Sallust's Catilinarian War

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postquam accepêre ea homines, quibus mala abunde omnia erant, sed neque res neque spes bona ulla, tametsi illis quieta mouere magna merces uidebatur, tamen postulauêre plerique, ut proponeret, quae condicio belli foret, quae praemia armis peterent, quid ubique opis aut spei haberent.

After the men heard this, being overwhelmed with all sorts of troubles, utterly lacking in financial resources and any hope at all, even though merely disturbing the peace seemed to them to be ample reward enough, quite a few of them still asked him to explain the terms of the war, what rewards they would be aiming to get by fighting, and what support they had or what could they count on from any quarter.

tum Catilina polliceri tabulas nouas, proscriptionem locupletium, magistratus, sacerdotia, rapinas, alia omnia, quae bellum atque libido uictorum fert; praeterea esse in Hispania citeriore Pisonem, in Mauretania cum exercitu P.~Sittium Nucerinum, consili sui participes; petere consulatum C.~Antonium, quem sibi collegam fore speraret, hominem et familiarem et omnibus necessitudinibus circumuentum; cum eo se consulem initium agendi facturum.

Then Catiline promised the clearing of all debts, the proscription of the wealthy, offices, priesthoods, looting, and everything else that war or the pleasure of the winners entails. In addition, Piso was in Nearer Spain, Publius Sittius Nucerinus was in Mauretania with an army, and these were in on the plot. Gaius Antonius was seeking the consulship. Catiline expected that he would share it with him, being a man both a close friend and plagued by all kinds of urgent needs. He as consul would start the action with him.

ad hoc maledictis increpabat omnîs bonos, suorum unum quemque nominans laudare:

In addition, he railed against all the decent men, cursing them, and naming each one of his own, he praised them.

admonebat alium egestatis, alium cupiditatis suae, complurîs periculi aut ignominiae, multos uictoriae Sullanae, quibus ea praedae fuerat.

He reminded one of his neediness, another of his dreams, quite a few of their precarious situation or their disgrace, and many of Sulla's victory — the ones to whom it had brought so many spoils.

postquam omnium animos alacrîs uidet, cohortatus, ut petitionem suam curae haberent, conuentum dimisit.

After he saw that everyone's appetite had been whetted, he encouraged them to take a personal interest in his quest, and he called the meeting to a close.

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fuêre ea tempestate qui dicerent Catilinam, oratione habitâ, cum ad ius iurandum popularîs sceleris sui adigeret, humani corporis sanguinem uino permixtum in pateris circumtulisse:

There were some at the time who said that after he gave this speech, Catiline, when he bound the participants in his crime to an oath, passed around the blood from a human body mixed with wine in bowls.

inde cum post execrationem omnes degustauissent, sicuti in sollemnibus sacris fieri consueuit, aperuisse consilium suum, atque eo dicationem fecisse, quo inter se fidi magis forent alius alii tanti facinoris conscii.

When everyone had tasted it, after an oath like those that are typically used in ritual solemnities, he set out the details of his plan and had them declare themselves on it, to bind them more closely to one another, all of them being fully aware of each other's participation in the same awful criminal deed.

nonnulli ficta et haec et multa praeterea existimabant ab iis, qui Ciceronis inuidiam quae postea orta est leniri credebant atrocitate sceleris eorum, qui poenas dederant.

Some think that this and many other details were fabricated by those who believed that they could use the atrocity of the act of those who had paid the penalty to diminish the ill-will towards Cicero that arose later.

nobis ea res pro magnitudine parum comperta est.

As far as I am concerned, there is too little solid information for such a serious matter.

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sed in ea coniuratione fuit Q.~Curius, natus haud obscuro loco, flagitiis atque facinoribus coopertus, quem censores senatu probri gratia mouerant.

This conspiracy included Quintus Curius, a man from a well-known family who was deeply involved in unethical and criminal activity. The censors had had him removed from the Senate for immoral conduct.

huic homini non minor uanitas inerat quam audacia:

He was as foolish as he was bold.

neque reticere quae audierat, neque suamet ipse scelera occultare, prorsus neque dicere neque facere quicquam pensi habebat.

He had not the slightest care about keeping quiet about what he had heard, or about hiding his own criminal deeds. Actually, he would say or do anything.

erat ei cum Fuluiâ, muliere nobili, stupri uetus consuetudo.

He had a long-standing affair with Fulvia, a noble woman.

cui cum minus gratus esset, quia inopiâ minus largiri poterat, repente glorians, maria montîsque polliceri coepit et minari etiam ferro, ni sibi obnoxia foret, postremo ferocius agitare quam solitus erat.

