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Stay at Rome, received many of Pompey's Party, who came to meet him, with wonderful Moderation; appeafed the Mutinous Infolence of the Tenth Legion; re-establifhed 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 Impatient 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 Thapfus, whither Cæfar March'd directly to attack them, and after a bloody Engagement totally overthrew their Powers, and obliged Scipio to fall on his own Sword, and Juba to seek a Death from the Hand of one of his Slaves: The Confequences of this Battel were fo great, that all that Part of Afric submitted to Cafar, except the City of Utica; the Reduction whereof was the only Task now remained for his Arms, and the Attempt whereof naturally brings me back to the Connection of Cato's Story.

It was not long before Cato was inform'd of Scipio's Defeat, by fome of the Cavalry that had escaped the dreadful Slaughter, and who offer'd him their Service, if he would retreat with them from the hot Pursuit of the Ene my; but Cato then told them, he defign'd to hold out the Siege of Utica. But the Faintnefs and Irrefolution of the Townsmen, who were aw'd with the Apprehenfions of Cafar's vaft Fortune, made him forego that Refolution; and he in vain attempted to pacific their Frights, by telling them, That Scipio's Lofs was nothing near fo great as it was represented, and that it was common to have Difafters enlarged by Report, that liften'd to Fear more than Truth. Cato had establish'd a kind of Senate in Utica, which he had compos'd of 300 Romans of good Quality thefe Gentlemen he fummon'd upon this threatening Jun&ture, and addrefs'd himself to them with a wonderful Calmnefs and Refolution, in the following Manner: He

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advis'd'em principally neither to divide their Numbers nor Counfels; for that while they continued their Union, Cæfar would be afraid of their Oppofition, and would the fooner pardon them, if they were reduc'd to the Misfortune of fubmitting themselves to his Mercy: Begg'd them to fix on what Measures they meant to take, and that for his part he fhould not miflike whatever they determined, that if they were intirely dishearten'd by the ill Success of their Caufe, he would impute their Change to the Neceffity of the Times; but if they had Refolutions to brave Misfortunes, and Lives to hazard in the Defence of Liberty, he should ftand in Admiration of their noble Courage, and would be himself their Captain and Companion, to push the Fortune of their Caufe and Country to the uttermoft. Much more he faid to them in the most animating Terms that the Hope of pr. vailing and hearty Sincerity of his Soul for the Interest of Rome could dictate: And while he was prefent, his Auditors were fill'd with a Noble Fire, that feem'd to infpire them to the Daring even of Impoffibilities; but that Couragious Heat foon relax'd, and gave Way to the viler Counsels of preferving their Perfons with their Effects. Cato at length finding his Authority was too weak to fubdue their Cowardice, chang'd his Thoughts of Defence for others more agreeable to his Character, and thofe Opinions of Philofophy he had all along profefs'd. News being brought that Cafar was in his March with all his Army towards Uti ca, he gave out his Orders with admirable Prudence and Resolution, and affifted many of his Friends to fave themfelves by Sea, others he advis'd to rely on Cafar's Goodnefs, and gave this Charge and Exhortation to his Chil dren, never to intermeddle with the Affairs of the Republick, telling them, the Corruptions of the Times would not permit them to act therein uprightly, as Cato's Sons ought; and that for them to grow fervile Obfervers of the Time, they could not act like honeft Men.

At

At Night feveral of his particular Friends were at Supper with him, and amongst the reft fome Philofophers After Supper the Company fell into grave and learned Di fcourfe,and it running moftly upon Philofophy, Cato advanced that Stoical Maxim, That the Virtuous only were happy and free, but wicked Men always miferable and in Slavery: Demetrius the Peripatetick, who made one of the Guefts, would not eafily allow this Paradox, and Cato defended the Subject with fo much Warmth and Paffion, that his Friends could not but fufpect he had fomething more than ordinary in his Mind; and their Fears were increased by this Circumftance, that when Lucius Cafar proffer'd to fall on his Knees before his victorious Kinfman to beg Cato's Life, Cato would not be brought to permit it, faying, He would not owe his Life to the Power of a Tyrant. Soon after Cato retir'd to Bed, and embraced his Sons and the whole Company with fuch unufual Tenderness, that their Sufpicions were redoubled by it, and they caused his Sword to be privately convey'd away, which at other Time he was used to have by him.

He took up Plato's Book of the Soul, and having read a little while, look'd for his Sword; miffing it he call'd for one of his Slaves, and without the leaft Disorder, bid him fetch it; but not being obey'd, he grew in Anger, and ftruck the Slave with fuch force that he hurt his own Hand, crying out, He was betray'd, and should be delivered to the Enemy naked and unarmed.

The Noife immediately brought his Sons and Friends into the Chamber, on whom looking fternly, he ask'd them, If they had obferv'd him to have loft his common Sense ? And why they did not try to perfwade him by Reafons, without obliging him by Force to follow other Opinions than thofe he had already learnt? That a Man Refolv'd, had no need of the help of a Sword, nor could mifs of a way to Death; but might stifle himself, or beat out his Brains against

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gainst the Walls. At this Difcourfe his Sons wept, and left the Room, but the Friends and Philofophers ftaying behind, he renew'd his Difcourfe, and ask'd them, If they were ordered to stay and ftare on him like Mutes, and wait upon him for his Guard, That if they had good Reafons to convince him, that having nothing elfe to rely on, it would not be unworthy of him to beg his Life of the Enemy; to make him renounce all thofe Maxims which he had biterto maintain'd, why did they not proceed to their Proofs? If they were not thus prepared, he bid them be gone, and tell his Sons they ought not to think of perfwading him by Force, to a Thing which they could not pretend to convince him of by Reafon.

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After this the Company retir'd, and his Sword was fent him back by a Young Slave, he examining the Point, and finding it for his Purpose, laid it by, faying, Now I am Master of my felf. He betook him again to the fame Treatise of Plato, and having read it over twice, fell into fo profound a Sleep that he was heard into his Anti-chamber. As foon as the Day appear'd, Cato snatch'd up his Sword, and thrust himselfthro' the Breaft; but the Hurt of his Hand had fo weaken'd the Blow, that he did not Dye immediately; but, ftaggering, fell upon his Bed, and threw down a Table, on which he had drawn fome Figures of Geometry; the Noife whereof made his Slaves rufh in, who with their Cries alarm'd all his Sons 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 to affift him: His Eyes were yet open, and his Physician laying him upon his Bed, put up his Bowels which were not hurt, and clos'd up the Wound. But Cato, recovering his Spirits, and transported with Fury, thrust back the Physician, rent openthe Wound, and tearing his Bowels expired before their Eycs.

Thus

Thus died this great Man in the eight and fortieth Year of his Age, and was honourably buried near the Sea-fide by the Uticans; and there, in Plutarch's Time, was to be feen an Image of him, holding a drawn Sword in his Hand: Utica was prefently furrendred to Cafar, who being informed how Cato had flain himself, cry'd out, That Cato bad envied him the Glory of faving his Life, and it is for that Reafon, says he, that I envy his Death.

FINIS

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