Joseph Addison

“ Dwell ever on his tongue, and smooth his thoughts.
Marcus is over-warm, his fond complaints
Have so much earnestness and passion in them,
I hear him with a secret kind of horror,
And tremble at his vehemence of temper.
⁠Mar.⁠Alas, poor youth! how can'st thou throw him from thee?
Lucia, thou know'st not half the love he bears thee?
Whene'er he speaks of thee, his heart's in flames,
He sends out all his soul in ev'ry word,
And thinks, and talks, and looks like one transported.
Unhappy youth! How will thy coldness raise
Tempests and storms in his afflicted bosom! ”

“ Nay, further, threaten'd you'd complain to Cato.
Of what, my Prince, wou'd you complain to Cato?
That Syphax loves you, and wou'd sacrifice
His life, nay more, his honour in your service.
⁠Jub.⁠Syphax, I know thou lov'st me; but indeed
Thy zeal for Juba carry'd thee too far.
Honour's sacred tie, the law of Kings,
The noble mind's distinguishing perfection,
That aids, and strengthens virtue, where it meets her,
And imitates her actions, where she is not:
It ought not to be sported with. ”

“ Make human nature shine, reform the soul,
And break our fierce barbarians into men.
⁠Syph.⁠Patience, kind heav'ns!—Excuse an old man's warmth.
What are these wondrous civilizing arts,
This Roman polish, and this smooth behaviour,
That render man thus tractable and tame?
Are they not only to disguise our passions,
To set our looks at variance with our thoughts,
To check the starts and sallies of the soul,
And break off all its commerce with the tongue;
In short, to change us into other creatures,
Than what our nature and the gods design'd us?
⁠Jub.⁠To strike thee dumb: turn up thy eyes to Cato! ”

“ My heart is wounded, when I see such virtue
Afflicted by the weight of such misfortunes.
⁠Cato.⁠Thy nobleness of soul obliges me.
But know, young Prince, that valour soars above
What the world calls misfortune and affliction.
These are not ills; else wou'd they never fall
On heav'n's first fav'rites, and the best of men:
The gods, in bounty work up storms about us,
That give mankind occasion to exert
Their hidden strength, and throw out into practice
Virtues which shun the day, and lie conceal'd
In the smooth seasons and the calms of life. ”

“ And Scipio's ghost walks unreveng'd amongst us!
⁠Cato.⁠Let not a torrent of impetuous zeal
Transport thee thus beyond the bounds of reason:
True fortitude is seen in great exploits
That justice warrants, and that wisdom guides:
All else is tow'ring frenzy and distraction.
Are not the lives of those who draw the sword
In Rome's defence entrusted to our care?
Should we thus lead them to a field of slaughter,
Might not th’impartial world with reason say,
We lavish’d at our deaths the blood of thousands,
To grace our fall, and make our ruin glorious? ”

“ Am wrap'd with joy to fee my Marcia's tears.
Marc. ⁠I've been surpris'd in an unguarded hour,
But must not now go back: the love that lay
Half-smother'd in my breast, has broke through all
Its weak restraints, and burns in its full lustre;
I cannot, if I wou'd, conceal it from thee.
Jub.⁠I'm lost in ecstasy! and dost thou love,
Thou charming maid?
Marc.⁠ And dost thou live to ask it?
Jub.⁠ This, this is life indeed! life worth preserving,
Such life as Juba never felt till now. ”

“ The sword unsheath'd, and turn its edge on Cesar.
⁠Juba.⁠The resolution fits a Roman senate.
But, Cato, lend me for a while thy patience,
And condescend to hear a young man speak.
My father, when some days before his death
He order'd me to march for Utica,
(Alas, I thought not then his death so near!)
Wept o'er me, press'd me in his aged arms,
And, as his griefs gave way, My son, said he,
Whatever fortune shall befal thy father,
Be Cato's friend; he'll train thee up to great
And virtuous deeds: Do but observe him well,
Thoul't shun misfortunes, or thoul't learn to bear 'em. ”

“ To copy out our father's bright example.
He loves our sister Marcia, greatly loves her,
His eyes, his looks, his actions, all betray it:
But still the smothered fondness burns within him.
When most it swells and labours for a vent,
The sense of honour and desire of fame,
Drive the big passion back into his heart.
What! shall an African, shall Juba's heir
Reproach great Cato's son, and shew the world
A virtue wanting in a Roman soul? ”

“ Syphax, I now may hope thou hast forsook
Thy Juba's cause, and wishest Marcia mine.
⁠Syph.⁠May she be thine as fast as thou wouldst have her.
⁠Semp.⁠Syphax, I love that woman; tho' I curse
Her and myself, yet spite of me, I love her.
⁠Syph.⁠Make Cato sure, and give up Utica;
Cesar will ne'er refuse thee such a trifle.
But are thy troops prepar'd for a revolt?
Does the sedition catch from man to man,
And run among the ranks?
⁠Semp.⁠All, all is ready;
The factious leaders are our friends, that spread
Murmurs and discontents among the soldiers. ”

