I.
Pars Prima (§§ 1-11).
Sects. 1-4. Catiline is gone. He ought to have been put to death: but the
time was
not ripe, for all were not convinced of his guilt.
ejecimus
,
expelled (with violence);
emisimus
,
let [him] go. The words vel . . . vel
(or, if you like) imply that the same act may be called
by either name.
ipsum
, of
his own accord.
verbis prosecuti
may apply as well to kind words of dismissal as to invective.
abiit
, simply, is
gone;
excessit
, has
retreated before the storm;
evasit
, has
escaped by stealth;
erupit
, has
broken forth with violence, — a climax of expression, but
nearly identical in sense.
moenibus
(dat. following comparabitur),
against, etc.
atque
(adding with emphasis), and
so.
hunc quidem
, him
at any rate.
sine controversia
, without
dispute unquestionably.
versabitur
, will
be busy.
campo
,
foro
,
curia
,
parietes
: observe the narrowing
climax.
loco motus est
, he
lost his vantage-ground: a military expression, hence the
simple abl.; § [428], f (258, a, N.2); cf. B. 229,
I; G. 390, 2, N.2; H. 463 (414, ii); H-B. 408, 2, a.
nullo impediente
,
i.e. his defenders till now could screen him by forms of law.
justum
(if retained in the text), regular,
in due form; cf. note on latrocinio, p. 109,1. I.
quod . . . extulit etc.
: § [572],
b (333, b); B. 331, V, a; G. 542; H. 588, i (540, iv, N.); H.-B. 594, c.
cruentum
(pred.), reeking with
blood.
vivis nobis
(abl. abs.), leaving
us alive.
civis
:
acc. plur.
jacet
, etc., lies
prostrate, etc.
retorquet oculos
begins the figure of a wild beast, which is continued in
faucibus
.
profecto
, no
doubt.
quae quidem
, which
really.
quod . . . projecerit
:
see note on
quod extulit
, 1.9, above; for mood,
see § [592],3 (341, d); B. 323; G. 541; H. 588, ii
(516, ii); H.-B. 535, 2, a.
For the contents of
this and the following
section
, cf. Cat. 1,
sects. [27], [28]
where the supposed complaint against Cicero for not having put Catiline
to death and his reply to it are given at greater length.
qualis omnis
:
acc. plur.
oportebat
: § [522],
a (3", c); B. 304, 3, a; G. 254, R.2; H. 583 (511, I, N.1); H.-B. 582,
3, a.
qui . . . accuset
, as to accuse:
§ [535] (320); B. 283, I ; G. 631,2; H. 591, I (503,
i); H-B. 521, I.
ista
: for gender, see § [296], a (195, d); cf. B. 250,3; G. 211, R.5; H. 396,
2 (445, 4); H.-B. 326, I.
interfectum esse
: § [
486], b, N. (288, d); B. 270, 2, a; G. 280, R.2; H.-B. 582, 3, a,
footnote 2; observe the emphatic position.
oportebat
: for tense, see note on
Cat. 1, [p. 100, l. 13] .
hujus imperi
: see note on Cat. 1, [p. 104, l. 16].
res publica
, the
public interest.
quam multos
,
etc.: the passages in brackets are probably spurious; it will be
observed that they merely repeat —the preceding statement in each case.
cum
(causal)
viderem, seeing: its obj. is
fore ut possem
(which is the apod. of
si multassem
) ; § [569],
a (288, f); B. 270,3; G. 248; H. 619, 2 (537,3); H-B. 472, c
ne . . . probata
: nearly equivalent to cum ne vos quidem. . . probaretis: implying that if
they do not sustain the act, much less will the people at
large.
multassem
: for fut. perf. of direct; § [589], 3 (337, 3); B. 319, B; G. 657, 5; H. 646 (527,
i).
fore ut
, the
result would be that, etc.
at . . . possetis
,
result clause explaining
huc
.
videretis
: § [593]
(342); B. 324, I G. 663, I; H. 652 (529, ii); H.-B. 539; if not
dependent on
possetis, it would be videbetis.
quem quidem
, whom,
by the way.
intellegatis
: § [565]
(331, i); B. 295, 6; G. 553, 2; H. 564, ii, I (499, 3); H-B. 531, 2.
quod . . . exierit
: § [592],
3(341, d); B. 323; G. 539; H. 588, ii (5I6, ii); H-B. 535, 2, N.2.
mihi
: eth. dat.; as if, I
notice; § [380] (236); B. 188, 2, b; G.
