What was going on: Plutarch, writing over a century later, opens his life of Cato with his boyhood. Cato lost both parents and grew up with his brother and sisters in the home of their uncle Livius Drusus, a leader in Rome's public affairs.
From childhood, it is said, he was stubborn, calm and unshakeable. He was cold to flatterers and even tougher with anyone who tried to scare him.
We are told that from his very childhood Cato displayed, in speech, in countenance, and in his childish sports, a nature that was inflexible, imperturbable, and altogether steadfast. He set out to accomplish his purposes with a vigour beyond his years, and while he was harsh and repellent to those who would flatter him, he was still more masterful towards those who tried to frighten him.
Plutarch, describing him, over a century later. Plutarch, Life of Cato the Younger 1.2, translated by Bernadotte Perrin (1919)C
What was going on:Rome, 63 BCE, as Plutarch tells it. The Senate is debating the fate of the Catiline plotters, with Cato and Caesar locked in argument. A note is brought in to Caesar; Cato says it has to do with the plot and tells him to read it aloud, so Caesar hands it to him.
Why it matters: The story of Cato mistaking Servilia's love letter for evidence is famous; if historical, it may show how suspicious Cato was of Caesar.
The note turned out to be a love letter from his sister to Caesar. He threw it to Caesar, called him a drunk, and went on with his speech.
But when Cato had read the note, which was an unchaste letter from his sister Servilia to Caesar, with whom she was passionately and guiltily in love, he threw it to Caesar, saying, Take it, thou sot, and then resumed his speech.
As Plutarch tells it, over a century later. Plutarch, Life of Cato the Younger 24.2, translated by Bernadotte Perrin (1919)C
What was going on: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.
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.
As Plutarch tells it, over a century later. Plutarch, Life of Cato the Younger 33.1, translated by Bernadotte Perrin (1919)C
What was going on: As Plutarch tells it, over a century later: around 50 BCE the Senate argued over Caesar's command. Cato warned that Caesar himself was the danger. Caesar's friends demanded that Pompey also give up his armies and provinces, or Caesar would not give up his.
Now, Cato shouted, what I warned you about is happening. The man is finally using force, with armies he got by cheating the state.
Now shouted Cato, those things are come to pass which I foretold to you, and the man is at last resorting to open compulsion, using the forces which he got by deceiving and cheating the state.
As Plutarch tells it, over a century later. Plutarch, Life of Cato the Younger 51.5, translated by Bernadotte Perrin (1919)C
What was going on:Utica, 46 BCE, after Caesar beat the Republicans in Africa. On his last night Cato embraces his son and friends more warmly than usual and goes to his room, leaving them suspicious. Plutarch tells it over a century later; Cato then takes his own life.
Why it matters: By choosing death over Caesar's pardon, Cato made himself a martyr for and a symbol of the Republic. Eulogies by Cicero and Brutus began to present him as a great Stoic philosopher.
In bed he read Plato's dialogue on the soul. Looking up, he saw his sword was gone (his son had taken it) and asked a servant who took it.
After entering his chamber and lying down, he took up Plato’s dialogue On the Soul, and when he had gone through the greater part of the treatise, he looked up above his head, and not seeing his sword hanging there (for his son had taken it away while Cato was still at supper), called a servant and asked him who had taken the weapon.
As Plutarch tells it, over a century later. Plutarch, Life of Cato the Younger 68.2, translated by Bernadotte Perrin (1919)C
What was going on:Utica, 46 BCE, Cato's last night, as Plutarch tells it, after Caesar beat the Republicans in Africa. Cato has told his philosopher friends Demetrius and Apollonides that when he decides what to do, the choice will be his. They leave in tears.
Why it matters: By choosing death over Caesar's pardon, Cato made himself a martyr for and a symbol of the Republic. Eulogies by Cicero and Brutus began to present him as a great Stoic philosopher.
A child brought the sword. He checked it was sharp and said: Now I am my own master. Then he went back to his book, said to have read it twice.
Then the sword was sent in, carried by a little child, and Cato took it, drew it from its sheath, and examined it. And when he saw that its point was keen and its edge still sharp, he said: Now I am my own master. Then he laid down the sword and resumed his book, and he is said to have read it through twice.
As Plutarch tells it, over a century later. Plutarch, Life of Cato the Younger 70.1, translated by Bernadotte Perrin (1919)C
What was going on:Utica, 46 BCE, after Caesar beat the Republicans in Africa. As Plutarch tells it, Cato stabbed himself but the blow was weak; his son and friends ran in, and a doctor tried to put his wound back together.
Why it matters: By choosing death over Caesar's pardon, Cato made himself a martyr for and a symbol of the Republic. Eulogies by Cicero and Brutus began to present him as a great Stoic philosopher.
When he came to and saw what was happening, he pushed the doctor away, tore the wound open with his own hands, and died.
Accordingly, when Cato recovered and became aware of this, he pushed the physician away, tore his bowels with his hands, rent the wound still more, and so died.
Plutarch, describing him, over a century later. Plutarch, Life of Cato the Younger 70.6, translated by Bernadotte Perrin (1919)
