In the portion which follows, the bard dwells of
Octavianus
as to those of Sulla.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - a
It was corner where his irresolution could not lurk, and
a time for decisive and strong measures. Caesar from which he bad not strength to break forth, he
was not now to be fought by laws or resolutions, deeply felt that the only way to preserve his high
and the time for negotiation was past. Cato re- personal character and unbending moral dignity,
commended a temporizing policy. Thoughts of and to leave to posterity a lofty Roman name, was
patriotic philanthropy were uppermost in his mind. to die. For the particulars of his death, which
He made Pompey promise to pillage no Roman our limits prevent us from giving, we must refer
town, and, except in battle, to put to death no our readers to the graphic account of Plutarch.
Roman citizen.
After spending the greater part of the night in
The senate entrusted Cato, as propraetor, with perusing Plato's Phaedo several times, he stabbed
the defence of Sicily; but, on the landing of Curio himself below the breast, and in falling overturned
with three of Caesar's legions, Cato, thinking re- an abacus. His friends, hearing the noise, ran up,
sistance useless, instead of defending the island, found him bathed in blood, and, while he was
took flight, and proceeded to join Pompey at Dyr-fainting, dressed his wound. When however he
rachium. Little confidence was placed in his mili- recovered feeling, he tore open the bandages, let
tary skill, or in the course that he would pursue if out his entrails, and expired, B. C. 46, at the age of
his party succeeded ; for, though it was now his forty-nine.
object to crush the rebellion of Caesar, it was There was deep grief in Utica on account of his
felt that his efforts might soon be directed to death. The inhabitants buried him on the coast,
limit the power of Pompey. After Pompey's vic- and celebrated his funeral with much pomp.
tory at Dyrrachium, Cato was left in charge of the statue, with sword in hand, was erected to his
camp, and was thus saved from being present memory on the spot, and was still standing when
at the disastrous battle of Pharsalia. (B. C. 48. ) Plutarch wrote.
After this battle, he set sail for Corcyra with the Caesar had hastened his march in order to catch
troops and the fleet left in his charge ; but he Cato ; but arriving too late, he exclaimed, “ Cato,
offered to resign his command to Cicero, who was I grudge thee thy death, since thou hast grudged
now anxious for a reconciliation with Caesar. me the glory of sparing thy life. ”
Cicero, a man equally incompetent to command, The only existing composition of Cato (not to
declined the offer. Cato now proceeded to Africa, count the speech in Sallust) is a letter written in
where he hoped to find Pompey; but on his route B. C. 50. It is a civil refusal in answer to an ela-
he received intelligence from Cornelia of Pom-borate letter of Cicero, requesting that Cato would
pey's assassination. After a circuitous voyage he use his intiuence to procure him a triumph. (Cice
effected a landing, and was admitted by the inha- ad Fam. xv. 4–6. )
A
i
## p. 650 (#670) ############################################
650
CATO.
CATO.
Cato soon became the subject of biography and nianam venditurum. ” (Cic. ad Qu. Fr. Ü. 6. )
panegyric. Shortly after his death appeared Ci- Afterwards he made himself useful to the triumviri
cero's “ Cato," which provoked Caesar's “ Anti- by delaying the comitia in order to promote the
cało," also called “ Anticatones," as it consisted of election of Pompey and Crassus, when they were
two books; but the accusations of Caesar appear candidates for the consulship in B. C. 55. In his
to have been wholly unfounded, and were not be- manæuvre on this occasion he was assisted by
lieved by his contemporaries. Works like Cicero's Nonius Sufenas, one of his colleagues in the tri-
Cato were published by Fabius Gallus, and M. bunate. (Dion Cass. xxxvii. 27, 28. ) In the
Brutus. In Lucan the character of Cato is a per- following year he and Sufenas were accused of
sonification of godlike virtue. In modern times, violating the Lex Junia et Licinia and the Lex
the closing events of to's life have been often Fufia, by proposing laws without due notice and
dramatized. Of the French plays on this subject on improper days. (Ascon. in Cic. pro Scauro. )
that of Deschamps (1715) is the best; and few Cato was defended by C. Licinius Calvus and M.
dramas have gained more celebrity than the Cato Scaurus, and obtained an acquittal, which, how-
of Addison. (Plut. Cato Minor; Sall. Catil. 54 ; ever, was chiefly owing to the interest of Pompey.
Tacit. Hist. iv, 8; Cic. ad Att. i. 18, ii. 9; Senec. (Cic. ad Att. iv. 5, 6. )
[J. T. G. ]
Ep. 95 ; Val. Max. vi. 2. & 5; Lucan, i. 128, ii. 380; On the coins of the Porcia gens, we find only
Hor. Carm. i. 12. 35, ii. 1,24; Virg. Aen. vi. 841, the names of C. Cato and M. Cato. Who the
viii. 670; Juv. xi. 90; Drumann's Gesch. Roins, former was, is quite uncertain; the latter is M.
v. p. 153. )
Cato of Utica. In the two coins annexed the ob-
10, 11. PORCIAR. [Porcia. ]
verse of the former represents the head of Pallas,
12. M. Porcius Cato, a son of Cato of Utica
[No. 9] by Atilia. He accompanied his father
upon his flight from Italy, and was with him at
Utica on the night of his death. Caesar pardoned
him, and allowed him to possess his father's pro-
perty. (Bell. Afr. 89. ) After Caesar's death, he
attached himself to M. Brutus, his sister's husband,
and followed him from Macedonia to Asia. He
was a man of warm and sensual temperament, the reverse Victory in a biga ; the obverse of the
much addicted to illicit gallantry. His long stay latter a female head, the reverse Victory sitting.
in Cappadocia on a visit to Marphadates, who
had a very beautiful wife named Psyche, gave
occasion to the jest that the young Cato and his
host had but one soul (Psyche) between them.
