Did glut' himself again: | a meal was bought No love' was left; | All earth was but one thought; and that was death, Immediate, and inglo'rious; and the pang Of famine fed upon all en trails. | Men Died, and their bones were tombless as their flesh; ¦ The birds, and beasts, and famish'd men at bay', | or the dropping dead | Himself sought out no food, | perpetual moan, The crowd was famish'd by degrees、 ; | but two And they were enemies. They met beside Where had been heap'd a mass of holy things | For an unholy u'sage: they rak'd up, | And, shivering, scrap'd with their cold skeleton hands, | The feeble ashes, and their feeble breath | Blew for a little life, and made a flame | Which was a mockery. Then they lifted up Their eyes as it grew lighter', and beheld Each other's aspects- saw', and shriek'd', and died. :| E'en of their mutual hid'eousness they died, | Unknowing who he was upon whose brow | 1 Famine had written fiend,. | The world was void; | The populous, and the powerful was* a lump, | * Some, being anxious to correct what is already right, have substituted were for was. Seasonless, herb.less, tree less, man'less, life less― | Of aid from them | Darkness had no need she was the universe. | CATO'S SENATE. (ADDISON.) Lucius, Sempronius, and Senators. Semp. Rome still survives in this assembl'd sen.ate! | Let us remember we are Ca'to's friends, | And act like men who claim that glorious title. | Luc. Cato will soon be here', and open to us The occasion of our meeting. Hark! he comes ! [Flourish of Trumpets. May all the guardian gods of Rome direct him! | [Enter CATO.] Cato. Fathers, we once again are met in council— | Cæsar's approach has summon'd us together; | And Rome attends her fate from our resolves. | How shall we treat this bold aspiring man? | Success still follows him, and backs his crimes. :| Pharsalia gave him Rome'; Egypt has since Receiv'd his yoke; and the whole Nile' is Cæsar's. | Why should I mention Juba's overthrow, | And Scipio's death? | Numidia's burning sands Still smoke with blood. | 'Tis time we should decree What course to take. Our foe advan'ces on us, | And envies us e'en Libya's sultry deserts. 1 Fathers, pronounce your thoughts are they still fixt| To hold it out, and fight it to the last? | Or are your hearts subdu'd at length, | and wrought By time, and ill success, to a submission? | Sempronius, speak. | Semp. My voice is still for war. I Can a Roman senate long debate No And, at the head of our remaining troops, | Attack the foe, break through the thick array | May reach his heart, and free the world from bondage./ Or share their fate,! The corpse of half her sen'ate, | Sit here deliberating in cold debates, Or wear them out in servitude, and chains. | Cato. Let not a torrent of impetuous zeal | That justice warrants, and that wisdom guides Luc. My thoughts, I must confess, are turn'd on peace. Already have our quarrels | fill'd the world "T is time to sheathe the sword, and spare mankind. | Our vain attempts. To urge the foe to battle, i Is done already: | heaven, and earth will witness, | Semp. This smooth discourse, and mild behavior, oft All is not right. Cato. Let us be neither rash nor diffident [Aside to Cato. Betrays like treason. | Let us shun them both. Are grown thus desp'rate - we have bulwarks round us: | Within our walls, are troops, inured to toil b Bůl'wȧrks. While there is hope, do not distrust the gods'; | [Enter MARCUS.] | Marc. Fathers, this moment, as I watch'd the gate, | Lodg'd on my post, a her'ald is arriv'd From Cæsar's camp; and with him, comes old De'cius, bid him enter. I [Exit Marcus. Decius was once my friend; but other prospects Have loos'd those ties, and bound him fast to Cæsar. | His message may determine our resolves. | [Enter DECIUS.] Dec. Cæsar sends health to Ca'to. | Cato. Could he send it To Cato's slaughter'd friends, it would be welcome. | Are not your orders to address the senate? | Dec. My business is with Ca'to. | Cæsar sees The straits to which you 're driven; and, as he knows Cato's high worth, is anxious for your life. | Cato. My life is grafted on the fate of Rome'. | Would he save Cato, bid him spare his country. | Tell your dictator this | and tell him too, | Cato Disdains' a life | which he has power to offer. | Dec. Rome, and her senators submit to Cæsar; ¦ Her generals, and her consuls are no mòre, | |