I.
Propositio (Chaps. I.–IV.
Effrontery of Catiline in appearing in the Senate. Weakness of the
consuls in allowing him to live contrasted with the vigorous action
of
former times in less flagrant cases. Reasons for the delay.
etiam
(et jam),
still,
eludet
,
baffle, i.e. his mad conduct makes fools of
the Roman people, as it were, by continuing to escape the just
punishment that would suppress it.
quem ad finem
: almost equivalent to quamdiu, but implying some shock or crisis
(finem) which must follow.
sese jactabit
, insolently
display itself
nihil
(adv. acc.), not at all
.
Palati
: one of the strongest positions
in the city, commanding the Forum, and so most likely to be seized by
the conspirators. The Palatium, an
isolated hill, of a rudely quadrangular shape, was the original seat of
the city of Rome, from which the city spread gradually over the other
hills. In the last years of the Republic, the Palatine became the
fashionable place for residences. Here was Cicero's house as well as
Catiline's. It was because of its nearness to his house, as well as
because of the strength of its position, that Cicero selected this
temple for the meeting of the Senate on this occasion. Under the Empire
the Palatine became the seat of the imperial residence, and its name,
palace, has passed in this sense into most modern languages.
bonorum
: the Senate was surrounded by a
crowd of
equites and other citizens (see sect. [21], below).
locus
: the Senate was assembled, not,
as usual, in the Curia
Hostilia, but in the Temple of Jupiter Stator, which
occupied a commanding position on the brow of the Palatine Hill and
faced the Sacred Way. The ruins of this temple were discovered some
years ago (see view in text).
horum
(with a gesture), i.e. the Senators present.
ora
,
features;
voltus
,
expression: the phrase is a sort of hendiadys, almost
equivalent to expression of their features; § [640] (385); B. 374, 4; G. 698; H. 751,3, N.1 (636,
iii, 2); H-B. 631,5.
patere
:
note the emphatic position.
non
: observe the abruptness and force
given by omitting the interrog. particle -ne
.
constrictam . . . teneri
, is held
fast bound; § [497], b (292, c) ; cf. B.
337, 6; G. 238; H.431,1(385, 1, N.); H.-B. 605,5.
proxima
,
superiore: for what was done on the night of Nov. 6, see sect. [4]; as to proxima
, last night, we meet with nothing but general
assertions.
tempora
, etc., what a time!
what a state of things! (
mores
customs
of the time.)
immo
, nay
more:
immo
here negatives not the
fact of the preceding statement (
vivit
), but only its form
as not being strong enough;
nay is similarly used in English, as in Midsummer-Night's
Dream, iii, 2, 313: "To strike me, spurn me, nay, to kill me
too."
videmur
, etc. think we do
enough for (i.e. fulfil our duty to the state).
si . . . vitemus
: in the dir. form, satisfacimus si
vitamus .
ad mortem
: the consuls originally
possessed full powers of judgment in criminal cases, including
punishment by death. These highest powers of the
imperium were suspended within the city by laws which gave the
right of appeal to the people (note, [p. 110, l. 16]),
but the Senate could revive them in cases of danger by the formula Videant
consules ne quid res publica detrimenti capiat, — a
proceeding analogous to the proclamation of martial law. This action the
Senate had taken Oct.21, nearly three weeks before.
oportebat
, apod. of an implied cond.:
§ [522], a (311, c); B. 304, 3, a; G. 254, R1; H.
583 (511, I, N.1); H-B. 582, 3, a; the imperf. is used with jam
pridem, where in English we might expect the pluperf.; § [471], b (277, b); B. 260,4; G. 234; H. 535(469,2);
H.-B. 485;
oportebat
alone would mean "you
ought [now] to be [but are not]"; with jam
pridem it means "you ought to have been long ago and still
ought to be."
jam diu
:
words in brackets are thought to be spurious insertions in the text.
an vero
properly belongs both to interfecit and
perferemus; in English we should connect the two clauses by
and. On the force of an, see § [335], b (211, b); B. 162, 4, a; G. 457, 1 ; H. 380,
3 (353, N.4); H.-B. 236.
vir amplissimus
, pontifex maximus: observe how these words
strengthen the force of the example.
Ti. Gracchium
: Tiberius Sempronius
Gracchus, a young man of high rank and great purity of character,
attempted to carry through some important reforms, particularly touching
the tenure of the public lands, B.C.
133. Requiring more time to make his legislation effective,
he attempted illegally to secure his own re-election as tribune, when he
was attacked and killed by a mob of Senators headed by P. Scipio Nasica.
privatus
: at the time referred to,
Nasica was only a private citizen of consular rank. He afterwards went
into exile, and was made Pontifex Maximus in his absence. The word privatus is rhetorically opposed to
nos consules
.
illa
, that
case, plural for singular as referring to the circumstances
of the case.
