While Cato gives his little fenate laws,
What bofom beats not in his country's caufe?
Who fees him act, but envies every deed?
Who hears him groan, and does not wifh to bleed?
Even when proud Cæfar 'midst triumphal cars,
The spoils of nations, and the
pomp of wars,
Ignobly vain, and impotently great,
Show'd Rome her Cato's figure drawn in ftate,
As her dead father's reverend image past,
The pomp was darken'd, and the day o'ercaft,
The triumph ceas'd-tears gufh'd from every eye,
The world's great victor pafs'd unheeded by;
Her last good man dejected Rome ador'd,
And honour'd Cæfar's lefs than Cato's fword.
Britons attend: be worth like this approv❜d,
And show you have the virtue to be mov'd.
With honeft fcorn the firft-fam'd Cato view'd
Rome learning arts from Greece, whom fhe fubdu'd.
Our scene precariously fubfifts too long

On French translation, and Italian fong:
Dare to have fenfe yourfelves; affert the stage,
Be juftly warm'd with your own native rage.
Such plays alone fhould please a British ear,
As Cato's felf had not difdain'd to hear.

Dramatis

Juba, Prince of Numidia.

Syphax, General of the Numidians.

}Sons

Portius, Sons of Cato.
Marcus,

Decius, Ambaffador from Cafar.

Mutineers, Guards, &c.

WOME N.

Mr. Wilks.

Mr. Cibber.

Mr. Powell,

Mr. Ryan.

Mr. Bowman.

Marcia, Daughter to Cato.

Mrs. Oldfield Mrs. Porter.

Lucia, Daughter to Lucius,

SCENE a large hall in the Governor's palace of Utica.

CATO.

CATO.

A C T I. SCENE I.

TH

The

PORTIUS, MARCUS.

PORTIUS.

HE dawn is over-caft, the morning lours, And heavily in clouds brings on the day, great, th' important day, big with the fate Of Cato and of Rome-Our father's death Would fill up all the guilt of civil war, And close the scene of blood. Already Cæfar Has ravag❜d more than half the globe, and fees Mankind grown thin by his deftructive sword: Should he go further, numbers would be wanting To form new battles, and fupport his crimes. Ye gods, what havock does ambition make Among your works!

MARCUS.

Thy fteddy temper, Portius,

Can look on guilt, rebellion, fraud, and Cæfar,
In the calm lights of mild philofophy;

I'm tortur'd, even to madness, when I think
On the proud victor: every time he's named
Pharfalia rifes to my view!-I fee

VOL. II.

F

Th