All elfe is towering phrenfy and distraction.
Are not the lives of those, who draw the sword
In Rome's defence, entrusted to our care?

Should we thus lead them to a field of flaughter,
Might not th' impartial world with reason say,
We lavish'd at our deaths the blood of thousands,
To grace our fall, and make our ruin glorious?
Lucius, we next would know what's your opinion.

LUCIU S.

My thoughts, I must confefs, are turn'd on peace. Already have our quarrels fill'd the world

With widows and with orphans: Scythia mourns
Our guilty wars, and earth's remotest regions
Lie half unpeopled by the feuds of Rome:
'Tis time to sheath the sword, and spare mankind.
It is not Cæfar, but the gods, my fathers,
The gods declare against us, and repel

Our vain attempts. To urge the foe to battle,
(Prompted by blind revenge and wild despair)
Were to refuse th' awards of providence,
And not to reft in heaven's determination.
Already have we shown our love to Rome :
Now let us fhow fubmiffion to the gods.
We took up arms, not to revenge ourselves,
But free the commonwealth; when this end fails,
Arms have no further ufe: our country's caufe,

That drew our swords, now wrefts them from our hands,
And bids us not delight in Roman blood,
Unprofitably fhed; what men could do

Is done already: heaven and earth will witness,
If Rome must fall, that we are innocent.
T. 2

SEM

SEMPRONIUS.

This fimooth difcourfe and mild behaviour oft Conceal a traitor-Something whispers me

All is not right-Cato, beware of Lucius. [Afide to Cato.

САТО.

Let us appear not rafh nor diffident:
Immoderate valour fwells into a fault,
And fear, admitted into public councils,
Betrays like treafon. Let us fhun them both.
Fathers, I cannot fee that our affairs

Are grown thus defperate. We have bulwarks round us;
Within our walls are troops inur'd to toil
In Afric's heats, and feafon'd to the fun;
Numidia's fpacious kingdom lies behind us,
Ready to rife at its young prince's call.
Whilft there is hope, do not diftruft the gods;
But wait at least till Cæfar's near approach
Force us to yield. 'Twill never be too late
To fue for chains, and own a conqueror.
Why fhould Rome fall a moment ere her time?
No, let us draw her term of freedom out
In its full length, and spin it to the last.
So fhall we gain still one day's liberty;
And let me perish, but in Cato's judgment,
A day, an hour of virtuous liberty,
Is worth a whole eternity in bondage.

Enter MARCUS.

MARCU S.

Fathers, this moment as I watch'd the gates,

Lodg'd on my poft, a herald is arriv’d

From

From Cæfar's camp, and with him comes old Decius, The Roman knight; he carries in his looks Impatience, and demands to speak with Cato.

САТО.

By your permiffion, fathers, bid him enter.

[Exit MARCUS.

Decius was once my friend; but other profpects

Have loos'd those ties, and bound him fast to Cæfar. His meffage may determine our refolves. .

Enter DECIUS.

DECIUS.

Cæfar fends health to Cato-

САТО.

Could he fend it

To Cato's flaughter'd friends, it would be welcome. Are not your orders to addrefs the fenate?

DECIUS.

My business is with Cato: Cæfar fees

The ftreights to which you 're driv'n; and, as he knows Cato's high worth, is anxious for his life.

САТО.

My life is grafted on the fate of Rome : Would he fave Cato? bid him fpare his country. Tell your dictator this; and tell him Cato, Difdains a life, which he has power to offer.

DECIUS.

Rome and her fenators fubmit to Cæfar; Her generals and her confuls are no more,

Who check'd his conquefts, and deny'd his triumphs. Why will not Cato be this Cæfar's friend?

САТО.

Those very reasons, thou haft urg'd, forbid it.
DECIUS.

Cato, I've orders to expoftulate,

And reason with you as from friend to friend:
Think on the ftorm that gathers o'er your head,
And threatens every hour to burst upon it;
Still may you stand high in your country's honours.
Do but comply, and make your peace with Cæfar.
Rome will rejoice, and caft its eyes on Cato,
As on the fecond of mankind.

САТО.

No more!

I must not think of life on fuch conditions.

DECIUS.

Cefar is well acquainted with your virtues,
And therefore fets this value on your life:
Let him but know the price of Cato's friendship,
And name your terms.

САТО.

Bid him disband his legions,

Reftore the commonwealth to liberty,
Submit his actions to the public cenfure,
And ftand the judgment of a Roman fenate.
Bid him do this, and Cato is his friend.

DECIUS.

Cato, the world talks loudly of your wisdom

CATO.

CATO.

Nay more, though Cato's voice was ne'er employ'd To clear the guilty, and to varnish crimes,

Myself will mount the Roftrum in his favour,
And strive to gain his pardon from the people.

DE CIU S.

A ftile like this becomes a conqueror.

САТО.

Decius, a ftile like this becomes a Roman.

DE CIU S.

What is a Roman, that is Cæfar's foe?

САТО.

Greater than Cæfar, he's a friend to virtue.

DECIU S.

Confider, Cato, you're in Utica;

And at the head of your own little fenate;

You don't now thunder in the capitol,

With all the mouths of Rome to fecond

САТО.

you.

Let him confider that who drives us hither:

'Tis Cæfar's fword has made Rome's fenate little, And thinn'd its ranks. Alas! thy dazzled eye Beholds this man in a falfe glaring light,

Which conqueft and fuccefs have thrown upon him
Didft thou but view him right, thou 'dft fee him black
With murder, treafon, facrilege, and crimes,.
That ftrike my foul with horror but to name them.
I know thou look'ft on me, as on a wretch
Befet with ills, and cover'd with misfortunes;