46 Plutarch’s Lives
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uffer death without fair trial according to law, and moved thatthey might be kept in prison. Thus was the house almost whollyturned by Cesar, apprehending also the anger of the people;insomuch that even Silanus retracted, and said he did not meanto propose death, but imprisonment, for that was the utmost aRoman could suffer. Upon this they were all inclined to the milder and moremerciful opinion, when Cato, standing up, began at once withgreat passion and vehemence to reproach Silanus for his changeof opinion, and to attack Cesar, who would, he said, ruin thecommonwealth by soft words and popular speeches, and wasendeavouring to frighten the senate, when he himself ought tofear, and be thankful, if he escaped unpunished or unsuspected,who thus openly and boldly dared to protect the enemies of thestate, and while finding no compassion for hisown native country,brought, with all its glories, so near to utter ruin, could yet befull of pity for those men who had better never have been born,and whose death must deliver the commonwealth from blood-shed and destruction. This only of all Cato’s speeches, it issaid, was preserved; for Cicero, the consul, had disposed invarious parts of the senate-house, several of the most expert andrapid writers, whom he had taught to make figures comprisingnumerous words in a few short strokes; as up to that time theyhad not used those we call shorthand writers, who then, as it issaid, established the first example of the art. Thus Cato carriedit, and so turned the house again, that it was decreed the con-spirators should be put to death. Not to omit any small matters that may serve to show Cato’stemper, and add something to the portraiture of his mind, it isreported, that while Caesar and he were in the very heat, and thewhole senate regarding them two, a little note was brought in toCesar which Cato declared to be suspicious, and urging thatsome seditious act was going on, bade the letter be read. Uponwhich Cesar handed the paper to Cato; who, discovering it tobe a love-letter from his sister Servilia to Cesar, by whom shehad been corrupted, threw it to him again, saying, “ Take it,drunkard,” and so went on with his discourse. And, indeed, itseems Cato had but ill-fortune in women; for this lady was ill-spoken of for her familiarity with Cesar, and the other Servilia,Cato’s sister also, was yet more ill-conducted; for being marriedto Lucullus, one of the greatest men in Rome, and having broughthim a son, she was afterwards divorced for incontinency. Butwhat was worst of all, Cato’s own wife Atilia was not free from
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