Page:Cato, a tragedy (Addison, 1712).djvu/45

That loves thee more than ever woman lov'd!
—What do I say? my half-recover'd sense
Forgets the vow in which my soul is bound.
Destruction stands betwixt us! we must part.

Por.Name not the word, my frighted thoughts run back,
And startle into madness at the sound.

Luc.What wouldst thou have me do? Consider well
The train of ills our love wou'd draw behind it.
Think, Portius, think thou seest thy dying brother
Stabb'd at his heart, and all besmear'd with blood,
Storming at heav'n and thee! thy awful sire
Sternly demands the cause, th'accursed cause
That robs him of his son! poor Marcia trembles,
Then tears her hair, and frantic in her griefs,
Calls out on Lucia! what could Lucia answer,
Or how stand up in such a scene of sorrow?

Por.To my confusion, and eternal grief,
I must approve the sentence that destroys me.
The mist, that hung about my mind, clears up;
And now, athwart the terrors that thy vow
Has planted round thee thou appear'st more fair,
More amiable, and risest in thy charms.
Lovely'st of women! heav'n is in thy soul,
Beauty and virtue shine for ever round thee,
Brightning each other! thou art all divine!

Luc.Portius no more! thy words shoot through my heart,
Melt my resolves, and turn me all to love.
Why are those tears of fondness in thy eyes?
Why heaves thy heart? why swells thy soul with sorrow?
It softens me too much———farewel, my Portius,
Farewel, tho' death is in the word, for ever!

Por.Stay, Lucia, stay! what dost thou say? for ever?

Luc.Have I not sworn? if, Portius, thy success
Must throw thy brother on his fate, farewel,
Oh, how shall I repeat the word! for ever!

Por.Thus o'er the dying lamp th'unsteady flame
Hangs quiv'ring on a point, leaps off by fits,
And falls again, as loth to quit its hold;
—Thou must not go, my soul still hovers o'er thee,
And can't get loose.