The Good Book_ A Secular Bible - A. C. Grayling [294]
18. For being sent as treasurer to the army in Sicily where Scipio was commander,
19. When Cato saw him, according to his usual custom, make great expenses, and distribute largesse among the soldiers without sparing,
20. He freely told him that the expense in itself was not the greatest thing to be considered,
21. But that he was corrupting the ancient frugality of the soldiers, by giving them means to abandon themselves to unnecessary pleasures and luxuries.
22. Scipio answered that he had no need for so accurate a treasurer,
23. And that he owed the people an account of his actions, not of the money he spent.
24. Hereupon Cato returned from Sicily, and, together with Fabius,
25. Complained in the senate about Scipio’s extravagance, and of his loitering away his time in wrestling matches and comedies,
26. As if he were there not for war, but for holiday; and thus succeeded in getting tribunes sent to recall Scipio to answer the accusations.
27. But Scipio convinced the tribunes, by showing them his preparations for a coming victory,
28. And, being found merely to be living pleasantly with his friends when there was nothing else to do, without neglecting anything of consequence,
29. He was allowed without impediment to set sail towards the war.
Chapter 52
1. Cato grew more and more powerful by his eloquence, so that he was commonly called the Roman Demosthenes;
2. But his manner of life was yet more famous and talked of. For oratorical skill was, as an accomplishment, commonly studied and sought after by all young men;
3. But it was a rare person who would cultivate the habits of bodily labour, or prefer a light supper,
4. And a breakfast which never saw the fire; or be in love with poor clothes and a homely lodging;
5. Or could set his ambition rather on doing without luxuries than on possessing them.
6. For now the state, unable to keep its purity because it had grown so great and populous,
7. And having so many affairs, and people from all parts of the world under its government,
8. Was open to many mixed customs and new examples of living.
9. With reason, therefore, everybody admired Cato, when they saw others sink under labours and grow effeminate by pleasures,
10. And yet saw him unconquered by either;
11. And this not only when he was young and desirous of honour,
12. But also when old and greyheaded, after a Consulship and a Triumph;
13. Like some famous victor in the games persevering in his exercise and maintaining his character to the last.
14. He himself says, that he never wore a suit of clothes which cost more than a hundred drachmas;
15. And that, when he was general and consul, he drank the same wine as his workmen;
16. And that the meat or fish which was bought in the market for his dinner, did not cost above thirty asses.
17. All which was for the sake of the commonwealth, that so his body might be the hardier for the war.
18. Having a piece of embroidered Babylonian tapestry left him, he sold it,
19. Because none of his farmhouses were so much as plastered.
20. Nor did he ever buy a slave for above fifteen hundred drachmas,
21. As he did not seek for effeminate and handsome ones, but able, sturdy workmen, horse-keepers and cowherds:
22. And these he thought ought to be sold again, when they grew old, and no useless servants fed in his house.
23. In short, he reckoned nothing a good bargain, which was superfluous;
24. But he thought anything unnecessary too expensive, even at half a farthing.
25. He was for the purchase of lands for sowing and feeding, not for gardens.
26. Some imputed these things to petty avarice, but others approved of him,
27. As if he had only the more strictly denied himself to set an example to others.
Chapter 53
1. Should Cato be applauded for this austerity and economy in all things?
2. Certainly it marks an over-rigid temper, for a man to take the work out of his servants as out of brute beasts,
3. Then turn them off and sell them in their old age, thinking there ought to be no further commerce between man and man, than what has