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CATO.
15
The glowing dames of Zama's royal court
Have faces flusht with more exalted charms;
The sun that rolls his chariot o'er their heads,
Works up more fire and colour in their cheeks:
Were you with these, my Prince, you'd soon forget
The pale, unripen'd beauties of the North.
Jub.'Tis not a set of features, or complexion,
The tincture of a skin that I admire.
Beauty soon grows familiar to the lover,
Fades in his eye, and palls upon the sense.
The virtuous Marcia tow'rs above her sex:
True, she is fair (Oh, how divinely fair!),
But still the lovely maid improves her charms,
With inward greatness, unaffected wisdom,
And sanctity of manners. Cato's soul
Shines out in ev'ry thing she acts or speaks,
While winning mildness and attractive smiles
Dwell in her looks, and, with becoming grace
Soften the rigour of her father's virtues.
Syph.How does your tongue grow wanton in her praise!
But on my knees I beg you would consider———
Have faces flusht with more exalted charms;
The sun that rolls his chariot o'er their heads,
Works up more fire and colour in their cheeks:
Were you with these, my Prince, you'd soon forget
The pale, unripen'd beauties of the North.
Jub.'Tis not a set of features, or complexion,
The tincture of a skin that I admire.
Beauty soon grows familiar to the lover,
Fades in his eye, and palls upon the sense.
The virtuous Marcia tow'rs above her sex:
True, she is fair (Oh, how divinely fair!),
But still the lovely maid improves her charms,
With inward greatness, unaffected wisdom,
And sanctity of manners. Cato's soul
Shines out in ev'ry thing she acts or speaks,
While winning mildness and attractive smiles
Dwell in her looks, and, with becoming grace
Soften the rigour of her father's virtues.
Syph.How does your tongue grow wanton in her praise!
But on my knees I beg you would consider———
Enter Marcia and Lucia.
Jub.Ha! Syphax, is't not she!—She moves this way:
And with her Lucia, Lucius' fair daughter.
My heart beats thick—I pr'ythee Syphax leave me.
Syph.Ten thousand curses fasten on them both!
Now will the woman with a single glance
Undo what I've been lab'ring all this while.[Exit.
Jub.Ha! Syphax, is't not she!—She moves this way:
And with her Lucia, Lucius' fair daughter.
My heart beats thick—I pr'ythee Syphax leave me.
Syph.Ten thousand curses fasten on them both!
Now will the woman with a single glance
Undo what I've been lab'ring all this while.[Exit.
SCENE V.
Enter Juba, Marcia, Lucia.
Jub.Hail, charming maid, how does thy beauty smooth
The face of war, and make ev'n horror smile!
At sight of thee my heart shakes off its sorrows;
I feel a dawn of joys break in upon me,
And for a while forget th' approach of Cesar.
Jub.Hail, charming maid, how does thy beauty smooth
The face of war, and make ev'n horror smile!
At sight of thee my heart shakes off its sorrows;
I feel a dawn of joys break in upon me,
And for a while forget th' approach of Cesar.
B 2
Mer.
