II.
Narratio (§§ 3-22).
Story of the arrest. The conspirators watched: their attempts to tamper
with the Allobroges disclosed to Cicero: the arrest at the Mulvian
Bridge: seizure of incriminating letters.
inlustrata
,
patefacta
,
comperta
: the anticlimax is only
apparent, for
comperta expresses the most difficult as well as the most
important of the three acts.
vobis
: opposed to in senatu (1.8).
investigata
, traced out
(observe the figure).
exspectatis
, are waiting to
hear.
ut
, ever
since.
possemus
: § [575],
b (334, b); B. 300,2; G.467; cf. H. 642, 3 (523, ii, i, N.).
cum . . . eiciebam
: notice the tense (at
the time I was engaged in driving out, etc., also volebam, below), as compared with erupit ( burst
forth, once for all). Notice also the difference in mood (at
the time, etc.), compared with cum
reliquisset in ll.13, 14 (not referring to time at all, but to
circumstance: having left behind, etc.): see § [545],546 (323, 325. a); B. 288, I; G. 580, 585; H.
600, 601 (521, i, ii); H.-B. 550, a and N.1.
invidiam
: see Cat. 1, [p. 108, l. 27], and note.
illa
, sc.
invidia.
quod . . . exierit
: § [592],
3 (341, d); B. 323; G. 539; H. 588, ii (516, ii); H.-B. 535, 2, a.
restitissent
: in direct disc. this
would be restiterint (fut. perf.).
quoniam . . . faceret
, because
(as I thought), etc.: hence the subj. rather than faciebat: § [592], 3,
N. (34 i, d, R.); G. 541; H. 588, ii (516, ii); H.-B. 535, 2, a, N.2.
fidem faceret
, gain credence
.
oratio
,
argument
rem comprehenderem
, get hold
of the matter.
ut . . . provideretis
:
purpose.
cum . . . videretis
: subj. of integral part
(otherwise it would be
videbitis).
Allobrogum
: the Allobroges were a
Gallic nation between the Rhone and the Alps (in the modern Dauphine and Savoy);
subdued B.C.
121, and united with the province
Narbonensis. They were restless under their new masters (see
sect. [22]), and inclined to take up with
Catiline's movement. Their ambassadors had come to complain of certain
exactions of their provincial governor.
belli
,
i.e. when out of the range of the Roman jurisdiction;
tumultus
, rebellion,
i.e. when nearer home.
Lentulo
, see Introd., p. 126: he had
been consul B.C. 71, but had been expelled
from the Senate the next year, with sixty-three others, on account of
his character, and he now held the praetorship with the view of
beginning the career of office over again.
manifesto
deprehenderetur
, taken
in the act: the words apply strictly to the criminals
themselves.
praetores
: although the regular duties
of the praetors were judicial, yet they possessed the imperium, and in virtue of this could
command troops in the absence of the consuls, or under their authority.
qui . . . sentirent
(subj. of
characteristic), as men who, etc.
pontem Mulvium
:
the bridge over the Tiber, about two miles above the city, by which the
principal roads (the Flaminian and Cassian) led into north Italy.
inter eos
,
i.e. between the two divisions.
praefectura
: the title given to the
politically lowest class of Italian towns, which had lost their
independence; cf. Vocab. under
colonia and municipium .
Reatina
: Reate was a very ancient
town of the Sabines, about forty miles northeast of Rome. Cicero was the patronus of Reate, that is, acted as its
attorney and legal counsel; which accounts for his having this
body-guard of young men from that place. Besides, these simple
mountaineers still retained something of the old Italian virtues, and
therefore were well fitted for this service.
praesidio
:
dat. of service.
tertia. . . exacta
, about 3 A.M.: the
night, from sunset to sunrise, was divided by the Romans into four vigiliae of equal length.
magno comitatu
: abl. of accomp.; § [413], a (248, a, N.); cf. B. 222, I ; G. 392, R.1;
H. 474, 2 (419, I 1); cf. H.-B. 422, i.
res
: the
occasion of the attack.
ignorabatur
, etc. Though the
Allobroges had played the conspirators false, and knew that the consul
had his plans ready, they did not know what these plans were, and
therefore were as much taken by surprise as Volturcius himself. Even the
troops would appear not to have known what special enterprise they were
engaged in.
machinatorem
: Gabinius had been the
go-between in this case; he and Statilius were to burn the city ([Sall.
