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CATO.
21
But free the commonwealth; when this end fails,
Arms have no further use: our country's cause,
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.
Semp.This smooth discourse, and mild behaviour oft
Conceal a traitor———Something whispers me
All is not right———Cato beware of Lucius.[Aside to Cato.
Cato.Let us appear nor rash nor diffident;
Immod'rate valour swells into a fault;
And fear, admitted into public councils,
Betrays like treason. Let us shun 'em both.
Fathers, I cannot see that our affairs
Are grown thus desp'rate: we have bulwarks round us:
Within our walls are troops inur'd to toil
In Afric's heat, and season'd to the sun;
Numidia's spacious kingdom lies behind us,
Ready to rise at its young Prince's call.
While there is hope, do not distrust the gods:
But wait at least till Cesar's near approach
Force us to yield. 'Twill never be too late
To sue for chains, and own a conqueror.
Why should Rome fall a moment 'ere her time?
No, let us draw our term of freedom out
In its full length, and spin it to the last,
So shall we gain still 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.
Arms have no further use: our country's cause,
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.
Semp.This smooth discourse, and mild behaviour oft
Conceal a traitor———Something whispers me
All is not right———Cato beware of Lucius.[Aside to Cato.
Cato.Let us appear nor rash nor diffident;
Immod'rate valour swells into a fault;
And fear, admitted into public councils,
Betrays like treason. Let us shun 'em both.
Fathers, I cannot see that our affairs
Are grown thus desp'rate: we have bulwarks round us:
Within our walls are troops inur'd to toil
In Afric's heat, and season'd to the sun;
Numidia's spacious kingdom lies behind us,
Ready to rise at its young Prince's call.
While there is hope, do not distrust the gods:
But wait at least till Cesar's near approach
Force us to yield. 'Twill never be too late
To sue for chains, and own a conqueror.
Why should Rome fall a moment 'ere her time?
No, let us draw our term of freedom out
In its full length, and spin it to the last,
So shall we gain still 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.
Marc.Fathers, this moment, as I watch'd the gate,
Lodg'd on my post, a herald is arriv'd
From Cesar'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 permission, fathers, bid him enter.[Exit Marcus.
Marc.Fathers, this moment, as I watch'd the gate,
Lodg'd on my post, a herald is arriv'd
From Cesar'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 permission, fathers, bid him enter.[Exit Marcus.
Decius
