to all these, the kings Mithridates and Tigranes.” The most glorious, however, of all glories, resulting from these exploits, was, as he himself says, in the speech which he made in public relative to his previous career, that Asia, which he received as the boundary of the empire, he left its centre.[1105] If any one should wish, on the other hand, in a similar manner, to pass in review the exploits of Cæsar, who has shown himself greater still than Pompeius, why then he must enumerate all the countries in the world, a task, I may say, without an end. CHAP. 28. (27.)—UNION IN THE SAME PERSON OF THREE OF THE HIGHEST QUALITIES WITH THE GREATEST PURITY. Many other men have excelled in different kinds of virtues. Cato, however, who was the first of the Porcian family,[1106] is generally thought to have been an example of the three greatest of human endowments, for he was the most talented orator, the most talented general, and the most talented politician;[1107] all which merits, if they were not perceptible before him, still shone forth, more refulgently even, in my opinion, in Scipio Æmilianus, who besides was exempted from that hatred on the part of many others under which Cato laboured:[1108] in consequence of which it was, what must be owned to be a peculiarity in Cato’s career, that he had to plead his own cause no less than four and forty times;[1109] and yet, though no person was so frequently accused, he was always acquitted. CHAP. 29. (28.)—INSTANCES OF EXTREME COURAGE. A minute enquiry by whom the greatest valour has ever been exhibited, would lead to an endless discussion, more especially if all the fables of the poets are to be taken for granted. Q. Ennius admired T. Cæcilius Denter[1110] and his brother to such a degree, that on their account he added a sixteenth book to his Annals. L. Siccius Dentatus, who was tribune of the people in the consulship of Spurius Tarpeius and A. Aterius,[1111] not long after the expulsion of the kings, has also very numerous testimonies in his favour. This hero fought one hundred and twenty battles, was eight times victorious in single combat, and was graced with forty-five wounds in the front of the body, without one on the back. The same man also carried off thirty-four spoils,[1112] was eighteen times presented with the victor’s spear,[1113] and received twenty-five pendants,[1114] eighty-three torcs,[1115] one hundred and sixty bracelets,[1116] twenty-six crowns, (of which fourteen were civic, eight golden, three mural, and one obsidional), a fisc[1117] of money, ten prisoners, and twenty oxen altogether.[1118] He followed in the triumphal processions of nine generals, who mainly owed their victories to his exertions; besides all which, a thing that I look upon as the most important of all his services, he denounced to the people T. Romilius,[1119] one of the generals of the army, at the end of his consulship, and had him convicted of having made an improper use of his authority.[1120]