Ahala
: the magister
equitum of the famous Cincinnatus; he killed without legal
process the
eques Maelius, on suspicion that the latter was aiming at
royal power (B.C. 439);
novis rebus
(the classic expression
for a violent change of government),
revolution: dat. after studentem
.
fuit
(emphat.), there was,
etc., implying that it is so no longer; § [598], d
(344 d, 3). Cf. fuit Ilium, [Aeneid
2.325].
habemus
(emphat.), i.e. it is
not that we lack, etc.
senatus consultum
: i.e. the decree
conferring dictatorial power on the consuls (see note on sect. [2], 1.12, above), ut
videant consules, etc.
vehemens
, severe, as
regards Catiline; grave, carrying
weight, and so justifying the consuls in any extreme
measures.
non deest
, etc., it is not
that the state lacks wise counsels, etc., but that the
consuls are remiss in executing them.
decrevit
: translate, to preserve the
emphasis, there was once a
decree, etc.
ut . . . videret
, subst. clause of purp.,
obj. of decrevit: § [
563] (331); B. 295, 4; G. 546; H. 564, i (498); H-B. 502, 3, a.
Opimius
: Lucius Opimius was consul B.C. 121, when Caius Gracchus, the younger
brother of Tiberius, was attempting to carry through a series of
measures far more revolutionary than those of his brother. The Senate
took alarm, and entrusted the consul with absolute power. In the tumult
that ensued, some 3,000 are said to have lost their lives, including
Gracchus and his leading associate, Fulvius.
ne . . . caperet
, obj. of videret.
interfectus est
(emphat.), i.e. in that case death was promptly inflicted.
patre
:
Tiberius Gracchus, the elder, one of the most eminent statesmen of his
day.
avo
:
Scipio Africanus, the conqueror of Hannibal.
Mario
(dat. after
permissa
): this was in Marius' sixth
consulship (B.C.
100). He was secretly in league with the revolutionists,
—Saturninus and Servilius Glaucia, corrupt demagogues, unworthy
imitators of the noble Gracchi. When it came to the point, however, the
courage of Marius failed him: he deserted his accomplices, and joined
the Senate in crushing the revolt.
rei publicae
:
poss. gen., the punishment being looked on as something belonging to the
party avenged, and exacted from the other party as a payment due.
remorata est
(governing Saturninum,
etc.), keep Saturninus and
Servilius
waiting, i.e. did they have to wait one day, etc.?
vicesimum
: strictly speaking, it was
now (Nov. 6) the 19th day by Roman reckoning from Oct. 21; cf. § [424], c (259, c); G. 336, R.1
patimur
: for tense, see § [466] (276, a); B. 259, 4; G. 230; H. 532, 2 (467,
2); H.-B. 485.
horum
,
i.e. the Senate.
hujusce modi
, i.e. like those just
mentioned; § [146], a, N.1 (101, footnote); B. 87,
footnote 2; G. 104, I, N.1; H. 178, 3 (186, I); H.-B. 138, 2, c.
tabulis
: brazen tablets, on which the
laws, etc., were inscribed. The edict is said to be shut up
in them (until put in force), like
a sword hidden in its scabbard.
interfectum esse
: § [
486], b and N. (288, d); B. 270, 2, a; G. 280, 2; H-B. 582, 31 a,
footnote 2
convenit
, perf.: § [522],
a (311, c); B. 304,3, a; G. 254, a.1; H. 583(511, I, N.1); H-B. 582,3,
a.
ad deponendam
, etc.: § [
506] (300); B. 338, 3; G. 432; H. 628, 623 (542, iii, 544, I);
H.-B. 384, 3, a.
cupio
(emphat.), I am anxious:
a concession, opposed by sed, below.
me esse
: § [563],
b, I (331, b, N.); B. 331, iv, a; G. 532, R.2; H. 614 (535, ii); H.-B.
586, b.
dissolutum
, arbitrary
.
ipse
: Latin in such cases emphasizes
the subject; English, the object; § [298],f(195, 1);
B. 249, 2; G. 311, 2; H. 509, I (452, I); H-B. 268.
inertiae
: § [352]
(220); B. 228, 2; G. 378; H. 456 (409, U); H.-B. 342.
castra sunt
,
etc.: an enumeration of the circumstances which make a mild policy no
longer possible.
faucibus
, narrow pass,
leading north from Etruria, through the Apennines.
conlocata
: § [495]
(291, b); B. 337, 2; G. 250, a.2; H. 538, 4 (47 I, 6, N.1); H.-B. 320,
iii, 248.
jam
, at
once.
erit verendum
, etc., I shall
have to fear, I suppose (ironical), that
all good citizens will fail to say (lit. will not
say ) that I have acted too late rather than that
anybody will say
that I have acted too cruelly, i.e. I shall have to fear
that I shall be accused of cruelty rather than slackness.
ne non . . . dicat
: § [564]
(331,f); B. 296, 2, a; G. 550, 2; H. 567, 2 (498, iii, N.2); H.-B. 502,
4.
boni
(sc.
dicant): here, as usual, the
well-intentioned, i.e. those who held the speaker's views.
ego
:
opposed to
omnes boni
(1.19, above).
factum esse
: § [486],
b and N. (288, d); B. 270, 2, a; G. 280, a.2; H.-B. 582, 3, a, footnote
2.
oportuit
: § [522],
a (311, c) ; B. 304, 3, a; G. 597, a.3, a; H. 583 (51 I, I, N.') ; H-B.
