Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from LYRASIS IVIembers and Sloan Foundation http://www.archive.org/details/lifeofcharacteroOOtheo [5] THE LIFE ^?^^ CHARACTER OF M. CJIOoi Vitca. MArcusTotttus Cato was the Great-Grandfon of that CatGi who by his Virtue and Excellence gain'd a won- derful Reputation and Authority amongft the Romans^ and tranfmitted a Grandeur and Nobility to his Fanily, whicfi^ before that Time it wanted i and which his famous Defcendant, of whom I am here treating, by the fignal Probity of his Life, and Glory of his Death, preferv'd and kept alive to all Pofterity. Our Qato^ commonly called Uticenfis kom the Place of his Death, was born in the 65'pth Year from the Building of ViomQi when C. Caldus and L.^Domitius Ahenobarbus ^ttQConfulsy for he kiird himfelf in the 48th Year of his Age, which was the 707th Year from the Building of the Ctty^ when rhe Great Julius Cafar was the third Time Cojiful^ ("and the fccond time ^i^ator) with Marcus ^^milius Lepidus. He was, by the Lofs of both his Parents, left an Orphan, and was bred up in the Houfe of Livius Drufus^ his Uncle by the Mother's (ide. From his very Infancy he difcover 'd thofe Seeds of Virtue in his Difpoiition, which naturally pro- due d the Harveft of his After-Sentiments and Adtions : The Accent and Dehvery of his Words, the Frame of his Coun- tenance> and even the veryDiverfionsof \{\% Childhoodg were €on* 6 T'he Life and CharaSler concurring Teftimonies of a firm and inflexible Temper, that could neither eafily be carried away with youthful Levitiesi or fway*d by more ungentle PafHons. I (hall not here trace him thro' the whole Courfe of his Youth, but only give an In- flance from Tlutarcbi how early thofe Principles, and that Love of Liberty for his Country, were rooted in him; to which he Religioufly adhered thro' all his Life, and to which he fet the Seal of his Approbation in his memorable Death: Being now almoft Fourteen Years old, and carried by his Tu- tor Sarpedo to Sylla's Houfe, who was then T)i&ator, and who had formerly had a Friendfhip with Cato's Father, the young Gentleman faw the Heads of Great Men brought thither, who had fain under the T}t6iatof% Difpleafure, and obferving that all the Scanders-by figh'd in fecret at the Repetitions of Cru- elty, he turns to his Mafter, and with an Air of Indignation asks him, Why does no body kill this Man ? The Mailer reply- ing, Becanfe they all fear hinii Child ^ more than they hate him? PVhy then, (^fays Cato again} do you not give me a Sword that I may ft-sb him^ and free my Country from this Slavery? He feem'd indeed defjgn'd a Pattern of Integrity, in Oppofition to.the general Corruption of the Times-, for he thought the only Way to be honcfl, was to run counter to the Age, and not be aHiamed of his own Singularities, but of his Contemporaries Vices : He was a Man (fays Vtlleius Taterculus^ that was the very TiSfure of Virtue^ and in all his Faculties more allied to the Ferfe^lion of the Gods than the Frailties of Alam who never did a good A& ion, inanOftenta- tion of Honejiy^ but becaufe he could not recede from the Sen^ timents of Honour which were ingrafted in him^ and only thought fuch Proceedings had Reafon on their Side which were J[^ded on Juftice. And Cicero^ who writ a Treacife in his Praife, has given him this diflinguifhingChara6ler: Continue- bat ineoy quodplerifque contra fo let ^ ut major a omnia re^ quam fama viderenturi, id quod nonf£pe evenit^ ut Expe^atio a Cog- nitione^ aures ab oculis vincerentur : There was a particular Compofition in his Nature, oppoflte to moft other Charaders, that all his Faculci s were in a fairer Light in themfelves, than in the Report of Men: And that, what but very rarely hap- pens. o/ M. Cato ^ Utica. 7 pens, all Expectations of him were more than anfwerM in the Knowledge of him j and they were lefs beholding to their Ears than Eyes for the Reality of his Virtues. Being now one and twenty Years Old, zhQ Gladiator sWsLt broke out in Jfalj, which was rais'd and fomented by one Spar- tacus a Thraciany who had perfwaded feventy of his Fellow Swordfmen, that it would be much more Honourable for them to fight for their own Liberty, than the Diverfion of Rome: Lucius Gelliusy th^ Conful^ was chokn Orator of the Army to fubdue the Rebels, and Cato entered himfelf a Voluntier under that General , for the love that he bore to his Bro- ther depio^ who had the Command of a thoufand Foot under the