“ Syphax we'll join our cares, to purge away
Our country's crimes, and clear our reputation.
⁠Syph.⁠Believe me, prince, you make old Syphax weep
To hear you talk⸻but 'tis with tears of joy.
If e'er your father's crown adorn your brows,
Numidia will be blest by Cato's lectures.
⁠Jub.⁠Syphax, thy hand! we'll mutually forget
The warmth of youth, and forwardness of age.
Thy Prince esteems thy worth, and loves thy person,
If e'er the scepter comes into my hand,
Syphax shall stand the second in my kingdom. ”

“ Luc.⁠Sweet are the slumbers of the virtuous man!
O Marcia, I have seen thy godlike father:
Some pow'r invisible supports his soul,
And bears it up in all its wonted greatness.
A kind refreshing sleep is fall'n upon him:
I saw him stretch'd at ease, his fancy lost
In pleasing dreams; as I drew near his couch,
He smil'd, and cry'd, Cesar thou can'st not hurt me.
Marc.⁠His mind still labours with some dreadful thought.
Luc.⁠Marcia, why all this grief, these floods of sorrow?
Dry up thy tears, my child, we all are safe
While Cato lives,⸻His presence will protect us. ”

“ It beats down all my strength. I cannot bear it.
We must not part.
Luc.⁠What dost thou say? not part?
Hast thou forgot the vow that I have made?
Are not there heav'ns, and gods, that thunder o'er us?
—But see thy brother Marcus bends this way!
I sicken at the sight. Once more farewell,
Farewel, and know thou wrong'st me if thou think'st
Ever was love, or ever grief, like mine. ”

“ Love is not to be reason'd down, or lost
In high ambition, and a thirst of greatness;
'Tis second life, it grows into the soul,
Warms ev'ry vein, and beats in ev'ry pulse,
I feel it here: my resolution melts⸻
⁠Por.⁠Behold young Juba, the Numidian prince! ”

“ That drew our swords, now wrests 'em from our hands,
And bids us not delight in Roman blood,
Unprofitably shed; what men could do
Is done already: heav'n and earth will witness,
If Rome must fall, that we are innocent. ”

“ Beauty soon grows familiar to the lover,
Fades in his eye, and palls upon the sense.
The virtuous Marcia tow'rs above her sex:
True, she is fair (Oh, how divinely fair!) ,
But still the lovely maid improves her charms,
With inward greatness, unaffected wisdom,
And sanctity of manners. Cato's soul
Shines out in ev'ry thing she acts or speaks,
While winning mildness and attractive smiles
Dwell in her looks, and, with becoming grace
Soften the rigour of her father's virtues.
⁠Syph.⁠How does your tongue grow wanton in her praise!
But on my knees I beg you would consider⸻
Enter Marcia and Lucia. ”

“ Behold a sight that strikes all comfort dead.
⁠Enter Juba, listening.
I will indulge my sorrows, and give way
To all the pangs and fury of despair;
That man, that best of men, deserv'd it from me.
Jub.⁠What do I hear? and was the false Sempronius
That best of men? ”

“ Alas, he knew not, hapless youth, he knew not
Marcia's whole soul was full of love and Juba!
Juba.⁠Where am I! do I live! or am indeed
What Marcia thinks! all Elysium round me!
Marc.⁠Ye dear remains of the most lov'd of men! ”

“ Cato has no business in it.
Luc.⁠While pride, oppression, and injustice reign,
The world will still demand her Cato's presence.
In pity to mankind, submit to Cesar,
And reconcile thy mighty soul to life.
Cato.⁠Would Lucius have me live to swell the number
Of Cesar's slaves, or by a base submission
Give up the cause of Rome, and own a tyrant?
Luc.⁠The victor never will impose on Cato
Ungen'rous terms. His enemies confess,
The virtues of humanity are Cesar's.
Cato.⁠Curse on his virtues! they've undone his country.
Such popular humanity is treason⸻
But see young Juba! ”

“ On this weak side, where most our nature fails,
Would be a conquest worthy Cato's son. ”

“ There let 'em hang, and taint the southern wind.
The partners of their crime will learn obedience.
When they look up and see their fellow-traitors
Stuck on a fork, and black'ning in the sun.
Luc.⁠Sempronius, why, why wilt thou urge the fate
Of wretched men?
Semp.⁠How! Would'st thou clear rebellion!
Lucius (good man) pities the poor offenders
That wou'd embrue their hands in Cato's blood.
Cato. ⁠Forbear, Sempronius!—see they suffer death,
But in their deaths remember they are men.
Strain not the laws to make their tortures grievous. ”

