Cato the Younger 59
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tand to be consuls that year, but upon the appearance of thesegreat competitors, they all desisted, except only Lucius Domi-tius, who had married Porcia, the sister of Cato, and was by himpersuaded to stand it out, and not abandon such an under-taking, which, he said, was not merely to gain the consulship,but to save the liberty of Rome. In the meantime, it was thecommon topic among the more prudent part of the citizens,that they ought not to suffer the power of Pompey and Crassusto be united, which would then be carried beyond all bounds,and become dangerous to the state; that therefore one of themmust be denied. For these reasons they took part with Domi-tius, whom they exhorted and encouraged to go on, assuringhim that many who feared openly to appear for him, wouldprivately assist him. Pompey’s party fearing this, laid wait for _ Domitius, and set upon him as he was going before daylight, with torches, into the Field. First, he that bore the light nextbefore Domitius was knocked down and killed; then severalothers being wounded, all the rest fled, except Cato andDomitius, whom Cato held, though himself were wounded in thearm, and crying out, conjured the others to stay, and not, whilethey had any breath, forsake the defence of their liberty againstthose tyrants, who plainly showed with what moderation they _ were likely to use the power which they endeavoured to gain by such violence. But at length Domitius, also, no longerwilling to face the danger, fled to his own house, and so Pompey _ and Crassus were declared elected. Nevertheless, Cato would not give over, but resolved to stand ' himself to be pretor that year, which he thought would be some help to him in his design of opposing them; that he might notact as a private man, when he was to contend with public - magistrates. Pompey and Crassus apprehended this; and fear- ing that the office of praetor in the person of Cato might beequal in authority to that of consul, they assembled the senateunexpectedly, without giving notice to a great many of thesenators, and made an order, that those who were chosen pretors - should immediately enter upon their office, without attending the usual time, in which, according to law, they might beaccused, if they had corrupted the people with gifts. When by _ this order they had got leave to bribe freely, without being called to account, they set up their own friends and dependantsto stand for the pretorship, giving money, and watching thepeople as they voted. Yet the virtue and reputation of Cato _was like to triumph over all these stratagems; for the people
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