(Plut. Cato Minor, 73. ) At the battle of Philippi
(B. C. 42) he behaved bravely, and sold his life
dearly.
iCRIX
13. Porcius Cato, son of Cato of Utica [No.
9] by Marcia, and therefore half-brother of No. CATO, VALE'RIUS, a distinguished gramma-
12. Nothing more is known of him than that, at rian and poet, who flourished at Rome during the
the commencement of the civil war, he was sent last years of the republic. Some persons asserted,
by his father to Munatius Rufus at Bruttium. that he was of Gaulish extraction, the freedman of
(Plut. Cato Min. 52. )
a certain Bursenus; but he himself, in a little work
14. Porcia. (PORCIA. ]
entitled Indignatio, maintained, that he was pure
15. A son or daughter of Cato of Utica (No. 9), from all servile stain, that he had lost his father
and a sister or brother of Nos. 13 and 14, as we while still under age, and had been stripped of his
know that Cato of Utica had three children by patrimony during the troubles which attended the
Marcia. (Lucan, ii. 331. )
usurpation of Sulla. Having studied under Philo-
16. C. Porcius Cato, of uncertain pedigree, comus with Lucilius for a text-book, he afterwards
perhaps descended from No. 5. He appears in acted as preceptor to many persons of high station,
the early part of his life as an opponent of Pom- and was considered particularly successful in train-
Pey.
In B. c. 59, he wanted to accuse A. Gabi- ing such as had a turn for poetry. In this manner
nius of ambitus, but the praetors gave him no he seems to have accumulated considerable wealth;
opportunity of preferring the accusation against for we find that at one period he was the possessor
Pompey's favourite. This so vexed him, that he of a magnificent abode at Tusculum ; but, having
called Pompey privatum dictatorem, and his bold fallen into difficulties, he was obliged to yield up
ness nearly cost him his life. (Cic. ad Qu. Fr. i. this villa to his creditors, and retired to a poor
2. & 9. ) In B. C. 56, he was tribune of the plebs, hovel, where the remainder of his life, which was
and prevented the Romans from assisting Ptoleny prolonged to extreme old age, was passed in the
Auletes with troops, by getting certain priests to greatest penury. In addition to various works
read to the people some Sibylline verses which upon grammatical subjects, he was the author of
threatened Rome with danger if such aid were poems also, of which the Lydia and the Diana
given to a king of Egypt. (Dion Cass. xxxix. 15. ) were the most celebrated. The fame thus acquired
He took the side of Clodius, and Milo in revenge by him as an author and a teacher is commemo-
raised a laugh against him in the following man- rated in the following complimentary distich, proba-
per :--Cato used to go about attended by a gang bly from the pen of some admiring contemporary :
of gladiators, whom he was too poor to support. “ Cato Grammaticus, Latina Siren,
Milo, learning this, employed a stranger to buy Qui solus legit, ac facit poetas. "
them of him, and then got Racilius the tribune to Suetonius (de Mustr. Grain. 1-9), to whom ex.
make a public announcement, “ se familiam Cato-clusively we are indebted for all these particulars
و 08:
nacci
a
## p. 651 (#671) ############################################
CATO.
651
CATUALDA.
services.
has presersed, in addition tn the above lines, short | minor poems attributed to Virgil, and in several
testimonies from Ticida and Cinna to the merits of the are specifically ascribed to him. Moreover, in the
Lydia and the Diana, together with two epigrams by catalogues of Virgil's works drawn up by Donatus
Furius Bibaculus (BIBACULUS), which contrast, in and by Servius,“ Dirae” are included. Joseph
no very feeling terms, the splendour of Cato in the Scaliger, however, considering that in language and
full Aush of his fame and prosperity—“ unicum versitication the Dirae bore no resemblance what-
magistrum, summum grammaticum, optimum poe- ever to the acknowledged compositions of Virgil,
tam"—with his subsequent distress and poverty. and that the sentiments expressed were completely
From the circumstance already noticed, that Caio at variance with the gentle and submissive spirit
devoted much attention in his earlier years to the which Virgil displayed under like circumstances,
productions of Lucilius, he is probably the Cato was convinced that he could not be the author;
named in the prooemium to the tenth satire of Ho- but, recollecting, on the other hand, that the inci-
race (lib. i. ), and may be the same with the Cato dents described and the name of Lydia correspond-
addressed by Catullus (lvi. ), and with the Cato ed in some degree with the details transmitted to
classed by Ovid (Trist. ii. 435) along with Ticida, us with regard to Valerius Cato, determined, that
Memmius, Cinna, Anser, and Cornificius.
they must be from the pen of that grammarian ;
In all the collections of the minor Latin poets and almost all subsequent editors have acquiesced
will be found 183 hexameter verses, which, ever in the decision. It is manifest, however, that the
since the time of Joseph Scaliger, have been known conclusion has been very rashly adopted. Grant-
under the title “ Valerii Catonis Dirae. ” We ga-ing that we are entitled to neglect the authority of
ther from the context, that the lands of the au- the MSS. , which in this case is perhaps not very
thor had been confiscated during civil strife, and important, and to remove these pieces from the
assigned to veteran soldiers as a reward for their works of Virgil, still the arguments on which they
Filled with wrath and indignation on have been so confidently transferred to Cato are
account of this cruel injustice and oppression, the singularly weak. We can build nothing upon the
rightful owner solemnly devotes to destruction the fictitious name of Lydia ; and even if we grant
fields he had loved so well. Then in gentler mood that the estate of Cato was actually distributed
he dwells upon the beauty of the scenes he was among the veterans of Sulla, although of this we
about to quit for ever; scarcely tearing himself have not the slightest evidence, we know well that
away from an eminence whence he was gazing on hundreds of others suffered under a like calamity.
his flocks, he bids a last farewell to then and his Nor is there anything in the context by which we
adored Lydia, to whom he vows eternal constancy. can fix the epoch of the forfeiture in question. All
Such is the argument as far as the end of the 103d the circumstances are just as applicable to the times
line.
In the portion which follows, the bard dwells of Octavianus as to those of Sulla.
with envy on the ſelicity of the rural retreats 3. The discordant opinions which have been en-
haunted by his beautiful mistress, and complains tertained with regard to Battarus are spoken of
of his relentless destiny, which had separated him under BATTARUS.
from the object of his passion. It must also be The Dirae were first printed at the end of the
observed, that in the first line we find an invoca- editio princeps of Virgil, at Rome, by Sweynbeim
tion of some person, place, or thing, designated by and Pannartz in 1469, and are always included
the appellation of Battarus —" Battare cycneas among the early impressions of the Catalecta. They
repetamus carmine voces”—and that this word oc- appeared in an independent form at Leyden (12mo.
curs again and again, as far as line 97, forming a 1652), under the inspection of Christopher Arnold,
sort of burden to the song. These matters being who adopted the corrected text of Scaliger. Since
premised, it remains for us to investigate, 1. The that period, they have been edited by Eichstädt
connexion and arrangement of the different parts (Jena, 4to. 1826), and with very complete prole
of the “ Dirae. ” 2. The real author. 3. What gomena by Putsch (Jena, 8vo. 1828), whose work
we are to understand by Battarus.
was reprinted at Oxford by Dr. Giles in 1838.
