TALES OF THE ROMANS
vessels out to sea, and the galleys retire into the faint distance, and he was left in Utica.
In the evening he read very deeply. The book he studied was written by the wise Greek, Plato. His sword used to hang over his couch where he lay. It had been removed by his son, who had a fear lest Cato should slay himself. On Cato discovering that the sword was gone, he asked one of his slaves the reason, and, not being satisfied with the answer, struck the slave such a blow on the mouth that he injured his own hand. I am sorry to have to tell you this incident, for it shows that Cato, with all his courage and faithfulness, was hard of heart toward his servants.
At length he regained the sword.
Through the night he sometimes read and sometimes slept a little; and as the birds began to sing at dawn he drew the sword from its sheath, stabbed himself in the breast, and soon afterward died.
I have already told you of another Cato. This one who died at Utica is called Cato the Younger.
TWO NOBLE BROTHERS
“HORROR! Two snakes on the bed!” shouted a Roman gentleman; and he was about to slay the reptiles.
“Stay, sir!” cried a slave. “Had you not bet-
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