Posthumous Works of Dr. George Sewell ... To which are added Poems on Several Occasions, Published in his Life-Time |
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The Character of
Cato
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 | Posthumous Works of Dr. George Sewell |  |
The Character of Cato .
From Lucan . BOOK II.
Written in the Year 1713.
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Lucan, in this Description of Cato, had as strict a Regard to Truth as any Historian. His private Life, the Simplicity of his Manners and Habit, his Notions of Philosophy, and his Manner of Behaviour, are excellently painted.
------ Hi mores, hæc duri immota Catonis
Secta fuit. ------
Secta fuit. ------
These
Cato's Morals were, and this the Kind
Of His rough Sect, and His severer Mind,
A due proportion'd Medium to attend,
And think, while Living, to respect his End;
To follow Nature, and observe her Laws,
To pour His Life out in his Country's Cause;
From mean Ideas, to enlarge his Mind,
Nor think his Actions to Himself confin'd,
Nor Cato born for One, but All Mankind.
He eat for Hunger, not to please the Sense,
A happy Epicure in Abstinence;
His House, to keep out Cold, alone did seem;
Convenience was Magnificence to Him.
Upon his Back a Hairy Gown he bore,
Such as His Sabine great Forefathers wore:
Such as the Face of Antique Garbs express,
This was His Pomp and Gaiety of Dress:
He sought the Pleasure of a chast Embrace,
For One great End, to propagate his Race:
Severely Honest, Just without Allay,
Studious the Common Good alone to weigh.
At once Discreet, and fond in ev'ry View,
His Country's Husband, and Her Father too.
Of His rough Sect, and His severer Mind,
A due proportion'd Medium to attend,
And think, while Living, to respect his End;
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To pour His Life out in his Country's Cause;
From mean Ideas, to enlarge his Mind,
Nor think his Actions to Himself confin'd,
Nor Cato born for One, but All Mankind.
He eat for Hunger, not to please the Sense,
A happy Epicure in Abstinence;
His House, to keep out Cold, alone did seem;
Convenience was Magnificence to Him.
Upon his Back a Hairy Gown he bore,
Such as His Sabine great Forefathers wore:
Such as the Face of Antique Garbs express,
This was His Pomp and Gaiety of Dress:
He sought the Pleasure of a chast Embrace,
For One great End, to propagate his Race:
Severely Honest, Just without Allay,
Studious the Common Good alone to weigh.
At once Discreet, and fond in ev'ry View,
His Country's Husband, and Her Father too.
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Him Brutus found with wakeful Care oppress'd,
The Publick Good revolving in his Breast:
Big with the Fate and Destiny of Rome,
Her Children's Fortune, and His Country's Doom.
Fearful what each might Act and each Endure,
But unconcern'd, and for Himself secure.
The Publick Good revolving in his Breast:
Big with the Fate and Destiny of Rome,
Her Children's Fortune, and His Country's Doom.
Fearful what each might Act and each Endure,
But unconcern'd, and for Himself secure.
O! wou'd the Gods above and those below
In Mercy hearken to their Cato's Vow,
And on This willingly devoted Head
All their collected Stores of Vengeance shed!
For Rome of old her Decii could fall,
In one Illustrious Ruin saving all:
That thus I might this single Life expose,
To stop her Plagues, and expiate her Woes!
O! against Me may both their Hosts engage;
Set up the happy Mark of Publick Rage:
Hither fly ev'ry Dart, launch ev'ry Spear,
And ev'ry vile Barbarian Arm strike Here.
I wou'd sustain each Individual's Share;
Be pierc'd, be gor'd, by ev'ry Murd'rer there,
And all their Wounds in bleeding Transport bear.
Could but this Blood for her Preservance spilt,
Redeem the Nation, and attone her Guilt:
Could this one Sacrifice prevent her Doom,
And quit the Score between her Gods and Rome.
In Mercy hearken to their Cato's Vow,
And on This willingly devoted Head
All their collected Stores of Vengeance shed!
For Rome of old her Decii could fall,
In one Illustrious Ruin saving all:
That thus I might this single Life expose,
To stop her Plagues, and expiate her Woes!
O! against Me may both their Hosts engage;
Set up the happy Mark of Publick Rage:
Hither fly ev'ry Dart, launch ev'ry Spear,
And ev'ry vile Barbarian Arm strike Here.
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Be pierc'd, be gor'd, by ev'ry Murd'rer there,
And all their Wounds in bleeding Transport bear.
Could but this Blood for her Preservance spilt,
Redeem the Nation, and attone her Guilt:
Could this one Sacrifice prevent her Doom,
And quit the Score between her Gods and Rome.
| Posthumous Works of Dr. George Sewell | |