1. To all who read the lines in question with They are to be found also in the “Anthologia” of
care it will at once become evident, that they in Burmann (vol. ii. p. 647), and in the “Poetae La-
reality constitute two pieces, and not one. The tini Minores” of Wernsdorff (vol. iii. p. xlv. &c. ),
first, containing the imprecations, and addressed to who prefixed a very learned dissertation on various
Battarus, concludes with l. 103, and is completely topics connected with the work. An essay by
distinct in subject, tone, spirit, and phraseology, Näke, who bad prepared a new edition of Valerius
from the second, which ought always to be printed Cato for the press, appeared in the “Rheinisches
as a separate strain. This opinion was first ad Museum” for 1828.
[W. R. ]
vanced by F. Jacobs (Bibliothek der alien Literatur CATO, VE'TTIUS. [Scato. ]
und Kunst, p. ix. p. 56, Götting. 1792), and has been CATO'NIUS JUSTUS, a centurion in one of
fully adopted by Putsch, the most recent editor. The the Pannonian legions which revolted on the acces-
confusion probably arose from the practice common sion of Tiberius, A. D. 14. When the insurrection
among the ancient scribes of copying two or more was quelled by Drusus, Catonius and some others
compositions of the same author continuously, with- were sent to Tiberius to sue for pardon. (Tac.
out interposing any space or mark to point out that Ann. i. 29; Dion Cass. lx. 18. ) [L. S. )
they had passed from one to another. The error, CATTUME'RUS, a chief of the German tribe
once introduced, was in this case perpetuated, from of the Catti, from whom the mother of Italicus, the
the circumstance, tbat both poems speak of the Cheruscan chief, was descended. (Tac. Ann. xi. 16. )
charms of certain rural scenes, and of the beauty He is probably the same as the one whom Strabo
of Lydia, although in the one these objects are (vii. p. 292) calls Ucromerus.
[L. S. ]
regarded with feelings very different from those CATUALDA, a noble yonth of the German
expressed in the other.
tribe of the Gotones. Dreading the violence of
2. ln all MSS. these lines are found among the 'Maroboduus, he took to flight; but when the power
## p. 652 (#672) ############################################
652
CATULLUS.
CATULLUS.
success.
of Maroboduus was in its decline, Catualda resolved to Bithynia in the train of the praetor Memmius,
opon taking vengeance. He assembled a large but it is clear from the bitter complaints which lie
force, and invaded the country of the Marcomanni. pours forth against the exclusive cupidity of his
Maroboduus fied across the Danube, and solicited chief, that the speculation was attended with little
the protection of the emperor Tiberius. But Ca-
tualda in his turn was conquered soon after by the The death of his brother in the Troad-a loss
Hermunduri under the command of Vibilius. He which he repeatedly deplores with every mark of
was made prisoner, and sent to Forum Julium in heartfelt grief, more especially in the affecting
Gallia Narbonensis. (Tac. Ann. ii. 62, 63. ) [L. S. ] elegy to Hortalus— is generally supposed to have
CATUGNATUS, the leader of the Allobroges happened during this expedition. But any evi-
in their revolt against the Romans in B. C. 61, de- dence we possess leads to a different inference.
feated Manlius Lentinus, the legate of C. Pomp When railing against the evil fortune which
tinus, the praetor of the province, and would bave attended the journey to the East, he makes no
destroyed his whole army but for a violent tempest allusion to any such misfortune as this; we find no
which arose. Afterwards Catugnatus and his army notice of the event in the pieces written immedi-
were surrounded by C. Pomptinus near Solonium, ately before quitting Asia and immediately after
who made them all prisoners with the exception of his return to ltaly, nor does the language of those
Catugnatus himself. (Dion Cass. xxxvii. 47, 48; passages in which he gives vent to his sorrow in
comp. Liv. Epit. 103 ; Cic. de Prov. Cons. 13. ) any way confirm the conjecture.
CATULLUS, VALE'RIUS, whose praenomen That Catullus plunged into all the debauchery
is altogether omitted in many MSS. , while several, of his times is evident from the tone which per-
with Apuleius (Apolog. ), designate him as Caius, vades so many of his lighter productions, and
and a few of the best with Pliny (H. N. xxxvii. that he enjoyed the friendship of the most cele
6) as Quintus, was a native of Verona or its imme buted literary characters, seems clear from the
diate vicinity, as we learn from the testimony of individuals to whom many of his pieces are
many ancient writers (e. g. Ov. Am. iii. 15. 17; addressed, among whom we find Cicero, Alphe-
Plin. l. c. ; Martial, i. 62, x. 103, xiv. 195; Auson. nus Varus, Licinius Calvus, the orator and poet,
Drep. &c. ). According to Hieronymus in the Cinnan author of the Smyrna, and several others.
