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CATO.
Cato.I am no stranger to thy father's greatness!
Jub.I would not boast the greatness of my father,
But point out new alliances to Cato.
Had we not better leave this Utica,
To arm Numidia in our cause, and court
Th' assistance of my father's pow'rful friends?
Did they know Cato, our remotest kings
Wou'd pour embattled multitudes about him;
Their swarthy hosts would darken all our plains,
Doubling the native horror of the war,
And making death more grim.
Cato.And can'st thou think
Cato will fly before the sword of Cesar!
Reduc'd like Hannibal to seek relief
From court to court, and wander up and down
A vagabond in Afric!
Jub.Cato, perhaps
I'm too officious; but my forward cares
Wou'd fain preserve a life of so much value.
My heart is wounded, when I see such virtue
Afflicted by the weight of such misfortunes.
Cato.Thy nobleness of soul obliges me.
But know, young Prince, that valour soars above
What the world calls misfortune and affliction.
These are not ills; else wou'd they never fall
On heav'n's first fav'rites, and the best of men:
The gods, in bounty work up storms about us,
That give mankind occasion to exert
Their hidden strength, and throw out into practice
Virtues which shun the day, and lie conceal'd
In the smooth seasons and the calms of life.
Jub.I'm charm'd, whene'er thou talk'st! I pant for virtue!
And all my soul endeavours at perfection.
Cato.Dost thou love watchings, abstinence, and toil,
Laborious virtues all? Learn them from Cato:
Success and fortune must thou learn from Cesar.
Jub.The best good fortune that can fall on Juba,
The whole success at which my heart aspires,
Depends on Cato.
Cato.What does Juba say?
Thy words confound me.
Jub.I would not boast the greatness of my father,
But point out new alliances to Cato.
Had we not better leave this Utica,
To arm Numidia in our cause, and court
Th' assistance of my father's pow'rful friends?
Did they know Cato, our remotest kings
Wou'd pour embattled multitudes about him;
Their swarthy hosts would darken all our plains,
Doubling the native horror of the war,
And making death more grim.
Cato.And can'st thou think
Cato will fly before the sword of Cesar!
Reduc'd like Hannibal to seek relief
From court to court, and wander up and down
A vagabond in Afric!
Jub.Cato, perhaps
I'm too officious; but my forward cares
Wou'd fain preserve a life of so much value.
My heart is wounded, when I see such virtue
Afflicted by the weight of such misfortunes.
Cato.Thy nobleness of soul obliges me.
But know, young Prince, that valour soars above
What the world calls misfortune and affliction.
These are not ills; else wou'd they never fall
On heav'n's first fav'rites, and the best of men:
The gods, in bounty work up storms about us,
That give mankind occasion to exert
Their hidden strength, and throw out into practice
Virtues which shun the day, and lie conceal'd
In the smooth seasons and the calms of life.
Jub.I'm charm'd, whene'er thou talk'st! I pant for virtue!
And all my soul endeavours at perfection.
Cato.Dost thou love watchings, abstinence, and toil,
Laborious virtues all? Learn them from Cato:
Success and fortune must thou learn from Cesar.
Jub.The best good fortune that can fall on Juba,
The whole success at which my heart aspires,
Depends on Cato.
Cato.What does Juba say?
Thy words confound me.
Jub.