582, 3, a.
Chaps. III., IV.The consul is fully informed. Latest acts of the conspirators
denique
,
i.e. then, and not before.
jam
, at
length.
fateatur
: for mood, see § [537], 2 (319, 2); B. 284, 2; G. 631, I; H. 589, ii,
591 (509, 1); H.-B. 521, I.
ita ut vivis
, just as you are
[now] living.
ne . . . possis
:
purpose (not result).
etiam
,
besides the forces on guard.
speculabuntur
:
probably referring to the spies in the interest of the government, who
were in the very heart of the conspiracy.
quid est quod iam amplius
, etc., what is
there for you to wait for more?
quod exspectes
: rel. clause of
purpose.
inlustrantur
,
opposed to
obscurare
;
erumpunt
,
to
continere
.
recognoscas
, review,
with
licet
, ut
omitted: see § [565] (331, f R.) ; B. 295, 8; G.
553, R.1; H. 564, ii, I (502, I); Cf. H.-B. 502, 3, footnote 1
dicere
: for tense, see § [584], a and N. (336 A, N.1); G. 281, 2, N. H. 618, 2
(537, I); H.-B. 593, b.
futurus esset
:
subord. clause in md. disc.
num
, etc., was I mistaken in,
etc. (lit. did
the fact
escape me).
idem
(nom.) has the force of
also.
optimatium
,
i.e. of the Senatorial party.
in ante diem
: § [424],
g (259, e); B. 371, 6; G. p.491; H .754, 3 (642, 4); H-B. 668.
sui conservandi . . . causa
: § [504],
b, c (298, a, c); B. 339, 5, 338, I, c; G. 428, a.1 and R.2; H. 626, 3
(542, N.1); H.-B. 614. This passage is neatly turned so as to save their
self-respect by attributing their flight to that discretion which is the
better part of valor.
cum . . . dicebas
: we should expect diceres; the imperf. indic. is probably an
archaic survival; cf. § [471], e and N. (277, e and.
N.).
tamen
: opposed to discessu ("though the rest were gone, yet,"
etc.).
Praeneste
(Palestrina),
an important town of Latium, about twenty miles from Rome, in a very
commanding situation. Its possession would have given Catiline a
valuable military post. Praeneste had been a chief stronghold of the
Marian party in the Civil War, and Sulla had punished it by establishing
a military colony there (hence coloniam
).
sensistine
, did you not find?
-
ne here nonne: § [332], c and N. (210, d and N.); G. 454, N.5; H.-B.
231,1, N.1.
praesidiis
, the garrison
manning the walls; custodus,
sentinels at the gates; vigilus, watchmen
(i.e. night-guard).
agis
,
etc.: notice the climax.
noctem illam superiorem
, that
night, night before last, i.e. Nov. 6;
priore
(1.29, below) refers to the same night.
quam te
: § [581],
N.2 (336, a, I, R.); H. 643, I (524, 1.1); H.-B. 535, I, c.
inter falcarios
,
i.e. to the street of the scythe-makers.
non agam obscure
,
i.e. I will speak out and be more definite.
in domum
: § [428],
k (258, b, N.3); G. 337, a.3; H-B. 454, 3.
eodem
, at
the same place (lit. to the same place,
according to the Latin idiom).
gentium
: § [346],
a, 4(216, a, 4); B. 201, 2; G. 372, N.3; H. 443 (397, 4); H.-B. 346.
quam rem republicam
, what sort of
state?
hic
, hic
, here, right
here.
patres
[et]
conscripti
: the formal designation of
the Senators; patres were the
patrician members of the Senate,
conscripti were the plebeians enrolled in
that originally patrician body. The conjunction is regularly omitted (as
often in such combinations). Observe that the stock English translation conscript
fathers is inexact.
qui
: the
antecedent is the understood subject of
sunt
.
atque adeo
, and in fact
cogitent
: § [535],
a (320, a); B. 283, 2; G. 631, 2; H. 591, 1 (503, 1); H-B. 521, I.
oportebat
: see sect. [2] and note.
voce volnero
: the alliteration is
intentional and may easily be imitated in English, — wound
with a word.
igitur
(resumptive), then
(i.e. as I said ).
quemque
,
each (of the conspirators).
placeret
,
indir. quest.
relinqueres
,
educeres, delib. subj. in an indir. quest.: § [
575], b (334, b); B. 302; G. 265; H. 559, 4 (484, v); H.-B. 503.
morae
:
partitive gen.
viverem
:
subj. in subord. clause in indir. disc.
equites
:
these were C. Cornelius and L. Vargunteius.
omnia . . . comperi
:
Cicero's contemporaries made sport of him for using this phrase so often
in the case of the conspirators.
salutatum
: supine; § [
509] (302); B. 340, I ; G. 435; H. 633 (546); H.-B. 618. All
prominent citizens were accustomed to hold a kind of morning reception
(cf. "the king's levee") to which their friends and dependents came to
bid them good morning and to escort them to the Forum.
cum . . . venissent
: best translated by
when, etc.
id temporis
, at that very
time: §§ [346], a, 3, 397, a (216, a, 3,
240, b); B. 201, 2, 185, 2; G. 336, N.2, 369; H. 416, 2, 442 (378, 2,
397, 3); H.-B. 346, 388, b.
praedixeram
: Cicero had thus put on
record, as it were, the fact that he was acquainted with the details of
the Conspiracy.
desiderant
, hove been wanting:
§ [466] (276, a); B. 259, 4; G. 230; H. 532, 2 (467,
2); H-B. 485.
si minus
(sc.
omnes), if not
II.