Eusebian Chronicle, he was born in the consulship The lady-love who is the theme of the greater
of Cinna and Octavius, B. C. 87, and died in his number of his amatory effusions is styled Lesbia,
thirtieth year, B. c. 57. The second date is un- but her real name we are told by Apuleius was
doubtedly erroneous, for we have positive evidence Clodia. This bare fact by no means entitles us to
from his own works that he survived not only the jump to the conclusion at which many have arrived,
second consulship of Pompey, B. C. 55, and the that she was the sister of the celebrated Clodius
expedition of Caesar into Britain, but that he was slain by Milo. Indeed the presumption is strong
alive in the consulship of Vatinius, B. C. 47. (Carm. against such an inference. The tribute of high-
lii. and cxi. ) We have no reason, however, to flown praise paid to Cicero would have been but a
conclude that the allusion to Mammurra, contained bad recommendation to the favour of one whom
in a letter written by Cicero (ad Att. xiii. 52) in the orator makes the subject of scurrilous jests, and
B. C. 45, refers to the lampoon of Catullus; we can who is said to have cherished against him all the
attach no weight to the argument, deduced by vindictive animosity of a woman first slighted and
Joseph Scaliger from an epigram of Martial (iv. 14), then openly insulted. Catullus was warın in his
that he was in literary correspondence with Virgil resentments as well as in his attachments. No
after the reputation of the latter was fully estab prudential considerations interfered with the free
and still less can we admit that there is expression of his wrath when provoked, for he
the slightest ground for the assertion, that the attacks with the most bitter vehemence not only
hymn to Diana was written for the secular games his rivals in love and poetry, but scruples not on
celebrated by Augustus in B. c. 17. He may have two occasions to indulge in the most offensive im
outlived the consulship of Vatinius, but our certain putations on Julius Caesar. This petulance was
knowledge does not extend beyond that period. probably the result of some temporary cause of
Valerius, the father of Catullus, was a person of irritation, for elsewhere he seems fully disposed to
some consideration, for he was the friend and treat this great personage with respect (cxi. 10),
habitual entertainer of Julius Caesar (Suet. Jul. and his rashness was productive of no unpleasant
73), and his son must have possessed at least a consequences to himself or to his family, for not
moderate independence, since in addition to his only did Caesar continue upon terms of intimacy
paternal residence on the beautiful promontory of with the father of Catullus, but at once accepied
Sirmio, he was the proprietor of a villa in the the apology tendered by the son, and admitted him
vicinity of Tibur, and performed a voyage from the on the same day as a guest at his table. (Suet.
Pontus in his own yacht. On the other hand, Jul. 73. )
when we observe that he took up his abode at The works of Catullus which have come down to
Rome and entered on his poetical career while still us consist of a series of 116 poems, thrown to-
in the very spring of youth (lxviii. 15), that he gether apparently at random, with scarcely an
mingled with the gayest society and indulged freely attempt at arrangement. The first of these is an
in the most expensive pleasures (ciii. ) of the metro- epistle dedicatory to a certain Cornelius, the author
polis, we need feel no surprise that he should have of some historical compendium. The grammarians
become involved in pecuniary difficulties, nor doubt decided that this must be Cornelius Nepos, and
the sincerity of his frequent humorous lamentations consequently entitled the collection Valcrii Catulli
over the empty purses of himself and his associates. ad Cornelium Nepotem Liber. The pieces are of
These embarrassments may have induced him to different lengths, but most of them are very short.
make an attempt to better his fortunes, according They refer to such a variety of topics, and are
to the approved fashion of the times, by proceeding composed in so many different styles and different
lished;
## p. 653 (#673) ############################################
CATULLUS.
653
CATULUS.
metres, that it is almost impossible to classify them The epithet doctus applied to our pnet by Tibul-
bystematically. A few, such as the hymn to lus, Ovid, Martial, and others, has given rise to
Diana (xxxiv. ), the translation from Sappho (li. ), i considerable discussion. It was bestowed, in all
the address to Furius and Aurelius, and the two probability, in consequence of the intimate ac-
Ilymenaeal lays (lxi. lxii. ), especially the former, quaintance with Greck literature and mythology
may be considered as strictly lyrical. The Nup displayed in the Atys, the Peleus, and many other
tials of Peleus and Thetis, which extends to upwards pieces, which bear the strongest internal marks of
of 400 Hexameter lines, is a legendary heroic being formed upon Greek models. Catullus also,
poem ; the four which are numbered lxiv. -lxvii. , it must be remembered, was the first who natural-
although bearing little resemblance to each other ized many of the more beautiful species of Greek
either in matter or manner, fall under the head of verse, and Horace can only claim the merit of
elegies ; the Atys stands alone as a religious poem having extended the number. At the same time,
of a description quite peculiar, and the great mass most of the shorter poems bear deep impress of
of those which remain may be comprehended under original invention, are strikingly national, and
the general title of epigrams, provided we employ have a strong flavour of the old republican rough-
that term in its widest acceptation, as including ness. Nay more, as a German critic has well re-
all short, occasional, fugitive compositions, suggested marked, even when he employs foreign materials
by some passing thought and by the ordinary oc- he works them up in such a manner as to give
currences of every-day social life. From the nature them a Roman air and character, and thus ap-
of the case it is probable that many such effusions proaches much more nearly to Lucretius and the
would be lost, and accordingly Pliny (H. N. xxviii. ancients than to the highly polished and artificial
2) makes mention of verses upon love-charms of school of Virgil and the Augustans. Hence arose
which no trace remains, and Terentianus Maurus the great popularity he enjoyed among his country-
notices some Ithyphallica. On the other hand, the men, as proved by the long catalogue of testiinonies
Ciris and the Pervigilium Veneris have been erro from the pens of poets, historians, philosophers,
neously ascribed to our author.
men of science, and grammarians. Horace alor. 9
Notwithstanding his remarkable versatility, it speaks in a somewhat contemptuous strain, but
may be affirmed with absolute truth, that Catullus this is in a passage where he is professedly depre-
adorned all he touched. We admire by turns, in ciating the older bards, towards whom he so often
the lighter efforts of his muse, his unaffected ease, displays jealousy.
playful grace, vigorous simplicity, pungent wit, and The poems of Catullus were first discovered
slashing invective, while every lively conception is about the beginning of the 14th century, at Verona,
developed with such matchless felicity of expres- by a poet named Benvenuto Campesani. None of
sion, that we may almost pronounce them perfect the MSS. at present known ascend higher than
in their kind. The lament for his brother's death the 15th century, and all of them appear to have
is a most touching outburst of genuine grief, while been derived from the same archetype. Hence, as
the elegy which immediately follows, on the trans- might be expected, the text is very corrupt, and
formation of Berenice's hair into a constellation, has been repeatedly interpolated.
being avowedly a translation or close imitation of The Editio Princeps bears the date 1472, with-
Callimachus, is a curious and valuable specimen of out the name of place or printer ; a second appeared
the learned stiffness and ingenious affectation of at Parma in 1472, and two at Venice in 1475
the Alexandrian school. It is impossible not to and 1485 respectively. In the sixteenth century
admire the lofty tone and stately energy which Muretus and Achilles Statius, and in the seven-
pervade the Peleus and Thetis ; and the sudden teenth Passeratius and Isaac Vossius, published
transition from the desolation and despair of Ariadne elaborate and valuable commentaries, but their
to the tumultuous merriment of Bacchus and his attempts to improve the text were attended with
revellers is one of the finest examples of contrast little success.
a time for decisive and strong measures. Caesar from which he bad not strength to break forth, he
was not now to be fought by laws or resolutions, deeply felt that the only way to preserve his high
and the time for negotiation was past. Cato re- personal character and unbending moral dignity,
commended a temporizing policy. Thoughts of and to leave to posterity a lofty Roman name, was
patriotic philanthropy were uppermost in his mind. to die. For the particulars of his death, which
He made Pompey promise to pillage no Roman our limits prevent us from giving, we must refer
town, and, except in battle, to put to death no our readers to the graphic account of Plutarch.