Conful. Cato foon met the Advancement he had fp good a Title to ; and was himfelf fent a Tribune into Macedon^ to Rubrius^ who was Orator there j at whofe Camp he no fooner arrived, but he was honoured with the Charge of one • of the Roman Legions -^ where he endeared himfelf extreamly to the Soldiers, by always taking a part in what he commanded themj and by being in his Apparel, Diet, and Labour, more like a Gommdn 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 fpread theic Garments at hisFeet, andkifTed his Hands as he pafs'd; which was an Honour very rarely (hewn by the Romans to any of their Generals. CatOi before he would return Home, refolving to travel o- ver jifiay and obferve the Cuftoms and Strength of the feveral Trovinces^ was met by ^ompey at Ephefus^ who would not re- ceive him fitting, but rofe to Embrace and Welcome him a« one of the noblefl Perfons of Rome^ and faid many Things in Commendation of his Virtue both in his Prefence and af- ter he was gone away: Thence proceeding to pay hisRefpc£ts, to Old TktotaruSi King of Qalntia^ he had the Offers of im- menfe Prefents from that Monarchy which he could neither be perfuaded himfelf to receive, nor fufFer a Did ribution of them to be made amongft his Followers. g The Life and CharaSier On his Return to Rome^ he fpent much time in Philofophi- cal Arguments with Atbenodorusy fometimes at his own Houfe, and at other times in publick Difputations at the Forum to ob- lige his Friends : And when it came to his Turn to make fuit for the ^eflorjhipi he would not be prevailed on to make his Applications, 'till he had fully informed himfelf in all the Ordi- nances belonging to the Duty and Authority of the Office: Thus inftrudtedj he entered on this fir ft Step to Ci'vil Prefer- ment, and difcharg'd his Truft with fuch Ability^ and deferv'd Applaufe, that 'twas univerfally faid, Cato had made the Office of a §^eftor equal to the Dignity of a ConfuL Cato^ after he had laid down his Power, yec did not throw off his Care of the Treafuryy but at the Expence of five Ta- lents^ had the Books containing Accounts of the Revenues, from Sylla's time to his owny tranfcrib'd for him, and kept the fame always by him : Nay, fo diligent and induftrious was he for the Good of the Common-wealth, that he was generally obferved to be thejfr/? Man who came to, and the lajt who retired from the Senate Houfe. Being now in the One and Thirtieth Year of his Age, he was follicited by his Friends to ftand for a Tribune/hip of the Teo- pie-, which he obftinately declined, till he found Metellus Ne- fos was pufhing for that Office, who was an Inftrument employed by Tompey to get a 'Decree to pafs in the Senate^ that that Ge- neral fhould prefently be call'd into Italy with all his Forces for the Prefervation of the City, CatOy who was apprifed of the Meafures this rafh Agent meant to take, thought it was no time of Retirement for himi but that he muft go and prevent Metellus in his Defigns, or bravely die in Defence of his Qoun- trfs Liberty : He was back'd with the Intereft of Perfons of the beft Quality, who perceived that lie expofed himfelf to this dangerous Honour only for the Service of Rome^ and was de- clared one of the Tribunes, The beginning of this Year (which was the 6(^oih. from the Building of the City^ threatned Rome with the moft dangerous Confpiracy that ever was formed againft it, to wit, that of Cata- line and his profligate Accomplices : In the detecling of which moft horrid Combination, our G2^'s of the Qonfpirators.^ he Jhu^d Approve the ut- '* moji Seventies \ but if the Greatnefs of t^eir Guilt exceeded " all Invent ion y he thought it fit theyfhc^uld fo proceed, a^ rh^ir <* Laws in fuchQafes provided: That no Sentence could biCuel ** agatnft fuch 'Delinquents^ but that it was contrary to their " form of Government ijtnce to a Citizen tf/Rome, offending^ <* their Laws decreed Bamjhment^ and not T)eath : That Syl- ** lanus (the defigned Omful, and who fpoke before Cxi^str^ could <* not advzfe Execution^ for fear of the Traytors^ when the ♦* diligence of the worthy Cicero had by a timely ^ifcovery *« prevented i>anger j and if he meant it for & Tunifhment^ ** Q2d2x thought T>eathwas the End of Evils y and rather a «' Releafe from T^ain^ than a Torment -^ as it diffolved all «' Grief Sy and beyoyid it were neither Care nor Joy, That there- <' fore his Opinion wasy that the Criminals fhould have their <* Eflat€s confifcaled to the pub lick