Hortatio
Why does not Catiline leave the city? Life there should be
intolerable to
him. He is feared and hated by all good citizens. His native city
begs
him to be gone.
murus
, i.e. city wall (cf. parietibus , walls
of a house, sect. [6] ).
intersit
: § [528](314);
B. 310, ii; G. 573; H. 587 (513, i); H-B. 529.
non feram
,
etc.: the same idea is repeated for emphasis, but, for variety,
different words are used.
atque
, and
particularly.
huic
,
i.e. in whose temple we are met.
Statori
(sto):
the one who causes to stand
firm. The temple to Jupiter Stator was vowed by Romulus when
his troops were giving way, and built upon the spot where their flight
was
stayed. The remains of this temple have been recently
discovered on the Palatine, near the Arch of Titus.
in uno homine
, by one man
(Catiline); lit. in the case
of one
man.
proximis
:
the consular election was usually held in July; but in this year, on
account of the disturbed condition of things, it did not take place
until Oct.28.
in Campo
: the
comitia centuriata
,
in which the higher magistrates were elected, were held in the Campus
Martius, or military parade-ground, north of the city. This is the space
covered by the main part of modern Rome.
competitores
:
Catiline's successful competitors were D. Silanus and L. Murena.
copiis
,
i.e. persons in the employ of his friends, — slaves and hired retainers.
nullo . . . concitato
, without
exciting (a very common way of expressing this idiom in Latin).
videbam
, I
saw all along (observe the force of the imperf.).
nunc jam
, now at length
.
hujus imperi
, i.e. that which I now
possess: namely, that conferred upon the consuls by the special decree
of the Senate dent operant, etc. (see
note on [p. 100, l. 12]). Without this decree they
possessed imperium, it is true, but it
was limited (in the city) by special privileges of Roman citizens.
tu
: opposed to comitum.
sentina rei publicae
, political
rabble; or, keeping the original figure, we might say, bilge-water
of the ship of state .
faciebas
, were on the point
of doing: § [
471], c (277, c); B. 260, 3; G. 233; H. 534, 2 (469, I); H-B.
484.
hostem
, a
public enemy, whom the consul would have the right to expel
from the city.
non jubeo
:
Cicero avoids the appearance of ordering a citizen to go into exile,
since that was something which the consul had no right to do.
jam
,
longer.
metuat
: cf. note on cogitent, [p.
103, l. 9].
privatarum rerum
, in private
life, i.e. intercourse with others out of the family
(distinguished from
domesticae, above).
quem . . . inretisses
, i.e. after
entangling, etc. (subj. of characteristic).
ferrum . . . facem
,
i.e. arm him for acts of violence, or inflame him to deeds of lust.
quid vero
, and sly!
novis nuptiis
,
etc.: this crime is mentioned by no other writer, and is perhaps one of
the orator's exaggerations.
aho . . . scelere
:
Sallust mentions, as a matter of common belief, that Catiline killed his
own son, in order to gratify his new wife Aurelia Orestilla, "a woman
praised for nothing but beauty."
ruinas
:
this charge was undoubtedly correct. The conspiracy was mainly composed
of men of ruined fortunes, who hoped to better themselves in the general
scramble of a revolution.
Idibus
:
the Calends and Ides — the beginning and middle of the month—were the
usual times for the payment of debts. Catiline's failure in his consular
canvass had probably stirred up his creditors to push him for payment.
cum
: causal, but best translated by
when.
pridie Kalendas Januarias
, etc.: Dec.31, B.C. 66. The act here mentioned seems to have
been in preparation for a rising that had been planned by Catiline for
the next day, Jan. 1, B.C. 65. On this day the
consuls Cotta and Torquatus entered upon their office, and it was the
intention of Catiline to take advantage of their inauguration to murder
them and seize the government. The plot got whispered about, and its
execution was put off to Feb. 5, when it failed again through Catiline's
precipitancy in giving the word.
cum telo
(a technical expression), weapon
in hand.
manum
: a
band (of assassins).
interficiendorum
causi
: § [504], b (298, c); cf. B. 338, I, c; G. 428, R.2;
H-B. 612, I.
mentem aliquam
, some change
of mini
aut . . . aut
, etc., either obscure
or few.
non multa
,
etc., i.e. they were too well known to need recapitulation, and too
numerous to admit of it.
commissa
, which you have
perpetrated.
petitiones
, thrusts:
the word regularly used for the attack of a gladiator. Cicero uses this
and similar terms as an affront to Catiline.
ita conjectas
, etc., so aimed
that they seemed impossible to be shunned. The Latin has no adj.