Cat. 43, 44]).
venit
:
of course he had been summoned like the others.
praeter
,
etc., since Lentulus was notoriously lazy.
viris
, dat. after placeret, which has for subject litteras . . .
aperiri, etc.
deferrem
, integral part of aperiri; otherwise it would probably be
defers; see § [551], c (327, a); cf. 'B. 291, I ; G.
574; H. 605, 2 (520); H-B. 571,507, 4, a.
esse facturum
governs the result clause
ut . . . deferrem
: we may translate, I
said I would not fail to lay before the
public council a matter touching the public danger before it had
been
tampered with (
integram
).
etenim . . . si
, for if you see
.
reperta . . . essent
: in dir. disc. this
would be reperta erunt .
The Conspirators before the Senate. Evidence of Volturcius and the
Allobroges. The letters produced. Confession of the conspirators.
si quid. . . esset
, whatever weapons
there might be.
introduxi
, sc. in senatum. fidem
publicam, assurance of
safity: he was to be used as state's evidence.
sciret
:
subj. of integral part.
servorum
:
the recollection of the terrible servile insurrections in Sicily, and
especially that of Spartacus in Italy, less than ten years before, would
make this shock and terrify Cicero's hearers beyond measure.
ut . . . uteretur
: § [563]
(331); B. 295,4; G. 546; H. 565 (498, i); H.-B. 502, 31 a; obj. of the
verb of commanding implied in mandata,
etc.
id
: in a sort of apposition with at .
. .
accederet .
cam . . . incendissent
: subj. because
integral part of at praesto
esset; otherwise it would be
incenderimus (fut. perf.).
erat
: § [583]
(336, b); B. 314, 3; G. 628, R.; H. 643,4 (524, 2); H.-B. 535, I, d.
at . . . mitterent
:
purpose.
equitatum
:
the Roman cavalry was at this time chiefly composed of Gallic and other
auxiliaries.
sibi
(
copias
)
refers to the conspirators;
sibi
(
confirmasse
) to the envoys: § [300], I and 2 (I 96, a, I and 2); B. 244, i, ii;
H.-B. 262, 2.
defuturas
[
esse] depends on the idea of
saying implied in praescriptum
.
fatis
: the books bought by Tarquinius
Superbus of the Cumaean Sibyl. They were kept in charge of a board, collegium, the quindecemviri
sacris faciundis, and consulted in cases of great public
emergency (cf. [Aeneid 6. 71]).
haruspicum
: the haruspices were Etruscan soothsayers, who
interpreted the will of the gods, chiefly from the entrails of animals
sacrificed. They were a private class, of low standing, and are not to
be confounded with the augurs, who were a board of Roman noblemen, of
high rank, who interpreted the auspices according to the native Roman
rules, chiefly by the flight of birds, by lightning, etc.
Cinnam
, etc.: L. Cornelius Cinna was
colleague of Marius, and ruled Rome after his death, B.C.
86. L. Cornelius Sulla ruled Rome
B.C. 82-79 (see sect. 24).
virginam
: the Vestal Virgins, six in
number, maidens of high rank, consecrated to chastity and the service of
Vesta. They were peculiarly sacred, and were highly privileged.
Violation of their vow of chastity was incestus,
and was regarded as a prodigium of
very bad omen. Of the incident referred to here nothing further is
known.
Capitoli
: the temple of Jupiter
Capitolinus (see "Plunder of Syracuse," sect. 15) was burned during the
rule of the Marian faction, B.C.
83.