Roman citizen.
After spending the greater part of the night in
The senate entrusted Cato, as propraetor, with perusing Plato's Phaedo several times, he stabbed
the defence of Sicily; but, on the landing of Curio himself below the breast, and in falling overturned
with three of Caesar's legions, Cato, thinking re- an abacus. His friends, hearing the noise, ran up,
sistance useless, instead of defending the island, found him bathed in blood, and, while he was
took flight, and proceeded to join Pompey at Dyr-fainting, dressed his wound. When however he
rachium. Little confidence was placed in his mili- recovered feeling, he tore open the bandages, let
tary skill, or in the course that he would pursue if out his entrails, and expired, B. C. 46, at the age of
his party succeeded ; for, though it was now his forty-nine.
object to crush the rebellion of Caesar, it was There was deep grief in Utica on account of his
felt that his efforts might soon be directed to death. The inhabitants buried him on the coast,
limit the power of Pompey. After Pompey's vic- and celebrated his funeral with much pomp.
tory at Dyrrachium, Cato was left in charge of the statue, with sword in hand, was erected to his
camp, and was thus saved from being present memory on the spot, and was still standing when
at the disastrous battle of Pharsalia. (B. C. 48. ) Plutarch wrote.
After this battle, he set sail for Corcyra with the Caesar had hastened his march in order to catch
troops and the fleet left in his charge ; but he Cato ; but arriving too late, he exclaimed, “ Cato,
offered to resign his command to Cicero, who was I grudge thee thy death, since thou hast grudged
now anxious for a reconciliation with Caesar. me the glory of sparing thy life. ”
Cicero, a man equally incompetent to command, The only existing composition of Cato (not to
declined the offer. Cato now proceeded to Africa, count the speech in Sallust) is a letter written in
where he hoped to find Pompey; but on his route B. C. 50. It is a civil refusal in answer to an ela-
he received intelligence from Cornelia of Pom-borate letter of Cicero, requesting that Cato would
pey's assassination. After a circuitous voyage he use his intiuence to procure him a triumph. (Cice
effected a landing, and was admitted by the inha- ad Fam. xv. 4–6. )
A
i
## p. 650 (#670) ############################################
650
CATO.
CATO.
Cato soon became the subject of biography and nianam venditurum. ” (Cic. ad Qu. Fr. Ü. 6. )
panegyric. Shortly after his death appeared Ci- Afterwards he made himself useful to the triumviri
cero's “ Cato," which provoked Caesar's “ Anti- by delaying the comitia in order to promote the
cało," also called “ Anticatones," as it consisted of election of Pompey and Crassus, when they were
two books; but the accusations of Caesar appear candidates for the consulship in B. C. 55. In his
to have been wholly unfounded, and were not be- manæuvre on this occasion he was assisted by
lieved by his contemporaries. Works like Cicero's Nonius Sufenas, one of his colleagues in the tri-
Cato were published by Fabius Gallus, and M. bunate. (Dion Cass. xxxvii. 27, 28. ) In the
Brutus. In Lucan the character of Cato is a per- following year he and Sufenas were accused of
sonification of godlike virtue. In modern times, violating the Lex Junia et Licinia and the Lex
the closing events of to's life have been often Fufia, by proposing laws without due notice and
dramatized. Of the French plays on this subject on improper days. (Ascon. in Cic. pro Scauro. )
that of Deschamps (1715) is the best; and few Cato was defended by C. Licinius Calvus and M.
dramas have gained more celebrity than the Cato Scaurus, and obtained an acquittal, which, how-
of Addison. (Plut. Cato Minor; Sall. Catil. 54 ; ever, was chiefly owing to the interest of Pompey.
Tacit. Hist. iv, 8; Cic. ad Att. i. 18, ii. 9; Senec. (Cic. ad Att. iv. 5, 6. )
[J. T. G. ]
Ep. 95 ; Val. Max. vi. 2. & 5; Lucan, i. 128, ii. 380; On the coins of the Porcia gens, we find only
Hor. Carm. i. 12. 35, ii. 1,24; Virg. Aen. vi. 841, the names of C. Cato and M. Cato. Who the
viii. 670; Juv. xi. 90; Drumann's Gesch. Roins, former was, is quite uncertain; the latter is M.
v. p. 153. )
Cato of Utica. In the two coins annexed the ob-
10, 11. PORCIAR. [Porcia. ]
verse of the former represents the head of Pallas,
12. M. Porcius Cato, a son of Cato of Utica
[No. 9] by Atilia. He accompanied his father
upon his flight from Italy, and was with him at
Utica on the night of his death. Caesar pardoned
him, and allowed him to possess his father's pro-
perty. (Bell. Afr. 89. ) After Caesar's death, he
attached himself to M. Brutus, his sister's husband,
and followed him from Macedonia to Asia. He
was a man of warm and sensual temperament, the reverse Victory in a biga ; the obverse of the
much addicted to illicit gallantry. His long stay latter a female head, the reverse Victory sitting.
in Cappadocia on a visit to Marphadates, who
had a very beautiful wife named Psyche, gave
occasion to the jest that the young Cato and his
host had but one soul (Psyche) between them.
