igitur iīs genus , aetās , ēloquentia prope aequālia fuēre ; magnitūdō animī pār , item glōria , sed alia aliī . 2 Caesar beneficiīs ac mūnificentiā magnus habēbātur , integritāte vītae Catō . ille mānsuētūdine et misericordiā clārus factus , huic sevēritās dignitātem addiderat . 3 Caesar dandō , sublevandō , ignōscundō , Catō nihil largiundō glōriam adeptus est . in alterō miserīs perfugium erat , in alterō mālīs perniciēs . illīus facilitās , huius cōnstantia laudābātur . 4 postrēmō Caesar in animum indūxerat labōrāre , vigilāre ; negōtiīs amīcōrum intentus sua neglegere , nihil dēnegāre quod dōnō dignum esset ; sibi magnum imperium , exercitum , bellum novom exoptābat ubi virtūs ēnitēscere posset . 5 at Catōnī studium modestiae , decōris , sed maxumē sevēritātis erat . 6 nōn dīvitiīs cum dīvite neque factiōne cum factiōsō , sed cum strēnuō virtūte , cum modestō pudōre , cum innocente abstinentiā certābat . esse quam vidērī bonus mālēbat ; ita , quō minus petēbat glōriam , eō magis illum assequēbātur .

Their background , age and eloquence , then , were almost equal ; their greatness of spirit was parallel ; likewise their glory , different though it was in each case . Caesar was regarded as great for his kindnesses and munificence , Cato for the integrity of his life . The former achieved distinction for his mercy and pity ; the latter’s strictness had brought him prestige . Caesar acquired glory by giving , by supporting , by forgiving ; Cato by granting nothing . In the one , the wretched found their refuge ; in the other , the wicked their ruin . The former’s complaisance was praised , the latter’s steadfastness . Caesar , finally , had made up his mind to be hard-working and vigilant ; devoted to the enterprises of his friends , he would neglect his own and refuse nothing that was worth giving ; what he desired for himself was a great command , an army , and a new war where his prowess could shine . But Cato’s enthusiasm was for restraint , honour , but especially strictness ; he did not compete in riches with the rich or in factionalism with the factious , but with the committed in prowess , with the restrained in propriety , with the innocent in self-denial ; he preferred to be , rather than to seem , a good man : thus , the less he sought glory , the more it attended him .

In birth then , in years and in eloquence , p113 they were about equal ; in greatness of soul they were evenly matched , and likewise in renown , although the renown of each was different . 2 Caesar was held great because of his benefactions and lavish generosity , Cato for the uprightness of his life . 3 The 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 . ​84 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 . 4 Finally , 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​85 war to give scope for his brilliant merit . 5 Cato , on the contrary , cultivated self-control , propriety , but above all austerity . 6 He 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 ; ​86 hence the less he sought fame , the more it pursued him .