## To the READER.

my of its former Imperfections, and working up the Chara-
ter of Cato with more elevated Strokes of Passion; as far
as my weak Capacity could improve the Ideas which I was
furnished with by seeing the Tragedy of Cato.

I then found I had been defective in several Points of
History, which would illustrate my own Work, and serve to
explain some Scenes of the Play, not so well understood by
that Part of an Audience who are not vers'd in the Ro-
man Times.

I have to this End touch'd on the Characters of the Nu-
midian Prince Juba, on Portius the Son of Cato, and on
the Representation of our Hero's Death in Cæsar's Triumph,
And on several other Hints that seem to have an immedi-
ate Relation to the Play.

On my own Part, I have nothing further to add; but
venture to affirm, that this Account of Cato is fuller than
can be met with in any One Author.

LEW. THEOBALD.

THE

[5]

THE
LIFE and CHARACTER
OF
M. CATO of Utica.

M. Arcus Portius Cato was the Great-Grandson of that Cato, who by his Virtue and Excellence gain'd a wonderfull Reputation and Authority amongst the Romans, and transmitted a Grandeur and Nobility to his Family, which before that Time it wanted; and which his famous Defendant, of whom I am here treating, by the signal Probity of his Life, and Glory of his Death, preferv'd and kept alive to all Pomerity.

Our Cato, commonly called Uticensis from the Place of his
Death, was born in the 659th Year from the Building of Rome,
when C. Caldus and L. Domitius Ahenobarbus were Confuls;
for he kill'd himself in the 48th Year of his Age, which was
the 707th Year from the Building of the City, when the Great
Julius Cæsar was the third Time Conful, (and the second time
Dictator) with Marcus Æmilius Lepidus.

He was, by the Lofs of both his Parents, left an Orphan,
and was bred up in the House of Livius Drusus, his Uncle
by the Mother's side. From his very Infancy he discover'd
thofe Seeds of Virtue in his Disposition, which naturally pro-
duc'd the Harvest of his After-Sentiments and Actions: The
Accent and Delivery of his Words, the Frame of his Coun-
tenance, and even the very Diverfions of his Childhood, were
con-

6 The Life and Character

concurring Testimonies of a firm and inflexible Temper, that could neither easily be carried away with youthful Levities, or fway'd by more ungentle Passions. I shall not here trace him thro' the whole Course of his Youth, but only give an Intance from Plutarch, how early those Principles, and that Love of Liberty for his Country, were rooted in him, to which he Religiously adhered thro' all his Life, and to which he set the Seal of his Approbation in his memorable Death: Being now almost Fourteen Years old, and carried by his Tutor Sarpedo to Sylla's House, who was then Dictator, and who had formerly had a Friendship with Cato's Father, the young Gentleman saw the Heads of Great Men brought thither, who had fallen under the Dictator's Displeasure, and observing that all the Standers-by figh'd in secret at the Repetitions of Cruelty, he turns to his Master, and with an Air of Indignation asks him, Why does no body kill this Man? The Master replying, Because they all fear him, Child, more than they hate him? Why then (says Cato again) do you not give me a Sword that I may flab him, and free my Country from this Slavery?

He seem'd indeed design'd a Pattern of Integrity, in Opposition to the general Corruption of the Times, for he thought the only Way to be honest, was to run counter to the Age, and not be ashamed of his own Singularities, but of his Contemporaries Vices: He was a Man (says Velleius Paterculus) that was the very Picture of Virtue, and in all his Faculties more allied to the Perfection of the Gods than the Frailties of Man; who never did a good Action, in an Orientation of Honesty, but because he could not recede from the Sentiments of Honour which were ingrafted in him, and only thought such Proceedings had Reason on their Side which were founded on Justice. And Cicero, who writ a Treatife in his Praife, has given him this distinguishing Character: Contingebat in eo, quod plerifque contrà folei, ut majora omnia re, quam famà viderentur; id quod non ſepe evenit, ut Expectatio à Cognitione, aures ab oculis vincerentur: There was a particular Composition in his Nature, opposite to moſt other Characters, that all his Faculties were in a fairer Light in themſelves, than in the Report of Men: And that, what but very rare hap pens,

of M. CATO of Utica.

7

pens, all Expectations of him were more than anſwer'd in the Knowledge of him; and they were leſs beholding to their Ears than Eyes for the Reality of his Virtues.

