At length, O Romans, we have dismissed from the city, or driven out, or, when he was
departing of his own accord, we have pursued with words, Lucius Catiline, mad with audacity,
breathing wickedness, impiously planning mischief to his country, threatening fire and sword
to you and to this city. He is gone, he has departed, he has disappeared, he has rushed out.
No injury will now be prepared against these walls within the walls themselves by that
monster and prodigy of wickedness. And we have, without controversy, defeated him, the sole
general of this domestic war. For now that dagger will no longer hover about our sides; we
shall not be afraid in the campus, in the forum, in the senate-house,—yes, and
within our own private walls, he was moved from his place when he was driven from the city.
Now we shall openly carry on a regular war with an enemy without hindrance. Beyond all
question we ruin the man; we have defeated him splendidly when we have driven him from secret
treachery into open warfare.
This text is part of:
M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge, B. A. London. Henry G. Bohn, York Street, Covent Garden. 1856.
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