Saturnalibas
: a very ancient festival
in honor of Saturn, the god of seed sowing, celebrated Dec.19. During
this festival every serious business was suspended; and it was so
complete a holiday that slaves feasted at the same tables with their
masters. No better opportunity could be found for the outbreak of an
insurrection than this season of unrestrained jollification.
tabellas
,
tablets of wood: wax was spread on the inside, and on this
the writing was scratched with a
stilus. When used for letters, the tablets were tied about
with a linen thread, linum, and
sealed. See Fig. 35 (from a Pompeian wall-painting) and Fig. 44.
ipsias mana
:
the ambassadors had made sure to get all the conspirators committed in
writing except Cassius, who alone had the sagacity to keep out of it.
senatai
: the Gallic tribes were
governed by an aristocracy, having a council or senate as its
mouthpiece. etc.: in direct disc., faciam
quae vestris legatis confirmavi.
at... illi
, etc.: in the direct form, - vos facite quae
sibi
vestri legati receperunt Note the change of pronouns as
well as of moods and tenses.
sibi recepissent
, had taken
upon themselves.
qui . . . respondisset
: qui concessive.
tamen
,
i.e. in spite of the strong evidence against him.
est vero
,
etc., i.e. you may well recognize it: it is, etc.
avi tui
: Cornelius Lentulus, cos. B.C. 162. He was princeps
senatus, that is, designated by the censors as first man of
the Senate: an honorary office, held ordinarily by patricians.
debuit
, ought
to have recalled: § [486], a (288, a);
B. 270, 2; G. 254, R.1; H. 618, 2 (537, I) H.-B. 582, 31 a, and
footnote. (The joining of such opposites as
mata and revocare is
called oxymoron, or paradox.)
eadem ratione
, to
the same purport
si vellet
: § [592],
2 (341, c); Cf. B. 323; G. 663, 2, b; H.-B. 536, a (direct, si vis).
feci potestatem
, I gave him
leave.
nihilne
: equiv. to nonne aliquid.
esset
,
is: imperf. by seq. of tenses; § [485],
d (287, d); H. 549 (495, v); H.-B. 482, I.
qais sim
,
etc.: this letter is given with slight variations by Sallust, Cat. 44.
qaem in locam
, etc., how far you
have gone (alluding to the fact that he was thoroughly
compromised).
infimoram
, i.e. slaves; see note, [p. 130, l. 3], above.
illa
, the
following: § [297], b (102, b); B. 246,
2; G. 307, 3; H. 507(450, 3).
furtim
,
stealthily ("like thieves"); so English stealth
from
steal.
senatum consului
: deliberative
assemblies in ancient times were under the control of the presiding
officer, and members could not speak or introduce business except when
called upon by him. He laid a subject before them (consulere senatum, referre ad senatum), and
asked their opinions individually, in a definite order, usually
according to their rank or dignity. In the case of a general question he
was said referre (consulere) de
summa re publica. The form would be, dic, C. Juli, sententiam. (See Introd., p.
lvii.)
a principibus
, the
leading men.
sententiae
:
the views of the individual Senators (see note on l.23, above).
perscriptum
: the opinions (sententiae) of the Senators (given as just
described) merely determined the substance of the ordinance, which was
afterwards written out in regular form by the secretaries in the
presence of some of its advocates and under the direction of the
presiding officer.
Action of the Senate: the chief conspirators are given into custody and a
thanksgiving is voted.
L Flaccas
: see note on [p. 128, l. 7].
conlegae
:
C. Antonius; see Introd. to Cat. 1, p.99.
rei pablicae consilus
, the public
counsels, i.e. his own (officially) as consul.
cam se abdicasset
, after
abdicating. Lentulus could not properly be called to account
during his magistracy; but he might be forced to resign, and could then
be proceeded against.
erant
:
notice that this and similar clauses in this section, since they are
explanations made by Cicero and not parts of the decree, take the
indicative.