351; 11.432 (389); H.-B. 372.
aes alienum
,
etc., i.e. petty debts run up in cook-shops and the like; not like the
heavy mortgages spoken of afterwards.
reliquit
:
notice the emphatic position.
quos viros
:
for a characterization of Catiline's partisans, see sects. 18-23.
His worthless partisans remain at Rome, but are powerless: let them follow
him. He was the ringleader of all scoundrels and profligates. Let his
associates depart or take the consequences.
prae
, in
comparison with.
Gallicanis
, i.e. those permanently
stationed in Cisalpine Gaul. The ager Gallicus
below was that strip of sea-coast north of Picenum formerly occupied by
the Senones, but at this time reckoned a part of Umbria.
hoc dilecta
refers to a levy recently raised.
Q. Metellus
(Celer): see note on Cat.
1, sect. [19] , [p. 107,
l. 13].
senibus
,
etc., i.e. those classes who naturally look forward to a revolution to
mend their fortunes.
luxuria
=
high-livers: abstract for concrete, as common in Latin and
older English; Cf. Shakespeare, All's Well ii. I, 91:
"Bring in the admiration"(i.e. this wonderful person).
vadimonia deserere
, desert
their bondsmen, i.e. leave them in the lurch in their creditors' suits.
edictum praetoris
, in effect like a sheriff's
writ. Any official order of a magistrate was an edictum.
hos
, as opposed to those he did take
out.
fulgent purpura
, i.e displaying their
rank as Senators, who alone had the right to wear the broad purple
stripe (latus clavus) on the tunic.
The reference, therefore, is to foppish young nobles.
mallem
: § [447],
I (311, b); B. 280, 4; G. 258, and N.1; H. 556 (486, i); H.-B. 519, I,
b.
eduxisset
: § [565](331,
f a.); B. 295, 8; G. 546, R.2; H. 565, 2 (499, 2); H.-B. 5;9, I, c.
si . . . permanent
: a future condition; § [516], a, N. (307, a, N.); G. 228; H. 533, 2 (467,
5); H.-B. 571.
mementote
,
i.e. let them remember that they are objects of suspicion and shall be
watched accordingly.
atque hoc
,
etc., i.e. their effrontery makes them still more a cause for alarm.
video
,
i.e. I know perfectly well. -
cui sit
, etc.: cf. Cat. 1, sect. [9].
superioris noctis
,
i.e. three nights ago.
ne
,
surely: an affirmative particle sometimes wrongly spelled nae.
ut . . . videretis
:
clause of result explaining
quod
.
nisi vero
: ironical (as usual),
introducing a reductio
ad
absurdunt. (The
si
only doubles that in nisi.)
non. . . jam
, no
longer.
Aurelia_ via_
: see Cat. 1, sect. [24].
rem publicam
: § [397],
d (240, d); B. 183; G. 343, 1 H. 421 (381); H.-B. 399
sentinam
,
refuse (see Cat. 1, [p. 104, l. 22] ).
ejecerit
:
the conclusion is implied in
O fortunatam
.
exhausto
, drained
off (cf.
sentina
).
recreata
,
invigorated.
toti Itali
: § [429],
2 (258,1 2); B. 228, I, b; G. 388; H. 485, I (425, 2); H.-B. 436, a.
subjector
,
forger;
circumscriptor
,
swindler.
perditus
, abandoned
wretch.
hosce
: § [146],
a, N.1 (101, footnote); B. 87, footnote 2; G. 104, i, N 1; H. 178, 2
(186, I); H.-B. 138, 2, c.
asciverit
: for tense, see § [485], c (287, c); B. 268, 6; G. 513; H. 550 (495,
vi); H.-B. 481.
ut . . . possitis
: § [532]
(317, c); B. 282, 4; G. 545, R.3; Cf. H. 568, 4 (499, 2, N.) ; H.-B.
