Cato: Orationum Fragmenta

17. Cogitate cum animis vetris: si quid vos per laborem recte feceritis, labor ille a vobis cito recedet, bene factum vobis, dum vivitis, non abscedet; sed si quae per voluptatem nequiter feceritis, voluptas cito abibit, nequiter factum illud apud vos smeper manebit.(Gell. 16.1.1)

17. Consider with your minds: if you shall have done anything rightly through labor, that labor will quickly recede from you; the good deed, while you live, will not depart from you. But if you shall have done anything wickedly through pleasure, the pleasure will quickly go away; that wickedly done deed will remain with you always.(Gell. 16.1.1)

18. Maiores seorsum atque divorsum pretium paravere bonis atque strenuis, decurionatus, optionatus, hastas donaticas, aliosque honores.(Fest. p. 200, 9)

18. The elders set apart and separately prepared reward for the good and strenuous, decurionates, optionships, donative spears, and other honors.(Fest. p. 200, 9)

II. De Triumpho ad Populum (194 B.C.)

2. On the Triumph to the People (194 B.C.)

19. Asperirime atque arduissimo aditu.(Prisc. GL II p. 87, 15)

19. Most rough and with a most arduous approach.(Prisc. GL 2 p. 87, 15)

III. Apud Athenienses (191 B.C.)

3. Among the Athenians (191 B.C.)

20. Antiochus epistulis bellum gerit, calamo et atramento militat.(Iul. Rufin.

20. Antiochus wages war by epistles, he serves as a soldier with the reed-pen and ink.(Jul. Rufin.

RhL p. 40, 7)

IV. Dierum Dictarum de Consulatu Suo (191/190 B.C.)

4. Of the Days Appointed Concerning His Consulship (191/190 B.C.)

21. Egoque iam pridem cognovi atque intellexi atque arbitror rem publicam curare industrie summum periculum esse.(Char. p. 263, 5)

21. And I, long since, have learned and understood, and I judge that to care for the republic industriously is the highest peril.(Char. p. 263, 5)

22. Atque quamquam multa nova miracula fecere inimici mei, tamen nequeo desinere mirari eorum audaciam atque confidentiam.(Char. p. 297, 11)

22. And although my enemies have wrought many new marvels, nevertheless I cannot cease to marvel at their audacity and confidence.(Char. p. 297, 11)

23. Ei rei dant operam, ut mihi falso maledicatur.(Char. p. 259, 24)

23. They devote effort to this matter, that I be falsely slandered.(Char. p. 259, 24)

24. Re[movendi maledictores].(Fest. p. 140, 29)

24. [Maledictors are to be removed].(Fest. p. 140, 29)

25. Secus aetatem agerem quam illi egissent.(Char. p. 285, 1)

25. I would pass my age otherwise than they had passed [theirs].(Char. p. 285, 1)

26. Videtote quanto secus ego fecerim.(Char. p. 279, 28)

26. See how much otherwise I have done.(Char. p. 279, 28)

27. Omnia ab integro paranda erant.(Serv. ad buc.

27. Everything had to be prepared afresh from the beginning.(Serv. ad buc.

4, 5)

28. Laudant me maximis laudibus, tantum navium, tantum exercitum, tantum [com]meatum non opinatum esse quemquam hominem comparare potuisse; id me tam maturrime comparavisse.(Char. p. 266, 24)

28. They laud me with the greatest praises, that so many ships, so great an army, so much provision it had not been opined that any man could have prepared; that I had prepared it so very early.(Char. p. 266, 24)

29. Deinde postquam Massillam praeterimus, inde omem classem ventus auster lenis fert; mare velis florere videres. Ultra angulum Gallicum ad Illiberim atque Rucinonem deferimur: inde nocte aura profecti sumus.(Char.