for "impossible."
corpore
, i.e. dodging with the body
(a common colloquialism —hence ut aiunt
).
tibi
(dative of reference), etc., wrested
from your hands: § [377] (235, a); B. 188,
I); G. 350, 1; H. 425, 4, N. (384, 4, N.2); H.-B. 368.
quae quidem
, etc., I know not
by what rights it has been consecrated
and set
apart, that you think, etc. (as if Catiline had solemnly
pledged himself to use this dagger on nobody lower than a consul).
nunc vero
, but now
(indicating a marked transition).
vita
, i.e. that you should desire to
prolong it (cf. sect. [15]).
quae nulla
, nothing of which:
§ [346], e (216, e); B. 201, I, b; G. 370, R.2;
H.-B. 346, c.
necessariis
: this word is used of any
close relation, as that of kinsman, client, guest, comrade, member of
the same order, etc. (see note on necessitudinem
, [Verr.
1.11], [p. 32, l. 3]).
quid quod
, what of this, —
that, etc.
subsellia
:
undoubtedly wooden benches brought in for the occasion.
consulares
: these voted as a class,
and probably sat together. Catiline, as a
praetorius, no doubt sat in their neighborhood.
ferendum
[
esse] is the pred. of the clause
quod . . . reliquerunt
.
servi
:
emphatic, and hence preceding
si
.
injuria
, unjustly,
wrongfully.
carere aspectu
, be deprived
of the sight of
aliquo concederes
, would
retire somewhere.
nunc
:
opposed to the cont. to fact
si
, etc.
te nihil . . . cogitare
, that you think
of nothing (depending on
judicat
).
judicat
: for tense, see § [466] (276, a); B. 259, 4; G. 230; H. 532, 2 (467,
2); H.-B. 485.
auctoritatem
,
etc.: observe the climax in both nouns and verbs.
quae
(i.e.
patria)... agit, she
thus pleads with
you .
annis
: § [424], b
(256,b); B. 231,1; G. 393, R.2; H. 417, I and 2 (379, I); H.-B. 440.
sociorum
, i.e. the allied cities of
the province of Africa, which Catiline had governed as pro-praetor, B.C. 67
.
neglegandas
implies only evasion;
evertendas
,
violence.
leges et quaestiones
, i.e. in his
lawless career both as
praetor in Rome and as
pro-praetor in Africa.
superiora illa
, those
former crimes of yours.
me . . . esse
,
etc.: this and the two following infin. clauses (Catilinam
timeri
and
nullum videri . . .
consilium
)
are subjects of
est ferendum
;
posse
depends on
videri
.
quicquid increpuerit
, subj. of
integral part; § [593] (342); B. 324, I; G. 663, I;
H. 652 (529, ii); H-B. 539.
abhorreat
(subj. of characteristic), is
inconsistent with.
hunc . . . eripe
, rescue me from,
etc. (lit. snatch it
from me); § [381](229); B. 188, 2, d; G.
345, R.1; H. 429, 2 (386, 2); 14.-B. 371.
ne opprimar
: § [515],
a (306, a); B. 302,4; G. 595; 11.580 (508, 4); H.-B. 582, I.
aliquando
, some
time or other (implying impatience).
Catiline has offered to give himself into Custody. The Consul bids him
depart: the Senators show by their silence their approval of the order.
The consul entreats him to leave the city, but he will go only as a
declared enemy.
etiam si . . . possit
: § [527],
c (313, c); cf. B. 309; G. 604 and R.1; 14.585(515, ii); H-B. 582,8.
in custodiam dedisti
, i.e. into free custody, on
parole. This appears to have been late in October, when Catiline was
prosecuted on the Lex
Plautia de vi. When a respectable Roman was charged with a
crime it was customary for some person to bail him out, as it were, by
becoming responsible for his appearance. Being thus responsible, the
surety kept the accused in a kind of custody at his house.
ad M'. Lepidum
,
etc.:
ad
= apud.
Lepidus was the consul of B.C. 66.
ad me
: this was
of course intended by Catiline as a demonstration of his innocence.
domi meae
: § [428],
k (258, e); G. 411, a.4; H.-B. 454.1.
parietibus
, loc.
abl.;
moenibus
, abl.
of means. Observe the difference of meaning in these words and the
emphasis
of the contrast,
qui . . . essem
: this would be subj. (sim) in dir. disc. as
implying the reason; § [535], e (320, e); B. 283, 3;
G. 626, a.; H. 592, 598 (517); H.-B. 523.
Metellum
: Q. Metellus Celer, consul B.C. 60; he afterwards did good service in the
campaign against Catiline.
virum optimum
, an
excellent man (ironical, of course).
sagacissimum
,
keen-scented;
fortissimum
, energetic
and fearless.
videtur . . . debere
, does it seem
that he ought to be? Observe that the Latin prefers the personal
construction ("does he seem," etc.), which the English idiom with
ought does not allow us to imitate: § [582]
(330, b, I); B. 332, b; G. 528, R2; H. 611, N.1 (534, 1, N.1); Cf. H-B.
590, I, a.
