309 Dormer: The Annals of Queen Anne (III, Appendix, p. 21) mentions two officers of this name: Colonel Philip Dormer and Captain James Dormer, both of the Battalion of Guards. The former, who is meant here, was killed; the latter was wounded. 327-334 From Blenheim's tow'rs the Gaul... His waving banners The hardy veteran with tears resigns: "The French Horse being entirely defeated, and our Troops Masters of all the Ground, which was between the Enemies Left, and the Village of Bleinheim, the 28 Battalions, and 12 Squadrons of Dragoons which were in that Village, found themselves cut off from the rest of their Army; And despairing of being able to make their Escape, after a weak Attempt to repulse our whole Infantry that surrounded the Village, they capitulated at last about 8 of the Clock; laid down their Arms; deliver'd their Colours and Standards; and surrendred themselves Prisoners of War." (Annals, III, 80.) Some accounts make them tear up or burn the colors and bury their arms. (See Alison's Marlborough, New York, 1868, p. 98, and the references in his footnote.) 335 ff. Unfortunate Tallard: The Duc de Tallard (Camille d'Hostun), Marshal of France, had command of the right wing of the French, opposite the Duke of Marlborough. The Marquis de la Beaulme, only son of Tallard, was severely wounded, and died a few days after the battle. 361-364 From Memminghen's high domes, and Augsburg's walls, etc.: "Nor was it long before the Duke's, and Prince Eugene's Opinion [i.e. "that it would be . . . advantageous . . . to join all the Forces, to streighten the Enemy more and more, and to oblige the French to quit Germany, and repass the Rhine "] was confirm'd, by the Example of the City of Ausberg, which the French, . . ., quitted the 16th of August, .. The Magistrates being Assembled immediately after, sent 4 Deputies to wait on the Duke of Marlborough, and desire his Protection. . . . The same morning [August 19] a Deputy from the City of Memmingen waited on his Grace to desire his Protection." (Annals, III, 89.) "On the 22d the Governor of Ulm, who did justly apprehend a Siege, sent out of the Town 430 Prisoners, which the Enemy had taken at Hochstet, . . . and other Places, with a Compliment to the Duke of Marlborough, That he would be pleased to take a fitting opportunity, to return an equal number; but those Prisoners being Germans, his Grace sent them to Prince Eugene. The Electors made some Overtures to deliver not only Ulm, but the whole Electorate of Bavaria, upon certain conditions." (Annals, III, 90.) Ulm finally surrendered on the 11th of September.. 383 A mighty bulwark: Landau. 407 Austria's young monarch: Joseph I, son of Leopold, joined the army before Landau. 421-424 Thus the great father, etc.: Æneid, i, 588 ff. 437 ff. Treves, Traerbach: At Marlborough's approach the French garrison abandoned Trèves. On November 3 "his Grace went . . . to the rising Grounds near Traerbach, to take a narrow View of the Place, and review'd the Dutch, which were lately arriv'd in the Neighbourhood from the Maese; and having given the necessary Directions for the Siege of Traerbach, the Care whereof was committed to the Prince of Hesse Cassel, his Grace set out the next Day early on his return to the Camp at Weissemburg." (Annals, III, 112.) The siege was carried on by the Prince of Hesse during the absence of Marlborough, who had left on December 12 for The Hague. Traerbach surrendered on the 20th. Lines 440–442 are therefore perfunctory and rather less than half true. 455 Th' unfetter'd Ister's states are free: Bavaria. The Hister, or Ister, of Latin writers is the lower Danube. 476 And those who paint 'em truest praise 'em most: Upon this line Pope seems to have modelled his "He best can paint 'em who shall feel 'em most." (Pope, Eloisa to Abelard, 1. 366.) CATO Tickell writes: "The Tragedy of CATO appeared in public in the year 1713; when the greater part of the last Act was added by the Author, to the foregoing which he had kept by him for many years. He took up a design of writing a play upon this subject, when he was very young at the University; and even attempted something in it there, though not a line as it now stands. The work was performed by him in his travels, and retouched in England, without any formed resolution of bringing it upon the Stage, until his friends of the first Quality and Distinction prevailed on him, to put the last finishing to it, at a time when they thought the Doctrine of Liberty very seasonable." (Preface to ed. 1721, pp. xiii-xiv.) Steele comments upon this part of Tickell's preface as follows: "Mr. TICKELL's account of its being taken up, laid down, and at last perfected, after such long intervals and pauses, would make any one believe, who did not know Mr. ADDISON, that it was accomplished with the greatest pain and labour; and the issue rather of Learning and Industry than Capacity and Genius: but I do assure you, that never Play which could bring the author any reputation for Wit and Conduct, notwithstanding was so long before it was finished, employed the Author so little time in writing. "If I remember right, the Fifth Act was written in less than a week's time! For this was particular in this Writer, that when he had taken his resolution, or made his Plan for what he designed to write; he would walk about the room and dictate it into Language, with as much freedom and ease as any one could write it down and attend to the Coherence and Grammar of what