Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/416

 408 CATO THE YOUNGER. give his counsel, refused to come. Then Cato threatened to seize his goods, as was the custom in the case of those who were disohedient ; 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. Muna- tius 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, and 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 tal- ents 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 Cenchrete, was lost,