Cato the Younger 61
87 lines✦
ays succeeding, many of the citizens being overawed by fearsand threats, and others won by gifts and favours, Aquillius, oneof the tribunes, they kept by an armed force within the senate-house; Cato, who cried it thundered, they drove out of theforum; many were wounded, and some slain; and at length byopen force they passed the law. At this many were so incensedthat they got together and were going to throw down thestatues of Pompey; but Cato went and diverted them fromthat design. Again, another law was proposed, concerning the provincesand legions of Cesar. Upon this occasion Cato did not applyhimself to the people, but appealed to Pompey himself; andtold him, he did not consider now that he was setting Cesarupon his own shoulders, who would shortly grow too weightyfor him; and at length, not able to lay down the burden, ner yet to bear it any longer, he would precipitate both it and- himself with it upon the commonwealth; and then he would+ remember Cato’s advice, which was no less advantageous to him than just and honest in itself. Thus was Pompey often warned, - but still disregarded and slighted it, never mistrusting Czesar’s change, and always confiding in his own power and good fortune,Cato was made pretor the following year; but, it seems, he - did not do more honour and credit to the office by his signai» integrity than he disgraced and diminished it by his strange- behaviour. For he would often come to the court without his shoes, and sit upon the bench without any undergarment, andin this attire would give judgment in capital causes, and upon © persons of the highest rank. It is said, also, he used to drink- wine after his morning meal, and then transact the business ofhis office; but this was wrongfully reported of him. The people_ were at that time extremely corrupted by the gifts of those who- sought offices, and most made a constant trade of selling theirvoices. Cato was eager utterly to root this corruption out ofthe commonwealth; he therefore persuaded the senate to makean order, that those who were chosen into any office, though nobody should accuse them, should be obliged to come into the ‘court, and give account upon oath of their proceedings in their election. This was extremely obnoxious to those who stood forthe offices, and yet more to those vast numbers who took thebribes. Insomuch that one morning, as Cato was going to thetribunal, a great multitude of people flocked together, and withloud cries and maledictions reviled him, and threw stones at ‘him. Those that were about the tribunal presently fled, and y Plutarch’s Lives Cato himself being forced thence, and jostled about in the throng,very narrowly escaped the stones that were thrown at him, andwith much difficulty got hold of the rostra; where, standing upwith a bold and undaunted countenance, he at once masteredthe tumult, and silenced the clamour; and addressing them infit terms for the occasion, was heard with great attention, andperfectly quelled the sedition. Afterwards, on the senate com-mending him for this, “ But I,” said he, “ do not commend youfor abandoning your pretor in danger, and bringing him noassistance.” In the meantime, the candidates were in great perplexity;for every one dreaded to give money himself, and yet feared lesthis competitors should. At length they agreed to lay down onehundred and twenty-five thousand drachmas apiece, and thenall of them to canvass fairly and honestly, on condition, that ifany one was found to make use of bribery he should forfeit themoney. Being thus agreed, they chose Cato to keep the stakes,and arbitrate the matter; to him they brought the sum con-cluded on, and before him subscribed the agreement. Themoney he did not choose to have paid for them, but took theirsecurities who stood bound for them. Upon the day of election,he placed himself by the tribune who took the votes, and verywatchfully observing all that passed, he discovered one who hadbroken the agreement, and immediately ordered him to pay hismoney to the rest. They, however, commending his justicehighly, remitted the penalty, as thinking the discovery a suffi-cient punishment. It raised, however, as much envy againstCato as it gained him reputation, and many were offended athis thus taking upon himself the whole authority of the senate,the courts of judicature, and the magistracies. For there is novirtue, the honour and credit for which procures a man moreodium than that of justice; and this, because more than anyother, it acquires a man power and authority among the commonpeople. For they only honour the valiant and admire the wise.while in addition they also love just men, and put entire trustand confidence in them. They fear the bold man, and mistrustthe clever man, and moreover think them rather beholding tctheir natural complexion, than to any goodness of their will, forthese excellences; they look upon valour as a certain naturastrength of the mind, and wisdom as a constitutional acutenesswhereas a man has it in his power to be just, if he have bu’the will to be so, and therefore injustice is thought the mos:dishonourable, because it is least excusable.
✦