Treafury^ and their Ter- ** fans confined in tide Free 7 owns difiant from Rome, and dir ^* vided from each other ^ that they fhould have no Privilege « of Appealing either to the Senate or Teople^ in order to have *< their "Doom r ever fed or mitigated^ and that whoever fhould « pre fume to move it^ the Scn^rie fhould determine of them as *« Enemes to theTeace and Safety of the Roman State, When C^far had harangued the Houfe in fi long Oration to this EiFedj won over Syllanus to a more candid interpretation B of 10 The Life and CharaHer of his Sentence, and inclined the Majority of the Senators to Votes of Clemency : Cato with much Warmth rofe up and re- ply'd to C^fafs> Arguments. " T)€ dared his own Sentence was " far different from the preceding One-^ that they difputed on " the Kinds of Funijhments^ and fate conjulting what they " fhould decree againfi thofe^ of whom they rather Jhotild be- '^ 'ujnre : That fiich a Conjpiracy was net like thofe Common '» FaBSi which the Liws may ^rofecute when they are Com- ** mitted ^ but that if it was not provided againfl and pre- " vented ere it happen" di it would be too late to animadvert '* iip07iit when it happened -^ but when a City was taken, the ** V afi qw fie d^ arty had no Redrefs left : That they were not *^ debating now on the StibjtB of Tribute andCuftomsy or the ** Injuries of their Allies y but on no lefs important a Theme ** than the hazard of their L 'ves and Liberties : That he had often been heard there and each to heigh- ten his own Power, contributed to flrengthen and eftablifli the interefts of his two AfTociates. Cc^tOy when a Law was Pro- pos'd, of M. Cat o of IJtica. r? pos'd, conccrmngthQ Trovmces and Legwns for de/ar^ apply 'd to 'Pompey^ and told him, He did not confider now that he took Caefar upon hts own Shculders^ who would Jhertly gfow too weigh- ty for him : and at lengthy when he would neither be able to lay down the Burtheny nor yet to bear it any longer ^ he would fall with it upon the Common-wealth ^ and then he would remember Cato's Advice i which wasno lefs Advantageous to Vompcy than^ it was jufi and honejt tn it felf. While thus for near eight Years all Matters were carried in the Common, wealth by the concerted Artifice and Grandeur of three Men, and even the meaneft Ele^ions in tht Qvil ^ower obtained with Canvafing and Intreagu?, with Srruglings and Hoftilities, Crajfus at length was cut off, with a mighty Slaugh- ter of his Forces, in the Parthian Wars ^ and the Death of this Triumviry who, while he Iiv*d, was as a Check upon the c- ther two, left them now an open Field for tbeir Ambition and Emulation to work in ; 'Twas now C£far and Tompey began to grow Jealous of each others Growth and 'Dc{igi'\s^ and Gtefars Exploits and Vidories over the fierce Gauls and Germans^ made his Conquefts formidable to Rome: defafs Immenfe Riches mz^t^ompeyv^xy uneafie, fays Lucius Florus^ and "Pompefs Dignity was a check to C^far. The one could not bear an Equal, the other a Superior 5 and they both la- boured for the Maftery, as if fo great an Empire could not fa- tisfie the Ambition of Two fuch Grandees at once. When News was brought that C>efar had pafs'd the Rubicon, taken Ariminum^ and was coming on with his Army towards Rome -^ ^ompey and all Men caft their Eyes on C{itOy who had alone forefeen Ciefar's intentions : Cato then told them, Jfyou had believed me, or regarded my Advice^ you would not ?iow have been reduced to ft and in fear of one Many nor yet to put all your Hopes in one Man. Tompey too late conferfed, that Cato indeed had [poke mofl tike a Prophet y and that himfelf had a6fed too much like a Friend to Caefar. Tumults and Diflentions dai- ly encreas'd in Romcy and the City was fill*d with Murthers and Quarrels i ^ompey was look'd upon as the fitteft Perfbn to redrefs all, and Cato advifed the Senate to put all into his Hands, faying, That thofe who could raife up great Evilsy could beft 14 The Life and Chara&er beji allay therm and thereupon Marcellus the Conful took a Sword, which he carried pubiickLy to Vompcy^ accofling him in thefe Terms, / Command you in the Name of the Senate, that you Jjjift the RepubUck with the Troops now under your Com^ mandi and fpeedily Levy more, ^ompey<^ finding he had not fufficient Forces, and that thofe he could Raife were not very Refolute, forfook th^City 5 and C it^ followed him. For tho' he had an equal Averfionfor the Heads of bothPar- tie?, as being jealous, wherc-ever