MARCUS CATO. 349

his books, as having been a good man. He is said, how- ever, to have borne the loss moderately, and like a phi- losopher, and was nothing the more remiss in attending to affairs of state ; so that he did not, as Lucius Lucullus and Metellus Pius did, grow languid in his old age, as though public business were a duty once to be discharged, and then quitted ; nor did he, like Scipio Africanus, be- cause envy had struck at his glory, turn from the public, and change and pass away the rest of his life without doing any thing ; but as one persuaded Dionysius, that the most honorable tomb he could have, would be to die in the exercise of his dominion; so Cato thought that old age to be the most honorable, which was busied in public affairs ; though he would, now and then, when he had leisure, recreate himself with husbandry and writing. And, indeed, he composed various books and histories ; and in his youth, he addicted himself to agriculture for profit's sake ; for he used to say, he had but two ways of getting — agriculture and parsimony ; and now, in his old age, the first of these gave him both occupation and a subject of study. He wrote one book on country mat- ters,* in which he treated particularly even of making cakes, and preserving fruit ; it being his ambition to be curious and singular in all things. His suppers, at his country-house, used also to be plentiful ; he daily invited his friends and neighbors about him, and passed the time merrily with them ; so that his company was not only agreeable to those of the same age, but even to younger men ; for he had had experience in many things, and had been concerned in much, both by word and deed, that was worth the hearing. He looked upon a good table, as the best place for making friends ; where the commenda- tions of brave and good citizens were usually introduced, and little said of base and unworthy ones ; as Cato would • De re rustica.