Page:Cato, a tragedy (Addison, 1712).djvu/49

Semp.If some penurious source by chance appear'd,
Scanty of waters, when you scoop'd it dry,
And offered the full helmet up to Cato;
Did he not dash th' untasted moisture from him?
Did not he lead you thro' the mid-day sun,
And clouds of dust? did not his temples glow
In the same sultry winds, and scorching heats?

Cato.Hence, worthless men! Hence? and complain to Cesar,
You could not undergo the toils of war,
Nor bear the hardships that your leader bore.

Luc.See, Cato, see th' unhappy men! they weep!
Fear, and remorse, and sorrow for their crime,
Appear in ev'ry look, and plead for mercy.

Cato.Learn to be honest men; give up your leaders,
And pardon shall descend on all the rest.

Semp.Cato, commit these wretches to my care.
First let 'em each be broken on the rack,
Then, with what life remains, impal'd and left
To writhe at leisure round the bloody stake.
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.
Lucius, the base degen'rate age requires
Severity, and justice in its rigour;
This awes an impious, bold offending world,
Commands obedience, and gives force to laws.
When by just vengeance guilty mortals perish,
The gods behold their punishment with pleasure,
And lay th' uplifted thunderbolt aside.

Semp. Cato, I execute thy will with pleasure.