(Plut. Cato Minor, 73. ) At the battle of Philippi
(B. C. 42) he behaved bravely, and sold his life
dearly.
iCRIX
13. Porcius Cato, son of Cato of Utica [No.
9] by Marcia, and therefore half-brother of No. CATO, VALE'RIUS, a distinguished gramma-
12. Nothing more is known of him than that, at rian and poet, who flourished at Rome during the
the commencement of the civil war, he was sent last years of the republic. Some persons asserted,
by his father to Munatius Rufus at Bruttium. that he was of Gaulish extraction, the freedman of
(Plut. Cato Min. 52. )
a certain Bursenus; but he himself, in a little work
14. Porcia. (PORCIA. ]
entitled Indignatio, maintained, that he was pure
15. A son or daughter of Cato of Utica (No. 9), from all servile stain, that he had lost his father
and a sister or brother of Nos. 13 and 14, as we while still under age, and had been stripped of his
know that Cato of Utica had three children by patrimony during the troubles which attended the
Marcia. (Lucan, ii. 331. )
usurpation of Sulla. Having studied under Philo-
16. C. Porcius Cato, of uncertain pedigree, comus with Lucilius for a text-book, he afterwards
perhaps descended from No. 5. He appears in acted as preceptor to many persons of high station,
the early part of his life as an opponent of Pom- and was considered particularly successful in train-
Pey.
In B. c. 59, he wanted to accuse A. Gabi- ing such as had a turn for poetry. In this manner
nius of ambitus, but the praetors gave him no he seems to have accumulated considerable wealth;
opportunity of preferring the accusation against for we find that at one period he was the possessor
Pompey's favourite. This so vexed him, that he of a magnificent abode at Tusculum ; but, having
called Pompey privatum dictatorem, and his bold fallen into difficulties, he was obliged to yield up
ness nearly cost him his life. (Cic. ad Qu. Fr. i. this villa to his creditors, and retired to a poor
2. & 9. ) In B. C. 56, he was tribune of the plebs, hovel, where the remainder of his life, which was
and prevented the Romans from assisting Ptoleny prolonged to extreme old age, was passed in the
Auletes with troops, by getting certain priests to greatest penury. In addition to various works
read to the people some Sibylline verses which upon grammatical subjects, he was the author of
threatened Rome with danger if such aid were poems also, of which the Lydia and the Diana
given to a king of Egypt. (Dion Cass. xxxix. 15. ) were the most celebrated. The fame thus acquired
He took the side of Clodius, and Milo in revenge by him as an author and a teacher is commemo-
raised a laugh against him in the following man- rated in the following complimentary distich, proba-
per :--Cato used to go about attended by a gang bly from the pen of some admiring contemporary :
of gladiators, whom he was too poor to support. “ Cato Grammaticus, Latina Siren,
Milo, learning this, employed a stranger to buy Qui solus legit, ac facit poetas. "
them of him, and then got Racilius the tribune to Suetonius (de Mustr. Grain. 1-9), to whom ex.
make a public announcement, “ se familiam Cato-clusively we are indebted for all these particulars
و 08:
nacci
a
## p. 651 (#671) ############################################
CATO.
651
CATUALDA.
services.
has presersed, in addition tn the above lines, short | minor poems attributed to Virgil, and in several
testimonies from Ticida and Cinna to the merits of the are specifically ascribed to him. Moreover, in the
Lydia and the Diana, together with two epigrams by catalogues of Virgil's works drawn up by Donatus
Furius Bibaculus (BIBACULUS), which contrast, in and by Servius,“ Dirae” are included. Joseph
no very feeling terms, the splendour of Cato in the Scaliger, however, considering that in language and
full Aush of his fame and prosperity—“ unicum versitication the Dirae bore no resemblance what-
magistrum, summum grammaticum, optimum poe- ever to the acknowledged compositions of Virgil,
tam"—with his subsequent distress and poverty. and that the sentiments expressed were completely
From the circumstance already noticed, that Caio at variance with the gentle and submissive spirit
devoted much attention in his earlier years to the which Virgil displayed under like circumstances,
productions of Lucilius, he is probably the Cato was convinced that he could not be the author;
named in the prooemium to the tenth satire of Ho- but, recollecting, on the other hand, that the inci-
race (lib. i. ), and may be the same with the Cato dents described and the name of Lydia correspond-
addressed by Catullus (lvi. ), and with the Cato ed in some degree with the details transmitted to
classed by Ovid (Trist. ii. 435) along with Ticida, us with regard to Valerius Cato, determined, that
Memmius, Cinna, Anser, and Cornificius.
they must be from the pen of that grammarian ;
In all the collections of the minor Latin poets and almost all subsequent editors have acquiesced
will be found 183 hexameter verses, which, ever in the decision. It is manifest, however, that the
since the time of Joseph Scaliger, have been known conclusion has been very rashly adopted. Grant-
under the title “ Valerii Catonis Dirae. ” We ga-ing that we are entitled to neglect the authority of
ther from the context, that the lands of the au- the MSS. , which in this case is perhaps not very
thor had been confiscated during civil strife, and important, and to remove these pieces from the
assigned to veteran soldiers as a reward for their works of Virgil, still the arguments on which they
Filled with wrath and indignation on have been so confidently transferred to Cato are
account of this cruel injustice and oppression, the singularly weak. We can build nothing upon the
rightful owner solemnly devotes to destruction the fictitious name of Lydia ; and even if we grant
fields he had loved so well. Then in gentler mood that the estate of Cato was actually distributed
he dwells upon the beauty of the scenes he was among the veterans of Sulla, although of this we
about to quit for ever; scarcely tearing himself have not the slightest evidence, we know well that
away from an eminence whence he was gazing on hundreds of others suffered under a like calamity.
his flocks, he bids a last farewell to then and his Nor is there anything in the context by which we
adored Lydia, to whom he vows eternal constancy. can fix the epoch of the forfeiture in question. All
Such is the argument as far as the end of the 103d the circumstances are just as applicable to the times
line.
In the portion which follows, the bard dwells of Octavianus as to those of Sulla.
with envy on the ſelicity of the rural retreats 3. The discordant opinions which have been en-
haunted by his beautiful mistress, and complains tertained with regard to Battarus are spoken of
of his relentless destiny, which had separated him under BATTARUS.
from the object of his passion. It must also be The Dirae were first printed at the end of the
observed, that in the first line we find an invoca- editio princeps of Virgil, at Rome, by Sweynbeim
tion of some person, place, or thing, designated by and Pannartz in 1469, and are always included
the appellation of Battarus —" Battare cycneas among the early impressions of the Catalecta. They
repetamus carmine voces”—and that this word oc- appeared in an independent form at Leyden (12mo.
curs again and again, as far as line 97, forming a 1652), under the inspection of Christopher Arnold,
sort of burden to the song. These matters being who adopted the corrected text of Scaliger. Since
premised, it remains for us to investigate, 1. The that period, they have been edited by Eichstädt
connexion and arrangement of the different parts (Jena, 4to. 1826), and with very complete prole
of the “ Dirae. ” 2. The real author. 3. What gomena by Putsch (Jena, 8vo. 1828), whose work
we are to understand by Battarus.
was reprinted at Oxford by Dr. Giles in 1838.
