SOURCE: John Dunlop, "Marcus Porcius Cato," in History of Roman Literature, From Its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown and Green, 1824, pp. 13-31.

In the following excerpt from his history of Rome, Dunlop emphasizes Cato's devotion and skill as a farmer. He also summarizes Cato's works, giving an extensive synopsis of the De agricultura, here called De Re Rustica.

Marcus Porcius Cato, better known by the name of Cato the Censor, wrote the earliest book on husbandry which we possess in the Latin language. This distinguished citizen was born in the 519th year of Rome. Like other Romans of his day, he was brought up to the profession of arms. In the short intervals of peace he resided, during his youth, at a small country-house in the Sabine territory, which he had inherited from his father. Near it there stood a cottage belonging...