he dictated." (Dedication to The Drummer, ed. 1722; reprinted in Arber's English Garner, VI, 534-535.) That the political interpretations of Cato were forced appears from the following letter from Gay to Johnson, April 23, 1713: "Cato affords universal discourse, and is received with universal applause: My Lord Oxford, Lord Chancellor, and Speaker of the House of Commons, have bespoke the box on the stage for next Saturday. The character of Cato is a man of strict virtue, and a lover of his country. The audience several nights clapped some particular passages, which they thought reflected on the Tories. Some passages in the prologue were strained that way; viz. Here tears shall flow from a more generous cause; Such tears as Patriots shed for dying laws: never failed of raising a loud clap; but you see that the Ministry are so far from thinking it touches them, that the Treasurer and Chancellor will honour the play with their presence." (See Nichols, Literary Anecdotes, VI, 84.) The first four acts of Cato may be summarized as follows: Act I. In the first scene, Portius and Marcus lament the increasing power of Cæsar, and compare his "impious greatness" with Cato's helpless but splendidly virtuous position. Portius is the more composed: he encourages Marcus with bits of their father's philosophy. Marcus refuses to be comforted: Passion unpity'd, and successless love, Portius, concealing the fact that he also loves Lucia, advises Marcus to guard his heart on this weak side. He reminds Marcus that Juba, who is in love with their sister Marcia, loves war and honor more. Marcus, at first angry, presently begs his brother to Pardon a weak, distempered soul, that swells Sempronius, in the next scene, feigns cordiality, praising Cato's virtue, but lamenting that Cato's daughter is not propitious. Portius sternly checks him for speaking of love at such a time. Syphax reports that the Numidian soldiers are ready to revolt. Sempronius urges haste, and plots with Syphax to win over Juba, who seems inclined to join with Cato. Syphax advises Juba to abandon Cato. He is making some progress when Marcia enters. Juba greet Marcia ardently. She replies impersonally and with dignity. Juba begs that she will wish him well in battle. She replies: My prayers and wishes always shall attend The friends of Rome, the glorious cause of virtue, Juba hastens to his troops. Alone with Lucia, Marcia admits her love for Juba, but resolves not to entertain thoughts of love while Cato's life is in danger. Lucia wishes that she had this firmness of purpose. It presently appears that Lucia, although she holds both the sons of Cato high in her esteem, loves Portius for his " complacency, and truth, and manly sweetness." Act II. Cato addresses the Senators, asking if they are still for war. Sempronius is passionately for war, Lucius weakly counsels peace. Cato dislikes the tone of both speeches: Decius, a herald from Cæsar's camp, urges Cato to make peace with Cæsar. Upon Cato's reply that he is unwilling to think of life upon such conditions, Decius bids Cato name his terms. Cato answers: Decius reminds Cato that he no longer has all Rome to second him. Cato replies: Let him consider that, who drives us hither: 'Tis Cæsar's sword has made Rome's senate little, Beholds this man in a false, glaring light, Which conquest and success have thrown upon him; Didst thou but view him right, thou 'dst see him black With murder, treason, sacrilege, and crimes That strike my soul with horror but to name 'em. Should never buy me to be like that Cæsar. The Senators thank Cato for his speech. As the sitting closes with a unanimous voice for holding out against Cæsar, Juba enters to learn the decision. Juba commends the resolution of the Senators, but suggests that they leave Utica to arm Numidia in their cause. Cato rejects this plan, and holds forth upon Roman virtue. Juba tells Cato of his love for Marcia. Cato dismisses him without encouragement. Crestfallen at Cato's reproof, Juba meets Syphax, who rallies him upon his changed manner, and presently suggests carrying away Marcia by force. Juba calls Syphax a "false old traitor." Realizing that he has gone too far, Syphax abruptly changes his tone, pleading excessive concern for Juba's welfare. Juba regrets his hasty speech. Left brooding upon his insult, Syphax commits himself wholly to the cause of Cæsar. Sempronius now reports that the soldiers are about to storm the senate-house. Syphax promises assistance. Act III. Marcus begs Portius to plead his cause with Lucia. Portius tries in vain to excuse himself. Portius accordingly pleads his brother's Lucia hears him for his own sake, but pledges herself never to plight her faith while such a cloud of mischief hangs about. At length she closes the interview: cause. Farewell, and know thou wrong'st me if thou think'st Ever was love, or ever grief, like mine. Marcus hears his fate and is passionately reproaching both Lucia and Portius when shouts of alarm interrupt him. The brothers hurry to the scene of mutiny. Cato beats down the sedition by the sheer force of his words and his manner. Act IV. Lucia and Marcia are lamenting their fates when Sempronius enters disguised as Juba. As he is about to seize Marcia, Juba enters and kills him. Marcia, mistaking Sempronius in his Numidian dress for Juba, mourns her lover's death. Juba, who has overheard her, enters. Presently Marcia dismisses her lover thus: Go on, and prosper in the paths of honour, |