nerous Roman Principles, abounding with Plots and Confpiracies against the prefent Model of their Government, divided into Parties, headed by violent and ambitious Spirits, and carried on with all the Arts of Defign, Hypocrify, and Diffimulation; and in fhort, fuch an Age wherein as CICERO describes it, it was as dangerous for a good Man to hazard himself in Business, and act in publick Offices, as it was disgraceful and mean to retire from them. In this Age the great CATO appear'd, acting meerly upon the Principles of Honour and Juftice, neither aw'd nor feduc'd by Parties, with the trueft Notions for the ancient Republic Form, and a hearty Zeal for it, publickly oppofing both its difguis'd and open Enemies. When the Civil War broke out he sided indeed with POMPEY, as moft of the Senators and Lovers of their Country did, not thinking him fo dangerous an Enemy as CASAR; and CATO particularly hoping by the Influence he had over him to bring him to refettle the State upon its old Bottom, if he happen'd to prove the Conqueror. Upon thefe Motives he engag'd in the Civil War, the Event of which you very well know, fo that I fhall pass that over, and come to the Scene of the Play, when he and the Remnant of his Followers were inclos'd by CASAR in Utica.

But I know you will not forgive me, unless I touch upon CATO's Character, as drawn by Poets as well as Hiftori ans; and therefore I fhall give you both his publick and pri vate one out of LUCAN, who in this Defcription had as ftrict a Regard to Truth as any Hiftorian, his private Life, the Simplicity of his Manners, and Habit, his Notions of Philofophy, and his Manner of Behaviour, are excellently painted in the fecond Book which I fhall venture to tran flate.

Hi

-Hi mores, hac duri immota Catonis

Secta fuit.

These CATO's Morals were, and this the kind,

Of His rough Sect, and His feverer Mind,
A due proportion'd Medium to attend,
And think while living to respect his End
To follow Nature, and obferve her Laws,
To pour His Life out in his Country's Cause
From mean Idea's to

nge His Mind,

Nor think his Actions to himself confin'd,

Nor CATO born for One, but All Mankind.

He eat for Hunger, not to please the Sense,

A happy Epicure in Abstinence,

17.

His House to keep out Cold alone did feem, mis
Convenience was Magnificence to Him;

Upon his Back a Hairy Gown he bore,
Such as His Sabine great Forefathers wore;

Such as the Face of Antique Garbs exprefs,
This was his Pomp and Gaiety of Dress;

He

He fought the Pleasure of a chaft Embrace,

For One great End, to propagate his Race:

Severely honeft, juft without Allay,

Studious, the Common Good alone to weigh.

At once difcreet, and fond in ev'ry

view

badell Becleros
His Country's Husband, and Her Father too.
weld evildo me vs. wolle. T

and the Ques that

Zeal of his Spirit for the

befal

and the Anxiety, were likely His generous Concern for his Fellow. Sufferers, and his Neglect of himself, are farther difplay'd, when

fcrib'd coming to him in the Dead of Night, to ask his Opinion of the Condition of Affairs, in order to follow his Refolution,baM HA sud ca 107 пd OT

2

1071

Him BRUTUS found with wakeful Care oppreft,

The Public Good revolving in his Breaft:

ma bib suola Hora o

Big with the Fate and Destiny of Rome,

Her Children's Fortune, and His Country's Doom; sjod of awoð, vuish s dopd

Fearful what each might Act, and each Endure,

enow plodomoro trong side?

But unconcern'd, and for Himself secure.

tomy,dub orpheA 95

And fince I have gone thus far in fhewing his Character, as drawn by this Poet, I will attempt to tranflate that Part

of

of his Speech to BRUTUS, wherein He offers himself a voluntary Sacrifice for his Country, only wishing that it may in fome Manner reprefent the Beauties of the excellent Ori ginal.

O! would the Gods above, and those below,

In Mercy harken to their CATO's Vow,

And on This willingly devoted Head

All their collected Stores of Vengeance fhed!

For Rome of old her Decii could fall,

In one Illuftrious Ruin faving all:

7

That thus I might this fingle Life expofe,

To ftop her Plagues, and expiate her Woes!

O! against Me may both their Hofts engage;

Set up
Hither fly every Dart, launch ev'ry Spear,

the happy Mark of Public Rage:

And ev'ry vile Barbarian Arm ftrike Here.
I would fuftain each Individual's Share

Be pierc'd, be gor'd, by ev'ry Murd❜rer there,
And all their Wounds in bleeding Tranfport bear.
Could but this Blood, for her Prefervance fpilt,
Redeem the Nation; and attone her Guilt:

Could

Could this one Sacrifice prevent Her Doom,

And quit the Score between her Gods and Rome.

And now, Sir, you will eafily perceive how agreeable to this the Character of CATO is fuftained through the whole Play; how exactly he Acts and Talks as ČATO fhould; the dear Impreffion and Image of his Country always rifing up in his. Thoughts, and being expreft in fuch a Manner as is anfwerable to the Idea of that Great Man. How eafy the Private Concerns of Life fit upon him! and how full he is of Rome! In the Second ACT, you find him befieg'd and encompass'd by CASAR at Utica, in Conference with a few Senators who had ftuck to the Cause of Liberty, in this utmoft Exigence, not dropping a Word unbecoming his Roman Spirit, regulating their Debates, and returning an Anfwer to CESAR with an Air fuperiour to his Fortune. And tho' in this Debate CATO utters many Sentences which would not be graceful for another to speak, yet according to QUINTILIAN'S Rule, they are very proper and juft in him: for, fays the Orator, Sentences are most properly put in the Mouth of Men of Authority, that the Perfon may give a Confirmation to the Weight and Importance of the Subject. Confider, Sir, then what an Idea they muft needs have of CATO before, and you will plainly perceive what an Influence his Refolution, deliver'd in that folemn Manner, muft naturally have over them.

A second Instance of the Greatness and Intrepidity of his Soul, you will obferve in the Third ACT, where he ventures himself unarmed amidst a Band of Confpirators, who, by the fingle Awe of his Virtue, are fo abafh'd, that they dar'd not to execute their Purpose when it was most in their Power, which puts me in mind of a Paffage in VIRGIL that

feems