29. Then, after we pass Massilia, from there a gentle south wind, Auster, bears the whole fleet; you would see the sea bloom with sails. Beyond the Gallic angle we are carried to Illiberis and Rucinon; from there by night we set out with a breeze.(Char.

p. 269, 8)

30. Ita nos fert ventus ad primorem Pyrenaeum, quo proicit in altum.(Gell. 4.17.15)

30. Thus the wind bears us to the foremost Pyrenaean, which projects into the deep.(Gell. 4.17.15)

31. Mihi atque classi obviam fiunt.(Char. p. 271, 1)

31. They come to meet me and the fleet.(Char. p. 271, 1)

32. Omnia tumultus plena, simul hostium copiae magnae contra me sedebant; usquequaque lacessebamur.(Char. p. 287, 13)

32. All things were full of tumult; at the same time great forces of the enemy were encamped against me; everywhere we were being provoked.(Char. p. 287, 13)

33. Eas res non posse sustineri nisi eo praesidia magna frumentumque [mittantur]. Nam ita dicunt palam necessum esse obcuratum.(Char. p. 270, 16)

33. that these matters cannot be sustained unless to that place great garrisons and grain [be sent]. For thus, they say openly, it is necessary to be provided for.(Char. p. 270, 16)

34. Interea ad socios nostros sedulo dispertieram, alio frumentum, allo legatos, alio litteras, allo praesidim usquequaque. (Char. p. 287, 13)

34. Meanwhile I had diligently distributed to our allies, to one place grain, to another legates, to another letters, to another a garrison everywhere. (Char. p. 287, 13)

35. Interea unamquamque turmam manipulum cohortem temptabam quid facere possent; proeliis levibus spectabam cuiusmodi quisque esset; si quis strenue fecerat, donabam honeste, ut alii idem vellent facere, atque in contione verbis multis laudabam. Interea aliquo [p]au[ca] castra feci. Sed ubi anni tempus venit, castra hiberna . . .(Fronto p. 123, 2)

35. Meanwhile I was testing each squadron, maniple, cohort, what they could do; in light skirmishes I was observing of what sort each one was; if anyone had acted strenuously, I honorably bestowed a donative, so that others would wish to do the same, and in the assembly I praised him with many words. Meanwhile I made camp a few times somewhere. But when the season of the year came, the winter camp . . .(Fronto p. 123, 2)

36. Postquam auspicavi atque exercitum adduxi pone [versus] castra hostium.(Char. p. 277, 24)

36. After I took the auspices and led the army behind [toward] the enemy’s camp.(Char. p. 277, 24)

37. Nostros pone versus hosteis esse ab dextra parte.(Char. p. 277, 27)

37. that our men, to the rear, facing the enemies, were on the right side.(Char. p. 277, 27)

38. Iam apud vallum nostri satis agebant.(Char. p. 281, 24)

38. Already at the rampart our men were doing fairly well.(Char. p. 281, 24)

39. Me sollicitum atque exercitum habitum esse atque porro fore.(Char. p. 275, 18)

39. That I have been kept anxious and harried, and hereafter will be.(Char. p. 275, 18)

40. Itaque porro in Turtam proficiscor servatum illos.(Char. p. 275, 18)

40. And so then I proceed into Turta to preserve them.(Char. p. 275, 18)

41. Inde pergo porro ire in Turtam. (Char. p. 275, 18)

41. Thence I proceed further to go into Turta. (Char. p. 275, 18)

42. Si cuperent hostes fieri, temere fieri nunc possent.(Char. p. 285, 27)

42. If they wished to become enemies, they could now become so rashly.(Char. p. 285, 27)

43. Ridibundum magistratum gerere, pauculos homines mediocriculum exercitum obvium duci.(Fest. p. 142, 17)

43. To conduct a risible magistracy, for a few men a rather mediocre little army to be led to meet.(Fest. p. 142, 17)

44. Id ego primo minus animadverti; veniunt iterum atque tertium tumultuosius.(Char. p. 286, 23)

This I at first observed less; they come again and a third time more tumultuously. (Char. p. 286, 23)

45. Eam ego viam pedetemptim temptabam.(Char. p. 277, 1)

45. I was attempting that way step by step.(Char. p. 277, 1)

46. Qui maximis vicibus ac vicissim.(Char. p. 288, 29)

46. who with the greatest vicissitudes and in turn.(Char. p. 288, 29)

47. Recto fronte ceteros sequi si norit.(Fest. p. 364, 1)

47. if he knows how to follow the others with a straight front.(Fest. p. 364, 1)

