Note 



lamp than of the dunghill. But in 

 the T>e re rustica of Cato we have 

 a convincingly practical handbook. 



Marcus Porcius Cato died one 

 hundred and forty-nine years before 

 the Christian era. He is usually 

 called the Censor, to distinguish him 

 from his great grandson of the same 

 name, '^the last republican," who 

 committed suicide at Utica, when 



'^cuncta terrarum subacid 

 Praeter atrocem animum Catonisf* 



The elder Cato was the type of 

 Roman produced by the most vigor- 

 ous days of the republic. Born at 

 Tusculum on the narrow acres which 

 his peasant forefathers had tilled in 

 the intervals of military service, he 

 commenced advocate at the coun- 

 try assizes, followed his fortunes to 

 Rome and there became a leader of 

 the metropolitan bar. He saw gal- 

 ant military service in Greece and 

 in Spain, commanded an army, held 

 [III 