“ Who pants for breath, and stiffens, yet alive,
In dreadful looks: a monument of wrath!
Luc. ⁠At length I've acted my severest part,
I feel the woman breaking in upon me,
And melt about my heart! my tears will flow
But oh I'll think no more! the hand of fate
Has torn thee from me, and I must forget thee.
Por. ⁠Hard-hearted cruel maid!
Luc.⁠ Oh stop those sounds,
Those killing sounds? Why dost thou frown upon me
My blood runs cold, my heart forgets to heave,
And life itself goes out at thy displeasure.
The gods forbid us to indulge our loves,
But oh! ”

“ Exit.
1. Lead.⁠We are all safe; Sempronius is our friend.
Sempronius is as brave a man as Cato.
But, hark! he enters. Bear up boldly to him;
Be sure you beat him down, and bind him fast,
This day will end our toils, and give us rest?
Fear nothing, for Sempronius is our friend.
⁠SCENE V.
⁠Enter Cato, Sempronius, Lucius, Portius, and Marcus. ”

“ The stars shall fade away, the sun himself
Grow dim with age, and nature sink in years,
But thou shalt flourish in immortal youth,
Unhurt amidst the war of elements,
The wrecks of matter, and the crash of worlds. ”

“ There the brave youth, with love of virtue fir'd,
Who greatly in his country's cause expir'd,
Shall know he conquer'd. The firm patriot there
(Who made the welfare of mankind his care)
Tho' still by faction, vice, and fortune crost) ,
Shall find the gen'rous labour was not lost. ”

“ With Cato's foes, and follow Cesar's banners.
Why did I 'scape th'envom'd aspic's rage,
And all the fiery monsters of the desart,
To see this day? why could not Cato fall
Without your guilt? Behold ungrateful men,
Behold my bosom naked to your swords,
And let the man that's injur'd strike the blow,
Which of you all suspects that he is wrong'd,
Or thinks he suffers greater ills than Cato?
Am I distinguish'd from you but by toils,
Superior toils, and heavier weight of cares?
Painful pre-eminence!
Semp. ⁠By Heav'ns they droop!
Confusion to the villains! all is lost. ”

“ Of violated maids, of ravish'd Sabines.
⁠Jub.⁠Syphax, I fear that hoary head of thine
Abounds too much in our Numidian wiles.
⁠Syph.⁠Indeed, my prince, you want to know the world.
You have not read mankind, your youth admires
The throws and swellings of a Roman soul,
Cato's bold flights, th' extravagance of virtue.
⁠Jub.⁠If knowledge of the world makes men perfidious,
May Juba ever live in ignorance! ”

“ Por.⁠Marcus the friendships of the world are oft
Confed'racies in vice, or leagues of pleasure;
Ours has severest virtue for its basis,
And such a friendship ends not but with life.
Marc.⁠Portius, thou know'st my soul in all its weakness,
Then, pr'ythee, spare me on its tender side,
Indulge me but in love, my other passions
Shall rise and fall by virtue's nicest rules.
Por.⁠When love's well-tim'd, 'tis not a fault to love. ”

“ But, Oh my friends, your safety fills my heart
With anxious thoughts: a thousand secret terrors
Rise in my soul: how shall I save my friends!
'Tis now, O Cesar, I begin to fear thee.
Luc. ⁠Cesar has mercy, if we ask it of him.
Cato. ⁠Then ask it, I conjure you! let him know
Whatever was done against him, Cato did it.
Add, if you please, that I request it of him,
That I myself, with tears request it of him,
The virtue of my friends may pass unpunish'd.
Juba, my heart is troubled for thy sake.
Shou'd I advise thee to regain Numidia,
Or seek the conqueror? ⸻
Jub. ”

“ 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 Cesar
Has ravag'd more than half the globe, and sees
Mankind grown thin by his destructive sword:
Should he go further, numbers would be wanting
To form new battles, and support his crimes.
Ye gods, what havock does ambition make
Among your works!
⁠Marc.⁠Thy steddy temper, Portius,
Can look on guilt, rebellion, fraud, and Cesar,
In the calm lights of mild philosophy:
I'm tortur'd even to madness, when I think
On the proud victor ”

“ Beauty and virtue shine for ever round thee,
Brightning each other! thou art all divine! ”

“ ⁠Semp.⁠My voice is still for war.
Gods, can a Roman senate long debate
Which of the two to choose, slav'ry or death!
No, let us rise at once, gird on our swords,
And at the head of our remaining troops,
Attack the foe, break through the thick array
Of his throng'd legions, and charge home upon him.
Perhaps some arm, more lucky than the rest,
May reach his heart, and free the world from bondage. ”