Being now one and twenty Years Old, the Gladiator's War broke out in Italy, which was rais'd and fomented by one Spar-tacus a Thracian, who had perſwaded ſeventy of his Fellow Swordmen, that it would be much more Honourable for them to fight for their own Liberty, than the Diversion of Rome: Lacius Gellius, the Conſul, was choſen Prætor of the Army to ſubdue the Rebels, and Cato entered himſelf a Voluntier under that General, for the love that he bore to his Brother Cepio, who had the Command of a thousand Foot under the Conſul. Cato ſoon met the Advancement he had ſo good a Title to; and was himſelf ſent a Tribune into Macedon, to Rubrius, who was Prætor there; at whose Camp he no ſooner arrived, but he was honoured with the Charge of one of the Roman Legions, where he endeared himſelf extreamly to the Soldiers, by always taking a part in what he commanded them, and by being in his Apparel, Diet, and Labour, more like a Common Soldier than their Officer: And when the time of his Service in the Army was expired, he received at his Departure not only the Prayers and Praifes, but the Tears and Embraces of the Soldiers, who ſpread their Garments at his Feet, and kiffed his Hands as he pats'd; which was an Honour very rarely ſhewn by the Romans to any of their Generals.

Cato, before he would return Home, resolving to travel over Asia, and obſerve the Cudoms and Strength of the ſeveral Provinces, was met by Pompey at Ephesus, who would not receive him ſitting, but roſe to Embrace and Welcome him as one of the nobleſt Perfons of Rome, and ſaid many Things in Commendation of his Virtue both in his Prefence and after he was gone away: Thence proceeding to pay his Refpects to Old Deiotarus, King of Galatia, he had the Offers of immediate Prefents from that Monarch, which he could neither be perſuaded himſelf to receive, nor ſuffer a Diſtribution of them to be made amongſt his Followers.

On

8 The Life and Character

On his Return to Rome, he spent much time in Philosophical Arguments with Athenodorus, sometimes at his own House, and at other times in publick Disputations at the Forum to oblige his Friends: And when it came to his Turn to make fit for the Queſtorship, he would not be prevailed on to make his Applications, till he had fully informed himself in all the Ordinances belonging to the Duty and Authority of the Office: Thus instructed, he entered on this first Step to Civil Preferment, and difcharg'd his Trust with such Ability and deferv'd Applause, that 'twas universally Said, Cato had made the Office of a Queſtor equal to the Dignity of a Confud.

Cato, after he had laid down his Power, yet did not throw off his Care of the Treasury, but at the Expense of five Talents, had the Books containing Accounts of the Revenues, from Sylla's time to his own, tranfer'd for him, and kept the fame always by him: Nay, so diligent and industrious was he for the Good of the Common-wealth, that he was generally observed to be the first Man who came to, and the last who retired from the Senate House.

Being now in the One and Thirtieth Year of his Age, he was sollicited by his Friends to stand for a Tribunellship of the People, which he obstinately declined, till he found Metellus Nepos was pushing for that Office, who was an Instrument employ'd by Pompey to get a Decree to pafs in the Senate, that that General should prefentely be call'd into Italy with all his Forces for the Prefervation of the City. Cato, who was apprized of the Mcaatures this rafh Agent meant to take, thought it was no time of Retirement for him; but that he muſt go and prevent Metellus in his Deſigns, or bravely die in Defence of his Country's Liberty: He was back'd with the Intereſt of Perſons of the beſt Quality, who perceived that he exſoſed himself to this dangerous Honour only for the Service of Rome, and was declared one of the Tribunes.

The beginning of this Year (which was the 69th from the Building of the City) threatened Rome with the moſt dangerous Conſpiracy that ever was formed against it, to wit, that of Catiline and his profligate Accomplices: In the defteling of which moſt horrid Combination, our Cato was not only Serviceable to the

of M. CATO of Utica.

