Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/434

426 CATO THE YOUNGER. as the occasion required, concerning liberty, manly vir- tue, death, and a good name ; upon all which he delivered himself with strong natural passion, and concluded with calling in the aid of the gods, to whom he directed his speech, as if they were present to behold them fight for their country. And at this the army gave such a shout and showed such excitement, that their officers led them on full of hope and confidence to the danger. Caesar's party were routed, and put to flight ; but his presiding fortune used the advantage of Pompey's cautiousness and diffidence, to render the victory incomplete. But of this we have spoken in the life of Pompey. While, however, all the rest rejoiced, and magnified their success, Cato alone bewailed his country, and cursed that fatal ambition, which made so many brave Romans murder one another. After this, Pompey following Caesar into Thessaly, left at Dyrrhachium a quantity of munitions, money, and stores, and many of his domestics and relations; the charge of all which he gave to Cato, with the command only of fifteen cohorts. For though he trusted him much, yet he was afraid of him too, knowing full well, that if he had bad success, Cato would be the last to forsake him, but if he conquered, would never let him use his victory at his pleasure. There were, likewise, many persons of high rank that staid with Cato at Dyrrhachium. When they heard of the overthrow at Pharsalia, Cato resolved with himself, that if Pompey were slain, he w T ould con- duct those that were with him into Italy, and then retire as far from the tyranny of Caasar as he could, and live in exile ; but if Pompey were safe, he would keep the army together for him. With this resolution he passed over to Corcyra, where the navy lay ; there he would have re- signed his command to Cicero, because he had been con- sul, and himself only a jiraetor : but Cicero refused it, and was going for Italy. At which Pompey's son being