I dare not think he will; but if he should–
Why wilt thou add to all the griefs I suffer
Imaginary ills, and fancied tortures?
I hear the sound of feet! They march this way!
Let us retire, and try if we can drown
Each softer thought in sense of present danger.
When love once pleads admission to our hearts
(In spite of all the virtue we can boast)
The woman that deliberates is lost.

In this passage from "Cato," Marcia grapples with the constraints imposed by her father’s authority and her own desires. She is torn between her affections for Juba and the possibility that her father might choose Sempronius for her. Marcia’s response to Lucia reveals the tension between personal autonomy and societal expectations. Her statement, "The woman that deliberates is lost," underscores the peril women face when they hesitate in matters of the heart—suggesting that hesitation leads to the forfeiture of one's desires and agency. It captures the broader theme of women's limited control over their destinies during this era. The urgency in Marcia’s voice, as she hears the soldiers approaching, mirrors her internal struggle, depicting how external threats can momentarily overshadow personal turmoil.