48. Ego mihi haec monimenta sempiterno posui quae cepi.(Char. p. 282, 14)

48. I have set up for myself these sempiternal monuments which I took.(Char. p. 282, 14)

49. Item ubi ab Thermopuleis atque ex Asia maximo tumultus maturissime disieci atque consedavi.(Char. p. 266, 16)

49. Likewise, when from Thermopylae and out of Asia I most swiftly scattered and settled the greatest tumults.(Char. p. 266, 16)

50. Censores qui posthac fiunt, formidulosius atque segnius atque timidius pro re publica nitentur. (Char. p. 286, 23)

50. The censors who hereafter are appointed will strive for the republic more fearfully and more sluggishly and more timidly. (Char. p. 286, 23)

*51. Cato nihi oppertus ut alii de se praedicarent, ipse in oratione sua scriptum reliquit cum in Hispaniam consul proficisceretur, tris servos solos ex urbe duxisse; quoniam ad villam publicam venerat, parum visum qui uteretur, iussisse duos pueros in foro de mensa emi, eos quinque in Hispaniam duxisse. (Apul. apol. 17.9)

*51. Cato, not waiting for others to proclaim about him, himself left it written in his own oration that, when he as consul was setting out into Spain, he led only three slaves from the city; since he had come to the public villa, and they seemed too few for him to make use of, he ordered two boys to be bought at a stall in the forum, and he led those five into Spain. (Apul. apol. 17.9)

*52. Navitae . . . vinum atque oleum, uer . . . (Fest. p. 170, 22)

*52. Sailors . . . wine and oil, spring . . . (Fest. p. 170, 22)

*53. Idem Cato cum in Hispaniam navigaret, unde cum triumpho rediit, non aliud vinum bibit quam remiges. (Plin. N.H. 14.91)

*53. The same Cato, when he was navigating to Spain, whence he returned with a triumph, drank no other wine than the rowers. (Plin. N.H. 14.91)

V. Dissuasio Legis Iuniae de Feneratione (191 or 190 B.C.)

5. Dissuasion of the Junian Law on Moneylending (191 or 190 B.C.)

56. Camerini cives nostri oppidum pulchrum habuere, agrum optimum atque pulcherrimum, rem fortunatissimam. Cum Romam veniebant, prorsus devertebantur pro hospitibus ad amicos suos. (Fest. p. 268, 7)

56. The Camerini, our fellow-citizens, possessed a beautiful town, land most excellent and most beautiful, a most fortunate estate. When they came to Rome, they would simply turn aside, as guests, to their friends. (Fest. p. 268, 7)

57. Tertio autem pedato item ex fenore discordia excrescebat.(Non. p. 89, 18)

57. But at the third foot-apportionment, likewise, from usury, discord kept increasing.(Non. p. 89, 18)

VI. In Q. Minucium Thermum de Falsis Pugnis (190 B.C.)

6. Against Q. Minucius Thermus on False Battles (190 B.C.)

58. Dixit a decemviris parum bene sibi cibaria curata esse. iussit vestimenta detrahi atque flagro caedi. Decemviros Bruttiani verberavere, videre multi mortales.

58. He said that by the decemvirs his rations had been cared for not well enough. He ordered the garments to be stripped off and to be beaten with the scourge. The Bruttians flogged the decemvirs; many mortals saw.

Quis hanc contumaliam, quis hoc imperium, quis hanc servitutem ferre potest? Nemo hoc rex ausus est facere: eane fieri bonis, bono genere gnatis, boni consultis? Ubi societas?

Who can bear this contumely, who this command, who this servitude? No king has dared to do this: is this to be done to good men, born of good lineage, men of good counsel? Where is the partnership?

Ubi fides maiorum? Insignitas iniurias, plagas, verbera, vibices, eos dolores atque carnificinas per dedecus atque maximam contumeliam, inspectantibus popularibus suis atque multis mortalibus, te facere ausum esse? Set quantum luctum, quantum gemitum, quid lacrimarum, quantum fletum factum audivi!

Where is the faith of the ancestors? Signal injuries, blows, lashes, weals, those dolors and butcheries, through disgrace and the greatest contumely, with his fellow-countrymen and many mortals looking on—did you dare to do these? But how much mourning, how much groaning, what a quantity of tears, how much weeping I heard was made!