1. To all who read the lines in question with They are to be found also in the “Anthologia” of
care it will at once become evident, that they in Burmann (vol. ii. p. 647), and in the “Poetae La-
reality constitute two pieces, and not one. The tini Minores” of Wernsdorff (vol. iii. p. xlv. &c. ),
first, containing the imprecations, and addressed to who prefixed a very learned dissertation on various
Battarus, concludes with l. 103, and is completely topics connected with the work. An essay by
distinct in subject, tone, spirit, and phraseology, Näke, who bad prepared a new edition of Valerius
from the second, which ought always to be printed Cato for the press, appeared in the “Rheinisches
as a separate strain. This opinion was first ad Museum” for 1828.
[W. R. ]
vanced by F. Jacobs (Bibliothek der alien Literatur CATO, VE'TTIUS. [Scato. ]
und Kunst, p. ix. p. 56, Götting. 1792), and has been CATO'NIUS JUSTUS, a centurion in one of
fully adopted by Putsch, the most recent editor. The the Pannonian legions which revolted on the acces-
confusion probably arose from the practice common sion of Tiberius, A. D. 14. When the insurrection
among the ancient scribes of copying two or more was quelled by Drusus, Catonius and some others
compositions of the same author continuously, with- were sent to Tiberius to sue for pardon. (Tac.
out interposing any space or mark to point out that Ann. i. 29; Dion Cass. lx. 18. ) [L. S. )
they had passed from one to another. The error, CATTUME'RUS, a chief of the German tribe
once introduced, was in this case perpetuated, from of the Catti, from whom the mother of Italicus, the
the circumstance, tbat both poems speak of the Cheruscan chief, was descended. (Tac. Ann. xi. 16. )
charms of certain rural scenes, and of the beauty He is probably the same as the one whom Strabo
of Lydia, although in the one these objects are (vii. p. 292) calls Ucromerus.
[L. S. ]
regarded with feelings very different from those CATUALDA, a noble yonth of the German
expressed in the other.
tribe of the Gotones. Dreading the violence of
2. ln all MSS. these lines are found among the 'Maroboduus, he took to flight; but when the power
## p. 652 (#672) ############################################
652
CATULLUS.
CATULLUS.
success.
of Maroboduus was in its decline, Catualda resolved to Bithynia in the train of the praetor Memmius,
opon taking vengeance. He assembled a large but it is clear from the bitter complaints which lie
force, and invaded the country of the Marcomanni. pours forth against the exclusive cupidity of his
Maroboduus fied across the Danube, and solicited chief, that the speculation was attended with little
the protection of the emperor Tiberius. But Ca-
tualda in his turn was conquered soon after by the The death of his brother in the Troad-a loss
Hermunduri under the command of Vibilius. He which he repeatedly deplores with every mark of
was made prisoner, and sent to Forum Julium in heartfelt grief, more especially in the affecting
Gallia Narbonensis. (Tac. Ann. ii. 62, 63. ) [L. S. ] elegy to Hortalus— is generally supposed to have
CATUGNATUS, the leader of the Allobroges happened during this expedition. But any evi-
in their revolt against the Romans in B. C. 61, de- dence we possess leads to a different inference.
feated Manlius Lentinus, the legate of C. Pomp When railing against the evil fortune which
tinus, the praetor of the province, and would bave attended the journey to the East, he makes no
destroyed his whole army but for a violent tempest allusion to any such misfortune as this; we find no
which arose. Afterwards Catugnatus and his army notice of the event in the pieces written immedi-
were surrounded by C. Pomptinus near Solonium, ately before quitting Asia and immediately after
who made them all prisoners with the exception of his return to ltaly, nor does the language of those
Catugnatus himself. (Dion Cass. xxxvii. 47, 48; passages in which he gives vent to his sorrow in
comp. Liv. Epit. 103 ; Cic. de Prov. Cons. 13. ) any way confirm the conjecture.
CATULLUS, VALE'RIUS, whose praenomen That Catullus plunged into all the debauchery
is altogether omitted in many MSS. , while several, of his times is evident from the tone which per-
with Apuleius (Apolog. ), designate him as Caius, vades so many of his lighter productions, and
and a few of the best with Pliny (H. N. xxxvii. that he enjoyed the friendship of the most cele
6) as Quintus, was a native of Verona or its imme buted literary characters, seems clear from the
diate vicinity, as we learn from the testimony of individuals to whom many of his pieces are
many ancient writers (e. g. Ov. Am. iii. 15. 17; addressed, among whom we find Cicero, Alphe-
Plin. l. c. ; Martial, i. 62, x. 103, xiv. 195; Auson. nus Varus, Licinius Calvus, the orator and poet,
Drep. &c. ). According to Hieronymus in the Cinnan author of the Smyrna, and several others.
