CHAP. II.
AS touching Cato I besought thee not to trouble thy selfe about him,* 1.1 for I told thee that a wise man could neither bee iniured by words or deeds: but that the immortall Gods had giuen vs in Cato a more liuing example of a wise man, then either Vlisses or Hercules in former ages. For these haue our Stoickes pronounced to be wise men inuincible in labours, contemners of pleasure, and conquerours in all Countries. Cato contended not with sauage beasts, which Huntsmen and Pesants are to prosecute and hunt; neither by fire and sword subdued he•• mon∣sters; neither liued hee in those times wherein it was thought that one man could carry the whole heauen on his shoulders, for these•• old fables are out of credite, and men in these daies are better aduised. But he waging warre against ambition, a monster of diuers formes, and with the immesurable desire of rule (which the whole world being diuided into three parts could not satisfie) a∣gainst the vices of a degenerate City, that sun••ke vnder the waight of her owne burthen, stood alone and vph••ld the decaying Common-weale, as much as one hand could then sustaine, vntill such time as being either rauished or torne from his Country, he accompained long time the ruine that he had sustained, vntill such time that such things (which without hainous crimes could not be separa∣ted) were extinguished together•• For neither did Cato liue after liberty was lost, neither liberty after Catoes death. Thinkest thou the people could in any sort iniury this man, because they either tooke from him the Praetorshippe or his Gowne, or soyled his most sacred head with the excrements of their mouths. A wise man is secure, neither can hee bee touched with any iniurie or contu∣melie.