the Conſul Cicero, but when detected, the principal Instrument and Promoter of the Malefactor's Punishments: For when this Subject came under the Debate of the Senate, Julius Caesar (who with Marcus Craffus was suspected as private Abetters of Cataline's Conſpiracy) in a plaufible and elegant Oration performed Mercy, and disapprov'd that the Criminals should die: He told the Senators, "That in Affairs of Moment, where Men are ask'd their Sentence, they ought to be free from the Influences of Paſſion, for that the Mind muſt err in its Judgment, which was either prejudiced by Hate or Anger, or by aſſa'd by Affection or Pity: That the foul Fait of the Conſpirators should not weigh more with the Senate than their own Dignity, or they be more Indulgent to their Refentments than to their Honour: That if Punishments could be found to equal the Crimes of the Conſpirators, he ſhould Approve the utmost Severities, but if the Greatneſs of their Guilt exceeded all Invention, he thought it fit they ſhould so proceed, as their Laws in such Cates provided: That no Sentence could be Cruel against ſuch Delinquents, but that it was contrary to their form of Government, ſince to a Citizen of Rome, offending, their Laws decreed Banifhment, and not Death: That Syltanus (the deſigned Conſul, and who ſpoke before Cæsar) could not advife Execution, for fear of the Traytors, when the Diligence of the worthy Cicero had by a timely Discovery prevented Danger; and if he meant it for a Puniſhment, Cæsar thought Death was the End of Evils, and rather a Release from Pain, than a Torment; as it diſolved all Griefs, and beyond it were neither Care nor Joy. That therefore his Opinion was, that the Criminals ſhould have their Eſtates confiscated to the publick Treasury, and their Perſons confined in the Free Towns diſtant from Rome, and divided from each other; that they ſhould have no Privilege of Appealing either to the Senate or People, in order to have their Doom reversed or mitigated, and that whoever ſhould preſume to move it, the Senate ſhould determine of them as Enemies to the Peace and Safety of the Roman State.

When Cæsar had harangued the Houſe in a long Oration to this Effect, won over Syllanus to a more candid Interpretation of

B of

16

The Life and Character

Corfira, where he found Cicero who had not been in the Battel; and many Senators who had efcaped thither from it, amongst whom was the Eldeft Son of Pompey: Cato, who always was for governing himfelf according to the Preſcription of the Law, offered the Command of his Forces to Cicero, who had been Conful; but he refufing the Charge, incens'd Pompey's Son and all the young Gentlemen of his Party to fuch a De-gree, that drawing their Swords upon him, they call'd him Traytor; and had not Cato's Authority interpos'd to appeafe their Anger, they had certainly flain him: Cicero efcapes im-mediately to Brundufium, excufes the Choice he had made of an Unfortunate Party, and reconciles himſelf to Caſar: But Cato, underſtanding that Pompey was fled towards Egypt, re-folved to haſten after him; and having taken all his Men a-board ſet fail; but firſt to thole that were not willing to accom-pany him, he gave free Liberty to depart. Coming to the Coaſt of Africa, they met with Sextus Pompey's Younger Son, who brought them the melancholy Account of his Father's Murther in Egypt: The Soldiers were all excejſively grieſ'd for the Lofs of their admir'd General, and unanimously decla-red, that after Pompey they would follow no other Leader but Cato: Cato, in Compaſſion to the worth of Perſons, who had given many Teſtimonies of their Fidelity, and whom he would not leave in a Defart Country, amidſt ſo many Difficulties, took upon him the Command of the Forces, which amounted to the Number of near ten thouſand Men; and march'd towards the City of Cyrene, which prefently received him: And here he design'd to have Winter'd; but being inform'd that Scipio (Pompey's Father-in-Law) was received by King Juba, and that Appius Varus, whom Pompey had left Governor of Lybia, had joyned them with his Forces, Cato refolved to march towards them by Land. From Cyrene therefore he goes forward towards the Defarts of Lybia; after having furnifhed himſelf with Proſitions, and got together a great many Atſes to carry Water, and also ſome of thole ſort of Men, who by Sucking cure the Wounds made by the Bites of Serpents, which very much abound in thofe Defarts: They journied on for ſeven Days together; and here the Conſtancy of Cato is not

of M. CATO of Utica.

17

not a little to be admired, who marched always on Foot at the Head of his Troops; always drinking the laſt, nor that neither, till all the reſt of his Army had undergone the extreameſt Thirſt, and were running to quench it at the Wells which they found in thofe Defarts. Lucan tells us, That when their Stock of Water was ſpent, and excejſive Thirſt grew upon them from the dry Winds, and raging Heat of the Sun, ſo that they even fainted with Drought; a ſmall Spring was difcover'd trickling amidſt the parch'd Sand by one of the Sol-diers, who with a glad and greedy haſte took off his brazen Helmet, and ſcooping up ſome of the Water mix'd with Sand, ran and prefented it to his General: But Cato, inſtead of receiving it, with an Aſpect of ſevere Conſtancy, ask'd him, If he thought Cato the only Man in all the Army that wanted Virtue to encounter Toil, or was ſo ſoft and effeminate as to sink under the Fatigue of a little Heat and Thirſt; at this he daſh'd the Helmet from him, and would not ſo much as wet his Lips, till every Man had drank of the Water to Satisfaction. And ever after the Battel of Pharsalia he uſed to fit at Table, and added this to his other Ways of Mourning, that he never lay down (as it was the Cuſtom of the Romans) but to Sleep. And it was further obſerv'd of him, that he never mentioned Pharsalia without Tears. At laſt he arrived at Scipio and Juba's Camp, where the Inſolence of that King of the Barbarians was very difgultful to him, and where the Aſfairs of Scipio and Varus went very ill, by reaſon of their Diſtentions and Quarrels among themſelves, and their Submiſſions and Flatteries to King Juba: But Cato in his Wifdom found means to pull down the haughtry Spirit of that Monarch, and reconcile him and the Generals to one another.

