Cato the Younger 41
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nger or shame went away silent, and out of countenance;Nevertheless, the man was not found guilty, for the voices thatacquitted him were but one in number less than those that con-demned him, and Marcus Lollius, one of Cato’s colleagues, whowas absent by reason of sickness, was sent for by Catulus, andentreated to come and save the man. So Lollius was broughtinto court in a chair, and gave his voice also for acquitting him.Yet Cato never after made use of that clerk, and never paid him _ his salary, nor would he make any account of the vote given by Lollius. Having thus humbled the clerks, and brought them to. _ be at command, he made use of the books and registers as he_ thought fit, and in a little while gained the treasury a higher _ vor ae ee ee ee name than the senate house itself; and all men said, Cato hadmade the office of a questor equal to the dignity of a consul.When he found many indebted to the state upon old accounts,and the state also in debt to many private persons, he took care _ that the public might no longer either do or suffer wrong; he strictly and punctually exacted what was due to the treasury,and as freely and speedily paid all those to whom it was indebted. ~ So that the people were filled with sentiments of awe and respect, on seeing those made to pay, who thought to have escaped with _ their plunder, and others receiving all their due, who despairedof getting anything. And whereas usually those who brought» false bills and pretended orders of the senate, could through- favour get them accepted, Cato would never be so imposed upon;and in the case of one particular order, on the question arising_ whether it had passed the senate, he would not believe a great_ many witnesses that attested it, nor would admit of it, till the_ consuls came and affirmed it upon oath. There were at that time a great many whom Sylla had madeuse of as his agents in the proscription, and to whom he had fortheir service in putting men to death, given twelve thousanddrachmas apiece. These men everybody hated as wicked andpolluted wretches, but nobody durst be revenged upon them.Cato called every one to account, as wrongfully possessed of thepublic money, and exacted it of them, and at the same time sharply reproved them for their unlawful and impious actions. After these proceedings they were presently accused of murder,and being already in a manner prejudged as guilty, they wereeasily found so, and accordingly suffered; at which the wholepeople rejoiced and thought themselves now to see the oldtyranny finally abolished, and Sylla himself, so to say, brought to punishment,
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