Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IV.djvu/132

124 CATO them, always sharing their hardships and diffi- culties. In his youth he had begun the study of philosophy, and had become a disciple of the Stoics. He continued the practice of their doctrines and the study of their works, and while stationed hi Macedonia obtained a leave of absence that he might visit the philosopher Athenodorus Cordylion at Pergamus, whom he persuaded to go back with him when he returned to his legion. At this time Cato lost his brother, Servilius Ceepio, to whom he was warmly attached. Hearing of his having an attack of illness at a Thracian town, Cato hur- ried to meet him, but did not arrive in time to see him alive. He was overcome with grief, and, after celebrating Caepio's funeral with great splendor, set sail for Rome on the ship bearing his brother's ashes. After several years of study in Rome, where Athenodorus was still his companion, he was elected quaes- tor in 65, and so distinguished his administra- tion of the office by honesty, economy, and rigid justice, that he left it at the expiration of his term with his popularity greatly increased. A journey to Asia, as to the date of which authorities disagree, probably took place about this time. He visited King Deiotarus of Gala- tia, who received him with many marks of re- spect, but offered him presents, which so dis- gusted Cato that he pursued his journey the day after his arrival. Pompey, then in the East, also received him with respect, but without cordiality. In 63 Cato was elected tribune, consenting to be a candidate after having once refused, in order to defeat certain plans of Pompey, who was already plotting for the con- trol of the state. In the same year, and in the consulship of Cicero, the Catilinarian conspir- acy occurred. Cato voted for the death of the conspirators, and conferred on Cicero the title of pater patrics. TMfe great conflict for power between Caesar and Pompey was now begin- ning. Cato, with the purest patriotism, not only opposed them both by every means in his power, but constantly warned the people of the danger of the state's falling under the con- trol of any one man. His patriotism, however, was greater than his political ability, and he was easily outgeneralled by Caesar, who in spite of his opposition carried almost every end he had in view. Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus, to finally rid themselves of his interference with their plans, determined to send him against Ptolemy, king of Cyprus, although no possible cause for war existed, and to annex the island to the Roman possessions. Cato sent a message to Ptolemy telling him of the deter- mination; and Ptolemy, rather than oppose Rome, poisoned himself, leaving Cato to take peaceful possession of his kingdom. This he did, returning to Rome in 56. In the next year he opposed the election of Pompey and Crassus to the consulship, but without success. He was exposed to great danger in the election riots, and was even wounded. In 55 also he was defeated in the election for praotor, in great part because he refused to employ bribery to gain the office. During the next year he was again a candidate, and this time he was elected. As praetor he devoted himself to the suppression of the prevailing corruption, and made himself so unpopular by his severe prose- cutions for bribery that he was even attacked in the streets by a mob, which he with diffi- culty succeeded in quieting. In 52 he sup- ported the proposition to make Pompey sole consul ; but repenting the next year of his share in giving him power, he himself became a candidate for the consulship, only to be de- feated by two rivals, in the interest of Pompey and Caesar. In 49, when the civil war began, and Caesar approached the city with his army, Cato, after resisting by every means in his power the plans of the great leader, left Rome with the consuls, and went to Campania, where for some time he seemed to completely despair of the preservation of the state. He was soon, however, intrusted with the defence of Sicily, but abandoned it on the approach of Caesar's army, and hurried to Pompey's camp at Dyrrhachium. He was left in charge of this during the battle of Pharsalia (48), but on Caesar's victory he again withdrew his troops, and set sail with them for Corcyra, whence he continued his journey to Africa, to join Pompey. But he did not arrive until after Pompey's assassination, and took refuge in Cyrene, the inhabitants of which consented to admit him with his command. In 47 he again marched out of the city, and across the desert, to join Q. Metellus Scipio, to whom he yielded the command of his troops, advising him, however, not to risk an immediate en- gagement. Scipio persisted in doing so, and was defeated at Thapsus in April, 46. Utica alone, of all the African towns, held out against Caesar ; and even its inhabitants could not be persuaded by Cato longer to resist the con- queror. Cato had now no refuge ; but he ex- hibited the greatest calmness. He made ar- rangements for the flight of his friends from the city, and for giving them an opportunity to make terms with Caesar ; but he himself re- mained behind, and resolved to die by his own hand rather than fall into the power of the ene- my. He spent the last day of his life in pleasant intercourse with those about him, and at night retired early to his room, where he for a long time lay upon his bed reading Plato's "Phae- do." Then, drawing his sword, he stabbed himself, and fell to the floor, the noise arous- ing his friends, who hastened to bandage his wound. But he tore the bandages away, and almost immediately expired. The people of Utica buried him with every honor, and erect- ed a statue to his memory. Caesar is said to have cried out, on hearing of his suicide, " Cato, I begrudge thee thy death, since thou hast begrudged me the glory of sparing thy life." As a man and a statesman Cato was pure, sincere, and conscientious to a degree most remarkable in his time ; he had not the