Page:The life of and character of Marcus Portius Cato Uticensis - Theobald (1713).djvu/7



small Tract (when the first Impression was Published) was collected and transcrib'd for the Press in Two Days: A Time that would scarce allow of turning over all the Books I had designed to consult for the making of Cato's Life the more compleat, much less of disposing the Matter in any tolerable Order, or correcting the Harshness of Style, or Impropriety of Language.

But since the Town has been pleased to skreen its Faults behind their impatient Desires to grow acquainted with Cato, and to receive it with that Indulgence, which must be owing alone to the Subject, and not the Merits of my Performance; I have endeavour'd, in this Edition, to make them some Return for their Good-nature, by striking out ma-