s_ ouerthrowe, 1080
And raze out of thy lasting Kalenders,
Those bloudy songes of _Hilias_ dismall sight:
And note with black, that black and cursed day,
When _Caesar_ conquered in _Pharsalia_,
Yet will not I his conquest glorifie:
My ouerthrow shall neere his triumph grace,
For by my death to the world Ile make that knowne,
No hand could conquer _Cato_ but his owne. _stabs himself._

_Enter Cato Iunior running to him._

_Ca. Iun._ O this it was my minde told me before, 1090
VVhat meanes my Father, why with naked blade,
Dost thou assault, that faithfull princely hand:
And mak'st the base Earth to drinke thy Noble bloud,
Bee not more sterne, and cruell 'gainst thy selfe,
Then thy most hateful enemies would be,
No _Parthian_, _Gaule_, _Moore_, no not _Caesars_ selfe,
VVould with such cruelty thy worth repay,
O stay thy hand, giue me thy fatall blade:
VVhich turnes his edge and waxeth blunt to wound,
A brest so fraught with vertue excellent. 1100
_Ca. Seni._ Why dost thou let me of my firme resolue,
Vnkinde boy hinderer of thy Fathers ioy,
Why dost thou slay me, or wilt thou betray
Thy Fathers life vnto his foe-mens hands,
And yet I wrong thy faith, and loue too much,
In thy soules kindenesse, tis thou art vnkinde.
_Cat. Iun._ If for your selfe you do this life reiect,
Yet you your Sonnes and Countries: sake respect,
Rob not my yong yeares of so sweete a stay,
Nor take from _Rome_ the Pillor of her strength. 1110
_Cat. Sene._ Although I die, yet do I leaue behinde,
My vertues fauor to bee thy youths guide:
But for my Country, could my life it profit,
Ile not refuse to liue that died for it,
Now doth but one smal snuffe of breath remaine:
And that to keepe, should I mine Honor staine?
_Cat. Iuni._ Where you do striue to shew your vertue most,
There more you do disgrace it Cowards vse,
To shun the woes and trobles of this life:
Basely to flie to deaths safe sanctuary, 1120
When constant vertues doth the hottest brunt's,
Of griefes assaultes vnto the end endure.
_Ca. Seni._ Thy words preuaile, come lift me vp my Son,
And call some help to binde my bleeding wounds.
_Cat. Iuni._ Father I go with a more willing minde,
Then did