Skip to content
ReadingWillow structured literacy program for Australian students
Poetry Library

— Stephen Crane

I stood upon a high place,

And saw, below, many devils

Running, leaping,

And carousing in sin.

…

Read full poem →

adjective

Engaged in or ready for action; characterized by energetic work, thought, or speech.

“The students were very active in class discussions, asking many thoughtful questions.”

Know more →

52 Plutarch’s Lives

43 lines
Arthur Hugh Clough·1819–1861
✦
ompey, meantime, had a great dispute concerning their ordersand arrangements in Pontus, each endeavouring that his ownordinances might stand. Cato took part with Lucullus, who wasmanifestly suffering wrong; and Pompey, finding himself theweaker in the senate, had recourse to the people, and to gainvotes he proposed a law for dividing the lands among the soldiers.Cato opposing him in this also made the bill be rejected. Uponthis he joined himself with Clodius, at that time the most violentof all the demagogues, and entered also into friendship withCesar, upon an occasion of which also Cato was the cause. ForCesar, returning from his government in Spain, at the same timesued to be chosen consul, and yet desired not to lose his triumph.Now the law requiring that those who stood for any office shouldbe present, and yet that whoever expected a triumph shouldcontinue without the walls, Caesar requested the senate that hisfriends might be permitted to canvass for him in his absence.Many of the senators were willing to consent to it, but Catoopposed it, and perceiving them inclined to favour Cesar, spentthe whole day in speaking, and so prevented the senate fromcoming to any conclusion. Cesar, therefore, resolving to let fallhis pretensions to the triumph, came into the town, and immedi-ately made a friendship with Pompey, and stood for the consul-ship. As soon as he was declared consul elect, he marriedhis daughter Julia to Pompey. And having thus combinedthemselves together against the commonwealth, the one pro-posed laws for dividing the lands among the poor people, andthe other was present to support the proposals. Lucullus,Cicero, and their friends, joined with Bibulus, the other consul,to hinder their passing, and, foremost of them all, Cato, whoalready looked upon the friendship and alliance of Pompey andCesar as very dangerous, declared he did not so much dislikethe advantage the people should get by this division of thelands, as he feared the reward these men would gain, by thuscourting and cozening the people. And in this he gained overthe senate to his opinion, as likewise many who were not senators,who were offended at Czsar’s ill conduct, that he, in the officeof consul, should thus basely and dishonouraby flatter the people ;practising, to win their favour, the same means that were wontto be used only by the most rash and rebellious tribunes. Cesar,therefore, and his party, fearing they should not carry it by fairdealing, fell to open force. First a basket of dung was thrownupon Bibulus as he was going to the forum; then they set uponhis lictors and broke their rods; at length several darts were
✦