L. Cassiam
,
etc.: these last mentioned had not yet been arrested, but Ceparius was
caught in his flight and brought back.
pastores
:
Apulia was, as now, used chiefly for pasturage. In the summer, when
these broad plains were dried up, the flocks were driven to the mountain
pastures of Samnium and Lucania. These pastoral regions have always been
the home of a lawless and restless population, prone to brigandage.
colonis
, etc.: Cf. sect. [20], above (pp.121, 122).
sapplicatio
: a day of prayer,
proclaimed by the Senate, either in thanksgiving (gratulatio) as in the present case, or in
entreating favor of the gods.
eoram
,
i.e. the gods.
togato
, as
a civilian: cf. Cat. 1, [p. 125, l. 17]
and note. See Fig. 33.
liberassem
: in the decree, liberavit,
hoc interest
, there
is this difference.
bene gesta
, as well as conservata, agrees with re publica (abl. abs.).
faciendam . . . fuit
:
observe that this form has not here its usual cont. to fact implication.
jas
,
rights.
tamen
:
he was allowed to resign instead of being put to death without resigning
(as in the case below).
qaae . . . faerat
, what had not
been a scruple to Afarius a scruple which had not prevented
M. from (
quo minus
,
etc.).
qao minas . . occideret
, to prevent his
killing, following religio: § [558], b (319, c); Cf. B. 295, 3; G. 549; H. 568, 8
(499, 3, N.1); H-B. 502, 31 b.
C. Glauciam
: see note on Cat. 1, [p. 101, l. 1].
nominatim
, i.e. Marius acted merely
under the general authority conferred on him by the Senate in the
formula, Videatit
consules, etc. (see note on Cat. 1, [p.
100, l. 12]).
The conspiracy is now crashed. Character of Catiline.
pellebam
: conative imperf.; cf. [p. 127, l. 16] and note.
pertimescendam
: observe the intensive
force of per .
ille erat
, etc.: with this character
of Catiline, cf. notes on Cat. 1, 26 ([p. 109, l. 23]),
and ii, 9 (p.117, t 4).
continebatur
: for tense, see § [556], a (276, e, N.); G. 569; H. 603 (519, i); H-B.
550, b.
consiliam
, ability
to plan.
mandarat
: for mood and tense, see § [542], 518, b (322, 309, c); B. 287, 2; G. 567; H.
539, 2 (472, 2); H.-B. 577 and footnote I, 579.
depalissem
, pushed
aside: the image is of averting a crushing
weight ( molem), just
ready to fall.
non ille
,
etc., i.e. as Cethegus did.
Saturnalia
,
i.e. so distant a date.
constituisset
:
the prot. (cont. to fact) is implied in
ille
; § [521], a
(310, a); B. 305, 2; G. 593,3; H. 575, 9 (507, N.7); H.-B. 578, 6.
rei pablicae
: dat. after denuntiavisset.
testes
:
in appos. with both
signum
and
litterae
.
qaae
: referring to Cicero's success
in securing (lit. capturing) the evidence of guilt.
hostis
(pred. appos.), as an
enemy.
Thanks due to the gods. Signs and omens. Jupiter watches over the city.
cam
(correl. with
tam vera
, 1.9), i.e. we cannot merely
guess it (for the reason in the quod-clause
following), but still more we can almost see it with our own eyes.
quod . . . potuisse
(parenthetical),
because, etc.
consili
(pred. gen. limiting gubernatio), to
belong to human wisdom.
possemas
: for tense, see § [485], a (287, a); B. 268, 7; G. 511, a.3; H. 546
(495, i); H.-B. 481.
faces
,
etc.: these omens are such as the Romans observed and noted carefully.
Livy's history is full of them.
praetermittendam
,
inadvertently;
relinquendam
,
intentionally.
