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everything to the utmost； to this end he was always present at selling
the things； and went carefully into all the accounts。 Nor would he
trust to the usual customs of the market； but looked doubtfully upon
all alike； the officers； criers； purchasers； and even his own friends；
and so in fine he himself talked with the buyers； and urged them to
bid high； and conducted in this manner the greatest part of the sales。
This mistrustfulness offended most of his friends； and in
particular； Munatius； the most intimate of them all； became almost
irreconcilable。 And this afforded Caesar the subject of his severest
censures in the book he wrote against Cato。 Yet Munatius himself
relates； that the quarrel was not so much occasioned by Cato's
mistrust； as by his neglect of him； and by his own jealousy of
Canidius。 For Munatius also wrote a book concerning Cato； which is the
chief authority followed by Thrasea。 Munatius says； that coming to
Cyprus after the other； and having a very poor lodging provided for
him； he went to Cato's house； but was not admitted； because he was
engaged in private with Canidius； of which he afterwards complained in
very gentle terms to Cato； but received a very harsh answer； that
too much love； according to Theophrastus； often causes hatred； 〃and
you；〃 he said； 〃because you bear me much love； think you receive too
little honour； and presently grow angry。 I employ Canidius on
account of his industry and his fidelity； he has been with me from the
first； and I have found him to be trusted。〃 These things were said
in private between them two； but Cato afterwards told Canidius what
had passed； on being informed of which； Munatius would no more go to
sup with him； and when he was invited to give his counsel； refused
to come。 Then Cato threatened to seize his goods； as was the custom in
the case of those who were disobedient； but Munatius not regarding his
threats； returned to Rome； and continued a long time thus
discontented。 But afterwards； when Cato was come back also； Marcia；
who as yet lived with him； contrived to have them both invited to
sup together at the house of one Barca； Cato came in last of all； when
the rest were laid down； and asked； where he should be。 Barca answered
him； where he pleased； then looking about； he said he would be near
Munatius； and went and placed himself next to him； yet he showed him
no other mark of kindness all the time they were at table together。
But another time； at the entreaty of Marcia； Cato wrote to Munatius
that he desired to speak with him。 Munatius went to his house in the
morning and was kept by Marcia till all the company was gone； then
Cato came； threw both his arms about him； and embraced him very kindly
they were reconciled。 I have the more fully related this passage；
for that I think the manners and tempers of men are more clearly
discovered by things of this nature； than by great and conspicuous
actions。
Cato got together little less than seven thousand talents of silver；
but apprehensive of what might happen in so long a voyage by sea； he
provided a great many coffers that held two talents and five hundred
drachmas apiece； to each of these he fastened a long rope； and to
the other end of the rope a piece of cork； so that if the ship
should miscarry； it might be discovered whereabout the chests lay
under water。 Thus all the money； except a very little； was safely
transported。 But he had made two books； in which all the accounts of
his commission were carefully written out； and neither of these was
preserved。 For his freedman Philargyrus； who had the charge of one
of them； setting sail from Cenchreae； was lost； together with the ship
and all her freight。 And the other Cato himself kept safe till he came
to Corcyra； but there he set up his tent in the market…place； and
the sailors； being very cold in the night； made a great many fires；
some of which caught the tents； so that they were burnt； and the
book lost。 And though he had brought with him several of Ptolemy's
stewards； who could testify to his integrity； and stop the mouths of
enemies and false accusers； yet the loss annoyed him； and he was vexed
with himself about the matter； as he had designed them not so much for
a proof of his own fidelity； as for a pattern of exactness to others。
The news did not fail to reach Rome that he was coming up the river。
All the magistrates； the priests； and the whole senate； with great
part of the people； went out to meet him； both the banks of the
Tiber were covered with people； so that his entrance was in
solemnity and honour not inferior to a triumph。 But it was thought
somewhat strange； and looked like willfulness and pride； that when the
consuls and praetors appeared； he did not disembark nor stay to salute
them； but rowed up the stream in a royal galley of six banks of
oars； and stopped not till he brought his vessels to the dock。
However； when the money was carried through the streets； the people
much wondered at the vast quantity of it； and the senate being
assembled； decreed him in honourable terms an extraordinary
praetorship； and also the privilege of appearing at the public
spectacles in a robe faced with purple。 Cato declined all these
honours； but declaring what diligence and fidelity he had found in
Nicias； the steward of Ptolemy； he requested the senate to give him
his freedom。
Philippus； the father of Marcia； was that year consul； and the
authority and power of the office rested in a manner in Cato； for
the other consul paid him no less regard for his virtue's sake than
Philippus did on account of the connection between them。 And Cicero；
now being returned from his banishment； into which he was driven by
Clodius； and having again obtained great credit among the people；
went； in the absence of Clodius； and by force took away the records of
his tribuneship； which had been laid up in the capitol。 Hereupon the
senate was assembled and Clodius complained of Cicero； who answered；
that Clodius was never legally tribune； and therefore whatever he
had done was void； and of no authority。 But Cato interrupted him while
he spoke； and at last standing up said； that indeed he in no way
justified or approved of Clodius's proceedings： but if they questioned
the validity of what had been done in his tribuneship； they might also
question what himself had done at Cyprus； for the expedition was
unlawful； if he that sent him had no lawful authority： for himself； he
thought Clodius was legally made tribune； who； by permission of the
law； was from a patrician adopted into a plebeian family； if he had
done ill in his office； he ought to be called to account for it； but
the authority of the magistracy ought not to suffer for the faults
of the magistrate。 Cicero took this ill； and for a long time
discontinued his friendship with Cato； but they were afterwards
reconciled。
Pompey and Crassus； by agreement with Caesar； who crossed the Alps
to see them； had formed a design； tha