This fale is not great; yet this, if Swift be credited, was likely to grow lefs; for he declares that the Spectator, whom he ridicules for his endless mention of the fair fex, had before his recefs wearied his readers.

The next year (1713), in which Cato came upon the stage, was the grand climacterick of Addison's reputation. Upon the death of Cato, he had, as is faid, planned a tragedy in the time of his travels, and had for feveral years the four firft acts finished, which were fhewn to fuch as were likely to spread their admiration. They were seen by Pope, and by Cibber; who relates that Steele, when he took back the copy, told him, in the despicable cant of literary modefty, that, whatever spirit his friend had shewn in the compofition, he doubted whether he would have courage fufficient to expose it to the cenfure of a British audience.

The time however was now come, when those who affected to think liberty in danger, affected likewife to think that a ftageplay might preserve it: and Addison was importuned, in the name of the tutelary dei

ties of Britain, to fhew his courage and his zeal by finishing his defign.

To refume his work he seemed perverfely and unaccountably unwilling; and by a requeft, which perhaps he wished to be denied, defired Mr. Hughes to add a fifth act. Hughes fuppofed him serious; and, undertaking the fupplement, brought in a few days fome scenes for his examination; but he had in the mean time gone to work himself, and produced half an act, which he afterwards completed, but with brevity irregularly difproportionate to the foregoing parts; like a task performed with reluctance, and hur ried to its conclufion,

It may yet be doubted whether Cato was made publick by any change of the author's purpose, for Dennis charged him with raifing prejudices in his own favour by false pofitions of preparatory criticism, and with poisoning the town by contradicting in the Spectator the established rule of poetical justice, because his own hero, with all his virtues, was to fall before a tyrant. The fact is certain; the motives we muft guefs.

Addifon

Addison was, I believe, fufficiently difposed to bar all avenues against all danger. When Pope brought him the prologue, which is properly accommodated to the play, there were these words, Britons, arife, be worth like this approved; meaning nothing more than, Britons, erect and exalt yourselves to the approbation of public virtue. Addifon was frighted left he fhould be thought a promoter of infurrection, and the line was liquidated to Britons, attend.

Now, heavily in clouds came on the day, the great, the important day, when Addifon was to ftand the hazard of the theatre. That there might, however, be left as little to hazard as was poffible, on the first night Steele, as himself relates, undertook to pack an audience. This, fays Pope*, had been tried for the first time in favour of the Diftreft Mother; and was now, with more efficacy, practifed for Cato,

The danger was foon over. The whole nation was at that time on fire with faction,

* Spence,

The

The Whigs applauded every line in which Liberty was mentioned, as a fatire on the Tories; and the Tories echoed every clap, to fhew that the fatire was unfelt. The ftory of Bolingbroke is well known. He called Booth to his box, and gave him fifty guineas for defending the caufe of Liberty fo well against a perpetual dictator. The Whigs, fays Pope, design a second prefent, when they can accompany it with as good a fentence,

The play, fupported thus by the emulation of factious praise, was acted night after night for a longer time than, I believe, the publick had allowed to any drama before; and the author, as Mrs, Porter long afterwards related, wandered through the whole exhibition behind the fcenes with reftlefs and unappeafable folicitude,

When it was printed, notice was given that the Queen would be pleased if it was dedicated to her; but as he had defigned that compliment elsewhere, he found himself obliged, fays Tickell, by his duty on the one hand, and

his bonour on the other, to fend it into the world without any dedication.

Human happiness has always its abatements; the brightest sun-shine of success is not without a cloud. No fooner was Cato offered to the reader, than it was attacked by the acute malignity of Dennis, with all the violence of angry criticism. Dennis, though equally zealous, and probably by his temper more furious than Addifon, for what they called liberty, and though a flatterer of the Whig ministry, could not fit quiet at a fuc-. cessful play; but was eager to tell friends and enemies, that they had misplaced their admirations. The world was too stubborn for inftruction; with the fate of the cenfurer of Corneille's Cid, his animadverfions fhewed his anger without effect, and Cato continued to be praised.

·

Pope had now an opportunity of courting. the friendship of Addifon, by vilifying his old enemy, and could give refentment its full play without appearing to revenge himself. He therefore published A Narrative of the madness of John Dennis; a performance