27.4
In this way Cato is said to have brought to pass the third and last war against Carthage,151-146 B.C. but it had no sooner begun than he died,149 B.C. having first prophesied of the man who was destined to end it. This man was then young, but as tribune in the army, he was giving proofs of judgment and daring in his engagements with the enemy. Tidings of this came to Rome, and Cato is said to have cried on hearing them:— Only he has wits, but the rest are fluttering shadows. Odyssey, x. 495.
27.5
This utterance of Cato’s, Scipio speedily confirmed by his deeds. Cato left one son by his second wife, whose surname, as we have already remarked, was Salonius; and one grandson by the son who died before him. Salonius died in the praetorship, but the son whom he left, Marcus, came to be consul. This Marcus was the grandfather of Cato the philosopher, who was the best and most illustrious man of his time.
