Page:The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, Volume 2.djvu/392

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ADDISON.

immediately in comes Syphax, and then the two politicians are at it immediately. They lay their heads together, with their snuff-boxes in their hands, as Mr. Bayes has it, and feague it away. But, in the midst of that wise scene, Syphax seems to give a seasonable caution to Sempronius:

Syph. But is it true, Sempronius, that your senate
Is call'd together? Gods! thou must be cautious;
Cato has piercing eyes.

There is a great deal of caution shewn indeed, in meeting in a governor's own hall to carry on their plot against him. Whatever opinion they have of his eyes, I suppose they have none of his ears, or, they would never have talked at this foolish rate so near:

Gods; thou must be cautious.

Oh yes, very cautious: for if Cato, should overhear you, and turn you off for politicians, Cæsar would never take you.

When Cato, Act II. turns the sena-

tors