Page:The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, Volume 2.djvu/397

 And now the reader may expect a very extraordinary scene; there is not abundance of spirit indeed, nor a great deal of passion, but there is wisdom more than enough to supply all defects. Syph. Our first design, my friend, has prov'd abortive; Still there remains an after-game to play: My troops are mounted, their Numidian steeds Snuff up the winds, and long to scour the desart; Let but Sempronius lead us in our flight, We'll force the gate, where Marcus keeps his guard, And hew down all that would oppose our passage; A day will bring us into Cæsar's camp. Semp. Confusion! I have fail'd of half my purpose; Marcia, the charming Marcia's left behind. "Well! but though he tells us the half purpose he has fail'd of, he does not tell us the half that he has carried. But what does he mean by Marcia, the charming Marcia's left behind? He is now in her own house; and we have neither seen her nor heard of her Rh