Eusebian Chronicle, he was born in the consulship The lady-love who is the theme of the greater
of Cinna and Octavius, B. C. 87, and died in his number of his amatory effusions is styled Lesbia,
thirtieth year, B. c. 57. The second date is un- but her real name we are told by Apuleius was
doubtedly erroneous, for we have positive evidence Clodia. This bare fact by no means entitles us to
from his own works that he survived not only the jump to the conclusion at which many have arrived,
second consulship of Pompey, B. C. 55, and the that she was the sister of the celebrated Clodius
expedition of Caesar into Britain, but that he was slain by Milo. Indeed the presumption is strong
alive in the consulship of Vatinius, B. C. 47. (Carm. against such an inference. The tribute of high-
lii. and cxi. ) We have no reason, however, to flown praise paid to Cicero would have been but a
conclude that the allusion to Mammurra, contained bad recommendation to the favour of one whom
in a letter written by Cicero (ad Att. xiii. 52) in the orator makes the subject of scurrilous jests, and
B. C. 45, refers to the lampoon of Catullus; we can who is said to have cherished against him all the
attach no weight to the argument, deduced by vindictive animosity of a woman first slighted and
Joseph Scaliger from an epigram of Martial (iv. 14), then openly insulted. Catullus was warın in his
that he was in literary correspondence with Virgil resentments as well as in his attachments. No
after the reputation of the latter was fully estab prudential considerations interfered with the free
and still less can we admit that there is expression of his wrath when provoked, for he
the slightest ground for the assertion, that the attacks with the most bitter vehemence not only
hymn to Diana was written for the secular games his rivals in love and poetry, but scruples not on
celebrated by Augustus in B. c. 17. He may have two occasions to indulge in the most offensive im
outlived the consulship of Vatinius, but our certain putations on Julius Caesar. This petulance was
knowledge does not extend beyond that period. probably the result of some temporary cause of
Valerius, the father of Catullus, was a person of irritation, for elsewhere he seems fully disposed to
some consideration, for he was the friend and treat this great personage with respect (cxi. 10),
habitual entertainer of Julius Caesar (Suet. Jul. and his rashness was productive of no unpleasant
73), and his son must have possessed at least a consequences to himself or to his family, for not
moderate independence, since in addition to his only did Caesar continue upon terms of intimacy
paternal residence on the beautiful promontory of with the father of Catullus, but at once accepied
Sirmio, he was the proprietor of a villa in the the apology tendered by the son, and admitted him
vicinity of Tibur, and performed a voyage from the on the same day as a guest at his table. (Suet.
Pontus in his own yacht. On the other hand, Jul. 73. )
when we observe that he took up his abode at The works of Catullus which have come down to
Rome and entered on his poetical career while still us consist of a series of 116 poems, thrown to-
in the very spring of youth (lxviii. 15), that he gether apparently at random, with scarcely an
mingled with the gayest society and indulged freely attempt at arrangement. The first of these is an
in the most expensive pleasures (ciii. ) of the metro- epistle dedicatory to a certain Cornelius, the author
polis, we need feel no surprise that he should have of some historical compendium. The grammarians
become involved in pecuniary difficulties, nor doubt decided that this must be Cornelius Nepos, and
the sincerity of his frequent humorous lamentations consequently entitled the collection Valcrii Catulli
over the empty purses of himself and his associates. ad Cornelium Nepotem Liber. The pieces are of
These embarrassments may have induced him to different lengths, but most of them are very short.
make an attempt to better his fortunes, according They refer to such a variety of topics, and are
to the approved fashion of the times, by proceeding composed in so many different styles and different
lished;
## p. 653 (#673) ############################################
CATULLUS.
653
CATULUS.
metres, that it is almost impossible to classify them The epithet doctus applied to our pnet by Tibul-
bystematically. A few, such as the hymn to lus, Ovid, Martial, and others, has given rise to
Diana (xxxiv. ), the translation from Sappho (li. ), i considerable discussion. It was bestowed, in all
the address to Furius and Aurelius, and the two probability, in consequence of the intimate ac-
Ilymenaeal lays (lxi. lxii. ), especially the former, quaintance with Greck literature and mythology
may be considered as strictly lyrical. The Nup displayed in the Atys, the Peleus, and many other
tials of Peleus and Thetis, which extends to upwards pieces, which bear the strongest internal marks of
of 400 Hexameter lines, is a legendary heroic being formed upon Greek models. Catullus also,
poem ; the four which are numbered lxiv. -lxvii. , it must be remembered, was the first who natural-
although bearing little resemblance to each other ized many of the more beautiful species of Greek
either in matter or manner, fall under the head of verse, and Horace can only claim the merit of
elegies ; the Atys stands alone as a religious poem having extended the number. At the same time,
of a description quite peculiar, and the great mass most of the shorter poems bear deep impress of
of those which remain may be comprehended under original invention, are strikingly national, and
the general title of epigrams, provided we employ have a strong flavour of the old republican rough-
that term in its widest acceptation, as including ness. Nay more, as a German critic has well re-
all short, occasional, fugitive compositions, suggested marked, even when he employs foreign materials
by some passing thought and by the ordinary oc- he works them up in such a manner as to give
currences of every-day social life. From the nature them a Roman air and character, and thus ap-
of the case it is probable that many such effusions proaches much more nearly to Lucretius and the
would be lost, and accordingly Pliny (H. N. xxviii. ancients than to the highly polished and artificial
2) makes mention of verses upon love-charms of school of Virgil and the Augustans. Hence arose
which no trace remains, and Terentianus Maurus the great popularity he enjoyed among his country-
notices some Ithyphallica. On the other hand, the men, as proved by the long catalogue of testiinonies
Ciris and the Pervigilium Veneris have been erro from the pens of poets, historians, philosophers,
neously ascribed to our author.
men of science, and grammarians. Horace alor. 9
Notwithstanding his remarkable versatility, it speaks in a somewhat contemptuous strain, but
may be affirmed with absolute truth, that Catullus this is in a passage where he is professedly depre-
adorned all he touched. We admire by turns, in ciating the older bards, towards whom he so often
the lighter efforts of his muse, his unaffected ease, displays jealousy.
playful grace, vigorous simplicity, pungent wit, and The poems of Catullus were first discovered
slashing invective, while every lively conception is about the beginning of the 14th century, at Verona,
developed with such matchless felicity of expres- by a poet named Benvenuto Campesani. None of
sion, that we may almost pronounce them perfect the MSS. at present known ascend higher than
in their kind. The lament for his brother's death the 15th century, and all of them appear to have
is a most touching outburst of genuine grief, while been derived from the same archetype. Hence, as
the elegy which immediately follows, on the trans- might be expected, the text is very corrupt, and
formation of Berenice's hair into a constellation, has been repeatedly interpolated.
being avowedly a translation or close imitation of The Editio Princeps bears the date 1472, with-
Callimachus, is a curious and valuable specimen of out the name of place or printer ; a second appeared
the learned stiffness and ingenious affectation of at Parma in 1472, and two at Venice in 1475
the Alexandrian school. It is impossible not to and 1485 respectively. In the sixteenth century
admire the lofty tone and stately energy which Muretus and Achilles Statius, and in the seven-
pervade the Peleus and Thetis ; and the sudden teenth Passeratius and Isaac Vossius, published
transition from the desolation and despair of Ariadne elaborate and valuable commentaries, but their
to the tumultuous merriment of Bacchus and his attempts to improve the text were attended with
revellers is one of the finest examples of contrast little success.