502, 2, c.
diversa studia
. In another passage ([Cael. 13]) Cicero ascribes to Catiline: Cum tristibus severe,
cum
remissis jucunde, cum senibus graviter, cum juventute comiter,
cum
facinorosis audaciter, cum libidinosis luxuriose vivere .
in dissimili ratione
, in different
directions.
ludo
, the regular
training-school.
gladiatorio
: see Cat. 1, [p. 110, l. 31], and note.
levior
,
etc.: the Roman actors, though some of them achieved distinction, were
generally regarded as a low class of men.
tamen
,
i.e. though a companion of such dissolute persons, yet he possessed the
qualities of fortitude and endurance so much admired by the Romans.
exercitatione
(abl. of means), etc., trained
by the practice of
debaucheries
and crimes to endure, etc.
frigore . . .
perferendis
:
abl. with
adsuefactus
; § [507],
N.1 (301, N.); G. 431; cf. H-B. 612, iv, 431.
fortis
, a
strong and able fellow.
istis
, those
creatures: § [297], c (102, c); B. 246,
4; G. 306, N.; H. 507, 3 (450, i, N.); H.-B. 274, 4. 117 11 cum . . .
consumeret (not concessive), while consuming .
subsidia
,
etc., i.e. means (his uncommon powers of body and mind) which might have
been used, etc.
sui
: § [301], b
(196, c); B. 244, 4; G. 309, 2; H. 503, 2 (449, 3); H.-B. 264, 2.
audaciae
, acts
of audacity.
obligaverunt
,
encumbered.
res
,
property; fides, credit.
libido
,
i.e. luxurious habits and tastes.
quidem
(concessive), no doubt
homines
,
viris
:
observe the difference in sense.
mihi
: the ethical dat. gives the
phrase a familiar and contemptuous turn which may be reproduced in
English by forsooth.
obli^ti
:
observe the quantity.
caedem
,
etc.: notice the strong contrast between the character of these worn-out
debauchees and the sanguinary nature of their threats.
instare
, is
close at hand; plane merely emphasizes the idea of the verb.
propagarit
: for tense, see § [516], c, N. (307, c, a.) ; G. 595, N.2; H. 540(473).
pertimescamus
,
possit
:
subj. of characteristic.
unius
:
Pompey, just returning from his triumphs in the East.
quacumque ratione
, sc. fieri potest
resecanda erunt
, shall need
the knipe (lit. must be cut away): the figure is
derived from surgery.
si. . permanent
: § [516],
a, N. (307, a, N.); G. 228; H. 533, 2 (467,5); H.-B. 572.
exspectent
: hort. subj. in apod.; § [516], d (307, d); B. 305, 2 G. 595; H. 580 (508, 4);
H.-B. 532,1.
II.
Pars Secunda (§§ 12-16).
Catiline is not in exile: he has joined his hostile army. Men say the consul
has driven him into banishment; would the charge were true!
etiam
,
still (after all that has been done).
quod
, obj. of
adsequi, if I could
effect it (referring to
ipsos
,
etc.), i.e. their expulsion.
enim
,
i.e. the idea is absurd, as is implied in the irony following.
quid
, tell
me: i.e. "is that possible ?" in view of the circumstances,
which he proceeds to narrate.
hesterno die
qualifies
convocavi
.
detuli
: technical term for laying a
matter before the Senate; cf. referre
(ad
senatum) in the Vocabulary.
quaesivi
, etc.: see Cat. 1, sect. [9].
necne
: § [335],d(211,d);
B. 162,4; G.459; H.380, 1 (353, N.1); H.-B. 234, a.
ei
: dat. of agent; § [
375] (232, a); B. 189, 2; G. 354; H. 431, 2 (388, I); H-B. 373, 2.
teneretur
, was
caught
pararet
: for pluperf. (see note on
Cat. 1, [p. 100, l. 13] ).
securis
,
fascis
: the use of these signified
that Catiline intended to assume the authority and imperium of consul (see Fig. 25, p.290).
aquilam
: see Cat. 1, [p.
109, l. 6], and note.
eiciebam
: conative imperf.; § [471], c (277, c); B. 260, 3; G. 233; H. 534, 2 (469,
I); H.-B. 484.
credo
:
ironical, as very often in this parenthetical use.
suo nomine
,
i.e. not by Catiline's order; the whole is, of course, ironical, as is
already indicated by credo.
Massiliam
:
Marseilles, an ancient Greek city of Gaul, always faithful
and friendly to Rome. It was a favorite place of sojourn for Romans who
went into voluntary exile.
condicionem
,
terms.
nunc
, even
now.
pertimuerit
, take
alarm.
spe conatuque
:
referring of course to his treasonable hopes and designs.
est mihi tanti
, it
is worth my while: § [417] (252, a); cf.
