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respect on this gentle relaxation of his usual rigour and austerity。
In fine； Favonius himself mingled with the crowd； and sitting among
the spectators； clapped and applauded Cato； bade him bestow rewards on
those who did well； and called on the people to pay their honours to
him； as for himself he had placed his whole authority in Cato's hands。
At the same time； Curio； the colleague of Favonius； gave very
magnificent entertainments in another theatre； but the people left
his； and went to those of Favonius； which they much applauded； and
joined heartily in the diversion； seeing him act the private man；
and Cato the master of the shows； who； in fact； did all this in
derision of the great expenses that others incurred； and to teach
them； that in amusements men ought to seek amusement only； and the
display of a decent cheerfulness； not great preparations and costly
magnificence； demanding the expenditure of endless care and trouble
about things of little concern。
After this； Scipio； Hypsaeus； and Milo； stood to be consuls； and
that not only with the usual and now recognized disorders of bribery
and corruption； but with arms and slaughter； and every appearance of
carrying their audacity and desperation to the length of actual
civil war。 Whereupon it was proposed that Pompey might be empowered to
preside over that election。 This Cato at first opposed； saying that
the laws ought not to seek protection from Pompey； but Pompey from the
laws。 Yet the confusion lasting a long time； the forum continually； as
it were； besieged with three armies； and no possibility appearing of a
stop being put to these disorders； Cato at length agreed that；
rather than fall into the last extremity； the senate should freely
confer all on Pompey； since it was necessary to make use of a lesser
illegality as a remedy against the greatest of all； and better to
set up a monarchy themselves than to suffer a sedition to continue
that must certainly end in one。 Bibulus； therefore； a friend of
Cato's； moved the senate to create Pompey sole consul； for that either
he would reestablish the lawful government； or they should serve under
the master。 Cato stood up； and； contrary to all expectation；
seconded this motion； concluding that any government was better than
mere confusion； and that he did not question but Pompey would deal
honourably； and take care of the commonwealth thus committed to his
charge。 Pompey being hereupon declared consul； invited Cato to see him
in the suburbs。 When he came； he saluted and embraced him very kindly；
acknowledged the favour he had done him； and desired his counsel and
assistance； in the management of this office。 Cato made answer； that
what he had spoken on any former occasion was not out of hate to
Pompey； nor what he had now done out of love to him； but all for the
good of the commonwealth； that in private； if he asked him； he would
freely give his advice； and in public； though he asked him not； he
would always speak his opinion。 And he did accordingly。 For first；
when Pompey made severe laws； for punishing and laying great fines
on those who had corrupted the people with gifts； Cato advised him
to let alone what was already passed； and to provide for the future；
for if he should look up past misdemeanours； it would be difficult
to know where to stop； and if he would ordain new penalties； it
would be unreasonable to punish men by a law； which at that time
they had not the opportunity of breaking。 Afterwards； when many
considerable men； and some of Pompey's own relations； were accused；
and he grew remiss； and disinclined to the prosecution； Cato sharply
reproved him； and urged him to proceed。 Pompey had made a law； also；
to forbid the custom of making commendatory orations in behalf of
those that were accused； yet he himself wrote one for Munatius
Plancus； and sent it while the cause was pleading； upon which Cato；
who was sitting as one of the judges； stopped his ears with his hands；
and would not hear it read。 Whereupon Plancus； before sentence was
given； excepted against him； but was condemned notwithstanding。 And
indeed Cato was a great trouble and perplexity to almost all that were
accused of anything； as they feared to have him one of their judges；
yet did not dare to demand his exclusion。 And many had been
condemned because； by refusing him； they seemed to show that they
could not trust to their own innocence； and it was a reproach thrown
in the teeth of some by their enemies； that they had not accepted Cato
for their judge。
In the meanwhile； Caesar kept close with his forces in Gaul； and
continued in arms； and at the same time employed his gifts； his
riches； and his friends above all things； to increase his power in the
city。 And now Cato's old admonitions began to rouse Pompey out of
the negligent security in which he lay； into a sort of imagination
of danger at hand； but seeing him slow and unwilling； and timorous
to undertake any measures of prevention against Caesar； Cato
resolved himself to stand for the consulship； and presently force
Caesar either to lay down his arms or discover his intentions。 Both
Cato's competitors were persons of good position； Sulpicius； who was
one； owed much to Cato's credit and authority in the city； and it
was thought unhandsome and ungratefully done； to stand against him；
not that Cato himself took it ill。 〃For it is no wonder。〃 said he； 〃if
a man will not yield to another； in that which he esteems the greatest
good。〃 He had persuaded the senate to make an order； that those who
stood for offices should themselves ask the people for their votes；
and not solicit by others； nor take others about with them to speak
for them； in their canvass。 And this made the common people very
hostile to him； if they were to lose not only the means of receiving
money； but also the opportunity of obliging several persons； and so to
become by his means both poor and less regarded。 Besides this； Cato
himself was by nature altogether unfit for the business of canvassing；
as he was more anxious to sustain the dignity of his life and
character than to obtain the office。 Thus by following his own way
of soliciting； and not suffering his friends to do those things
which take away the multitude； he was rejected and lost the
consulship。
But whereas； upon such occasions； not only those who missed the
office； but even their friends and relations； used to feel
themselves disgraced and humiliated； and observed a sort of mourning
for several days after； Cato took it so unconcernedly that he anointed
himself； and played at ball in the field； and after breakfasting； went
into the forum； as he used to do； without his shoes or his tunic；
and there walked about with his acquaintance。 Cicero blames him； for
that when affairs required such a consul； he would not take more
pains； nor condescend to pay some court to the people； as also because
that he afterwards neglected to try again； whereas he had stood a
second time to