Two courses were open to Catiline: to leave the city or to run his chances of
being put to death. If he left the city, he could, of course, either join
his accomplice Manlius in the insurgent camp at Faesulae, or abandon his
projects and go into voluntary exile. Apparently some of the Senators had
privately urged him to adopt the latter alternative, promising, in that
case, that all proceedings should be dropped, and Catiline, though rejecting
their advice, had declared that he would not refuse to obey a senatus
consultum decreeing his banishment. Such a decree would,
however, have been favorable to Catiline's plans, for, since he bad not been
formally brought to trial, he would have been able to pose as an injured
citizen exiled by an arbitrary aristocratic party. Hence Cicero refuses to
put the question to the Senate, though he asserts there could be no doubt
about the result. By taking this course Cicero forced Catiline to make his
intentions plain by the overt act of leaving the city of his own accord and
hastening to the camp of Manlius.
refer . . . ad senatum
:
the technical term for the action of the presiding officer (regularly
the
consul) in bringing a matter before the Senate for action. See general
Introduction, p. lvii.
si hic ordo placere
,
etc.: fut. cond. in indir. disc.
placere
(sc.
sibi): the subject is te . .
.
exsilium .
abhorret
, is
contrary to: because the Senate would have no legal power to
pronounce such a judgment.
faciam ut
, etc.: § [
568] (332); B. 297, I G. 553, I ; H. 568 (498, ii); H.-B. 502, 3,
a. To make the feelings of the Senate clear, Cicero formally commands
Catiline to leave the city (egredere,
etc.); then pauses to allow the Senators a chance to protest, and then
points out that no objections are heard.
ecquid attendis
, are you
listening? The adverbial ecquid (at
all) can hardly be idiomatically rendered, but gives an
emphasis to the question.
patiuntur
, they
tolerate this, i.e. they make no objection to this extreme
exercise of authority on my part.
quid exspectas
, etc.: why do
you wait for those to express their opinion
in words
whose wishes you see clearly by their silence? The Latin
idiom is quite different: why do you wait for the
expressed opinion (auctoritatem
) of [those] speaking whose wishes you see
[when]
silent?
huic
, this..
. here: the demonstrative pronouns are often thus employed
in the so-called deictic use, accompanied by a gesture.
Sestio
: a member
of the aristocratic party whom Cicero afterwards defended in one of his
greatest orations.
M. Marcello
: a prominent member of the
aristocracy, consul B.C.
51; not to be confounded with the person of the same name
mentioned in sect. [19]. He took a leading
part in the Civil War against Caesar, and was afterwards defended by
Cicero (see p.213)-jam, by this
time.
consuli
, consul
as I ant.
in templo
, i.e.
notwithstanding the sacredness of the place.
vim et manus
(hendiadys), violent
hands.
cum quiescunt
, i.e. by keeping quiet:
§ [549], a (326, a); G. 582; H. 599(517,2); H-B.
551.
videlicet cara
,
alluding to his demand to have the matter submitted to the Senate.
voces
,
cries (of the crowd outside).
haec
(with a gesture, cf. huic, sect. [21],
first note), i.e. all that is round us, the city, etc.
prosequantur
,
escort It was the custom for those who were going into
voluntary exile to be thus accompanied to the gate by their friends.
Cicero sarcastically declares that, if Catiline will depart, the whole
Senate will be so glad to be rid of him as to forget his crimes and pay
him this honor.
te . . . frangat
, [the idea] that
anything should bend you! i.e. break down your stubbornness; an
exclam. clause with ut: § [462], a (332, c); G. 558; H. 559,5(486, ii, N.);
H.-B. 503 and b.
utinam . . . duint
: § [442]
(267, b); cf. B. 279; G. 201 ; H. 559, I (483, I); H-B. 511, I; for
form, see § [
183], 2 (128,e, 2); B. 127, 2; G. 130,4; H. 240,3 (244,3);
H.-B. 197, a.
ire
: § [457](271,
a); B. 295,4, N.; G. 532, and R.2; H. 565,5 (498, i, N.); H.-B. 586, e.
recenti memoria
(abl. of time):
translate by a while clause.
est tanti
, it
is worth the cost: § [417] (252, a); Cf.
B. 203, 3; G. 380, I, R.; H. 448, 4 (405); H.-B. 356, I.
sit
: § [528](314);
B 310, ii; G. 573; H. 587 (513,i); H.-B. 529.
ut . . . commoveare
, etc., subject of est postulandum: § [566]
(331, h); cf. B. 295; G. 546, 1 ; H. 564, ii (499, 3); cf. H.-B. 502, 3,
a.
is es . . . ut
: § [537],
2, N.2 (319, R.); B. 284, 1; G. 552; H. 570 (500, ii); H.-B. 521, 2, a
and footnote.
inimico
, a private
enemy, thus attributing to Cicero personal motives of
opposition.
recta
(sc.
via), straightway . vix
feram, etc.: for Catiline's going into voluntary exile would
tend to prove that he was innocent and had been persecuted by the consul
(see note on [p.
