University of Virginia Library

SCE. 5.

Enter Cato Senior, and Cato Iunior.
Cat. Sen.
My Sonne thou seest howe all are ouerthrowne,
That sought their Countries free-dome to maintaine,
Egipt forsakes vs, Pompey found his graue,
VVhere hee most succor did expect to haue:
Scipio is ouerthrowne and with his haples fall,
Affrick to vs doth former ayde denay,
O who will helpe men in aduersity:
Yet let vs shewe in our declining state,
That strength of minde, that vertues constancy,
That erst we did in our felicity,
Though Fortune fayles vs lets not fayle our selues,
Remember boy thou art a Romaine borne,
And Catoes Sonne, of me do vertue learne;
Fortune of others, aboue althings see
Thou prize thy Countries loue and liberty,
All blessiings Fathers to their Sonnes can wish
Heauens powre on thee, and now my sonne with-drawe
Thy selfe a while and leaue me to my booke.

Cat. Iun.
What meanes my Father by this solemne leaue?
First he remembred me of my Fortunes change,
And then more earnestly did me exhort
To Counrries loue, and constancy of minde,
Then he was wont: som-whats the cause,
But what I knowe not, O I feare I feare,
His to couragious heart that cannot beare
The thrall of Rome and triumph of his foe,
By his owne hand threats danger to his life,
How ere it be at hand I will abide,
VVayting the end of this that shal betide.

Exit.
Cato Senior with a booke in his hand.
Cato Sen.
Plato that promised immortality,
Doth make my soule resolue it selfe to mount,
Vnto the bowre of those Celestiall ioyes,
VVhere freed from lothed Prison of my soule,
In heauenly notes to Phœbus which shall sing:
And Pean Io, Pean loudely ring.
Then fayle not hand to execute this deede,
Nor faint nor heart for to command my hand,
VVauer not minde to counsell this resolue,
But with a courage and thy liues last act,
Now do I giue thee Rome my last farewell.
Who cause thou fearest ill do therefore die,
O talke not now of Cannas ouerthrowe,
And raze out of thy lasting Kalenders,
Those bloudy songes of Hilias dismall sight:
And note with black, that black and cursed day,
When Cæsar conquered in Pharsalia,
Yet will not I his conquest glorifie:
My ouerthrow shall neere his triumph grace,
For by my death to the world Ile make that knowne,
No hand could conquer Cato but his owne.

stabs himself.
Enter Cato Iunior running to him.
Ca. Iun.
O this it was my minde told me before,
VVhat meanes my Father, why with naked blade,
Dost thou assault, that faithfull princely hand:
And mak'st the base Earth to drinke thy Noble bloud,
Bee not more sterne, and cruell 'gainst thy selfe,
Then thy most hateful enemies would be,
No Parthian, Gaule, Moore, no not Cæsars selfe,
VVould with such cruelty thy worth repay,
O stay thy hand, giue me thy fatall blade:
VVhich turnes his edge and waxeth blunt to wound,
A brest so fraught with vertue excellent.

Ca. Seni.
VVhy dost thou let me of my firme resolue,
Vnkinde boy hinderer of thy Fathers ioy,
Why dost thou slay me, or wilt thou betray
Thy Fathers life vnto his foe-mens hands,
And yet I wrong thy faith, and loue too much,
In thy soules kindenesse, tis thou art vnkinde.

Cat. Iun.
If for your selfe you do this life reiect,
Yet you your Sonnes and Countries: sake respect,
Rob not my yong yeares of so sweete a stay,
Nor take from Rome the Pillor of her strength.

Cat. Sene.
Although I die, yet do I leaue behinde,
My vertues fauor to bee thy youths guide:
But for my Country, could my life it profit,
Ile not refuse to liue that died for it,
Now doth but one smal snuffe of breath remaine:
And that to keepe, should I mine Honor staine?

Cat. Iuni.
Where you do striue to shew your vertue most,
There more you do disgrace it Cowards vse,
To shun the woes and trobles of this life:
Basely to flie to deaths safe sanctuary,
When constant vertues doth the hottest brunt's,
Of griefes assaultes vnto the end endure.

Ca. Seni.
Thy words preuaile, come lift me vp my Son,
And call some help to binde my bleeding wounds.

Cat. Iuni.
Father I go with a more willing minde,
Then did Æneas when from Troyan fire,
He bare his Father, and did so restore:
The greatest gift hee had receiued before.

Exit.
Cat. Seni.
Now haue I freed mee of that hurtfull Loue,
Which interrupted my resolued will,
Which all the world can neuer stay nor change:
Cæsar whose rule commands both Sea and Land,
Is not of powre to hinder this weake hand,
And time succeeding shall behold that I
Although not liue, yet died courragiously,

stab himselfe.
Enter Cato Iunior.
Ca. Iuni.
O hast thou thus to thine owne harme deceiu'd me
Well I perceiue thy Noble dauntles heart:
Because it would not beare the Conquerors insolence,
Vsed on it selfe this cruell violence,
I know not whether I should more lament,
That by thine owne hand thou thus slaughtred art,
Or Ioy that thou so nobly didst depart.

Exit.