SEMPRONIUS.

This fmooth 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 rash 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 desperate. We have bulwarks roundus;
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 diftrust the gods;
But wait at leaft till Cæfar's near approach
Force us to yield. Twill never be too late
To fue for chains, and own a conqueror.
Why should Rome fall a moment ere her time?
No, let us draw her term of freedom out
In its full length, and fpin it to the last.
So fhall we gain ftill 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 post, 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.

CATO.

By your permiffion, fathers, bid him enter.

[Exit MARCUS.

Decius was once my friend; but other prospects

Have loos'd those ties, and bound him fait 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 bufinefs 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.

CATO.

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 triumplis. Why will not Cato be this Cæfar's friend?

САТО.

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

DECIUS.

Cato, I've orders to expoftulate,

And reafon 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 ftand high in your country's honours.
Do but comply, and make your peace with Cæfar.
Rome will rejoice, and cast 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.

CATO.

Bid him difband 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

САТО.

САТО.

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

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

DECIUS.

A ftile like this becomes a conqueror.

CATO.

Decius, a ftile like this becomes a Roman.

DECIUS.

What is a Roman, that is Cæfar's foe?

САТО.

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

DECIUS.

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 second you.

САТО.

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, treason, 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 ;

But, by the gods I fwear, millions of worlds
Should never buy me to be like that Cæfar.
DECIUS.

Does Cato fend this answer 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 soul,
Bid him employ his care for these my friends,
And make good ufe of his ill-gotten power
By theltering men much better than himself.

DECIUS.

Your high unconquer'd heart makes you forget That you 're a man. You rush on your destruction.

But I have done.

When I relate hereafter

The tale of this unhappy embaffy,

All Rome will be in tears.

[Exit.

SEMPRONIUS.

Cato, we thank thee.

The mighty genius of immortal Rome

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

LUCIUS.

The fenate owns its gratitude to Cato,

Who with fo great a foul confults its fafety,

And guards our lives while he neglects his own..

SEMPRONIUS.

Sempronius gives no thanks on this account..