Servi iniurias nimis aegre ferunt: quid illos, bono genere gnatos, magna virtute praeditos, opinamini animi habuisse atque habituros, dum vivent? (Gell. 10,3.14)

Slaves bear injuries too grievously: what do you opine the spirit of those men—born of good stock, endowed with great virtue—has been and will be, while they live? (Gell. 10,3.14)

VII. In Q. Minucium Thermum de Decem Hominibus (190 B.C.)

7. Against Quintus Minucius Thermus concerning Ten Men (190 B.C.)

59. Tuum nefarium facinus peiore facinore operire postulas, succidias humanas facis, tantam trucidationem facis, decem funera facis, decem capita libera interficis, decem hominibus vitam eripis indicta causa, iniudicatis, incondemnatis.(Gell. 13.25.12)

59. you demand to cover your nefarious crime with a worse crime; you practice human butchery, you commit so great a slaughter, you make ten funerals, you kill ten free persons, you snatch life from ten men with no charge declared, untried, uncondemned.(Gell. 13.25.12)

60. Rumorem, famam flocci fecit [inter]cutibus stupris obstinatus, insignibus flagitiis.(Fest. p. 209, 29)

60. He reckoned rumor and reputation at a trifle, obstinate in perineal debaucheries, in conspicuous flagitious crimes.(Fest. p. 209, 29)

61. [Neque fidem, neque iusiurandum,] neque pud[icitiam multifacit] . . .(Fest. p. 140, 17)

61. [Neither faith, nor oath,] nor pud[icity does he make much of] . . .(Fest. p. 140, 17)

62. . . . erant, ne mala . . . t, scelera nefaria fie . . . [sacrame]nto traderetur lege est . . .(Fest. p. 466, 2)

62. . . . there were, lest evils . . . , that nefarious crimes be do . . . by [sacrame]nt it be handed over, it is by law . . .(Fest. p. 466, 2)

63. Ut solent, . . . [son]ivios, nisi qui sempiterni sunt, quos . . . . . . rant, ne[c] spiciunt neque ratos [existimant].(Fest. p. 466, 14)

63. As they are accustomed, . . . dreams, unless they are sempiternal, which . . . , they neither inspect nor deem ratified.(Fest. p. 466, 14)

Orationum in Q. Minucium Thermum Reliquiae Incertae Sedis

Fragments of the Speeches Against Quintus Minucius Thermus, of Uncertain Position

64. Erga rem publicam multa beneficii ratissima atque gratissima.(Fest. p. 364, 17)

64. Toward the Republic, many benefits, most ratified and most gratifying.(Fest. p. 364, 17)

65. Postquam diutius fitur. (Prisc. GL II p. 377, 10)

65. After it has gone on for a longer time. (Prisc. GL II p. 377, 10)

VIII. In M.' Acilium Glabrionem (190 B.C.)

8. Against Manius Acilius Glabrio (190 B.C.)

66. Postquam navitas ex navibus eduxi, non ex militibus atque nautis piscatores penatores feci, sed arma dedi.(Fest. p. 268, 22)

66. After I led the seamen out of the ships, I did not make fishermen—net-fishers—from soldiers and sailors, but I gave arms.(Fest. p. 268, 22)

IX. De Pecunia Regis Antiochi (187 B.C.)

9. On the Money of King Antiochus (187 B.C.)

67. M. Cato suasit rogationem (sc. Petilliorum) exstat oratio eius de pecunia regis Antiochi: et Mummios tribunos auctoritate deterruit, ne adversarentur rogationi. (Liv. 38.54.11)

67. M. Cato urged the rogation (i.e., of the Petillii); his oration on the money of King Antiochus is extant: and he deterred the Mummian tribunes by his authority, lest they oppose the rogation. (Liv. 38.54.11)

X. De Coniuratione

10. On the Conspiracy

68. precem.

68. a prayer.

