Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/448

 440 CATO THE YOUNGER. demanded his sword. To one of them he gave such a blow in the mouth, that he hurt his own hand; and now grew more angry, exclaiming that he was betrayed and delivered naked to the enemy by his son and his servants. Then his son, with the rest of his friends, came running into the room, and falling at his feet, began to lament and beseech him. But Cato raising up himself, and look- ing fiercely, " When," said he, " and how did I become deranged, and out of my senses, that thus no one tries to persuade me by reason, or show me what is better, if I am supposed to be ill-advised ? Must I be disarmed, and hin- dered from using my own reason ? And you, young man, why do not you bind your father's hands behind him, that when Caesar comes, he may find me unable to defend myself? To dispatch myself I want no sword ; I need but hold my breath awhile, or strike my head against the wall." When he had thus spoken, his son went weeping out of the chamber, and with him all the rest, except Deme- trius and Apollonides, to whom, being left alone with him, he began to speak more calmly. " And you," said he, " do you also think to keep a man of my age alive by force, and to sit here and silently watch me ? Or do you bring me some reasons to prove, that it will not be oase and unworthy for Cato, when he can find his safety no other way, to seek it from his enemy ? If so, adduce your arguments, and show cause why we should now un- learn what we formerly were taught, in order that reject- ing all the convictions in which we lived, we may now by Caasar's help grow wiser, and be yet more obliged to him, than for life only. Not that I have determined aught concerning myself, but I would have it in my power to perform what I shall think fit to resolve ; and I shall not fail to take you as my advisers, in holding counsel, as I shall do, with the doctrines which your philosophy teaches-