[Footnote 1: _The Life of Edward, Earl of Clarendon, &c._, Oxf. 1827.]
[Footnote 2: The same.]
[Footnote 3: Southey calls May "the very able competitor of D'Avenant," and
describes him as "a man so honourably known by his translation of Lucan,
and his Supplement to that poet, that it were to be wished he were
remembered for nothing else."--_Biog. Sketches._]
[Footnote 4: _Athenæ Oxon._ Bliss's edit.]
[Footnote 5: In MSS. Ashmol., as quoted in _Biog. Britann._, from which,
and Chalmer's _Biog. Dict._, the dates, and such of the facts above given,
not otherwise authenticated, are _principally_ derived.]
[Footnote 6: _Biographical Sketches,_ Lond., 12mo. 1787.]
Although May's version of Cato's soliloquy is immeasurably below Addison's,
I am inclined to agree with J. H. L., that, on comparing them, it is more
than probable, Addison had May's description of Cato's death in his mind at
the same time he penned the justly celebrated soliloquy in the 5th Act of
his _Cato_.