Editing Joseph Addison (section)

====''Cato''====
[[File:John Kemble as Cato.jpg|thumb|200 px|The actor [[John Philip Kemble|John Kemble]], in the role of Cato, revived at Covent Garden in 1816, drawn by [[George Cruikshank]].]]
{{Main|Cato, a Tragedy}}
In 1712, Addison wrote his most famous work, ''Cato, a Tragedy''. Based on the last days of [[Cato the Younger|Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis]], it deals with conflicts such as individual liberty versus government tyranny, [[Republicanism]] versus [[Monarchism]], logic versus emotion, and Cato's personal struggle to retain his beliefs in the face of death. It has a prologue written by [[Alexander Pope]] and an epilogue by [[Samuel Garth]].<ref>Joseph Addison, ''Cato: A Tragedy, and Selected Essays''. ed. Christine Dunn Henderson & Mark E. Yellin. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2004. {{ISBN|0-86597-443-8}}.</ref>

The play was a success throughout the British Empire. It continued to grow in popularity, especially in America, for several generations. It is cited by some historians as a literary inspiration for the [[American Revolution]], being known to many of the [[Founding Fathers of the United States|Founding Fathers]]. General [[George Washington]] sponsored a performance of Cato for the [[Continental Army]] during the difficult winter of 1777–78 at [[Valley Forge]]. According to [[John J. Miller (journalist)|John J. Miller]], "no single work of literature may have been more important than ''Cato''" for the leaders of the American revolution.<ref>John J. Miller, "[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304314404576411721705429718?mod=WSJ_Opinion_MIDDLETopBucket On Life, Liberty, and Other Quotable Matters]", ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'', 2 July 2011.</ref>

Scholars have identified the inspiration for several famous quotations from the American Revolution in ''Cato''. These include:
*[[Patrick Henry]]'s famous ultimatum: "Give me liberty or give me death!"
:(Supposed reference to Act&nbsp;II, Scene&nbsp;4: ''"It is not now time to talk of aught/But chains or conquest, liberty or death."'').<ref name=richard>Richard, Carl J. (2009). [https://books.google.com/books?id=5HoJ-ghp-C0C&dq=addison+cato+american+revolution&pg=PA151 ''Greeks & Romans Bearing Gifts: How the Ancients Inspired the Founding Fathers''], p. 151. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.</ref>
*[[Nathan Hale]]'s valediction: "I regret that I have but one life to give for my country."
:(Supposed reference to Act&nbsp;IV, Scene&nbsp;4: ''"What a pity it is/That we can die but once to serve our country."'').<ref name=richard/>
* Washington's praise for [[Benedict Arnold]] in a letter: "It is not in the power of any man to command success; but you have done more{{snd}}you have deserved it."
:(Clear reference to Act&nbsp;I, Scene&nbsp;2: ''"'Tis not in mortals to command success; but we'll do more, Sempronius, we'll deserve it."'').

In 1789, [[Edmund Burke]] quoted the play in a letter to Charles-Jean-François Depont entitled ''Reflections on the revolution in France'', saying that the French people may yet be obliged to go through more changes and "to pass, as one of our poets says, 'through great varieties of untried being,'" before their state obtains its final form.<ref>Burke, Edmund (1872) [https://books.google.com/books?id=46nmMXN8FucC&pg=PA232 ''Reflections on the revolution in France, and on the proceedings of certain societies in London relative to that event''], p. 232. Seeley, Jackson, and Halliday.</ref> The poet referred to is Addison and the passage quoted is from ''Cato'' (V.i.&nbsp;II): "Through what variety of untried being, through what new scenes and changes must we pass!"

Though the play has fallen from popularity and is now rarely performed, it was popular and often cited in the eighteenth century, with Cato being an example of republican virtue and [[liberty]]. [[John Trenchard (writer)|John Trenchard]] and [[Thomas Gordon (writer)|Thomas Gordon]] were inspired by the play to write an epistolary exchange entitled ''[[Cato's Letters]]'' (1720–1723), concerning individual rights, using the name "Cato".{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}

The action of the play involves the forces of Cato at [[Utica, Tunisia|Utica]], awaiting the attack of Caesar immediately following his victory at [[Thapsus]] (46 BC). The noble sons of Cato, Portius and Marcus, are both in love with Lucia, the daughter of Lucius, an ally of Cato. Juba, prince of [[Numidia]], one of Cato's warriors, loves Cato's daughter Marcia. Meanwhile, Sempronius, a senator, and Syphax, a general of the Numidians, are conspiring secretly against Cato, hoping to prevent the Numidian army from supporting him. In the final act, Cato commits suicide, leaving his followers to make their peace with the approaching army of Caesar{{snd}}an easier task after Cato's death, since he was Caesar's most implacable enemy.