Cotta et Torquato
: consuls B.C. 65, the year in which Catiline first
intended to carry out his conspiracy.
aera
:
the laws were engraved on bronze tables.
ille . . . Romulas
:
there is a bronze statue of the wolf suckling the infants in the
Capitoline Museum at Rome, which bears marks either of lightning seaming
one of its hind legs, or of some defect in the casting (Fig. 36). This
is probably identical with that here mentioned.
haruspices
: see note on [p. 130, l. 14].
flexissent
: in direct disc. flexerint, following
appropinquare
, which points to the
future; § [516], d (307, d) ; G. 595; H. 580 (508,
4); cf. H.-B. 582, 1.
illoram
, i.e. the
haruspices
.
ladi
: festivals in which races and
theatrical performances were celebrated in honor of the gods ; such
festivals were especially appointed to appease the deities in times of
danger and distress; Cf. Verres, 1, sect. [31]
.
idem
(plur.), they
also.
contra atqae
, opposite
to what: § [324], c (156, a); B. 341, I,
c; G. 643; H. 516, 3 (459, 2); H.-B. 307, 2, a.
: the Forum and the Senate house (curia) were east of the south end of the
Capitoline Hill, on which stood the Capitolium, or temple of Jupiter
Capitolinus (see Plan of Forum).
inlustrarentur
:
the word is chosen with reference to the omen of Jupiter looking toward
the rising sun.
conlocandam . . .
locaverant
: locare with the gerundive is the regular
expression for giving out a contract; § [500], 4
(294, d); B. 337, 7, b, 2; G. 430; H. 622 (544, N.2); H-B. 612, iii.
illi
,
i.e. of year before last.
consulibas and nobis
: abl. abs.
expressing the date.
praeceps
,
headstrong;
mente captus
,
insane.
haec omnia
,
i.e. the universe.
ita is explained by caedes .
. . comparari
,
below.
responsam
:
the regular expression for any prophetic answer as of an oracle or seer.
rei pablicae
(dat.), against
the state.
et ea
, and
that too (cf. καὶ ταῦτα ).
ea
: referring to caedes, etc, above.
iliad
: referring forward to the
result at . . .
statueretur (ll.21-23).
in aedem Concordine
: one of the principal
temples at the northern end of the Forum (see Plan), where the Senate
had held its session on this day. It was built by the consul L. Opimius, B.C. 121, after his bloody victory over C.
Gracchus.
quo
,
wherefore: § [414], a, N. (250, N.);
H.-B. 424, a.
vestris
, etc.: observe the contrast
between vestris and
deorum
,
which is emphasized by their respective positions.
non ferendas
,
intolerable for arrogance.
ille
, etc.:
anaphora; § [
641] (386); B. 350, II, b; cf. G. 682; H. 666, I (636, iii, 3);
H.-B. 632,5.
illa
,
etc.: omit the words in brackets as being a manifest gloss.
consilium
, etc.: cf. the proverb,
quem deus
perdere volt, prius
dementat
at introduces the result
clause at . . .
neglegerent
, with which id is in apposition, the whole forming the
subject of esse factum.
gens refers here to the Gauls as
a whole
,
not to the Allobroges in particular.
patricus
: the old patricians, though
having no special political privileges, still retained considerable
prestige as an hereditary aristocracy. cf. note on Verres 1.1 ([p. 28, l. 2]). Of the conspirators, Catiline,
Lentulus, and Cethegus were patricians.
qui . . . saperare potuerint
: cf. note on [p. 131, l. 8];
qui
, as subject of the charact.
clause, may be translated by when
they .
III.
Peroratio
Citizens exhorted to thanksgiving.
pulvinaria
, shrines:
properly cushions, upon which the statues of the gods
were laid, when a feast was spread before them. This was called
lectisternium, and was usually connected with the supplicatio (see note on [p.
133, l. 19]). Only certain gods, chiefly Grecian, had pulvinaria, and the rite was established by
direction of the Sibylline books (see note, sect. [9]).
celebratote
: the future imperative is
used on account of its reference to a set
time in the future; § [449] (269, d); G.
268, ; H. 560, 4 (487, 11); H.-B. 496. The figure in the text (from an
ancient altar relief) represents a procession such as was usual on
occasions of this kind. Fig. 37 (from an ancient lamp) shows the images
at such a feast.
duce
,
i.e. in actual command;
imperatore
,
i.e. holding the sovereign power, whether actually commanding that
particular operation or not.
dissensiones
: for case, see § [350], d (219, b); G.376, a.2; H. 455 (407, N.1);
H.-B. 350, b.
