MARCUS PORCIUS CATO, great grandson of Cato the Censor, was born in the year 660 of Rome, and from his childhood gave tokens of that inflexibility of character which afterwards distinguished him. He applied himself principally to the study of the Stoic Philosophy, but neither neglected eloquence, which he considered as useful in public affairs, nor the exercises of the body, to enable him to bear the fatigues of war. An admirer of ancient manners, he sought to restore them by his example, and only used his riches, which were considerable, to render services to his friends. His affection for his brother was excessive, and, in spite of that stoicism which he professed, he carried to excess the grief he felt for his death.

Cato, appointed quæstor, re-established order in the public finances, and compelled the assassins, whom Sylla had employed in his proscriptions, to restore the sums they had received from him, and even caused some of them to be condemned to death. He joined with Cicero, at the time of Cataline's conspiracy, strongly opposed Cæsar, who wished to save the conspirators, and decided their punishment. Cato, burning with the purest zeal for his country, and incessantly on guard against the ambition of those who sought to oppress it, upheld, for a time, the expiring laws and liberty. Inaccessible to fear and hope, he rejected an alliance with Pompey, saying,

:

that Cato would never give hostages against his country. He ventured singly to oppose Cæsar, when he proposed the Agrarian law on this occasion Cato was dragged from the tribune, and thrown into prison; but he was immovable, and Cæsar, ashamed of his own violence, gave orders for his release. In order to get rid of Cato, Cæsar and Clodius caused him to be chosen for the re-establishment of those who were banished at Byzantium, and to take possession of the Isle of Cyprus, which had been confiscated from Ptolomy Lathyrus, who died in the mean time. Cato took as much care to collect the treasures of this prince, as if his probity had been suspected. He would trust no one but himself to convey them to Rome, and refused the honours which were decreed to him on this occasion.

Meantime the triumvirate had been formed between Cæsar, Pompey, and Crassus. Cato solicited the prætorship, in order to oppose their designs. He was excluded by their intrigues, and a second time torn from the tribune, and dragged by the lictors to the prison gates. He was, however, appointed prætor the following year, and caused a law to be made against bribery. This law discontented the people, whom it deprived of receiving the liberality of the candidates, and Cato was insulted even on his tribunal. A year afterwards, compelled by circumstances, and convinced that any government whatever is better than anarchy, he consented that Pom pey should preside at the elections, and even be named sole consul, and did not refuse him his advice. He solicited the consulship for himself, with an intention of restoring to the senate and the people the authority they had lost; but the people fearing his severity, preferred his competitors to him. Cato appeared not in the least

affected; he, however, refused the entreaties of Cicero, who pressed him again to become a candidate.

.1

A little while after, Cæsar marched against Rome: on hearing this news, Cato, who for a long time had suspected his projects, and had unmasked them to the senate and to Pompey, was of opinion that the whole authority should be vested in the hands of the latter, and followed him when he forsook the city. He was then, perhaps, the only man among the Romans who remained attached to the republic, and the foresight of the evils which a civil war would occasion, plunged him into the deepest melancholy. Intrusted by Pompey with the defence of Dyrrachium, he was not at the battle of Pharsalia. After the defeat of that general, he embarked, to meet him in Egypt; and, on the news of his death, he crossed the sands of Lybia to the court of Juba, king of Numidia, where Metellus, Scipio, and Varus disputed with each other who should command. Cato terminated the dispute, by placing himself under the orders of Scipio, and supported the dignity of the Roman name at the court of Juba. He saved the inhabitants of Utica, whom it was determined to destroy as the partisans of Cæsar, and shut himself up in that city. It was not long before he repented of having yielded up the command to Scipio, who having despised his advice, was defeated at Thapsus, and Cæsar marched against Utica. Cato at first intended

was willing to second

to defend it, but found no one who him. Determined therefore to die, he used all his exertions to secure the retreat of the senators who had accompanied him. He exhorted the inhabitants of Utica to save their city, by a prompt submission, but he forbad them to mention him to Cæsar. He ate his supper with great tranquillity, and sought to divert his friends from having