XI. In L. Quinctium Flamininum

11. Against L. Quinctius Flamininus

69. censores M. Porcius et L. Valerius metu mixta exspectatione senatum legerunt; septem moverunt senatu, ex quibus unum insignem et nobilitate et honoribus, L. Quinctium Flamininum consularem. patrum memoria institutum fertur, ut censores motis senatu adscriberent notas. Catonis et aliae quidem acerbae orationes exstant in eos, quos aut senatorio loco movit aut quibus equos ademit: longe gravissima in L. Quinctium oratio est, qua si accusator ante notam, non censor post notam usus esset, retinere L. Quinctium in senatu ne frater quidem T. Quinctius, si tum censor esset, potuisset.

69. the censors M. Porcius and L. Valerius, with expectation mixed with fear, chose the senate; they removed seven from the senate, among whom one distinguished both in nobility and in honors, L. Quinctius Flamininus, a man of consular rank. It is reported that in the memory of the fathers a practice was instituted, that the censors would append notes to those removed from the senate. Of Cato there exist indeed other bitter orations against those whom he either removed from senatorial place or from whom he took away their horses: by far the most grave oration is against L. Quinctius, by which, if an accuser had used it before the mark, and not a censor after the mark, not even his brother T. Quinctius, if he were censor at that time, could have retained L. Quinctius in the senate.

inter cetera obiecit ei Philippum Poenum, carum ac nobile scortum, ab Roma in Galliam provinciam spe ingentium donorum perductum. eum puerum, <per> lasciviam cum cavillaretur, exprobrare consuli [per]saepe solitum, quod sub ipsum spectaculum gladiatorium abductus ab Roma esset, ut obsequium amatori venditaret. forte epulantibus iis, cum iam vino incaluissent, nuntiatum in convivio esse nobilem Boium cum liberis transfugam venisse; convenire consulem velle, ut ab eo fidem praesens acciperet.

Among the rest he charged against him Philip the Carthaginian, a dear and well-known courtesan, brought from Rome into the province of Gaul by the hope of huge gifts. That boy, when in <per> wantonness he would bandy jests, was [per]often accustomed to upbraid the consul, because he had been carried off from Rome right at the gladiatorial spectacle itself, in order to vend obsequious attendance to his lover. By chance, while they were feasting, when already they had grown warm with wine, it was announced at the banquet that a noble Boiian had come over as a deserter with his children; he wished to meet the consul, that he might receive a pledge of good faith from him in person.

introductum in tabernaculum per interpretem adloqui consulem coepisse. inter cuius sermonem Quinctius scorto 'vis tu', inquit 'quoniam gladiatorium spectaculum reliquisti, iam hunc Gallum morientem videre?' et cum is vixdum serio adnuisset, ad nutum scorti consulem stricto gladio, qui super caput pendebat, loquenti Gallo caput primum percussisse, deinde, fugienti fidemque populi Romani atque eorum, qui aderant, imploranti latus transfodisse. (Liv.

that, having been brought into the tent, he began to address the consul through an interpreter. During whose speech Quinctius said to the prostitute, 'Do you wish, since you have left the gladiatorial spectacle behind, now to see this Gaul dying?' And when he had scarcely nodded in earnest, at the nod of the prostitute the consul, with the sword drawn that was hanging above his head, first struck the Gaul, who was speaking, on the head, then, as he fled and implored the faith of the Roman people and of those who were present, transfixed his side. (Liv.

39.42.5-12)

70. in extrema oratione Catonis condicio Quinctio fertur, ut si id factum negaret ceteraque, quae obiecisset, sponsione defenderet sese: sin fateretur, ignominiane sua quemquam doliturum censeret, cum ipse vino et venere amens sanguine hominis in convivio lusisset?(Liv. 39.43.5)

70. at the end of Cato’s speech, terms are said to have been proposed to Quinctius: that if he denied that deed and the other things which he had objected, he should defend himself by sponsion; but if he confessed, did he suppose that anyone would grieve at his disgrace, since he himself, maddened by wine and venery, had played with a man’s blood at a banquet?(Liv. 39.43.5)

71. aliud est, Philippe, amor, longe aliud est cupido. accesit ilico alter, ubi alter recissit; alter bonus, alter malus.

71. Love is one thing, Philip; far another is cupidity. The one comes immediately when the other recedes; the one good, the other bad.