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great guard and defence for him against Pompey's power。
And now Pompey also returning with glory from the war； and confiding
in the good…will of the people； shown in their splendid reception of
him； thought he should be denied nothing； and sent therefore to the
senate to put off the assembly for the election of consuls； till he
could be present to assist Piso； who stood for that office。 To this
most of the senators were disposed to yield； Cato only not so much
thinking that this delay would be of great importance； but； desiring
to cut down at once Pompey's high expectations and designs；
withstood his request； and so overruled the senate that it was carried
against him。 And this not a little disturbed Pompey； who found he
should very often fail in his projects unless he could bring over Cato
to his interest。 He sent； therefore； for Munatius； his friend； and
Cato having two nieces that were marriageable； he offered to marry the
eldest himself； and take the youngest for his son。 Some say they
were not his nieces； but his daughters。 Munatius proposed the matter
to Cato； in presence of his wife and sisters； the women were full of
joy at the prospect of an alliance with so great and important a
person。 But Cato； without delay or balancing； forming his decision
at once； answered； 〃Go； Munatius； go and tell Pompey that Cato is
not assailable on the side of the women's chamber； I am grateful
indeed for the intended kindness； and so long as his actions are
upright； I promise him a friendship more sure than any marriage
alliance； but I will not give hostages to Pompey's glory against my
country's safety。〃 This answer was very much against the wishes of the
women； and to all his friends it seemed somewhat harsh and haughty。
But afterwards； when Pompey； endeavouring to get the consulship for
one of his friends； gave pay to the people for their votes； and the
bribery was notorious； the money being counted out in Pompey's own
gardens； Cato then said to the women； they must necessarily have
been concerned in the contamination of these misdeeds of Pompey； if
they had been allied to his family； and they acknowledged that he
did best in refusing it。 Yet if we may judge by the event； Cato was
much to blame in rejecting that alliance； which thereby fell to
Caesar。 And then that match was made； which； uniting his and
Pompey's power； had well…nigh ruined the Roman empire； and did destroy
the commonwealth。 Nothing of which； perhaps； had come to pass； but
that Cato was too apprehensive of Pompey's least faults； and did not
consider how he forced him into conferring on another man the
opportunity of committing the greatest。
These things； however； were yet to come。 Lucullus and Pompey；
meantime； had a great dispute concerning their orders and arrangements
in Pontus； each endeavouring that his own ordinances might stand。 Cato
took part with Lucullus； who was manifestly suffering wrong； and
Pompey； finding himself the weaker in the senate； had recourse to
the people； and to gain votes he proposed a law for dividing the lands
among the soldiers。 Cato opposing him in this also made the bill he
rejected。 Upon this he joined himself with Clodius； at that time the
most violent of all the demagogues； and entered also into friendship
with Caesar； upon an occasion of which also Cato was the cause。 For
Caesar； returning from his government in Spain； at the same time
sued to be chosen consul； and yet desired not to lose his triumph。 Now
the law requiring that those who stood for any office should be
present； and yet that whoever expected a triumph should continue
without the walls； Caesar requested the senate that his friends
might be permitted to canvass for him in his absence。 Many of the
senators were willing to consent to it； but Cato opposed it； and
perceiving them inclined to favour Caesar； spent the whole day in
speaking； and so prevented the senate from coming to any conclusion。
Caesar； therefore； resolving to let fall his pretensions to the
triumph； came into the town； and immediately made a friendship with
Pompey； and stood for the consulship。 As soon as he was declared
consul elect； he married his daughter Julia to Pompey。 And having thus
combined themselves together against the commonwealth； the one
proposed laws for dividing the lands among the poor people； and the
other was present to support the proposals。 Lucullus； Cicero； and
their friends； joined with Bibulus； the other consul； to hinder
their passing； and； foremost of them all； Cato； who already looked
upon the friendship and alliance of Pompey and Caesar as very
dangerous； declared he did not so much dislike the advantage the
people should get by this division of the lands； as he feared the
reward these men would gain； by thus courting and cozening the people。
And in this he gained over the senate to his opinion； as likewise many
who were not senators； who were offended at Caesar's ill…conduct； that
he； in the office of consul； should thus basely and dishonourably
flatter the people； practising； to win their favour； the same means
that were wont to be used only by the most rash and rebellious
tribunes。 Caesar； therefore； and his party； fearing they should not
carry it by fair dealing； fell to open force。 First a basket of dung
was thrown upon Bibulus as he was going to the forum； then they set
upon his lictors and broke their rods； at length several darts were
thrown； and many men wounded； so that all that were against those laws
fled out of the forum； the rest with what haste they could； and
Cato； last of all； walking out slowly； often turning back and
calling down vengeance upon them。
Thus the other party not only carried their point of dividing the
lands； but also ordained that all the senate should swear to confirm
this law； and to defend it against whoever should attempt to alter it；
inflicting great penalties on those that should refuse the oath。 All
these senators； seeing the necessity they were in； took the oath；
remembering the example of Metellus in old time； who； refusing to
swear upon the like occasion； was forced to leave Italy。 As for
Cato； his wife and children with tears besought him； his friends and
familiars persuaded and entreated him； to yield and take the oath； but
he that principally prevailed with him was Cicero； the orator； who
urged upon him that it was perhaps not even right in itself； that a
private man should oppose what the public had decreed； that the
thing being already past altering； it were folly and madness to
throw himself into danger without the chance of doing his country
any good； it would be the greatest of all evils to embrace； as it
were； the opportunity to abandon the commonwealth； for whose sake he
did everything； and to let it fall into the hands of those who
designed nothing but its ruin； as if he were glad to be saved from the
trouble of defending it。 〃For；〃 said he； 〃though Cato have no need
of Rome； yet Rome has need of Cato； and so likew