the Fate of the Civil War Gonfer'd the Conqueft, the Vidor would be likdy to invade the Republick i yet being the greateft Ajfertor of Liberty the Roman Stare had now left, and Tompey being invefted with a Command by xh^Senate in Defence of the City, Cato imbark'd with him; thinking it the highefl^ifionour^ fays Lucany to live in Eafe and Security while his Labouring Country was in Dan* ger-^ and profejjing that he would flick by Rome and her Caufe to its laft Gafp^ as a Parent follows the Corpfe of a Deceased Child. And from the Time of the Civil War's breaking out, 'tis faid he never trim'd his Hair or ftiavcd his Beard, never wore a Garland, or was feen to fmile, but fhew'd a conftant Sadnefs, Grief, and Dejection in his Looks and Gefture for the Calamities of his Country, and he continually bore the fame Habit to the laft, whkh-ever Party had Misfortune or Succefs. No body that reads the Eloquent Defcription of this Great Man's Behaviour in Lucan^ can befufficiently enamour'd of his Virtues, or fufficiently admire him who was ingaged in a War, yet not prompted to Adion by any private Piques, or byafs'd by a Favourite- Faftion-, but living up to the rigid Precepts of 'his Philofopiiy, labouring to know himfelf, and grieving for the Calamities of his Fellow-Creatures. To find him believing that lie owed his Life to his Country, and that he was not born for himfelf but the Publick: To behold his Temperance, that ac- counted every thing a Banquet that but appeas'd his Hunger, every Houfe a Palace that fecured him from the Inclemencies of Weather, and every Vefture a Robe of State that was Proof againft the Inconveniences of Cold and Rain 5 that thought thelncrcafe of Kind, was the chief End of Marriage-, that was •Si Father and Husband to his City, aCourter of Juilice, and Main- of M. C Arc of Utica. 15 Maintainer of fevere Hone{ly3 good to All, and in All; and one that never let Pleafure and Levity creep into the uninter- rupted Series of his Nobler and more Elevated Adlions. Cicero for fome Time flood Neuter in this Warj and when at laft he came to find Tompey in his Camp, Cato remonftrated to him, That he ought to have preferved the Neutrality ^ which he at fir ft made ^rofejjion of\ and that the Inconftancy of his Proceeding was unworthy of a Man who was fo well acquainted' with the Maxims of true Thilofophy: Cicero was fb confoundi^ ed with the Authority of this Reprimand, that he took the firil Opportunity of Retiring, and never came up to the Battel of ^ bar [alia. Cato had the Government of Sicily allotted to him, and pafs'd over to Syracufe : And when Advice was brought him of Tompey s unhappy Conduft, and quitting of Jtaly, he broke out into this pathetick Exclamation, How dark and uncertain is the Wtll of Heaven! Pompey, when he did no- thing wifely nor honejlly^ was always fuccefsfuU and now that he would pre ferve his Country -^ and defend her Liiberty^ he is al- together unfortunate. He counfell'd Tompey to delay the War to a Treaty, and no way hazard an utter Overthrow : His gentle Laws, that no Roman City fiiould be fack'd^ nor O*- tizen kill' d in co\d Blood, won Tompey all Italy, and his Cour- tefie at Rhodes^ all j0a. When Tompijy had obtained a fignal Advantage over C^e- far's Men, in a Conflid at 7)yrrachiumy and all were rejoic'd, and magnified the Succefs, Cato bcwail'd his Country, and eurs'd that Fatal Ambition, which made fo many brave Ro- mans murther osie another. For as he walk'd over the Field of Battel, on which he fa w fo many Citizens of Rome lie dead 3 notwithftanding they had fqught in the Army of the Enemy, he cover 'd his Face and wept. When Tompey followed Cafar mtoTheffaly^ he durft not Truil Cato with the Command at Sea^ becaufe he knew he fought not againft one Tyrant, but againft Tyranny it felf; that if he • fucceeded not, Cato would be faithful to his Misfortunes j but if he conquer*d, then Cato would be too faithful to the Inte- reft of the Republick. After the Tharfalian Defeat, Cato went into the Jfland of Corfira^ 16 The Life and Chata^er Corfira, w'liere he found Cicero who had not been in the Battel-, and many Senators who had efcaped thither from it, amongft whom was the EUeft Son of Tompey^ Cato, who always was i<3t governing himfelf according t© the Prefcription of the Law, offered the Command of his Forces to Cicero^ who had been Conful 5 but he refufing the Charge, inc^ns'd Tompefs Son and all the young Gentlemen of his Party to