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 Catulus in politics, there were special causes for his enthusiasm.  Catulus was one of the viri consulares who had given their unreserved approval to the measures taken for the suppression of the Catilinarian conspiracy, and was the first to confer on Cicero the greatest glory of his life, the title “Father of his country[222].”  So closely did Cicero suppose himself to be allied to Catulus, that a friend tried to console him for the death of Tullia, by bidding him remember “Catulus and the olden times[223].”  The statement of Catulus, often referred to by Cicero, that Rome had never been so unfortunate as to have two bad consuls in the same year, except when Cinna held the office, may have been intended to point a contrast between the zeal of Cicero and the lukewarmness of his colleague Antonius[224].  Archias, who wrote in honour of Cicero’s consulship, lived in the house of the two Catuli[225].