All the Army were ambitious of having Cato to be their Leader; and Scipio and Varus giving Way to the Soldiers De-fires, offer'd him the Command: But Cato declined it abſolutely, ſaying, He would not infringe thofe Laws, for the Dicence whereof he had involv'd himſelf in Civil War, that he being but Pro-prætor ought not to Command in the Preſence of a Pro-conſul; bſides that, the People would take it as a good O-men

C

The Life and Character

20

by the Charms of *Cleopatra*, declared, That he being the first Magistrate of Rome, was resolved to enquire into the Difference between the King and his Sifter: Not to trace the Grounds of these Proceedings, which are obvious to all Knowers of the Roman History, let it suffice, that a short War enfused: Cæsar with the Afflitude of Mithridates of Pergama defeated the Egyptians, and established Cleopatra Queen of Egypt jointly with her younger Brother Ptolemy: Thus early where Victorious, Cæsar departed with his Sixth Legion from Egypt to go into Syria; But that Province being at Peace, he leaves his Kinsman Sextus Cæsar there with one Legion, embarks for Cilicia, purfues Pharmaces to Cappadocia, and overthrows him at Ziela, a City of Pontus, with a great Slaughter. Thence, giving some necessary Orders to the Neighbouring Provinces, he embarks and goes into Italy with a Diligence that put all the World in Admiration. Cæsar made but a short Stay at Rome, received many of Pompey's Party, who came to meet him, with wonderful Moderation; appeased the Mutinous Insolence of the Tenth Legion; re-established Quiet in the City, and leaving Mark Antony to Command there, march'd by great Journies into Sicily; and thence, even when the Winds were contrary, set sail for Africa, so Impatient was he to root up the last Reliques of the Civil War. *Scipio* and Juba were Entrench'd in two several Camps near the City of Thapsus, whither Cæsar March'd directly to attack them, and after a bloody Engagement totally overthrew their Powers, and obliged *Scipio* to fall on his own Sword, and Juba to seek a Death from the Hand of one of his Slaves: For the Petreius and Juba, after a splendid Entertainment, ran on each others Swords, yet only Petreius died on the Spot; and Juba was forc'd to have the Afflitude of another Arm to finish that Work, which Petreius's Sword had imperfectly begun. This King left a Son of his own Name, who was carried to Rome to adorn Cæsar's Triumph; and having a Princely Education in that City, came afterwards to be so gallant and popular a Man, that Auguslus Cæsar gave him back part of his Father's Kingdom, and married him to young Cleopatra, who was

of M. CATO of Utica.

21

was the Daughter to Mark Anthon. He was so versed in po
lite Literature, and more particularly in Hiftory, that Plu-
tarch calls him the Happiest of Captives. Since, says he, from
a barbarous Numidian, he came by this means to be reckon'd
amongst the moft learned Historians of all Greece ! The Con-
sequences of this Battel were so great, that all that Part of A-
frick submitted to Cæsar, except the City of Utica; the Re-
duction whereof was the only Task now remained for his
Arms, and the Attempt whereof naturally brings me back to
Cato's Story.