He had lost his charm with her, because his limited resources curtailed his spending abilities, but at one point, he suddenly started to boastfully promise her the seas and the mountains, and even to threaten her with violence if she did not go along with him; finally he began to treat her more abusively than usual.

at Fuluia insolentiae Curi causâ cognitâ tale periculum rei publicae haud occultum habuit, sed, sublato auctore, de Catilinae coniuratione quae quoque modo audierat compluribus narrauit.

But Fulvia, when she learned the reason for Curius's swaggering behavior, revealed the danger that was threatening the state: without mentioning the instigator, she told quite a few people what she had gathered about Catiline's conspiracy.

ea res in primis studia hominum accendit ad consulatum mandandum M.~Tullio Ciceroni.

This matter made people especially eager to entrust Marcus Tullius Cicero with the consulship.

namque antea pleraque nobilitas inuidiâ aestuabat, et quasi pollui consulatum credebant, si eum quamuis egregius homo nouus adeptus foret.

Previously, most of the nobility seethed with resentment toward him and thought it would be a mark on the consulship if he, as a "new man," attained it, no matter how outstanding he was.

sed ubi periculum aduenit, inuidia atque superbia post fuêre.

But when the situation became dangerous, resentment and pride receded into the background.

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igitur, comitiis habitis, consules declarantur M.~Tullius et C.~Antonius.

And so the elections were held, and Marcus Tullius and Gaius Antonius were appointed consuls.

quod factum primo popularîs coniurationis concusserat.

This event was the first blow to the conspiratorial fellowship.

neque tamen Catilinae furor minuebatur, sed in dies plura agitare: arma per Italiam locis opportunis parare, pecuniam suâ aut amicorum fide sumptam mutuam Faesulas ad Manlium quendam portare, qui postea princeps fuit belli faciendi.

But Catiline's madness did not diminish. Day by day, set even more initiatives into motion. He made weapons available in strategic locations around Italy, and he transferred money (his own or borrowed from his friends) to a certain Manlius at Faesulae, who later was the leader of the military action.

ea tempestate plurimos cuiusque generis homines adsciuisse sibi dicitur, mulieres etiam aliquot, quae primo ingentîs sumptûs stupro corporis tolerauerant, post, ubi aetas tantummodo quaestui neque luxuriae modum fecerat, aes alienum grande conflauerant.

At that time, it is said, very many people of all sorts joined him, even several women, who at first had supported their vast expenses by prostitution, and later, when they got older and their incomes diminished but their extravagance continued unabated, they had run up an immense debt.

per eas se Catilina credebat posse seruitia urbana sollicitare, urbem incendere, uiros earum uel adiungere sibi uel interficere.

Through them, Catiline believed that he could agitate the slaves of the city, burn it, and bring their husbands into his fellowship or kill them.

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sed in iis erat Sempronia, quae multa saepe uirilis audaciae facinora commiserat.

Among them was Sempronia, who had often engaged in crimes that were more like the sort that a daring man would commit.

haec mulier genere atque formâ, praeterea uiro, liberis satis fortunata fuit; litteris Graecis, Latinis docta, psallere et saltare elegantius quam necesse est probae, multa alia, quae instrumenta luxuriae sunt.

This woman was sufficiently blessed to have the family and beauty that she did, and in addition, to have her husband and children. Educated in Greek and Latin letters, she could play the lyre and dance more elegantly that any good woman has to, and she could do many other things that are the trappings of luxury.

sed ei cariora semper omnia quam decus atque pudicitia fuit; pecuniae an famae minus parceret, haud facile discerneres; libido sic accensa, ut saepius peteret uiros quam peteretur.

But she put everything at a higher value than she did her honor and her sense of shame. It was rather hard to tell whether she abused her money or her reputation more. Her lust was so hot that she more often went after men than they went after her.

sed ea saepe antehac fidem prodiderat, creditum abiurauerat, caedis conscia fuerat: luxuriâ atque inopiâ praeceps abierat.

Earlier, she had often betrayed her faith and broken oaths and been party to murder: in her extravagance and insufficient finances, she was headed straight for perdition.

uerum ingenium eius haud absurdum: posse uersus facere, iocum mouere, sermone uti uel modesto uel molli uel procaci; prorsus multae facetiae multusque lepos inerat.

But her talent was considerable: she could write poetry, tell jokes, speak modestly or sweetly or saucily; in short, she possessed much wit and much charm.

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his rebus comparatis Catilina nihilo minus in proximum annum consulatum petebat, sperans, si designatus foret, facile se ex uoluntate Antonio usurum.

Even with these matters underway, Catiline nevertheless sought the consulship the next year, hoping that if he were elected, he would easily manipulate Antonius.

neque interea quietus erat, sed omnibus modis insidias parabat Ciceroni.

