4. Noble Sentiments.

Cato, Sempronius, and Lucius in Council, after receiving a message from Cæsar; and Juba, a Numidian prince, introduced after the Council.

Sem. Cato, we thank thee.

The mighty genius of immortal Rome

Speaks in thy voice; thy soul breathes liberty.
Cæsar will shrink to hear the words thou utter'st,
And shudder in the midst of all his conquests.
Luc. The Senate owes its gratitude to Cato,
Who with so great a soul consults its safety,
And guards our lives, while he neglects his own.
Sem. Sempronius gives no thanks on this account.
Lucius seems fond of life; but what is life?
'Tis not to stalk about, and draw fresh air
From time to time, or gaze upon the sun;
'Tis to be free. When liberty is gone,
Life grows insipid, and has lost its relish.
Luc. Others, perhaps,

May serve their country with as warm a zeal,
Though 'tis not kindled into rage.

Sem. This sober conduct is a mighty virtue
In lukewarm patriots.

Cato. Come, no more, Sempronius ;

All here are friends to Rome, and to each other.
Let us not weaken still the weaker side
By our divisions.

Sem. Cato, my resentments

Are sacrificed to Rome.-I stand reprov'd.

Cato. Fathers, 'tis time to come to a resolve. Luc. Cato, we all go into your opinion: Cæsar's behaviour has convinc'd the Senate We ought to hold it out till terms arrive.

Sem. We ought to hold it out till death; but, Cato,

My private voice is drown'd amidst the Senate's.

Cato. Then let us rise, my friends, and strive to fill This little interval, this pause of life

(While yet our liberty and fates are doubtful),

With resolution, friendship, Roman bravery,
And all the virtues we can crowd into it;
That Heaven may say it ought to be prolong'd.
[Enter Juba.]

Juba. Cato, lend me for awhile thy patience,
And condescend to hear a young man speak.
My father, when some days before his death,
He order'd me to march for Utica,

(Alas! I thought not then his death so near!)
Wept o'er me, press'd me in his arms,
And, as his griefs gave way,
My son," said he,
"Whatever fortune shall befall thy father,

66

Be Cato's friend; he'll train thee up to great

And virtuous deeds; do but observe him well,
Thou'lt shun misfortunes, or thou'lt learn to bear them."
Cato. Juba, thy father was a worthy prince,
And merited, alas! a better fate;
But Heav'n thought otherwise.
Juba. My father's fate,

In spite of all the fortitude that shines
Before my face in Cato's great example,

Subdues my soul and fills my eyes with tears.

Cato. It is an honest sorrow, and becomes thee. Juba. My father drew respect from foreign climes; The kings of Afric sought him for their friend. Cato. I am no stranger to thy father's greatness. Juba. I would not boast the greatness of my father, But point out new alliances to Cato.

Had we not better leave this Utica,

To arm Numidia in our cause, and court

Th' assistance of my father's powerful friends?
Cato. And can'st thou think

Cato will fly before the sword of Cæsar!
Reduced, like Hannibal, to seek relief

From court to court, and wander up and down
A vagabond in Afric?

Juba. Cato, perhaps

I'm too officious; but my forward cares

Would fain preserve a life of so much value.
My heart is wounded, when I see such virtue
Afflicted by the weight of such misfortunes.

Cato. Thy nobleness of soul obliges me.
But know, young prince, that valour soars above
What the world calls misfortune and affliction.
These are not ills; else would they never fall
On Heav'n's first fav'rites, and the best of men.
The gods, in bounty, work up storms about us,
That give mankind occasion to exert
Their hidden strength, and throw out into practice
Virtues which shun the day, and lie conceal'd

In the smooth seasons and the calms of life.

Juba. I'm charm'd whene'er thou talk'st; I pant for

virtue.

Addison

APPENDIX.

ON THE READING OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

I.-General Observations.

The Holy Scriptures should never be used as a mere class-book, for teaching children to read.

They should be opened with a short collect or prayer, and read with becoming reverence.

The common plan of reading verse and verse in turn, is prejudicial to the right understanding of the Holy Scriptures, and leads to flippancy, inattention, and irreverence.

Each pupil should read a complete paragraph; or such portion as constitutes a complete subject, or conveys the sense complete.

It is very undesirable for children who cannot read freely, to attempt the reading of the Holy Scriptures aloud in school. Their spelling, or miscalling the words, renders a due regard to sense almost impossible, and has an injurious effect both on their own minds and those who hear them.

When a class, or the great majority of a class, cannot read well, the lesson should be read clearly and distinctly by the teacher himself, or by selected pupils placed in front of the class; all the pupils being furnished with books, and following mentally. The subjects most easily understood should be selected for reading; and the teacher will secure the attention and