leave that to Nature, let me only fuggeft fome things to you, which perhaps you might not have obferv'd: Moft of CATO's Speeches are fill'd with Indignation against CESAR, now QUINTILIAN remarks that Interrogations agree beft with Indignation, and heighten the Sentiments. Of this you may fee feveral beautiful Inftances in the Second ACT, between DECius and CATO, I fhall mention but one of 'em: DECIUS is there telling him how CESAR was Anxious for his Life, CATO replies,

Would he fave CATO? Bid him fpare his Country.

But the finest and most beautiful Inftance of this Nature is where JUBA fays in the Fourth ACT,

While CATO lives, CÆSAR will blush to see
Mankind enflav'd, and be afham'd of Empire.--

And he returns,

CESAR afham'd! has he not feen PHARSALIA?

An Answer the fulleft of Indignation that I ever read, the very mention of PHARSALIA is enough, without any other Exaggeration; for as the fame Orator obferves, there are some things (as Murder) which raife our Indignation by the very naming of them. But farther, this is not an Inftance of a Single but a Complicated Beauty, for according to the abovecited Author, fometimes the fame Words, meerly by altering the Pronunciation, not only Indicate, Affirm, Interrogate,

Reproach, Deny, Admire, but are Marks of Contempt, Difdain, and Diminution. Confider thefe Words carefully, trythem, you'll find the Truth of the Observation.

Give me leave only to mention one thing more, (tho I could never have done with this Subject) and I will then releafe you. It is upon a common Topic which all our Poets have occafion for fome time or another, an Impoffibility. What a Work do they make here? Sometimes you might as well move OLYMPUS; at others, Stars must be grafp'd at, and the more moderate are contented with making Rivers flow backward to the Fountain Head. But here obferve the Judgment of the Poet in the First ACT, where SEMPRONIUS is telling PORTIus what a Happiness he fhould enjoy, if CATO his Father would give him his Sifter MARCIA; to which he replies,

Alafs! SEMPRONIUS, wouldst thou talk of Love

To MARCIA, while her FATHER's Life's in Danger?
Thou might'ft as well court the pale trembling Veftal
When she beholds the Holy Flame expiring.

You perceive that this is new, beautiful, and fuited to the Circumstances with Judgment; and that nothing could be more agreeable to the Notions of a Roman, than fuch an Impoffibility. Befides that the Glance at Religion improves and exalts the Idea to the highest Pitch.

You will wonder, perhaps, that this Subject of CAT O's Death, fo fit for a Tragedy, and fo frequently applauded in the Latin Poets and Hiftorians, has never been touched up.

on

on before. I find in a Dialogue attributed by fome to TACITus, by others to QUINTILIAN, that one CuRIATIUS MATERNUS had compos'd a Tragedy upon this Subject; and it is probable, by the Hint which HORACE gives in his First Ode of the Second Book to POLLIO, that CATO had a confiderable Part in his Tragedy, which he advis'd him to defer Publishing, till Matters were better compos'd, and forbear a Subject which could not but be ungrateful to many at that Time.

I think my felf oblig'd to take Notice of one Thing more to you, leaft you should be lead into any Error to the Prejudice of this Admirable Performance, and that is, that you would not think it a State or Party Play. Nothing can be more ridiculous than to imagine that either the Defign of the Author, or any Hints from the Subject, tend that way. CATO's is drawn as he truly was; and as no body fate for the Picture but Him, fo it is really like no body befide Him. He ftands up for the Conftitution of his Country, and the Course of its Laws; for Juftice and Liberty, the old Roman Principles; and had He been reprefented otherwife, his Character had been ill drawn, and unlike the Idea all Men of Sense had fram'd of him. What does the Conftitution of Rome relate to us? or how does his Oppofition to CASAR affect our Government? But the falfe Notions of the Zealous will often make Vindications of the plaineft things neceffary, when indeed an Apology for their own Ignorance were more just and proper.

I fhall conclude this long Letter, Sir, with a Copy of Verses to the Author of the Tragedy, which I hope you will not the lefs approve of, because you did not request them, as you did thefe Obfervations, from,

Your Humble Servant, &c.

Upon Mr. ADDISON'S CATO.

ONG had the Tragic Mufe forgot to Weep,
By modern Operas quite lull'd a-fleep :

L

No Matter what the Lines, the Voice was (clear,

Thus Sense was facrific'd to please the Ear.

At laft, † One Wit ftood up in our Defence,
And dar'd (O Impudence!) to publish-
Soon then as next the juft Tragedian spoke,
The Ladies figh'd again, the Beaux awoke.
Those Heads that us'd moft indolent to move
To Sing-fong, Ballad, and Sonata Love,
Began their buried Senfes to explore,

And found they now had Paffions as before:

The Power of Nature in their Bofoms felt,

In spite of Prejudice compell'd to melt.

+ The Spectaton

Senfe..

When

When CATO's firm, all Hope of Succour paft, Holding his ftubborn Virtue to the last,

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I view, with Joy and confcious Transport fir'd,
The Soul of Rome in One Great Man retir'd :
In Him, as if She by Confinement gain'd
Her Pow'rs and Energy are higher strain'd
Than when in Crowds of Senators fhe reign'd!
CATO well fcorn'd the Life that CASAR gave,
Malçi four in mid only DeA
When Fear and Weakness only bid him fave:

But when a Virtue like his own revives

The Hero's Conftancy

with Joy he lives.

Observe the Juftness of the Poet's Thoughts
Whose smallest Excellence is want of Faults:
Without affected Pomp and Noife he warms;
Without the gaudy Dress of Beauty charms.
Love, the old Subject of the Buskin'd Mufe,
Returns, but fuch as Roman Virgins use.

A Virtuous Love, chaftis'd by pureft Thought,
Not from the Fancy, but from Nature wrought.

Britons,