Thy fhould I mention Juba's overthrow,

and Scipio's death? Numidia's burning fands

ill smoke with blood. 'Tis time we fhould decree
That courfe to take. Our foe advances on us,
nd envies us even Libya's fultry deferts.

thers, pronounce your thoughts, are they ftill fixt
o hold it out, and fight it to the laft?

are your hearts fubdu'd at length, and wrought time and ill fuccefs to a fubmiffion?

mpronius, speak.

SEMPRONIUS.

My voice is still for war.

ods! can a Roman Senate long debate
hich of the two to chufe, flavery or death!
», let us rife at once, gird on our swords,
d, at the head of our remaining troops,
Eack the foe, break through the thick array

his throng'd legions, and charge home upon him. haps some arm, more lucky than the rest,

■y reach his heart, and free the world from bondage. e, Fathers, rife! 'tis Rome demands your help;

Fe, and revenge her flaughter'd citizens,

share their fate! the corps of half her Senate
nure the fields of Theffaly, while we
here, deliberating in cold debates,
ve fhould facrifice our lives to honour,
wear them out in fervitude and chains.
ufe up for shame! our brothers of Pharfaiia
VOL. II.

C

Point

Point at their wounds, and cry aloud- -to Battle!
Great Pompey's fhade complains that we are flow,
And Scipio's ghost walks unreveng'd amongst us!
CATO.

Let not a torrent of impetuous zeal

Transport thee thus beyond the bounds of reafon:
True fortitude is feen in great exploits

That juftice warrants, and that wisdom guides,
All elfe is tow'ring frenzy and distraction.
Are not the lives of those, who draw the fword
In Rome's defence, intrufted to our care?
Should we thus lead them to a field of flaughter,
Might not th' impartial world with reason fay
We lavish'd at our deaths the blood of thousands,
To grace our fall, and make our ruine 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 fheath the fword, 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 defpair)
Were to refufe th' awards of Providence,

And

nd not to rest in Heaven's determination.
ready have we shown our love to Rome,
ow let us fhow fubmiffion to the Gods.
e took up arms, not to revenge ourselves,

t free the commonwealth; when this end fails,
-ms have no farther use: our country's caufe,

at drew our swords, now wrefts 'em from our hands,

nd bids us not delight in Roman blood,

profitably fhed; what men could do

done already: Heav'n and earth will witness, Rome must fall, that we are innocent.

SEMPRONIUS.

This fmooth difcourfe and mild behaviour oft
Onceal a traitor-fomething whifpers me

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

Let us appear nor rafh nor diffident:

moderate valour fwells into a fault,

nd fear, admitted into public counfels, trays like treafon. Let us fhun 'em both.

thers, I cannot fee that our affairs

-e grown thus defperate. We have bulwarks round us:

ithin our walls are troops inur'd to toil

Afric's heats, and feafon'd to the fun; midia's spacious kingdom lies behind us, eady to rife at its young Prince's call. hile there is hope, do not distrust the Gods; at wait at least 'till Cafar'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 laft,
So fhall we gain ftill one day's liberty;
And let me perifh, 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 arrived

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.

CATO.

By your permiffion, fathers, bid him enter.

[Exit Marcus.

Decius was once my friend, but other prospects

Have loose'd those ties, and bound him faft to Cæfar.

His meffage may determine our refolves.

SCENE II.

DECIUS, CATO, &c.

DECIUS.

Cafar fends health to Cato.

Could he fend it

CATO.

"o Cato's laughter'd friends, it would be welcome.

re not your orders to addrefs the Senate ?

DE CIU S.

My bufinefs is with Cato: Cafar fees

"he ftraits, to which you're driven; and, as he knows ato's high worth, is anxious for your life.

САТО,

My life is grafted on the fate of Rome: Would he fave Cate? bid him spare his country. ell your Dictator this and tell him, Cato ifdains a life, which he has pow'r to offer. DECIUS.

Rome and her Senators fubmit to Cafar.

er Generals and her Consuls are no more,

ho check'd his conquefts, and denied his triumphs.

Why will not Cato be this Cafar's friend?

CATO.

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