42 Plutarch’s Lives
43 lines✦
ato’s assiduity also, and indefatigable diligence, won verymuch upon the people. He always came first of any of his col-leagues to the treasury, and went away the last. He nevermissed any assembly of the people, or sitting of the senate;being always anxious and on the watch for those who lightly, oras a matter of interest, passed votes in favour of this or thatperson, for remitting debts or granting away customs that wereowing to the state. And at length, having kept the exchequerpure and clear from base informers, and yet having filled it with‘treasure, he made it appear that the state might be rich withoutoppressing the people. At first he excited feelings of dislike andirritation in some of his colleagues, but after a while they werewell contented with him, since he was perfectly willing that theyshould cast all the odium on him, when they declined to gratifytheir friends with the public money, or to give dishonest judg-ments in passing their accounts; and when hard-pressed bysuitors, they could readily answer it was impossible to do any-thing unless Cato would consent. On the last day of his office,he was honourably attended to his house by almost all thepeople; but on the way he was informed that several powerfuifriends were in the treasury with Marcellus, using all theirinterest with him to pass a certain debt to the public revenue, asif it had been a gift. Marcellus had been one of Cato’s friendsfrom his childhood, and so long as Cato was with him, was oneof the best of his colleagues in this office, but when alone, wasunable to resist the importunity of suitors, and prone to do any-body a kindness. So Cato immediately turned back, and find-ing that Marcellus had yielded to pass the thing, he took thebook, and while Marcellus silently stood by and looked on,struck it out. This done, he brought Marcellus out of thetreasury, and took him home with him; who for all this, neitherthen, nor ever after, complained of him, but always continuedhis friendship and familiarity with him. Cato, after he had laid down his office, yet did not cease tokeep a watch upon the treasury. He had his servants who con-tinually wrote out the details of the expenditure, and he himselfkept always by him certain books, which contained the accountsof the revenue from Sylla’s time to his own questorship, whichhe had bought for five talents. He was always first at the senate, and went out last; andoften, while the others were slowly collecting, he would sit andread by himself, holding his gown before his book. He wasnever once out of town when the senate was tomeet. And when
✦