And in the meantime he was not idle, but he contrived all sorts of ambushes for Cicero.

neque illi tamen ad cauendum dolus aut astutiae deerant.

But that man did not fall short in his use of sharply intelligent guile to protect himself.

namque a principio consulatus sui multa pollicendo per Fuluiam effecerat ut Q.~Curius, de quo paulo ante memoraui, consilia Catilinae sibi proderet; ad hoc collegam suum Antonium pactione prouinciae perpulerat, ne contra rem publicam sentiret; circum se praesidia amicorum atque clientium occulte habebat.

For from the beginning of his consulate, he had made many promises to Fulvia and had persuaded her to get Quintus Curius, of whom I spoke a little earlier, to betray Catiline's plans to him; in addition to this, he had used the promise of a province to prevail upon his colleague Antonius not to take sides against the republic. Around his own person, he secretly kept friends and clients as guards-in-hiding.

postquam dies comitiorum uenit et Catilinae neque petitio neque insidiae, quas consulibus in campo fecerat, prospere cessêre, constituit bellum facere et extrema omnia experiri, quoniam quae occulte temptauerat aspera foedaque euenerant.

After the day for the elections arrived, and Catiline's candidacy had failed, along with the ambush that he had attempted against the consuls in the open field, he decided to make war and to make an all-out effort since what he had tried to do in stealth had turned out to be such a miserable disappointment.

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igitur C.~Manlium Faesulas atque in eam partem Etruriae, Septimium quendam Camertem in agrum Picenum, C.~Iulium in Apuliam dimisit, praeterea alium alio, quem ubique opportunum sibi fore credebat.

Therefore he sent Gaius Manlius off to Faesulae and that part of Etruria, and a certain Septimius Camertes into Picene territory, and Gaius Julius into Apulia, and various others to different places, where he believed they would be most advantageous to him.

interea Romae multa simul moliri: consulibus insidias tendere, parare incendia, opportuna loca armatis hominibus obsidere; ipse cum telo esse, item alios iubere, hortari uti semper intenti paratique essent; dies noctîsque festinare, uigilare, neque insomniis neque labore fatigari.

Meanwhile he set many things into motion at the same time: he laid traps for the consuls, prepared fires, staked out strategic spots with armed men; he himself went about with a weapon, and he told others to do the same; he encouraged them to be always on the alert and ready; he rushed about day and night, stayed awake, and he never got fatigued by his lack of sleep or by the work he was doing.

postremo, ubi multa agitanti nihil procedit, rursus intempesta nocte coniurationis principes conuocat per M.~Porcium Laecam, ibique multa de ignauiâ eorum questus docet se Manlium praemisisse ad eam multitudinem, quam ad capienda arma parauerat, item alios in alia loca opportuna, qui initium belli facerent, seque ad exercitum proficisci cupere, si prius Ciceronem oppressisset: eum suis consiliis multum officere.

Finally, when nothing came of all the efforts he was making, again in the dead of night, he called the leaders of the conspiracy through Marcus Porcius Laeca. Meeting at his place, he complained at length about their hanging back, and he informed them that he had sent Manlius on ahead to the large group that he had gotten ready to take up arms; likewise he had put others in other strategic places to begin the war; and he wanted to set out for the army if only he might squelch Cicero, who was messing up his plans.

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igitur, perterritis ac dubitantibus ceteris, C.~Cornelius eques Romanus operam suam pollicitus et cum eo L.~Vargunteius senator constituêre ea nocte paulo post cum armatis hominibus sicuti salutatum introire ad Ciceronem ac de improuiso domi suae imparatum confodere.

So, while the others were frightened and hesitant, Gaius Cornelius, a Roman knight, promised his support, and along with him, Lucius Vargunteius, a senator, decided that night to go to Cicero's with armed men a little later, as if to pay him a courtesy call, and to suddenly stab him while he was completely unprepared in his own home.

Curius ubi intellegit, quantum periculum consuli impendeat, propere per Fuluiam Ciceroni dolum qui parabatur enuntiat.

When Curius realized what a great danger the consul was in, through Fulvia, he quickly informed Cicero of the ambush they were preparing for him.

ita illi ianuâ prohibiti tantum facinus frustra susceperant.

And so, stopped at the door, they failed to achieve their objective.

interea Manlius in Etruria plebem sollicitare, egestate simul ac dolore iniuriae nouarum rerum cupidam, quod Sullae dominatione agros bonaque omnia amiserat, praeterea latrones cuiusque generis, quorum in ea regione magna copia erat, nonnullos ex Sullanis coloniis, quibus libido atque luxuria ex magnis rapinis nihil reliqui fecerant.

