Cato: A Tragedy, in Five Acts. Addison Joseph

      Syph. 'Tis not my talent to conceal my thoughts,

      Or carry smiles and sunshine in my face,

      When discontent sits heavy at my heart;

      I have not yet so much the Roman in me.

      Jub. Why dost thou cast out such ungenerous terms

      Against the lords and sov'reigns of the world?

      Dost thou not see mankind fall down before them,

      And own the force of their superior virtue?

      Is there a nation in the wilds of Afric,

      Amidst our barren rocks and burning sands,

      That does not tremble at the Roman name?

      Syph. Gods! where's the worth that sets these people up

      Above your own Numidia's tawny sons?

      Do they with tougher sinews bend the bow?

      Or flies the javelin swifter to its mark,

      Launch'd from the vigour of a Roman arm?

      Who like our active African instructs

      The fiery steed, and trains him to his hand?

      Or guides in troops th' embattled elephant

      Laden with war? These, these are arts, my prince,

      In which your Zama does not stoop to Rome.

      Jub. These all are virtues of a meaner rank:

      Perfections that are placed in bones and nerves.

      A Roman soul is bent on higher views;

      Turn up thy eyes to Cato;

      There may'st thou see to what a godlike height

      The Roman virtues lift up mortal man.

      While good, and just, and anxious for his friends,

      He's still severely bent against himself;

      And when his fortune sets before him all

      The pomps and pleasures that his soul can wish,

      His rigid virtue will accept of none.

      Syph. Believe me, prince, there's not an African

      That traverses our vast Numidian deserts

      In quest of prey, and lives upon his bow,

      But better practises those boasted virtues.

      Coarse are his meals, the fortune of the chase;

      Amidst the running stream he slakes his thirst;

      Toils all the day, and, at the approach of night,

      On the first friendly bank he throws him down,

      Or rests his head upon a rock till morn;

      Then rises fresh, pursues his wonted game,

      And if the following day he chance to find

      A new repast, or an untasted spring,

      Blesses his stars, and thinks it luxury.

      Jub. Thy prejudices, Syphax, won't discern

      What virtues grow from ignorance and choice,

      Nor how the hero differs from the brute.

      Where shall we find the man that bears affliction,

      Great and majestic in his griefs, like Cato?

      How does he rise against a load of woes,

      And thank the gods that threw the weight upon him!

      Syph. 'Tis pride, rank pride, and haughtiness of soul;

      I think the Romans call it stoicism.

      Had not your royal father thought so highly

      Of Roman virtue, and of Cato's cause,

      He had not fall'n by a slave's hand inglorious.

      Jub. Why dost thou call my sorrows up afresh?

      My father's name brings tears into my eyes.

      Syph. Oh, that you'd profit by your father's ills!

      Jub. What wouldst thou have me do?

      Syph. Abandon Cato.

      Jub. Syphax, I should be more than twice an orphan

      By such a loss.

      Syph. Ay, there's the tie that binds you!

      You long to call him father. Marcia's charms

      Work in your heart unseen, and plead for Cato.

      No wonder you are deaf to all I say.

      Jub. Syphax, your zeal becomes importunate;

      I've hitherto permitted it to rave,