Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/446

438 CATO THE YOUNGER. go deputy for the three hundred, came to Cato, and desired he would assist him to prepare a persuasive speech for them ; " And as to you yourself," said he, " it will be an honor for me to kiss the hands and fall at the knees of Caesar, in your behalf." But Cato would by no means permit him to do any such thing ; " For as to my- self," said he, " if I would be preserved by Caesar's favor, I should myself go to him ; but I would not be beholden to a tyrant, for his acts of tyranny. For it is but usur- pation in him to save, as their rightful lord, the lives of men over whem he has no title to reign. But if you please, let us consider what you had best say for the three hundred." And when they had continued some time to- gether, as Lucius was going away, Cato recommended to him his son, and the rest of his friends ; and taking him by the hand, bade him farewell. Then he retired to his house again, and called together his son and his friends, to whom he conversed on various subjects; among the rest, he forbade his son to engage himself in the affairs of state. For to act therein as be- came him, was now impossible ; and to do otherwise, would be dishonorable. Toward evening he went into his bath. As he was bathing, he remembered Statyllius, and called out aloud, " Apollonides, have you tamed the high spirit of Statyllius, and is he gone without bidding us farewell ? " " No," said Apollonides, " I have said much to him, but to little purpose ; he is still resolute and unalterable, and declares he is determined to follow your example." At this, it is said, Cato smiled, and answered, u That will soon be tried." After he had bathed, he went to supper, with a great deal of company ; at which he sat up, as he had always used to do ever since the battle of Pharsalia ; for since that time he never lay down, but when he went to sleep. There supped with him all his own friends and the mag- istrates of Utica.