Page:The life of and character of Marcus Portius Cato Uticensis - Theobald (1713).djvu/32

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The Life and Character, &c.

or that they could not accompany Cato with other Persons that should shine equally in their respective Parts, or that they were not able to form a Plot out of those Incidents which the Historians have related of his Death, without giving a different Turn to the principal Action, or lastly, that they did not know how to draw this great Man in proper Colours, without making him speak something derogatory to Monarchy, we have no Play among the Moderns built upon this Subject, tho' we are informed by Vossius, that there was a Latin Tragedy among the Ancients, under the Title of Cato of Utica; but there is no Fragment of it left.

I shall Conclude the whole with the Perfection of Cato's Praise from Montaigne, in few Words, 'That he was in truth a Pattern, which Nature chose out to shew to what height Human Virtue and Constancy could arrive.


FINIS.