fuch a De- J^ree, that drawing their Swords upon him, they call'd him Tray tor 5 and had not Cato's Authority interpos'd to appeafe their Anger, they had certainly flain him: Cicero efcapes im- mediately to Brundujium, cxcufes the Choice he had made of an Unfortunate Party, and reconciles himfelf to Cafar : But Cato, underllanding ihztTompey was fled towards cxSj"//^, re- foived to haften after himj and having taken all his Men a- board kt fail 5 but firft to thofe that were not willing to accom- pany him, he gave free Liberty to depart. Coming to the Coaft of Africk^ they met with Sextus Tampefs Tounger Son, Avho brought them the melancholy Account of his Father's Murther in <^_/^gypt : The Soldiers were all exceflively griev'd •for the Lofs of rheir admir'd General^ and unanimouily decla- red, that after Tompey they would follow no other Leader but Cato ; CatOy in Compaffion to the worth of Perfons, who had given manyTeftimonies of their Fidelity, and whom he would not leave in a Defart Country, amidfl fo many Difficulties, took upon him the Command of the Forces, which amounted to the Number of near ten thoufand Men •, and march'd to- wards the City of Cyreney which prefently received him: And here he defign'd to have Winter d 5 but being informed that Sci- pto ( Tompefs Father-in-Law } was received by King Juba^ and that Appius Varusi. whom ^ompey had left Governor of Lybia^ had joyned tliem with his Forces, Cato refolved to march towards them by Land. From Cyrene therefore he goes forward towards the Defarts of Lybia 5 after having furnifhed himfelf with Provifions, and got together a great many AlTes to carry Water, and alfo fomc of thofe fort 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 feven Days together i and here the Conftancy of Cato is not of M* C AT o of Utica. 17 not a little to be admired, who marched always on Foot at the Head of his Troops i always drinking the laft, nor that nei- ther, till all the reft of his ^rmy had undergone the extreameft Thirft, and were running to quench it at the Wells which they found in thofe Defarts LucantcWs ms^ That when their Stock of Water was fpent, and exceffive Thirft grew upon them from the dry Winds, and raging Heat of the Sun, fb that they even fainted with Drought; a fmall Spring was dif^ cover'd trickling amidft the parch'd Sand by one of the Sol- diers, who with a glad and greedy hafte took oif his brazen Helmet, and fcooping up fome of the Water mix'd with Sand, ran and prcfented it to his General : But C^to^ inftead of re- ceiving it, with an Afped of fevere Conftancy, ask'd him, If he thought Cato the only Man in all the Army that wanted Virtue to encounter Toil, or was fo foft and effeminate as to fink un- der the Fatigue of a little Heat and Thirft 5 at this he dafli'd the Helmet from him, and would not fo much as wet his Lips, till every Man had drank of the Water to Satisfaftion. And ever after the Battel of T^fSarJalia he ufed to fit at Table, and added this to his other Ways of Mourning, that he never lay down (as it was the Cuftom of the Romans) but to Sleep. And it was fur- ther obferv'd of him, that he never mentioned ^harfalia^ith- out Tears. A t laft he arrived at Scipio and Jubas Camp, where the Infolcnce of that Kivg of the Barbarians was very dif- guftful to him, and where the Affairs of Scipio and Varus went very ill, by reafon of their Diflentions and Qu^^^^^s amor.g themfelves, and their Submiffions and Flatteries to Kingjuba: But Cato in his Wifdom found means to pull down the haugh- ty Spirit of that Monarchy and reconcile him and thcGenera/s 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, off^er'd him the Command : But Cato declined it abfo- lutely, faying, He would not infringe thofe Laws ^ for the Di" fence whereof he had involved htmfelf in Civil War^ that he be- ing but TrO'prator ought not to Command in the Trefence of a TrQ'Conful} bejtdes that, the Teople would take it as a good O- C / men l8 The Life and CharaBer men to fee a Scipio Command in Africk, and that the very Name would give Courage to the Soldiers, Scipio then taking upon him the Command of the Army, refolv'd to put the Inhabitants of Utica to the Sword, and to raze the City, for having taken part with Cafar\ but Cato ex- claimed and protefted againft this cruel Method of Proceeding, notwithftanding it was call'd an Hoftile Reprifal, and wich much difficulty delivered that City, of which he afterwards took upon himfelf the