B. 203, 3; G. 380, I, R.; H. 448 (404); H.-B. 356, I.
depellatur
: § [528](314);
B. 310,ii; G.573; H. 587(313,i); H.-B. 529.
sane
(concessive), f you like
(see Vocab.).
invidiae
,
etc.: rather than have his predictions verified in this way, Cicero
prefers the unjust odium of having arbitrarily driven Catiline to exile.
aliquando
,
some day.
quod. . . emiserim
: § [592],
3 (341, d); B. 323; G. 541; H. 588, ii (516, ii); H-B. 535, 2, a.
emiserim
,
eiecerim
, let
him go... drove him out
si interfectus
, etc.: he thus adroitly
excuses himself to those who would have preferred harsher measures.
Notice the identity in sound in profectus
,
interfectus, and observe how the argument a fortiori is brought out by the exact
antithesis.
quamquam
(corrective), and yet
dictitant
: notice the frequentative.
nemo
, not
a man.
misericors
:
his going to Manlius was his inevitable ruin, and yet, for all their
pity, they still wished him to go.
latrocinantem
, in
partisan warfare (see note on p.109, L I).
vivere
: § [583], c
(336, c, N.2) ; G. 644, R3, b; cf. H. 613, 7 (535, i, 6); H.-B. 535, I,
c.
vivis nobis
,
i.e. without assassinating me.
III.
Pars Tertia (§§ 17-25).
Character of Catiline's partisans: (i) rich men in debt (sect. [18]); (ii) men eager for power and wealth
(sect. [19]); (iii) old soldiers of Sulla
(sect. [20]); (iv) ruined debtors (sect. [21]); (v) cutthroats and criminals (sect. [22]); (vi) debauchees (sects. [22], [
23]).
sanare
: cf. note on vivere, 1.8, above.
sibi
, for
their own good: for reflexive, see § [
301], b, N. (I 96, c, N.); G. 520.
placare
, gain
aver.
comparentur
, are
made up.
singulis
, to
them one by one.
si quam
, sc.
adferre.
est eorum
, consists
of those (pred. gen.).
possessiones
, landed
property.
dissolvi
, sc. a
possessionibus: i.e. although they might pay their debts by
the sale of their estates, they cannot make up their minds to do so.
voluntas et causa
, their
purposes and claims, i.e. their position before the world.
tu
: the
use of the singular, as if he were addressing one of these men directly,
gives point to his reproach of the whole class.
sis
: § [444]
(268); B. 277; G. 466; H. 5591 4 (484, v); H.-B. 503.
tuas
:
emphatic.
tabulas novas
, new
accounts, i.e. a general scaling down of debts by
legislative enactment, such as that, B.C. 86,
"which reduced every private claim to the fourth part of its nominal
amount, and cancelled three-fourths in favor of the debtors."
auctionariae
: a forced sale of their
estates would give them "new accounts" (tabulae)
by reducing their debts;
auctionarinae
[
tabulae] would be the
placards advertising the sale in question.
quod
, obj. of
facere, relating to the forced sale.
neque
, and
not, connects facere and certare.
certare cum usuris
, struggle to
meet the interest: § [
413], b (248, b); H. (419, II); H.-B. 419, 4.
fructibus
:
abl. of means.
uteremur
, we
should find.
hosce
: more emphatic than hos.
o vota facturi
, likely
to offer prayers, i.e. they will confine themselves to
sympathizing with Catiline's revolt; no active cooperation with him need
be feared from them.
premuntur
:
notice the emphasis,—this class is insolvent; the former class is
heavily in debt, but has resources.
quieta re publica
:
no poor man could hope to gain political prominence at Rome in ordinary
times; these men therefore look to anarchy to achieve their political
ends.
scilicet
, in
fact
desperent
, have
no hope.
me . . . vigilare
, etc., indir. disc.
dependent on the idea of saying implied in
praecipiendum: § [580], a (336, N.2); G.
