36 Plutarch’s Lives
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ength his men were so well disciplined, that it was hard to saywhether they were more peaceable or more warlike, more valiantor more just; they were alike formidable to their enemies andcourteous to their allies, fearful to do wrong, and forward to gainhonour. And Cato himself acquired in the fullest measure, whatit had been his least desire to seek, glory and good repute; hewas highly esteemed by all men, and entirely beloved by thesoldiers. Whatever he commanded to be done, he himself tookpart in the performing; in his apparel, his diet, and mode oftravelling, he was more like a common soldier than an officer;but in character, high purpose, and wisdom, he far exceeded allthat had the names and titles of commanders, and he made him-self, without knowing it, the object of general affection. For thetrue love of virtue is in all men produced by the love and respectthey bear to him that teaches it; and those who praise good men,yet do not love them, may respect their reputation, but do notreally admire, and will never imitate their virtue. There dwelt at that time in Pergamus, Athenodorus, surnamedCordylio, a man of high repute for his knowledge of the Stoicphilosophy, who was now grown old, and had always steadilyrefused the friendship and acquaintance of princes and greatmen. Cato understood this; so that imagining he should not beable to prevail with him by sending or writing, and being by thelaws allowed two months’ absence from the army, he resolvedto go into Asia to see him in person, trusting to his own goodqualities not to lose his labour. And when he had conversedwith him, and succeeded in persuading him out of his formerresolutions, he returned and brought him to the camp as joyfuland as proud of this victory as if he had done some heroic exploit,greater than any of those of Pompey or Lucullus, who withtheir armies at that time were subduing so many nations andkingdoms. While Cato was yet in the service, his brother, on a journeytowards Asia, fell sick at Ainus in Thrace, letters with intel-ligence of which were immediately despatched to him. Thesea was very rough, and no convenient ship of any size to behad; so Cato getting into a small trading-vessel, with only twoof his friends, and three servants, set sail from Thessalonica, andhaving very narrowly escaped drowning, he arrived at Anusjust as Cepio expired. Upon this occasion, he was thought tohave showed himself more a fond brother than a philosopher,not only in the excess of his grief, bewailing and embracing thedead body, but also in the extravagant expenses of the funeral,
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