[ 53 ] [ 2 ] Sed mihi multa legenti , multa audienti , quae populus Romanus domi militiaeque , mari atque terra praeclara facinora fecit , forte lubuit attendere , quae res maxume tanta negotia sustinuisset . [ 3 ] sciebam saepenumero parva manu cum magnis legionibus hostium contendisse ; cognoveram parvis copiis bella gesta cum opulentis regibus , ad hoc saepe fortunae violentiam toleravisse , facundia Graecos , gloria belli Gallos ante Romanos fuisse . [ 4 ] ac mihi multa agitanti constabat paucorum civium egregiam virtutem cuncta patravisse , eoque factum , uti divitias paupertas , multitudinem paucitas superaret . [ 5 ] sed postquam luxu atque desidia civitas corrupta est , rursus res publica magnitudine sua imperatorum atque magistratuum vitia sustentabat ac , sicuti effeta parentum « ui » , multis tempestatibus haud sane quisquam Romae virtute magnus fuit . [ 6 ] sed memoria mea ingenti virtute , divorsis moribus fuere viri duo , M . Cato et C . Caesar . quos quoniam res obtulerat , silentio praeterire non fuit consilium , quin utriusque naturam et mores , quantum ingenio possum , aperirem .
[ 54 ] [ 1 ] Igitur iis genus aetas eloquentia prope aequalia fuere , magnitudo animi par , item gloria , sed alia alii . [ 2 ] Caesar beneficiis ac munificentia magnus habebatur , integritate vitae Cato . ille mansuetudine et misericordia clarus factus , huic severitas dignitatem addiderat . [ 3 ] Caesar dando sublevando ignoscundo , Cato nihil largiundo gloriam adeptus est . in altero miseris perfugium erat , in altero malis pernicies . illius facilitas , huius constantia laudabatur . [ 4 ] postremo Caesar in animum induxerat laborare , vigilare ; negotiis amicorum intentus sua neglegere , nihil denegare quod dono dignum esset ; sibi magnum imperium , exercitum , bellum novom exoptabat , ubi virtus enitescere posset . [ 5 ] at Catoni studium modestiae , decoris , sed maxume severitatis erat ; [ 6 ] non divitiis cum divite neque factione cum factioso , sed cum strenuo virtute , cum modesto pudore , cum innocente abstinentia certabat ; esse quam videri bonus malebat : ita , quo minus petebat gloriam , eo magis illum [ ad ] sequebatur .

Whenever I used to read or hear of the very many distinguished deeds which the Roman people did at home and on campaign , on sea and land , it so happened that I liked to consider what factor above all had underpinned such great enterprises . I knew that very often , with only a small unit , they had grappled with great enemy legions ; I recognized that , with only small forces , they had waged wars with well resourced kings , and in addition that they had endured violence from Fortune and that in fluency the Greeks had been ahead of the Romans , and in military glory the Gauls . And , whenever I turned over my many thoughts , my conclusion was that the exceptional prowess of a few citizens had accomplished it all and that that was the reason why riches were overcome by poverty , a multitude by a few .

But , after the community had been corrupted by luxuriousness and indolence , conversely the commonwealth by its own greatness sustained the faults of its commanders and magistrates , and , as if it had been exhausted by childbirth , at many periods hardly anyone at all in Rome was great in prowess . But within my own recollection there have been two men of mighty prowess yet differing behaviour : M . Cato and C . Caesar . Since the context has now presented them , it is not my intention to pass them over in silence without explaining , to the best of my intellectual ability , the nature and behaviour of each .

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 .

After reading and hearing of the many glorious achievements which the Roman people had performed at home and in the field , by sea as well as by land , I happened to be led to consider what had been the great foundation of such illustrious deeds . I knew that the Romans had frequently , with small bodies of men , encountered vast armies of the enemy ; I was aware that they had carried on wars with limited forces against powerful sovereigns ; that they had often sustained , too , the violence of adverse fortune ; yet that , while the Greeks excelled them in eloquence , the Gauls surpassed them in military glory . After much reflection , I felt convinced that the eminent virtue of a few citizens had been the cause of all these successes ; and hence it had happened that poverty had triumphed over riches , and a few over a multitude . And even in later times , when the state had become corrupted by luxury and indolence , the republic still supported itself , by its own strength , under the misconduct of its generals and magistrates ; when , as if the parent stock were exhausted , there was certainly not produced at Rome , for many years , a single citizen of eminent ability . Within my recollection , however , there arose two men of remarkable powers , though of very different character , Marcus Cato and Caius Cæsar , whom , since the subject has brought them before me , it is not my intention to pass in silence , but to describe , to the best of my ability , the disposition and manners of each .
Their birth , age , and eloquence , were nearly on an equality ; their greatness of mind similar , as was also their reputation , though attained by different means . Cæsar grew eminent by generosity and munificence ; Cato by the integrity of his life . Cæsar was esteemed for his humanity and benevolence ; austereness had given dignity to Cato . Cæsar acquired renown by giving , relieving , and pardoning ; Cato by bestowing nothing . In Cæsar , there was a refuge for the unfortunate ; in Cato , destruction for the bad . In Cæsar , his easiness of temper was admired ; in Cato , his firmness . Cæsar , in fine , had applied himself to a life of energy and activity ; intent upon the interest of his friends , he was neglectful of his own ; he refused nothing to others that was worthy of acceptance , while for himself he desired great power , the command of an army , and a new war in which his talents might be displayed . But Cato ' s ambition was that of temperance , discretion , and , above all , of austerity ; he did not contend in splendor with the rich , or in faction with the seditious , but with the brave in fortitude , with the modest in simplicity , with the temperate in abstinence ; he was more desirous to be , than to appear , virtuous ; and thus , the less he courted popularity , the more it pursued him .