Encyclopaedia Americana: a popular dictionary of arts, sciences, literature, history, politics and biography, brought down to the present time : including a copious collection of original articles in American biography : on the basis of the seventh edition of the German Conversations-Lexicon (Volume 3).

Date:: 1830-33

Credit: Encyclopaedia Americana: a popular dictionary of arts, sciences, literature, history, politics and biography, brought down to the present time : including a copious collection of original articles in American biography : on the basis of the seventh edition of the German Conversations-Lexicon (Volume 3). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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the magistracies of Rome, the censorship. He had not canvassed for the office, but ]iad only expressed his willingness to fill it. In compliance with his wishes, Vale- rius Flaccus was chosen his colleague, as the only person qualified to assist him in coiTCCting the public disorders, and re- storing the ancient purity of morals. He fulfilled this trust with inflexible rigor; and, though his measures caused him some obloquy and opposition, they met, in the end, with the liighest applause; and, when he resigned his office, it was resolved to erect a statue to him witli an honorable inscription. He apjiears to have been quite indifferent to the honor; and when, before this, some one express- ed his wonder that no statue had been erected to him, he answered, I would rather have it asked why no image has been erected to Cato than why one has. Still he was not void of self-complacency. Is he a Cato, then ? he was accustom- ed to say, when l)e would excuse the er- rors of another. Cato's political life was a continued warfare. Ho was continually accusing, and was himself accused with animosity, but was always acquitted. His last public commission was an embassy to Carthage, to settle the dispute between the Carthaginians and king Massinissa. It is said that this journey was the origin- al cause of the destruction of Carthage ; for Cato was so astonished at the rapid recovery of this city from its losses, that Jie ever after ended every speech of his with the well-known words, Prceterea censeo, Carthaginem esse delendairC^ (I am also of opinion that Carthage must be de- stroyed). He died a year after his return (147 B. C), 85 years old. Cato, who was so frugal of the public revenues, was not indifferent to riches. He was rigorously severe towards his slaves, and considered them quite in the light of property. He made every exertion to promote and im- prove agriculture. In his old age, he gave himself up to the company of bis fi-iends and the pleasures of the table. To this the verses of Horace allude— Narratur et prisci Catonis Saepe mero caluisse virtus. He was twice married, and liad a eon by each of his wives. His conduct as a hus- band and a father was equally exemplary. Hfe composed a multitude of works, of Avhich the only one extant is that De Re Rustica. Those of which the loss is most to be regretted are his orations, which Cicero mentions in terms of the highest encomium, and his history of the origin of the Roman people, which is frequently quoted by the old historians. Cato, Marcus Porcius (called, to dis- tinguish him from the censor, his great giandfather, Cato of Utica, the placo of his death), was bom 93 B. C, and, af- ter the death of his parents, was brought up in the house of his uncle, Livius Dru- sus. He early discovered great maturity of judgment and firmness of character. It is related of him, that, in his 14th year, when he saw the heads of several pro- scribed persons in the house of Sylla, by whose orders tliey had been murdered, he demanded a sword of his teacher, to stab the tyrant, and free his country from servitude. With his brother by the mother's side, Cospio, he lived in the ten- derest friendship. Cato was chosen priest of Apollo. He formed an intimacy with the Stoic Antipater of Tyre, and ever remained true to the principles of the Stoic philosophy. His first appearance in public was against the tribunes of the people, who wished to pull down a basil- ica erected by the censor Cato, which was in their way. On this occasion, he dis- played that powerful eloquence, which afterwards rendered him so formidable, and won the cause. He served his first cami)aign as a volunteer in the war against Spartacus, and distinguished him- self so highly, that the pretor Gellius awarded him a prize, which he refused. He was sent as military tribune to Mace- donia. When the term of his office had expired, he travelled into Asia, and car- ried the Stoic Athenodorus with him to Rome. He was next made questor, and executed his difficult trust with the strict- est integrity, while he had the spirit to prosecute the public officers for their acts of extortion and violence. His conduct gained him the admiration and love of the Romans, so that, on the last day of his questorship, he was escorted to his house by the whole assembly of the people. The fame of his virtue spread far and wide. In the games of Flora, the dancers were not allowed to lay aside their gar- ments as long as Cato was present. The troubles of the state did not permit him to remain in seclusion. The example of Sylla, in usurping supreme power, was followed by many ambitious men, whose mutual dissensions were aU that saved the tottering constitution from immediate ruin. Crassus hoped to purchase the sovereignty with his gold; Pompey ex- pected that it would be voluntarily con- ferred upon him; and Caesar, superior to both in talent, united himself to both, and

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