107, l. 19] ).
sin autem
, etc.:
Catiline's going to Manlius would prove his guilt and show the wisdom of
Cicero's action.
latrocinio
,
brigandage, i.e. partisan warfare, as opposed to a regular
war (justum bellum ).
quamquam
, and
yet: § [527], d, N. (313, f); B. 309, 5;
G. 605, R.2; H. 586, 4 (515, iii, N.2); H.-B. 310, 7. cf. the same use
of
quamquam, [p. 108, l. 13], and of
tametsi, [p. 108, l. 16].
invitem
: § [444]
(268); B. 277; G. 265; H. 557(486, ii); H.-B. 503.
sciam
:
characteristic subj.
Forum Aurelium
: a small place on the Via Aurelia, about fifty miles from Rome.
The Via
Aurelia was the road which led along the sea-coast of
Etruria, by which Catiline left the city the following night.
praestolarentur
:
rel. clause of purpose.
aquilam
: the
silver eagle had been adopted by Marius as the standard of the legion,
and
the eagle in question was said to have been actually used in the army of
Marius.
sacrarium
: it was customary in Roman
houses to have a little shrine (see Fig. 27) for the worship of the lares and other protecting divinities.
Doubtless Catiline was believed to have placed this eagle in such a
shrine as an object of superstitious worship.
ut possis
: exclam. clause with ut (see note on [p. 108,
l. 13]).
rapiebat
: § [471],
b (277, b); B. 260, 4; H-B. 485; the imperf. is used instead of the
pres. because the action is conceived of as ceasing at the moment when
Cicero discovered the plot.
haec res
, i.e.
leaving the city as an enemy and taking up arms.
non modo
, to
say nothing of: § [327], I (209, a, I);
B. 347, 2; G. 445; H. 656, 2 (553, 2); H.-B. 298, 2, a.
atque
connects
perditis
and
derelictis
;
ab
connects
fortuna
and
spe
with
derelictis
.
conflatam
, run
together (like molten metal).
hic
, i.e. in
this band.
bacchabere
, will
revel. To a Roman the word suggested the wild orgies of the
frenzied Bacchanals, so that it is much stronger than our
revel, which in course of time has become rather vague: cf.
Aeneid 4.301 (and illustrations).
meditati sunt
, have
been practised;
feruntur
, are
talked about.
labores
: cf. [Sallust
Catiline 5]: L.
Catilina
nobili genere natus fuit, magna vi et animi et corporis, sed
ingenio
malo pravoque. Huic ab adulescentia bella intestina caedes
rapinae
discordia civilis grata fuere ibique juventutem suam
exercuit. Corpus
patiens inediae algoris vigiliae supra quam cuiquam
credibile est .
facinus
, deed
of violence, contrasted with
stuprum , debauchery; just as bonis
otiosorum, property of peaceful citizens,
is with somno maritorum, the
repose of husbands.
ubi ostentes
(purpose clause), opportunity
to display (lit. a place,
where, etc.).
reppuli
: § [545](323,
I) B. 288, I, a; G. 580; H. 600 (5 1, i); H.-B. 550 and a. Cicero here
takes credit to himself for using his influence as consul to defeat the
election of Catiline.
exsul
,
consul
: observe
the play upon words (see Vocab.).
latrocinium
: cf. note on latrocinio, l. 1, above.
III.
Peroratio
The consul may be charged with remissness; but he has been biding his
time. For halfway measures would have been useless. Appeal to
Jupiter to
save Rome.
querimoniam
,
i.e. for not having suppressed the conspiracy more vigorously.
detester ad deprecer
(construed with
a me
, above), remove
by protest and plea.
patria
: the personified patria is dramatically introduced as
accusing Cicero of remissness in letting Catiline go unharmed.
M. Tulli
(voc.): the regular way of
formal address; the use of the family name (
Cicero) is more familiar.
evocatorem servorum
, a
summoner of slaves, i.e. to enlist under him against the
state. To the Romans (as to all peoples who, having a large slave
population, are in constant fear of servile revolts) such an accusation
was the most violent reproach conceivable.
duci, rapi, mactari
; § [563],
a, N. (311, a, N.1); Cf. B. 295, 4, N.; G. 546, N.3; H. 614 (535, ii);
H-B. 587, b.
rogatae sunt
: the magistrate who
proposed a law formally asked the people whether they would accept it;
hence rogo was the word regularly used
for this act, and the proposition itself was called rogatio. The leges
in question, Valeria, Porcia, and Sempronia (of Caius Gracchus), were enacted
to protect — like our laws securing the habeas
corpus and trial by jury — the life and liberty of citizens
against the arbitrary power of magistrates, which in this case would
apparently be used by Cicero.
at numquam
,
etc.: as a fact, however, the precedents here referred to had been
really
violations of the constitution.
praeclaram. . . gratiam
, you show
a noble gratitude (cf. habere
gratiam and agere gratias
).
nulla commendatione majorum
: though by the Roman
constitution the higher offices were open to all citizens, yet it was
rare that a man whose ancestors had not held these offices could succeed
in attaining them himself. If, like Cicero, he did so, he was called a novus
homo, and his descendants belonged to the nobility.