Govermnent, lead it fhould fall into CaVs Hands. Cato knowing it was a ftrong Place, and would be of great Confequence to either Party, improved the Fortifications, brought in great Stores of Corn, repaired the Walls, erected Towers, and made deep Trenches and Outworks round the Town 5 and was fo Indulgent to the Inhabitants, that he took care no Injury (hould be done, nor Affront offered them by the Romans : Cato, who from this City fent great Quantities of Arms to the Camp^ with much Tendernefs advifed Scipio ^ By no means to hazard a Battel with Caefar, who was a Man not only experienced in War^ but encouraged with his Succeffesi that it would be better to tire him out with Delays^ and as his 'Pafftons cooled his Strength would lejfen : Scipio^ whofe Raflinefs would mifconflrue Cato's Cautions for Cow- ardice, retorted, That as Cato was fafe himfelf within Tren- ches, fo he ought not to hinder them from making ufe of their Courage when Occafion offered: This ungrateful Reply of Set- pio's made Cato repent he had yielded the Command of the' Forces to him, and he told his Friends, That if contrary to his Expectations Cx^^t fhould be derthrown^ for his part he would not flay at Rome, but retire from the Cruelty and Inhumanity of Scipio, who had already given out fierce and frond Threats againfi many.^ And here permit me, for a while, to leave our Hero em- ployed in the ftrift Care of his Government, making the Ci- ty a Magazine for the Camp, ftudying the beflr .\rts of De- fence all Day, and groaning for the Miferies of his Country by Night i while I take a View of Ufar*s Meafures after his Pharm of M.Ckro of Utica. ^ 19 Pbarfalian Conquefi, and the Celerity and Greatncfs of thofe Succeflcs that forced Cato to haye recourfe to Death, Ne Ty~ rannum Videret ', leaft thofe holy Eyes, which could be only blefs'd with Scenes of Roman Liberty i fhould beblafted with the Sight of Rome's Injl^ver, C£far^ who had made this Remark on Tompefs Condud ^tl^yrrachiumy that he had been loft without rcdrefs could ^ompey have known how to have made ufe of the Vidoryj took care not to flip into the fame Error himfelf upon Tom- pe/s Overthrow, but cry*d out to his Soldiers, That they ought to purfm their Advantage, make them [elves Mafters of the Enemies Camp^ and not amufe themfelves with the Tlun- dery but compleat the Conqueji. Tompey^ whofe Forces were entirely cut off, or furrendered to the' Victor, accompanied with a fmall Number of Friends, retired from Larijfa to the Sea-fide, and wa reduced to fcek for a Retreat in a poor Fifher- man's Cabbin. Cafar, who madea clofe Purfuit, obliged ^om^ pey to go on Board a fmall Bark, who was fo infatuated witn his Misfortune that he could not think of laying hold of thofe Advantages which he had by Sea, where he had a Powerful, and Vidorious Array ^ but hearing that defar was upon his March, he flay 'd for no Body, but fet Sail towards L^/te : After many Deliberations with bis Friends, he refolved to retire into o<%>'/'^> where the Toung King PtolomyV Council advife, that they ought to invite him to Jkore and kill him % as the fure means to obtain Cx£2.fs Friend/hip ^ and never hereafter to be afraid of ?om^ty , Thus this great Man loft his Ufe mi- ferably by the Inftigation and Hands of three or four Vil- lains. Cafar^ who knew all his Enemies Hopes were wrap- ped up in the Perfon of Tompey^ with his ufual Diligence em- barkes his Forces, foon lands at Ak^at^ria, where he wgs en- tertained with the News of ^w/^/s Peath, and prefented wim his Head: The mournful Spe^acle drew Tears from his Eyes, and perfwaded him to revenge Tampefs Death. Cafar^ who found frefh Marks every I^ay of the xyEgyptsians untoward Intentions to him from the Infolence of the King's Eunuchs y was provok'd to take his Revenge i and being likewifc caught 1 C 2 by 20 The Life and CharaSier by the Charms of Cleopatra^ declared* That he being the firfl Magijirate of Rome, was refolved to enquire into the T>iffe- rence between the King and his Sifter : Not to trace the Grounds of thefe Proceedings, which are obvious to all Know- ers of the Roman Hiftory^ let it fuffice, that a fliort Warenfu- ed : cafar with the AfTiftance of Mithridates of Tergama de- feated the t^gyptiansy and eftablifli'd Cleopatra Queen cvf ^^gypt jointly with h.tx younger Brother Ptolemy : Thus eve- ry where Vidorious, Cafar departed with his Sixth Legion i^om ^^gypt to go into Sjria-y But th^Lt Trovince being ac Peace, he leaves