It was not long before Cato was inform'd of Scipio's De-
feat, by some of the Cavalry that had escaped the dreadful
Slaughter, and who offer'd him their Service, if he would
retreat with them from the hot Purfuit of the Enemy; but
Cato then told them, he design'd to hold out the Siege of U-
tica. But the Faintneſs and Irresolution of the Townſmen,
who were aw'd with the Apprehenſions of Cæsar's vaſt For-
tune, made him forego that Reſolution; and he in vain at-
tempted to pacify their Frights, by telling them, That Scipio's
Loſs was nothing near so great as it was repreſented, and that
it was common to have Diflaſters enlarged by Report, which ge-
nerally liffen'd to Fear more than Truth. Cato had eſtabliſh'd
a kind of Senate in Utica, which he had compos'd of 300 Ro-
mans of good Quality; these Gentlemen he fummon'd upon
this threatening Juncture, and addreſs'd himſelf to them with
a wonderful Calmneſs and Reſolution, in the following Man-
ner: He advis'd em principally neither to divide their Num-
bers nor Counſels; for that while they continued their Union,
Cæsar would be afraid of their Oppofition, and would the ſoon-
er pardon them, if they were reduc'd to the Misfortune of sub-
mitting themſelves to his Mercy: Begg'd them to fix on what
Meaſures they meant to take, and that for his part he ſhould
not miſlike whatever they determined, that if they were intirely
dishearten'd by the ill Success of their Caufe, he would impute
their Change to the Necessity of the Times; but if they had Re-
solutions to brave Misfortunes, and Lives to hazard in the De-
fence of Liberty, he ſhould stand in Admiration of their noble
Con-

24

The Life and Character

Sweetneſs of his Slumbers; and tho' ſure to diſappoint Cæsar of any Conqueſt over Cato, yet he could not dye with Pleasure while he thought he left his Friends in Danger; and therefore ſent his Freedman Butas to the Port, to fee if that ſo would embark themſelves, were departed: Butas, coming back, told him, that every body was embarqu'd, but that the Sea was rough: Upon which he ſeem'd to thew an infinite Conſern for his Friends that were on Board, and ſent Butas again to fee if any of them were not driven back by Streſs of Weather, and wanted his Aſſiſtance. He again ſell into a ſhort Slumber, till Butas return'd to tell him, the Sea was grown calm, and that no Noife was heard upon the Port. Cato diſmiſs'd him then with Thanks, and ſeem'd willing to comſpoe himself again to Reſt: A prodigious Inſtance of the Greatneſs of his Mind! For as Montaigne has curiouſly obſerv'd, The Knowledge we have of the Greatneſs of this Man's Courage by the reſt of his Life, may warrant us ſecurly to judge that his Indifference proceeded from a Soul ſo much elevated above ſuch Accidents, that he diſdain'd to let it take any more hold of his Fancy, than any other ordinary Adventure.

This almost incredible Tranquillity of Spirit in Cato, did not a little eafe the Fears of his Son and Friends, who now began to hope he was not altogether upon ill Terms with Life. He whole rigid Virue had never till now permitted himself to conſeal his Sentiments or Intentions (as the Supplement to Lucan elegantly obſerves) diſguſ'd and mask'd the true Face of his ſtern Reſolutions with this ſedate and compos'd Behaviour, while

—Talis cupit ipſe videri

Civibus, ut qui non donatam à Cæsare vitam Spernetet.

he appear'd ſuch as made every one believe, that he would not defpife Life, tho' given him by Cæsar.

As

of M. CATO of Utica.

25

As soon as the Day appear'd, Cato ſnatch'd up his Sword, and thrut himself thro' the Breast; but the Hurt of his Hand had ſo weaken'd the Blow, that he did not Dye immediately; but, staggering, ſell upon his Bed, and threw down a Table, on which he had drawn some Figures of Geometry; the Noife whereof made his Slaves ruſh in, who with their Cries alarm'd his Son and Friends.

They found him with his Bowels out of his Body, and were ſo confounded with their Grief, that they beheld him without being able to affiſt him: His Eyes were yet open, and his Physician laying him upon his Bed, put up his Bowels which were not hurt, and clos'd up the Wound. But Cato, recovering his Spirits, and transported with Fury, thrut back the Physician, rent open the Wound, and tearing his Bowels expired before their Eyes.

Thus died this great Man in the eight and fortieth Year of his Age, and was honourably buried near the Sea-side by the Uticans; and there, in Plutarch's Time, was to be seen a Statue of him, which the Citizens had erected to his Memory, holding a drawn Sword in one Hand: Utica was prefently surrendred to Cæsar, who being informed how Cato had flain himself, cry'd out, That Cato had envied him the Glory of saving his Life; and it is for that Reason, says he, that I envy his Death.

