SCENE V.
Enter Cato, Sempronius, Lucius, Portius, and Marcus.
Cato.Where are those bold intrepid sons of war,
That greatly turn their backs upon the foe,
And to their gen'ral send a brave defiance!
Semp.Curse on their dastard souls, they stand astonish'd! [Aside.
Cato.Perfidious men! and will you thus dishonour
Your past exploits, and sully all your wars?
Do you confess 'twas not a zeal for Rome,
Nor love of liberty, nor thirst of honour,
Drew you thus far; but hopes to share the spoil
Of conquer'd towns, and plunder'd provinces?
Fir'd with such motives you do well to join
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. [Aside.
Cato. Have you forgotten Lybia's burning waste,
Its barren rocks, parch'd earth, and hills of sand,
Its tainted air, and all its broods of poison?
Who was the first to explore th'untrodden path,
When life was hazarded in ev'ry step?
Or, fainting in the long laborious march,
When on the banks of an unlook'd-for stream
You sunk the river with repeated draughts,
Who was the last in all your host that thirsted?