P. Sulpicium
[
Rufum], a young man of remarkable eloquence, a leader in the
reforming party among the aristocracy. He was tribune B.C.
88, and his quarrel with C. Caesar was the first act of the Civil
War. By his proposition, the command in the Mithridatic War was
transferred from Sulla to Marius; and when Sulla refused to obey, and
marched upon the city, Sulpicius was one of the first victims.
conlegam
: Lucius Cornelius Cinna, the
Marian partisan (see note on [p. 130, l. 16]). He
and Cn. Octavius, a partisan of Sulla, were consuls B.C.
87, after the departure of Sulla for the East, and in their
dissensions the Civil War broke out afresh. The victory of Cinna later
recalled Marius from exile.
lumina
: among these were Octavius; C.
Caesar (see above) and his brother Lucius; Q. Catulus, father of the
opponent of the Manilian Law (see below); M. Antonius, the great orator;
and the pontifex
maximus, Q. Scaevola.
ultus est
: to preserve the emphasis,
render the cruelty, etc., was
avenged by Sulla.
dissensit
, there was a
quarrel between, etc.
M. Lepidus
, father of the triumvir,
was consul B.C. 78 (after Sulla's death), with
Q. Catulus, son of the one murdered by Cinna. The scheme of Lepidus to
revive the Marian party resulted in a short civil war, in which he was
defeated by his colleague and killed.
ipsias
:
he was the victim of his own violence, and therefore less regretted.
tamen
:
i.e. though these disturbances cost a great many lives, yet they were
not so revolutionary as this conspiracy, which has been put down without
bloodshed.
commatandam rem
publicam
, a change
of government
quale bellum
, a war such as
.
quo in bello
: § [307],
a (200, a); B. 351, 4; G. 615; H.-B. 284, 4.
omnes
,
etc., i.e. everybody except the desperate.
tantum
, only
so many.
restitisset
(
resisto), should
survive .
Cicero asks for no reward except the memory of this day. He relies on
the
devotion of the citizens, and has no fears for the future. The
assembly
dismissed.
matum
:
such as a statue, for example.
eandem diem
, etc., the same
period of time—eternal as I hope — is
prolonged,
both for the safety of the city, etc.
duos civis
, i.e. Pompey and himself.
qaae
,
as: § [308], h (201,g); H-B. 270, b.
isti
(contrasted with mihi) refers to
illorum (1.20).
mentes
,
counsels.
nihil . . . noceri potest
, no harm can be
done.
dignitas
, etc., i.e. the majesty of
the Roman state will be an invisible safeguard for me; cf. "the divinity
"that" doth hedge a king" (
Hamlet iv, 5, 123).
conscientiae
,
etc., i.e. my enemies, conscious of their guilty sympathy with this
conspiracy, will, in their attempts to injure me, inevitably commit some
act which will show them to be traitors to the state.
altro
,
i.e. without waiting to be attacked.
domesticoram hostiam
: oxymoron; § [641] (386); B. 375, 2; G. 694; H. 752, 12 (637, xi,
6); H.-B. 632, 3. cf. the same figure in Cat. 1, sect. [21] ( [p. 108, l. 4]
): cum
tacent, clamant.
convertit
: pres. for fut., as often,
especially in
protasis .
obtulerint
:
subj. of integral part.
in honore vestro
:
honor is used here, as usual, to denote external honors (offices)
conferred by the people. Holding the consulship, he had nothing to look
forward to.
conservanda re publica
:
abl. of means.
in re publica
, in public life
.
virtute
, non
casa, etc., i.e. he will show this by such conduct as shall be
consistent with this glorious achievement.
Jovem
:
the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus is shown in the background of the
illustration opposite p.136; the figure in the text at p.140 is a
restoration of this temple.