ther and son we shall have little to do. I merely inquire what was their
position with respect to the philosophy of the time, and the nature of
their connection with Cicero.

Catulus the younger need not detain us long. It is clear from the
_Lucullus_[208] that he did little more than put forward opinions he had
received from his father. Cicero would, doubtless, have preferred to
introduce the elder man as speaking for himself, but in that case, as in
the _De Oratore_, the author would have been compelled to exclude himself
from the conversation[209]. The son, therefore, is merely the mouthpiece of
the father, just as Lucullus, in the dialogue which bears his name, does
nothing but render literally a speech of Antiochus, which he professes to
have heard[210]. For the arrangement in the case of both a reason is to be
found in their [Greek: atripsia] with respect to philosophy[211]. This
[Greek: atripsia] did not amount to [Greek: apaideusia], or else Cicero
could not have made Catulus the younger the advocate of philosophy in the
_Hortensius_[212]. Though Cicero sometimes classes the father and son
together as men of literary culture and perfect masters of Latin style, it
is very evident on a comparison of all the passages where the two are
mentioned, that no very high value was placed on the learning of the
son[213]. But however slight were the claims of Catulus the younger to be
considered a philosopher, he was closely linked to Cicero by other ties.
During all the most brilliant period of Cicero's life, Catulus was one of
the foremost Optimates of Rome, and his character, life, and influence are
often depicted in even extravagant language by the orator[214]. He is one
of the pillars of the state[215], Cicero cries, and deserves to be classed
with the ancient worthies of Rome[216]. When he opposes the Manilian law,
and asks the people on whom they would rely if Pompey, with such gigantic
power concentrated in his hands, were to die, the people answer with one
voice "On you[217]." He alone was bold enough to rebuke the follies, on the
one hand, of the mob, on the other, of the senate[218]. In him no storm of
danger, no favouring breeze of fortune, could ever inspire either fear or
hope, or cause to swerve from his own course[219]. His influence, though he
be dead, will ever live among his countrymen[220]. He was not only glorious
in his life, but fortunate in his death[221].

Apart from Cicero's general agreement with Ca