up so high, he could not utter more.
Jub.Alas, the story melts away my soul.
That best of fathers! how shall I discharge
The gratitude and duty that I owe him!
Syph.By laying up his counsels in your heart.
Jub.His counsels bade me yield to thy directions:
Then, Syphax, chide me in severest terms,
Vent all thy passion, and I'll stand its shock,
Calm and unruffled as a summer sea,
When not a breath of wind flies o'er its surface.
Syph.Alas my prince, I'd guide you to your safety.
Jub.I do believe thou would'st; but tell me how?
Syph.Fly from the fate that follows Cesar's foes.
Jub.My father scorn'd to do it.
Syph.And therefore dy'd.
Jub.Better to die ten thousand thousand deaths,
Than wound my honour.
Syph.Rather say your love.
Jub.Syphax, I've promis'd to preserve my temper,
Why wilt thou urge me to confess a flame,
I long have stifled, and would fain conceal?
Syph.Believe me, prince, tho' hard to conquer love,
'Tis easy to divert and break its force:
Absence might cure it, or a second mistress
Light up another flame, and put out this,
No wonder you are deaf to all I say.
Jub.Syphax, your zeal becomes importunate;
I've hitherto permitted it to rave,
And talk at large; but learn to keep it in,
Lest it should take more freedom than I'll give it.
Syph.Sir, your great father never us'd me thus.
Alas, he's dead! but can you e'er forget
The tender sorrows and the pangs of nature,
The fond embraces, and repeated blessings,
Which you drew from him in your last farewell?
Still must I cherish the dear, sad remembrance,
At once to torture, and to please my soul.
The good old King, at parting wrung my hand,
(His eyes brim-full of tears) then sighing cry'd,
Pry'thee be careful of my son!———his grief
Swell'd up so high, he could not utter more.
Jub.Alas, the story melts away my soul.
That best of fathers! how shall I discharge
The gratitude and duty that I owe him!
Syph.By laying up his counsels in your heart.
Jub.His counsels bade me yield to thy directions:
Then, Syphax, chide me in severest terms,
Vent all thy passion, and I'll stand its shock,
Calm and unruffled as a summer sea,
When not a breath of wind flies o'er its surface.
Syph.Alas my prince, I'd guide you to your safety.
Jub.I do believe thou would'st; but tell me how?
Syph.Fly from the fate that follows Cesar's foes.
Jub.My father scorn'd to do it.
Syph.And therefore dy'd.
Jub.Better to die ten thousand thousand deaths,
Than wound my honour.
Syph.Rather say your love.
Jub.Syphax, I've promis'd to preserve my temper,
Why wilt thou urge me to confess a flame,
I long have stifled, and would fain conceal?
Syph.Believe me, prince, tho' hard to conquer love,
'Tis easy to divert and break its force:
Absence might cure it, or a second mistress
Light up another flame, and put out this,
The
