XXIV.  He seems to have been justly rewarded for his quackery, for he lost both his wife and his son by sickness.  He himself, however, being of an iron constitution, made a second marriage, in spite of his advanced age, being led into it by the following circumstances.  After the death of his wife he arranged a marriage between his son and the daughter of AEmilius Paulus, who was the sister of Scipio.  He himself meanwhile solaced himself by an intrigue with a maid-servant who visited him by stealth.  However, in a small house with a daughter-in-law in it this could not be kept secret; and one day when this woman was insolently swaggering into his father’s bedchamber, young Cato was observed by the old man to glance at her with bitter hatred and then turn away in disgust.  As soon as Cato perceived that his conduct vexed his children, he said not a word, but went into the forum with his friends, as was his wont.  Here one Salonius, who was one of his under-secretaries, met him and began to pay his respects to him, when Cato asked him in a loud voice whether he had provided a husband for his daughter.  On the man’s replying that he had not, and would not presume to do so without consulting him, Cato replied, “Well, I, by Jupiter, have found a very suitable person to marry her, unless his age be any objection:  for he is very passable in all respects except that he is very old.”  As Salonius upon this bade him carry out his intention and marry the girl to whomsoever he pleased, seeing that she was his client[31] and he was her patron, Cato without a moment’s delay told him that he wished to marry the girl himself.  This proposal at first, as might be expected, astonished the secretary, who had thought that a man at Cato’s time of life was very unlikely to marry, and had never dreamed that his humble family would be allied with a house which could boast of consulates and triumphs; but as he saw that Cato was in earnest he gladly accepted his offer.  While the preparations for the marriage were in progress, young Cato, taking his relatives with him, went and inquired of his father whether he had reproached or annoyed him in any way, that he was putting a mother-in-law over him.  Cato at this question cried out aloud, “Hush, my son; I approve of all that you have done, and find no fault with you:  I only desire to leave behind me more sons of my race, and more citizens to serve the state.”  It is said that this remark was first made by Peisistratus, the despot of Athens, when, although he had sons grown up, he married Timonassa of Argos, by whom we are told that he had two sons, Iophon and Thessalus.  Cato also had a son by his second marriage, whom he named Salonius after his mother.  His eldest son died during his praetorship.  Cato often mentions him in his writings as having been a brave and good man, but is said to have borne his loss with philosophic resignation, and to have taken as keen an interest in politics as before.  He did not, as was afterwards