The famous Brutus (who married Cato's Daughter Portia, and who fell on his own Sword after the Battel of Philippi) in ſome of his Writings condemn'd the Death of Cato; and maintain'd, that that Manner of avoiding ſuch Diſgraces as Providence ſends upon us, was an unjustifiable Attempt againſt the Power of Heaven, and wicked in the Eyes of Men. But Cicero alledg'd, that the Differences of Nature and Temper are of ſo ſtrong Regard in theſe Cafes, that ſometimes One is under a Neceflity of killing himself, when Another, in the fame Circumſtances, cannot be allowed the fame Privilege of Dying. For M. Cato (says he) was on the fame Foot with all those that surrendred themſelves to Cæsar in Africa; but they would have been perhaps reproached with Fear, if they had

D

at-

26

The Life and Character

attempted againſt their Lives; becauſe their Actions
were of leſs Moment, and their Manners more traſtable
and ſickle: But Cato, to whom Nature had given an incredi-
ble Severity of Soul, and who had confirm'd it all a-long by an
unſhaken Conſtancy, and kept up to the Tenor of his Deſigns
and Principles, was oblig'd to dye, rather than live to look
Tyranny in the Face.

The Son of Cato (notwithstanding he had given way to an
irregular Amour in the Heat of Youth) inherited a great Por-
tion of his Father's Soul, and dy'd with a World of Glory in
the Battel of Philippi: For when Brutus's Wing was broken
by Octavius Cæsar's Troops; and young Cato, who com-
manded under Brutus, ſaw that all muſt then inevitably be
loſt, he ran into the thickeſt of the Encies Battalions, and
uttering aloud his own Name and his Father's, was ſlain amidſt
an Heap of Foes that had fallen beneath his furious Reſi-
ſtance.

Africk being entirely brought into Subjection, Cæsar return-
ed to Rome, to Triumph for all his Victories; the Solemnity
whereof was continued for four ſucceſſive Days. In the Triumph
of the laſt Day were carried the Descriptions of the Deaths of
Scipio, Petreius, and Cato: But the People no ſooner perceiv'd
that the Victor took a Pride in Inſulting over this Misfortunes of
that brave Man, (he being reſpènted in the Pageant tearing his
own Bowels) than their Joys were turn'd into Sorrow, and their
Eſteem for Cæsar funk into an Hatred of his Barbarity. I ſhall
not prefume to inſorce this Paſſage by any other Description of
that Scene of Horrors; than what Mr. Pope has in his Excellent
Prologue to Cato given the Town, in theſe Beautiful and Pathe-
tick Terms; which have already receiv'd a general Approbation
in the Theatre, and now are Acted over in all Aſſemblies of Wit
and Judgment:

Even when Proud Cæsar, midſt Triumphal Care,
The Spoils of Nations, and the Pomp of Wars;

Ignobly

of M. CATO of Utica.

27

Ignobly Vain, and Impotently Great,
Shew'd Rome her Cato's Figure drawn in State;
As her dead Father's Rev'rend Image paſt,
The Pomp was darken'd, and the Day o'ercast,
The Triumph ceas'd—Tears guſh'd from every Eye;
The World's great Victor paſt unheeded by;
Her laſt good Man dejeſted Rome ador'd,
And honour'd Cæsar's leſs than Cato's Sword.

I had a deſign of ending all with the Panegyrick on Cato, which
Saluſt has drawn up in a Parallel of his and Cæsar's Charaſters;
but as the admir'd Mr. Steel has agreeably foreſtall'd Me in this
Point, fo'tis fit I refer my Readers to his Paraphraſe thereon in
his Chriſtian Heroe.

The greatest Poets and Writers, (even thofe who Flourifh'd
under the moſt Tyrannick Princes of Rome) have been profuſe
in their Praifes of Cato. Lucan and Seneca, the Contempora-
ries of Nero, have ſcatler'd their Encomiums of him, throughout
their Works: And Virgil, in the Augustan Age, has exprefs'd ſo
great a Reverence for this great Patriot's Memory in his Æneis,
that he has given him a Pre-eminence over the Happy Heroes in
Elizium, and painted him ſitting in Judgment there:

Secretosque Pios, his dantem jura Catonem.

Tho' Cerdanus, and ſome others, who would turn the Poet's
Gravity into Detraſtion, ſay, That he meant it as a Jeer upon Cato,
as being the Enemy of Julius Cæsar. I might likewife mention
Juvenal, and ſeveral other Poets both Ancient and Modern; but
muſt not omit that Horace, who liv'd under the Emperor that
reign'd by means of Cato's Overthrow, has celebrated this great
Man more than once. There is no queſtion, but ſeveral Writers
have endeavoured to bring upon the Stage the Charaſter of a Per-
fon ſo liluſtrious for his Virtues and his Sufferings; but whether
it be that they could not raife themselves up to proper Sentiments,
or,