Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/421

 CATO THE YOUNGER. 413 provinces to the consuls, one of whom was to have Spain and Africa, the other Egypt and Syria, with full power of making war, and carrying it on both by sea and land, as they should think fit. When this was proposed, all others despaired of putting any stop to it, and neither did nor said any thing against it. But Cato, before the voting began, went up into the place of speaking, and desiring to be heard, was with much difficulty allowed two hours to speak. Having spent that time in informing them and reasoning with them, and in foretelling to them much that was to come, he was not suffered to speak any longer ; but as he was going on, a serjeant came and pulled him down; yet when he was down, he still con- tinued speaking in a loud voice, and finding many to lis- ten to him, and join in his indignation. Then the Ser- jeant took him, and forced him out of the forum • but as soon as he got loose, he returned again to the place of speaking, crying out to the people to stand by him. When he had done thus several times, Trebonius grew very angry, and commanded him to be carried to prison ; but the multitude followed him, and listened to the speech which he made to them, as he went along ; so that Trebonius began to be afraid again, and ordered him to be released. Thus that day was expended, and the busi- ness staved off by Cato. But in the days succeeding, many of the citizens being overawed by fears and threats, and others won by gifts and favors, Aquillius, one of the tribunes, they kept by an armed force within the senate- house ; Cato, who cried, it thundered, they drove out of the forum ; many were wounded, and some slain ; and at length by open force they passed the law. At this many were so incensed, that they got together, and were going to throw down the statues of Pompey ; but Cato went, and diverted them from that design. Again, another law was proposed, concerning the prov-