Juba. SYPHAX, I joy to meet thee thus alone; I have observed of late thy looks are fallen, O'ercast with gloomy cares and discontent. Then tell me, Syphax, I conjure thee tell me, What are the thoughts that knit thy brow in frowns, And turn thine eye thus coldly on thy prince?
Sy. 'Tis not my talent to conceal my thoughts, Or carry smiles and sunshine in my face, When discontent sits heavy at my heart: I have not yet so much the Roman in me.
Ju. Why dost thou cast out such ungenerous terms Against the lords and sovereigns of the world? Dost thou not see mankind fall down before them, And own the force of their superior virtue? Is there a nation in the wilds of Afric, Amidst our barren rocks and burning sands,
That does not tremble at the Roman name?
Sy. Gods! where's the worth that sets this people up Above our own Numidia's tawny sons?
Do they with tougher sinews bend the bow? Or flies the javelin swifter to its mark, Launched by the vigor of a Roman arm? Who like our active African instructs The fiery steed, and trains him to his hand? Or guides in troops the embattled elephant, Laden with war? These, these are arts, my prince, In which your Zama does not stoop to Rome.
Ju. These all are virtues of a meaner rank. Perfections that are placed in bones and nerves A Roman soul is bent on higher views: To civilize the rude, unpolished world;
To lay it under the restraint of laws;
To make man mild, and sociable to man;
To cultivate the wild, licentious savage With wisdom, discipline, and liberal arts, The embellishments of life; virtues like these Make human nature shine, reform the soul, And break our fierce barbarians into men.
Sy. Patience, just Heavens! Excuse an old man's
What are these wondrous civilizing arts,
This Roman polish, and this smooth behavior, That render man thus tractable and tame?
Are they not solely to disguise our passions, To set our looks at variance with our thoughts To check the starts and sallies of the soul, And break off all its commerce with the tongue ? In short, to change us into other creatures Than what our nature and the gods designed us?
Ju. To strike thee dumb, turn up thy eyes to Cato! There mayst thou see to what a godlike height The Roman virtues lift up mortal man.
While good, and just, and anxious for his friends, He's still severely bent against himself;
Renouncing sleep, and rest, and food, and ease, He strives with thirst and hunger, toil and heat; And when his fortune sets before him all The pomps and pleasures that his soul can wish, His rigid virtue will accept of none.
Sy. Believe me, prince, there's not an African That traverses our vast Numidian deserts In quest of prey, and lives upon his bow, But better practises these boasted virtues. Coarse are his meals, the fortune of the chase; Amidst the running stream he slakes his thirst, Toils all the day, and at the approach of night On the first friendly bank he throws him down, Or rests his head upon a rock till morn; Then rises fresh, pursues his wonted game,
And, if the following day he chance to find A new repast, or an untasted spring, Blesses his stars, and thinks it luxury.
Ju. Thy prejudices, Syphax, won't discern What virtues grow from ignorance and choice, Nor how the hero differs from the brute. But grant that others could with equal glory Look down on pleasures and the baits of sense; Where shall we find the man that bears affliction, Great and majestic in his griefs, like Cato?
Heavens! with what strength, what steadiness of mind, Fe triumphs in the midst of all his sufferings! How does he rise against a load of woes,
And thank the gods that throw the weight upon him! Sy. 'Tis pride, rank pride, and haughtiness of soul I think the Romans call it Stoicism.
Had not your royal father thought so highly Of Roman virtue, and of Cato's cause, He had not fallen by a slave's hand, inglorious; Nor would his slaughtered army now have lain On Afric sands, disfigured with their wounds, To gorge the wolves and vultures of Numidia. Ju. Why dost thou call my sorrows up afresh? My father's name brings tears into mine eyes. Sy. O that you'd profit by your father's ills! Ju. What wouldst thou have me do?
Ju. Syphax, I should be more than twice an orphan By such a loss.
Sy. Ay, there's the tie that binds you !
You long to call him father. Marcia's charms Work in your heart unseen, and plead for Cato; No wonder you are deaf to all I say.
Ju. 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.
Sy. Sir, your great father never used me thus. Alas! he's dead; but can you e'er forget
The tender sorrow 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 cried, "Pr'ythee, be careful of my son!" His grief Swelled up so high, he could not utter more. Ju. Alas! the story melts away my soul. That best of fathers! how shall I discharge The gratitude and duty which I owe him?
Sy. By laying up his counsels in your heart. Ju. 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.
Sy. Alas! my prince, I'd guide you to your safety. Ju. I do believe thou wouldst; but tell me how. Sy. Fly from the fate that follows Cæsar's foes. Ju. My father scorned to do it.
Sy. And therefore died.
Ju. Better to die ten thousand deaths,
Than wound my honor.
Sy. Rather say your love.
Ju. Syphax, I've promised to preserve my temper.
Why wilt thou urge me to confess a flame
I long have stifled, and would fain conceal?
Sy. Believe me, prince, though hard to conquer love,
'Tis easy to divert and break its force;
The glowing dames of Zama's royal court Have faces flushed with more exalted charms; The sun, that rolls his chariot o'er their heads, Lights up a richer color in their cheeks:
Were you with these, my prince, you'd soon forget The pale, unripened beauties of the north.
Ju. 'Tis not a set of features, or complexion, The tincture of the skin, that I admire. Beauty soon grows familiar to the lover, Fades in his eye, and palls upon the sense. The virtuous Marcia towers above her sex : True, she is fair, -O, 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 every thing she acts or speaks, While winning mildness and attractive smiles Dwell in her looks, and with becoming grace Soften the rigor of her father's virtues.
129. A Search after Happiness.
How happy I'll be to-morrow!" exclaimed little Slyder Downehylle, in anticipation of Christmas, —"O, how happy I shall be to-morrow!".
"Couldn't you contrive to be happy a little now?" replied uncle John, who had learned somewhat to distrust anticipation and its gorgeous promises.
Happy now, uncle John!" retorted little Slyder Downehylle, rather contemptuously, "happy now! what with, I should like to know what shall I be happy with
now? Where are the cakes, the candy, the pies-where the hobby horse that somebody's going to give me and all the Christnas gifts? How I wish to-morrow was here! What a long lay what a long evening — what a great while I've got to sleep!"
Little Slyder Downehylle became quite cross, and uncle
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