his Kinfman Sextus cafar there with one Legion, embarkes for Cilicia^ purfues Tharn^ces to Cappado- day and overthrows him at Ziela^ a City of Tontus^ with a great Slaughter. Thence, giving fomeneceflary Orders to the^ Neighbouring Provinces, he embarks and goes into Italy with a Diligence that put all the World in Admiration. C£far made but a fliort Stay at Rome^ received many of Tompey^ Party, who came to meet him, with wonderful Moderation} appeafed the Mutinous Infolence of the Tenth Legion i re-eftabliflied 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, fet Sail for Afric^ fo Impati- ent was he to root up the laft Reliques of the Civil War, Scipio and Juba were Entrench'd in two feveral Camps near the City of Thapfusy whither Cafar March'd directly to at- tack them, and after a bloody Engagement totally overthrew their Powers, and obliged Scipio to fall on his own Sword, and Juba to feek a Death from the Hand of one of his Slaves: For tho* Tetreius and Juba^ after a fplendid Entertainment, ran on each others Swords, yet only Tetreius died on the Spot} and Juba was forc*d to have the Afliftance of another Arm to finifli that Work, which P^rr^/a j's Sword had imperfedly be- gun. This King left a Son of his own Name, who was carried to Rome to adorn C£/ar's Triumph ; and having a Princely Education in that City, came afterwards to be fo gallant and popular a Man, that Augufius C but thatCou- ragious Heat foon relaxed, and gave Way to the viler Counfels of preferving their Perfons with their Effedbs. Cato at length finding his Authority was too weak to fubdue their Cowar- dice, after having quelPd feveral Tumults and Mutinies in the City, changed his Thoughts of a Defence for others more a- greeable to his Chara<5ler, and thofe Opinions of Thilofophy he had all along profefs'd. News being brought that Cafar was in his March with all his Army towards Utica^ he gave out his Orders with admirable Prudence and Refolution, and aflifted many of his Friends to fave themfdves by Sea, others he advis'd to rely on C while ► , 7aUs cupit ipfe videri Civibusy ut qui non donatam a Cafare vitam Sperncret. he appear'd fuch as made every one believe^ tliat he would not ;defpife Life, tho' given him by Qisfar. As of M^ Cat o of Utica.- 2$ Asfoon as the Day appear'd, C^/'^? fnatch'd up his Sword, and thnill himfelf thro' the Bread ; but the Hurt of his Hand had fo weaken'd the Blow, that he did not Dyeimmediately^ but, llaggering, fell upon his Bed, and threw down a Table, on which he had drawn fome Figures of Geometry i the Noife whereof made his Slaves ru(h in, who with their Cries alarm'd his Son and Friends. They found him with his Bowels out of his Body, and were fo confounded with their Grief, that they beheld him without being able toaflift him: His Eyes were yet open, and his Thy- fician laying him upon his Bed, put up his Bowels which were not hurt, and clos'd up the Wound. But Cato^ recove- ring his Spirits, and tranfported with Fury, thruft back the Thyjiciariy rent open the Wound, and tearing his Bowels ex- pired before their Eyes. Thu6 died tMv^ great Man in the eight and fortieth Year of his Age, and was honourably buried near the J'^'^z-fide by the Uttcans'^ and there, in Tint arch's Time, was to be feen a Sta« tue of him, which the Citizens had e^eded to his Memory, holding a drawn Sword in one Hand : Utica was prefently furrendred to C^far, who being informed how Ctto had flaia himfelf, cry'd out, That Cato had envied htm the Glory of fa^ vivg his Life^ and it is for that Reafon% fays he, that lenvy his "Death, The famous Brutus (who married Cztds Daughter Tortia^ and who fell on his own Sword after the Battel of Thilippi') in fome of his Writings condemn'd the Death of Catos and maintained, that that Manner of avoiding fuch Difgracesas Providence fends upon us, was an unjuftifiable Attempt again^ the Power of Heaven, and wicked in the Eyes of Men. But Cicero alledg'd, that the Differences of Nature and Temper are of fo ftrong Regard in thefe Cafes, that fometimes One is under a Neceflity of killing himfelf, when Another, in the fame Circumftanccs, cannot be allowed the fame Priviledge of Dy- ing. For M Cato (fays he) was on the fame Foot with all thofe that furrendred themfelvesto C^far in Africk 5 but they would have been perhaps reproached with Fearj, if they bad D at. 26 Tfe Life and CharaSler attempted againfl their Lives ; becaufe their Adlions were of Icfs Moment, and their