Page:Cato, a tragedy (Addison, 1712).djvu/59

Por. Long may they keep asunder!

Luc. O Cato, arm thy soul with all its patience:
See where the corpse of thy dead son approaches:
The citizens and senators, alarm'd,
Have gather'd round it, and attend it weeping.
 
[Cato meeting the Corpse.
Cato. Welcome, my son! here lay him down, my friends,
Full in my sight, that I may view at leisure
The bloody corse, and count those glorious wounds.
———How beautiful is death, when earn'd by virtue!
Who would not be that youth! what pity is it
That we can die but once to serve our country!
———Why sits this sadness on your brows, my friends?
I should have blush'd if Cato's house had stood
Secure, and flourish'd in a civil war.
———Portius, behold thy brother, and remember
Thy life is not thy own, when Rome demands it.
 
Jub. Was ever man like this! [Aside.

Cato. Alas, my friends!
Why mourn you thus? let not a private loss
Afflict your hearts. 'Tis Rome requires our tears.
The mistress of the world, the feat of empire,
The nurse of heroes, the delight of gods,
That humbled the proud tyrants of the earth,
And set the nations free, Rome is no more.
O liberty! O virtue! O my country!

Jub. Behold that upright man! Rome fills his eyes
With tears that flow'd not o'er his own dead son. [Aside.

Cato. Whate'er the Roman virtue has subdu'd,
The sun's whole course, the day and year are Cesar's.
For him the self-devoted Decii dy'd,
The Fabii fell, and the great Scipios conquer'd:
Ev'n Pompey fought for Cesar. Oh my friends!
How is the toil of fate, the work of ages,
The Roman empire fall'n! O curst ambition!
Fall'n into Cesar's hands! our great fore-fathers
Had left him nought to conquer but his country.

Jub. While Cato lives, Cesar will blush to fee
Mankind enslav'd, and be asham'd of empire.

Cato. Cesar asham'd! has not he seen Pharsalia!

Luc. Cato, 'tis time thou save thyself and us.