Marc.O ye immortal powers, that guard the just,
Watch round his couch, and soften his repose,
Banish his sorrows, and becalm his soul
With easy dreams; remember all his viritues!
And show mankind that goodness is your care.
SCENE IV.
Lucia and Marcia.
Luc.Where is your father, Marcia, where is Cato?
Mar. Lucia speak low, he is retir'd to rest.
Lucia.I feel a gentle dawning hope
Rise in my soul. We shall be happy still.
Luc.Alas, I tremble when I think on Cato
In every view, in every thought I tremble!
Cato is stern and awful as a god,
He knows not how to wink at human frailty,
Or pardon weakness, that he never felt.
Marc.Though stern and awful to the foes of Rome,
He is all goodness, Lucia, always mild,
Compassionate and gentle to his friends,
Fill'd with domestic tenderness, the best,
The kindest father! I have ever found him
Easy, and good, and bounteous to my wishes.
Luc.'Tis his consent alone can make us bless'd,
Marcia, we both are equally involved
In the same intricate, perplex'd, distress.
The cruel hand of fate, that has deftroy'd
Thy brother Marcus, whom we both lament ———
Marc.And ever shall lament, unhappy youth!
Luc.Has set my soul at large, and now! I stand
Loose of my vow. But who knows Cato's thoughts?
Who knows how yet he may dispose of Portius,
Or how he has determined of thyself?
Marc.Let him but live! commit the rest to heav'n.
Enter Lucius.
Luc.Sweet are the slumbers of the virtuous man!
O Marcia, I have seen thy godlike father:
Some pow'r invisible supports his soul,
And bears it up in all its wonted greatness.
