« Sal. Cat. 53 | Sal. Cat. 54 | Sal. Cat. 55 | About This Work »
54In birth then, in years and in eloquence, they were about equal; in greatness of soul they were evenly matched, and likewise in renown, although the renown of each was different. 2Caesar was held great because of his benefactions and lavish generosity, Cato for the uprightness of his life. 3The former became famous for his gentleness and compassion, the austerity of the latter had brought him prestige. Caesar gained glory by giving, helping, and forgiving; Cato by never stooping to bribery. One was a refuge for the unfortunate, the other a scourge for the wicked. The good nature of the one was applauded, the steadfastness of the other. 4Finally, Caesar had schooled himself to work hard and sleep little, to devote himself to the welfare of his friends and neglect his own, to refuse nothing which was worth the giving. He longed for great power, an army, a new war to give scope for his brilliant merit. 5Cato, on the contrary, cultivated self-control, propriety, but above all austerity. 6He did not vie with the rich in riches nor in intrigue with the intriguer, but with the active in good works, with the self-restrained in moderation, with the blameless in integrity. He preferred to be, rather than to seem, virtuous;hence the less he sought fame, the more it pursued him.
« Sal. Cat. 53 | Sal. Cat. 54 | Sal. Cat. 55 | About This Work »