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Cato dragged to prison, as Plutarch tells it

59 BCE, Rome (the Forum). As Plutarch tells it, over a century later.

Where and when

59 BCERome (the Forum)

2,084 years ago

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Cato the Younger

, Rome (the Forum)As Plutarch tells it, over a century later

In plain words, ours

Only Cato spoke against the law, and Caesar had him dragged off to prison. He kept talking on the way, urging people to stop laws like this.

No one spoke against the law except Cato, and him Caesar ordered to be dragged from the rostra to prison. Cato did not any the more remit his bold utterances, but as he walked along discoursed about the law and advised the people to put a stop to such legislation.

Plutarch, Life of Cato the Younger 33.1Translated by Bernadotte Perrin (1919)Read the full passage (Plutarch, Life of Cato the Younger 33.1, opens scaife.perseus.org)

What was going on, our summary

Rome, 59 BCE. As Plutarch tells it, over a century later, Cato had just given way and sworn an oath Caesar wanted, and Caesar, elated, brought in a law to divide almost all of Campania among the poor and needy.

Checked claim by claim against: the passage around the quote.

Related moments

In time order, with this one in its place. Each says why it is here.

  1. 63 BCE4 years earlier Cicero exposes Catiline's plot against the Republic Also about democracy and government
  2. 63 BCE4 years earlier Cato, Caesar and the note, in Plutarch More from Cato the Younger
  3. 63 BCE4 years earlier Cicero denounces Catiline to his face Also in Rome
  4. 63 BCE4 years earlier Cicero turns on Catiline in the Senate Also in Rome
  5. c. 60 BCE1 year earlier Caesar, Pompey and Crassus join forces Also in RomeAlso about democracy and government
  6. 59 BCEThis momentCato dragged to prison, as Plutarch tells it
  7. 58–50 BCE1 year later Caesar begins the conquest of Gaul Same years
  8. 58 BCE1 year later Caesar maps Gaul and its peoples Same years
  9. 58–57 BCE1 year later Cicero in exile, as Plutarch tells it Same years
  10. c. 50 BCEabout 9 years later Cato warns the Senate about Caesar, in Plutarch More from Cato the Younger
  11. 46 BCE13 years later Cato's last night, as Plutarch tells it More from Cato the Younger

Just before and after

The text around the quote, word for word from the same translation.

Show the passageHide the passage

By these and similar arguments and entreaties, we are told, both at home and in the forum, Cato was softened and at last prevailed upon. He came forward to take the oath last of all, except Favonius, one of his friends and intimates. Elated by this success, Caesar introduced another law, which provided that almost the whole of Campania be divided among the poor and needy.

The quote: No one spoke against the law except Cato, and him Caesar ordered to be dragged from the rostra to prison. Cato did not any the more remit his bold utterances, but as he walked along discoursed about the law and advised the people to put a stop to such legislation.

Moreover, the senate followed him with downcast looks, as well as the best part of the people in silence, though they looked annoyed and troubled, so that Caesar could not fail to see that they were displeased; but he was obstinate, and expected that Cato would resort to appeal or entreaty, and therefore had him led along. However, when it was clear that Cato did not so much as think of doing anything of the sort, Caesar was overcome by the shame and infamy of his course, and by his own secret persuasions induced one of the tribunes of the people to rescue Cato.

Plutarch, Life of Cato the Younger 32.6–33.2Translated by Bernadotte Perrin (1919)Read the full passage (opens scaife.perseus.org)

When, and whose words

Date
59 BCE. Caesar's consulship, 59 BCE, when the Campanian land law was passed.
Whose words
As Plutarch tells it, over a century later.
How this post was checked
  • The plain-words line was read against the quote alone by a second, independent pass, which found it adds no claim the quote does not make (2026-10-03).
  • Each claim in the summary was checked by an independent pass against only the material it cites.
  • The quote itself is checked by the build: word for word, once, at the cited section of the stored translation.

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