tam mature
: Cicero attained the
quaestorship, the praetorship, and the consulship (honorum gradiis) at the earliest age
possible in each case. This was a mark of public confidence which had
never happened to a novus homo before.
invidiae
, i.e.
the odium which might attach to the consuls apparently exceeding his
constitutional authority. In fact Cicero was later brought to trial and
exiled on this very charge.
num est
, pray
is (implying strong negation): § [
332], b (210, c); B. 162,2, b; G. 464, R.; H. 378(351, I, N.8);
H-B. 231, I, (1.
inertiae
, (sc. invidia), the
reproach .
an
belongs with
non existimas
.
conflagraturum
, will
be consumed (lit. will burn up ).
idem sentiunt
, have
the same views.
mentibus
,
thoughts.
factu
, the rare "latter supine": § [510] (303); B. 340, 2; G. 436; H. 635 and 4 (547 and
N.1); H-B. 619, I.
gladiatori
: the gladiators were
trained slaves owned by rich men, and were often employed as bullies in
political campaigns. Hence the word came almost to mean ruffian,
"bruiser," "thug."
si . . . honestarunt
: notice that the simple
condition here expresses cause; § [515], a, N. (306,
a, N.).
superiorum
, before
them.
The variety of the conditional sentences in sects. [
29], [
30] is instructive: si judicarem .
. . non dedissem (cont. to fact), [p.
110, l. 30], [p.
111, l. 1]; si . . .
honestarunt, verendum
non erat (nothing implied), p.111,ll.1-4; si impenderet, fui (mixed), 11.6, 7; si animadvertissem, dicerent (cont. to fact),
11.13, 14; si pervenerit
,
fore
(fut.,
indir. disc.), ll. 15, 16;
hoc interfecto
,
posse
(fut., indir.
disc., protasis disguised), ll. 18-20;
si ejecerit, exstinguetur
(fut., more vivid), ll.20-22.
maxime
, ever
so much.
ut . . . putarem
,
result clause explaining hoc (not a subst. clause).
partam
(from
pario), acquired (a very common meaning).
non nulli
, etc.:
it should be remembered that there were many well-intentioned citizens
who
either doubted the existence of a conspiracy or thought Cicero's fears
of it
greatly exaggerated; and that' even among those who admitted the fact
there
was considerable variety of partisan feeling.
videant
,
dissimulent: subj. of charact. (not coord. with
dicerent
), expressing the
character of the men referred to, while
aluerunt
, etc.
(l. 11), merely gives additional facts about them (hence indic.).
regie
,
despotically: the Roman idea of a king and kingly government
was associated with Tarquinius Superbus. Here the word also implies the
assumption of unlawful power (= tyrannice),
as well as its abuse.
nunc
, as
it is
quo
: § [308], g
(201,f 2); cf. G. 611, R.1; the antecedent is
in castra
.
improbum
,
dishonest
hoc . . . interfecto
, disguised fut. protasis; § [521], a
(310, a); B. 305, I; G. 600, I; H. 575, 9 (507, N.7); H-B. 578, 6; the
apod.
posse
is fut. in sense: § [516], d, 584, b (307, d); G. 248, R.; H.-B. 472, d.
ejecerit
: for tense, see § [516], c (307, c); G. 244, 2; H. 574, 2 (508, 2); Cf.
H.-B. 577, a.
eodem
, to
the same place.
adulta
,
full-grown, as opposed to
stirps , the root (properly the
stock from which new shoots may spring out), and semen, the
seed.
jam diu
: the conspiracy was ready to
break out B.C. 65 (see note on [p. 105, l. 15]).
versamur
, have
lived.
nescio quo pacto
, somehow or
other; § [575], d (344, a); B. 253, 6;
G. 467, N.; Cf. H. 512, 7 (455, 2); H-B. 537, e.
veteris
(sharply contrasted with nostri), i.e. the disease is of long
standing, but its outbreak has occurred just in my consulship.
visceribus
,
vitals (properly the great interior organs, as the heart,
lungs, etc.).
aestu febrique
, the
heat of fever (hendiadys).
reliquis vivis
:
abl. absolute.
circumstare
, hang
round, for the purpose of intimidation: the praetor urbanus had his tribunal in the
Forum.
patefacta
, laid
bare;
inlustrata
, set
in full light;
oppressa , crushed;
vindicata
,
punished. Observe the climax.
ominibus
,
prospects. What Cicero has just said (p.112,11. I 1-16)
makes the omen under which Catiline is
to depart, — an omen of good for the state, but of evil for him.
Juppiter
: thus
the oration closes with a prayer to Jupiter Stator, in whose temple the
Senate was now assembled.
Statorem
, the
Stay. The name was apparently first given to Jupiter as the
Stayer (
sto , sisto) of flight
(see note to sect. 11, p.104, 1. I), but it is here applied to him as
the
Stay (supporter) of the Roman state, a meaning which the
word may well have from its derivation.
arcebis
, used as a mild imperative; § [449], b (269,f); B. 261, 3; G. 2651; H. 560, 4, N.
(487, 4); H.-B. 572.
latrones
: cf.
latrocinium in sect. [27] ([p. 109, l.
32] ).