Manners more tradable and fickle: But CatOi to whom Nature had given an incredi- ble Severity of Soul, and who had confirm'd it all a-lpngby an unOiaken Conftancy, and kept up to the Tenor of his Defigns and Principles, was oblig'd to dye, rather than live to look Tyranny in the Face. The Son of Cato (notwithftanding 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 Fhilippi : For when Brutus's Wing was broken by Q6iavtus Cajars Troops j and young Cato^ who com- manded under Brutus, faw that all muft then inevitably be loil, he ran into the thickeft of the Enemies Battalions, and littering aloud his own Name and his Father's, was (lain amidft an Heap of Foes that had fallen beneath his furious Refi- nance. Africk being entirely brought into Subjeflion, C^efar return- ed to Rome^ to Triumpli for all his Vidories; the Solemnity whereof was continued for four fucceflive Days. In the Triumph of the lafl: Day were carried the Defcriptions of the Deaths of Sciphi Tetreiusy and Cato : But the People no fooner perceiv'd that the Vidlor took a Pride inlnfulting over this Misfortunes of that brave Man, (he being reprefented in the Pageant tearing his own Bowels) than their Joys were turn'd into Sorrow, and their Efteem for Cafar funk into an Hatred of his Barbarity. I fhall not prefume to inforce this PafTage by any other Defcription of that Scene of Horror 5 than what Mr.SP^/^ has in his Excellent Prologue to Cato given the Town, in thefe Beautiful and Pathe* tick Terms 5 which have already receiv'd a general Approbation in the Theatre, and now are Aded over in all AiTemblies of Wit and Judgment: Ev'n when TroudCdihx 9 midft Triumphal Cars ^ The Spils of Nations y and the Tomf of Wars 1 ^ M. Cato of Utica. 27 Tgnohly Vain^ and Impotently Great, Shewed Rome her Cato'j" Figure drawn in State; As her de id Father"* s Reverend Image f aft y The Tomf was darken'd^ and the T>ay o^ercaft. The Trmr»ph ceased- Tears gujJ^d from every Eye; The World's greatV'iEtor faft unheeded by ; Her laft good Man dejeEted Rome ador'^d. And honour'* d Caefar'jr lefts than CatoV Sword. I had a deiign of ending all with the Panegyrick onC^^i?, which Saluft has drawn up in a Parallel of his and Cafar's Charai^ers^ but as the admir'd Mr. Steel has agreeably foreilaU'd Me in this Point, fo 'tis fit I refer my Readers to his Paraphrafe thereon in his Chriftian Heroe. The greateft Poets and Writers, ( even thofe who Flourifli'd under the moll Tyrannick Princes of Rome^ have been profufe in their Praifes of Cato. Lucan and Seneca^ the Contempora- ries of Neroy have fcatter'd their Encomiums of him, throughout their Works : And Virgil^ in the Auguftan Age, has exprefs'd fo great a Reverence for this great Patriot's Memory in his z^ne'is^ that he has given him a Pre-eminence over the Happy Heroes in Elizium-^ and painted him fitting in Judgment there: Secretoftque Tios^ his dantemjura Catonem. Tho' Cerdanus^ and fome others, who would turn the Poet's Gravity into Detraftion, fay. That he meant it as a Jeer uponC^rs?^ as being the Enemy of Julius C^ftar. I might likewife mention Juvenal^ and feveral other Poets both Ancient and Modern^ but mud not omit that Horace^ who liv'd under the Emperor that reign'd by means of Qato^% Overthrow, has celebrated this great Man more than once. There is no quedion, but feveral Writers have endeavoured to bring upon the Stage the Charader of aPer- fon fo Illuftrious for his Virtues and his Sufferings 5 but whether ft be that they could not raife themfelves up to proper Sentiments, ©r 2* The Life and Chara&er^ 8Cc. or thatthey could not accompany Cato with other Perfons that fhould (hine equally in their refpeiftive Parts, or that they were not able to form a Plot out of thofe Incidents which the.Hiftori- ans have related of his Death, without giving a different Turn to the principal Adion ^ or laftly, that they did not know how to draw this great Man in proper Colours, without making him fpeak fomething derogatory to Monarchy, we have no Play among the Moderns built upon this Sub jefti tho* we are infor- med by VqffjuSi that there was a Latin Tragedy among the An- cients, under the Title of Cato of Utica^ but there is no Frag- ment of it left. I (hail Conclude the whole with thePerfedion of C^/^'s Praife from Montaigne^ in few Words, * That he was in truth a Pat- « tern, which Nature chofe out to (hew to what height Human « Virtue and Conftancy could arrive* F 1 N I S. ** /^. ;>' *r 'tv •'^-ii