DECIUS,

Cato. I have orders to expoftulate,

And reason with you, as from friend to friend :
Think on the storm that gathers o'er your head,
And threatens every hour to burst upon it;

Still may you ftand high in your country's honours,
Do but comply, and make your peace with Cafar.
Rome will rejoice, and cast its eyes on Cato,

As on the fecond of mankind.

I must not think of life on fuch conditions.

DE CIU S.

Cafar 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 difband his legions,

Reftore the commonwealth to liberty,

Submit his actions to the public cenfure,

And ftand the judgment of a Roman Senate.

Bid him do this, and Cato is his friend.

DECIUS.

Cato, the world talks loudly of

your

wifdom.

CATO.

Nay more, tho' Cato's voice was ne'er employ'd

To clear the guilty, and to varnish crimes,

My

yfelf will mount the Roftrum in his favour,
nd ftrive to gain his pardon from the people.
DECIUS.

A ftyle, like this, becomes a Conqueror.
CATO.

Decius, a ftyle like this, becomes a Roman.

DECIUS.

What is a Roman, that is Cafar's foe?

CATO.

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

Confider, Cato, you're in Utica,

And at the head of your own little Senate;
You don't now thunder in the capitol,

With all the mouths of Rome to second you.
CATO.

Let him confider that, who drives us hither:
Tis Cafar's fword has made Rome's Senate little,
And thinn'd its ranks. Alas, thy dazzled eye
Beholds this man in a falfe glaring light,

2

Which conquest and success have thrown upon him ; -
Didft thou but view him right, thou'dft fee him black
With murder, treason, facrilege, and crimes
That ftrike my foul with horror but to name 'em.
I know thou look'ft on me, as on a wretch
Befet with ills, and cover'd with misfortunes ;
But, by the Gods I fwear, millions of worlds
Should never buy me to be like that Cæfar.

C 4

D E

DECIUS.

Does Cato fend this anfwer back to Cæfar,

For all his generous cares, and proffer'd friendship?
CATO.

His cares for me are infolent and vain:
Prefumptuous man! the Gods take care of Cato.
Would Cæfar fhow the greatness of his foul?
Bid him employ his care for these my friends,
And make good ufe of his ill-gotten pow'r,
By shelt'ring men much better than himself.
DE CIU S.

Your high unconquer'd heart makes you forget
You rush on your deftruction.
When I relate hereafter

You are a Man.

But I have done.

Cato, we thank thee.

The mighty genius of immortal Rome

Speaks in thy voice, thy foul breathes liberty:
Cafar will fhrink to hear the words thou utter'ft,
And fhudder in the midst of all his conquefts.

LU.

LUCIUS.

The Senate owns its gratitude to Cato,

Who with fo great a foul confults its fafety,
nd guards our lives, while he neglects his own.
SEMPRONIUS.

Sempronius gives no thanks on this account.
ucius feems fond of life; but what is Life?
Tis not to stalk about, and draw fresh air,
rom time to time, or gaze upon the Sun;
is to be Free. When liberty is gone,
ife grows infipid, and has lost its relish.
O could my dying hand but lodge a sword
a Cafar's bofom, and revenge my country,
y Heav'ns I could enjoy the pangs of death,,
nd smile in agony.

Others perhaps

LUCIU S.

Hay ferve their country with as warm a zeal,,
Though 'tis not kindled into fo much rage.
SEMPRONIUS.

This fober conduct is a mighty virtue

1 lukewarm Patriots.

Come! no more, Sempronius,

ll here are friends to Rome, and to each other.

et us not weaken still the weaker fide,

y our divifions.

C 5

SE M

'

SEMPRONIUS.
IU S.

Cato, my refentments

Are facrifice'd to Rome- -I ftand reproved.

CATO.

Fathers, 'tis time you come to a refolve.
LUCIUS.

Cato, we all go into your opinion.
Cafar's behaviour has convince'd the Senate
We ought to hold it out 'till terms arrive.

SEMPRONIU S.

We ought to hold it out 'till death; but, Cato,
My private voice is drown'd amidst the Senate's.
САТО.

Then let us rife, my friends, and strive to fill
This little interval, this pause of life,
(While yet our liberty and fates are doubtful)
With refolution, friendship, Roman bravery,
And all the virtues we can crowd into it;
That Heav'n may fay, it ought to be prolong'd.
Fathers, farewel-The young Numidian Prince
Comes forward, and expects to know our counfels.

SCENE