action. But, as one told Dionysius that the most honourable death was to die in possession of sovereign power, so Cato esteemed that the most honourable old age, which was spent in serving the commonwealth. The amusements, in which he passed his leisure hours, were writing books and tilling the ground; and this is the reason of our having so many treatises on various subjects, and histories of his composing ". In his younger days he applied himself to agriculture, with a view to profit; for he used to say, that he had only two ways of increasing his income, labour and parsimony but, as he grew old, he regarded it solely in the light of theory and amusement. He wrote a book concerning country-affairs ", in which among other things he gives rules for making cakes and preserving fruit; for he was desirous to be thought curious and particular in every thing. He kept a better table in the country, than in the town; for he always invited some of his acquaintance in the neighbourhood to sup with him. With these he passed the time in cheerful conversation, making himself agreeable not only to those of his own age, but to the young; for he had a thorough knowledge of the world, and had collected a variety of facts and anecdotes, that were highly entertaining. He looked upon the table, as one of the best means of forming friendships; and, at his, the conversation generally turned upon the praises of great and excellent men among the Romans: of the profligate and the unworthy no mention was made; for he would not allow in his company one word, either good or bad, to be spoken of them 52. The last service, which he is said to have rendered the public, was the destruction of Carthage. The younger 50 Beside upward of a hundred and fifty orations, which he left behind him, he wrote a Treatise upon Military Discipline, and Books of Antiquities: in two of these he examines the foundation of the cities of Italy; the other five contained the Roman history, particularly a narrative of the first and second Punic war. 51 De Re Rusticâ. This is the only work of his, that remains entire. Among other "curious and particular" subjects, it treats of the fatting of geese, poultry, and pigeons! &c.* 52 Sec Hor. Sat. II. vi. 71, &c.* Scipio, indeed, gave the finishing stroke to that work; but it was undertaken chiefly by the advice, and at the instance of Cato. The occasion of the war was as follows: the Carthaginians and Massinissa king of Numidia being at war with each other, Cato was despatched into Africa to investigate the causes of the quarrel. Massinissa from the first had been a friend to the Romans; and the Carthaginians had been admitted into their alliance 53 after the signal overthrow which they received from Scipio the elder, but upon terms which deprived them of a considerable part of their dominions, and imposed a heavy tribute 54. When Cato arrived at Carthage, he found that city not in the exhausted and humble condition which the Romans imagined, but full of men fit to bear arms, abounding in money, arms, and warlike stores, and not a little elated by the thought of its being so well provided. He concluded, therefore, that it was now time for the Romans to endeavour to settle the points in dispute between the Numidians and Carthage; and that if they did not soon make themselves masters of that city, which as their old enemy retained strong resentments of the usage she had lately received, and was prodigiously increased in power, they would soon be exposed to all their former dangers. For this reason he returned in all haste to Rome, where he informed the senate; "That the defeats and other misfortunes, which had happened to the Carthaginians, had not so much drained them of their forces, as cured them of their folly: and that in all probability, instead of a weaker, they had made them a more skilful enemy. That their war with the Numidians was only a prelude to future combats with the Romans; and that the late peace was a mere name, for they had considered it only as a suspension of arms, of which they were willing to avail them 53 Or rather, say the late editors of Amyot's French translation, to a peace;' as they never were admitted to make with the Romans an offensive and defensive, or even a simply defensive alliance.* 54 Scipio Africanus obliged the Carthaginians, at the conclusion of the second Punic war, A. U. C. 553. to deliver up their fleet to the Romans, to cede to Massinissa part of Syphax's dominions, and to pay into the public treasury ten thousand talents. selves merely till they had a favourable opportunity of renewing the war." At the conclusion of his speech (it is said) he shook the lap of his gown, and purposely dropped some Libyan figs; and when he found the senators admired them for their size and beauty, he told them, "That the country where they grew was but three days' sail from Rome. But what is a stronger instance of his enmity to Carthage, he never gave his opinion in the senate upon any point whatever, without adding these words, " And my opinion is, that Carthage should be destroyed 55." Publius Scipio, surnamed Nasica, made it a point to maintaint he contrary, and concluded all his speeches thus, " And my opinion is, that Carthage should be left standing." This illustrious man most probably, perceiving the people hurried by feelings of insolence into the most wanton excesses, so that in the pride of prosperity they could not be restrained by the senate, but by their overgrown power were able to draw the government what way they pleased, thought it best that Carthage should remain to curb and moderate their presumption. For he saw, that the Carthaginians were not strong enough to conquer the Romans, and yet were too respectable to be despised by them. On the other hand Cato deemed it. dangerous, while the people were thus inebriated and giddy with power, to suffer a city which had always been great, and which was now grown sober and wise through its misfortunes, to lie watching every advantage against them. It appeared to him, therefore, the wisest course to have all outward perils removed from the commonwealth, that it might be at leisure to guard against internal corruption. Thus Cato, we are told, occasioned the third and last war against the Carthaginians. But as soon as it began, he died, having first prophesied of the person that should put an end to it; who was then a young man, and had only a tribune's command in the army, but was giving extraordinary proofs of his conduct and valour. The news of these exploits being brought to Rome, Cato cried out, 55 Hence Delenda est Carthago passed into a species of proverb.* He is the soul of council; This, Scipio soon confirmed by his actions. Cato left one son by his second wife (who, as we have already observed, was surnamed Salonius) and a grandson by the son of his first wife, who died before him. Salonius died in his prætorship, leaving a son named Marcus, who came to be consul, and who was the father 57 of Cato the philosopher, the best and most illustrious man of his time. 56 This verse is by Homer applied to Tiresias. Od. X. 495., where Circe advises Ulysses to visit the shades.* 57 The pedigree stands thus: Cato the Censor Salonius Cato Salonius by his second marriage Marcus Cato the consul 227 ARISTIDES AND CATO COMPARED. For HAVING thus given a detail of the most memorable actions of these eminent men, if we compare the whole life of the one with that of the other it will not be easy to discern the difference between them, the eye being attracted by so many striking resemblances. But if we distinctly examine the several parts of their lives, as we do a poem or a picture, we shall find in the first place this common to them both, that they rose to high stations and great honour in their respective commonwealths, not by the help of family-connexions, but merely by their own virtue and abilities. It is true that, when Aristides raised himself, Athens was not in her grandeur, but the demagogues and chief magistrates were men of moderate and nearly equal fortunes. estates of the highest class were then only five hundred medimni; of those of the second order, who were knights, three hundred; and of those of the third order, who were called Zeugitæ, two hundred 5%. But Cato from a little village and a country-life launched into the Roman government, as into a boundless ocean, at a time when it was not conducted by the Curii, the Fabricii, and the Hostilii, nor received for its magistrates and orators men of narrow circumstances, who worked with their own hands from the plough and the spade; but was accustomed to regard considerations of family, opulence, distributions among the people, and servility in courting their favour: for the Romans, elated with their power 58 See the Life of Solon, Vol. I. p. 219.* |