652, R.2; H. 642, I (523, i, N.); H.-B. 589, a.
magnos animos
:
see Vocab. under animus.
praesentis
agrees with
deos
: will
be at hand, and, etc.
quod si
, now
if (as often). The
quod
is merely adverbial acc.: § [397], a (240, b); B. 185, 2; G. 610, R.2; H. 416, 2
(378, 2); cf. H.-B. 388, a, N.; not like
quod
in
1.4, above.
jam
, at
once.
sint adepti
:
fut. cond. less vivid.
cum summo furore
: § [412],
a (248, N.); G. 399; 14.473, 31 N. (419, iii, N.1); H.-B. 445, 3.
non vident
, don't
they see? § [332], a (210, b); B. 162,
2, d; G. 453; H. 378, I (351, 3); H.-B. 231, I, a.
adepti sint
,
for the fut. perf. indic. of the direct disc.
fugitivo
,
i.e. one of their own slaves; for, when law is overthrown, brute force
will control all.
sit necesse
: § [516],
d (307, d); G. 595; H. 580 (508, 4); cf. H.-B. 582, I.
ex eis coloniis
: Sulla rewarded his
veterans (120,000 in number) by liberal grants of land, partly in municipia already existing, partly in new
colonies which he founded for them.
universas
, as
a whole.
civium esse
, consist
of etc.
ei sunt coloni
, these
are colonists of this sort (as opposed to the general
character of the colonies, which Cicero does not wish to impugn).
beati
, men
of wealth.
Sulla
, etc., Sulla
will have to be raised from the dead, for they can have no
such hope in Catiline.
agrestis
,
farmers, not Sulla's colonists.
veterum
:
alluding to the plunder of the disorderly times following Sulla's
victory over the Marian party.
illorum temporum
, i.e. the times of
proscription.
vacillant
, stagger
under.
vadimoniis
, etc.: the three steps in
bankruptcy,—bail, judgment, and sale
of
property; proscriptio is
strictly the public notice that property is for sale.
infitiatores lentos
, dilatory
debtors (lit. deniers, i.e. persons who avoid
payment of their debts by every possible subterfuge).
stare
, keep
their feet
ita
, in
such a way.
non modo
, etc.: § [217],
e (149, c); B. 343, 2, a; G. 482,5, R.1; H. 656, 3 (552, 2); H.-B. 299.
non revoco
: § [467]
(276, b); B. 259, 2; G. 233; H. 530 (467, 6); H.-B. 484.
carcer
: this is the Tullianum, a dungeon near the Forum, still
existing. It was properly a jail for temporary detention, as
imprisonment was not recognized in Rome as a form of punishment.
numero
, in
order;
genere
, in
rank.
imberbis
:
a mark of effeminacy;
bene barbatos
,
full-bearded, doubtless a military affectation, as, until
lately, the wearing of a mustache.
velis
,
veils, rather than the substantial
toga, which was of unbleached wool. The whole description
suggests foppishness and effeminacy.
saltare et cantare
,
these accomplishments were hardly regarded as respectable by the better
classes.
spargere
,
i.e. in food or drink: poisoning has in all ages been carried to a high
art in Italy.
scitote
:
notice the second (fut.) imperat. (regularly used in this word).
his . . . noctibus
:
although this was spoken Nov. 9, yet the Roman year was at this time in
such a state of confusion that the true date was probably some time in
December, just when the winter was setting in.
These followers of Catiline contrasted with the defenders of the
state.
The issue of such a contest cannot be doubtful.
urbes coloniarum
,
etc.: the colonies and free communities (
municipia
)
included the walled cities (
urbes
) in their territory. These
well-manned walls would be more than a match for Catiline's rude works (tumulis ).
causas
, i.e. the cause of the
conspirators and that of the state in their moral aspect (cf. in eius modi, etc., 1.12, below).
ex eo ipso
, from
the very comparison.
bona ratio
, good
counsel;
perdita
,
desperate.
custodiis vigilisque
: see Cat. 1,
sect. [8] and note.
consultum
, etc.,
provident measures have been taken.
coloni municipesque
: a colony
differed from a municipium in being
founded by Roman (or Latin) citizens, who retained from the first their
citizenship, either in whole or in part. By Cicero's time there was no
longer any real difference between the two classes of towns; but the
colonies always retained a certain precedence in rank.
hac . . . excursione
:
see Introd., p. 113 of text.
gladiatores
: see [p.
117, l. 5].
quamquam
(corrective), referring to manum
certissimam
tamen
:
pointing the contrast between the suppression of this body and
Catiline's expectations from them.
vocari videtis
: the members of the
Senate had their gathering place (senaculum)
adjoining the curia, and were summoned
by heralds (praecones) from this into
the building. If any were absent, the heralds were sent to their houses.
The curia and
senaculum were visible from the place of assembly in the
Forum, and the heralds could no doubt be seen going their rounds.