Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VIII. National Spirit. 1904. | | | | III. War | | Sempronius’ Speech for War | | Joseph Addison (1672–1719) |
| | From “Cato,” Act II. Sc. 1.
MY voice is still for war. | |
| Gods! can a Roman senate long debate | |
| Which of the two to choose, slavery or death? | |
| No; let us rise at once, gird on our swords, | |
| And at the head of our remaining troops | 5 |
| Attack the foe, break through the thick array | |
| Of his thronged legions, and charge home upon him. | |
| Perhaps some arm, more lucky than the rest, | |
| May reach his heart, and free the world from bondage. | |
| Rise! Fathers, rise! ’t is Rome demands your help: | 10 |
| Rise, and revenge her slaughtered citizens, | |
| Or share their fate! The corpse of half her senate | |
| Manures the fields of Thessaly, while we | |
| Sit here deliberating, in cold debate, | |
| If we should sacrifice our lives to honor, | 15 |
| Or wear them out in servitude and chains. | |
| Rouse up, for shame! our brothers of Pharsalia | |
| Point at their wounds, and cry aloud,—“To battle!” | |
| Great Pompey’s shade complains that we are slow, | |
| And Scipio’s ghost walks unrevenged amongst us. | 20 | | | |
|
|
