J. B. Greenough, G. L. Kittredge, Select Orations of Cicero, Allen and Greenough's Edition.

First Oration against Catiline

Argument

I. Propositio

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.

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.

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.

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. 2.

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.

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.

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.

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.

3.

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

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.).

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. 4.

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).

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.

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. 5.

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

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.

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.).

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. 6.

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.

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.

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).

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). 7.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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?

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. 9.

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.

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).

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). 10.

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).

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.).

exsul, consul: observe the play upon words (see Vocab.).

latrocinium: cf. note on latrocinio, l. 1, above.

11.

III. Peroratio

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.

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.

inertiae, (sc. invidia), the reproach.

an belongs with non existimas.

conflagraturum, will be consumed (lit. will burn up). 12.

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).

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. 13.

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.

patefacta, laid bare; inlustrata, set in full light; oppressa, crushed; vindicata, punished. Observe the climax.

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).