Meanwhile, Manlius began to stir up the people in Etruria. They were eager for a revolution both because of their neediness and the pain that they were suffering: they had lost their fields and their possessions under the reign of Sulla, and in addition, all kinds of thieves, who were numerous in that area, and some from Sulla's colonists, whose pleasures and extravagance had left them nothing from all their extensive looting.

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ea cum Ciceroni nuntiarentur, ancipiti malo permotus, quod neque urbem ab insidiis priuato consilio longius tueri poterat, neque exercitus Manli quantus aut quo consilio foret, satis compertum habebat, rem ad senatum refert, iam antea uulgi rumoribus exagitatam.

When Cicero got this news, he was deeply troubled by a double danger: he could no longer use his own initiatives to keep the city safe from treachery, nor did he have enough information about how big Manlius's army was or what its intentions were. He presented this matter to the senate. Rumors among the general public had already made it worse.

itaque, quod plerumque in atroci negotio solet, senatus decreuit, darent operam consules, ne quid res publica detrimenti caperet.

And so, as usually happens in a grim situation, the senate decreed that the consuls should take action to protect the republic.

ea potestas per senatum more Romano magistratui maxima permittitur: exercitum parare, bellum gerere, coercere omnibus modis socios atque ciuis, domi militiaeque imperium atque iudicium summum habere; aliter sine populi iussu nullius earum rerum consuli ius est.

This power is the ultimate one allowed to an official by the senate in the Roman constitution: it is the power to raise an army, wage war, put restraints of all kinds on allies and citizens, and wield supreme executive and judicial authority. Apart from such a decree, the consul has no such authority except by a directive of the people.

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post paucos dies L.~Saenius senator in senatu litteras recitauit, quas Faesulis allatas sibi dicebat, in quibus scriptum erat C.~Manlium arma cepisse cum magna multitudine ante diem VI Kalendas Nouembris.

After a few days, Senator Lucius Saenius read aloud in the senate a letter that he said had been delivered to him in Faesulae; it said that Gaius Manlius had taken up arms with a large force on October 27th.

simul, id quod in tali re solet, alii portenta atque prodigia nuntiabant, alii conuentus fieri, arma portari, Capuae atque in Apulia seruile bellum moueri.

At the same time, as is usual in such a situation, some were claiming the appearance of ominous signs and wonders, others were saying that meetings were being called, weapons were being shuttled around, and a slave rebellion was getting started in Capua and in Apulia.

igitur senati decreto Q.~Marcius Rex Faesulas, Q.~Metellus Creticus in Apuliam, circumque ea loca missi — hi utrique ad urbem imperatores erant, impediti ne triumpharent calumniâ paucorum, quibus omnia honesta atque inhonesta uendere mos erat — , sed praetores Q.~Pompeius Rufus Capuam, Q.~Metellus Celer in agrum Picenum, iisque permissum, uti pro tempore atque periculo exercitum compararent.

Therefore, by decree of the senate, Quintus Marcius Rex was sent to Faesulae, and Quintus Metellus Creticus to Apulia and the surrounding territory. Both of these were commanders in Rome who were prevented from enjoying a triumph by the false accusations of a few who were in the habit of selling anything whether honorable or dishonorable. The praetors Quintus Pompeius Rufus and Quintus Metellus Celer were sent to Capua and the Picene territory respectively, and they were allowed to make the military preparations as the danger and the situation demanded.

ad hoc, si quis indicauisset de coniuratione, quae contra rem publicam facta erat, praemium seruo libertatem et sestertia centum, libero impunitatem eius rei et sestertia ducenta, itemque decreuêre, uti gladiatoriae familiae Capuam et in cetera municipia distribuerentur pro cuiusque opibus, Romae per totam urbem uigiliae haberentur iisque minores magistratus praeessent.

In addition to this, if anyone had given information about the conspiracy that had been formed against the republic, a reward of freedom and 100,000 sesterces would be given to slaves and 200,000 and immunity to freedmen; the senate likewise decreed that troupes of gladiators would be stationed around Capua and the other free towns in proportion to the resources that each could afford. At Rome, watches were kept through the city, and minor officials were in charge of them.

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quibus rebus permota ciuitas atque immutata urbis facies erat.

Such matters had deeply disturbed the citizenry and had changed the look of the city.

ex summa laetitia atque lasciuia, quae diuturna quies pepererat, repente omnis tristitia inuasit:

From the height of the easy-going delight that a lasting peace had brought about, gloom suddenly settled on everything.

festinare, trepidare, neque loco neque homini cuiquam satis credere, neque bellum gerere neque pacem habere, suo quisque metu pericula metiri.

People hurried around, they lived in fear, and they became suspicious of both places and people. The situation fell between war and peace, leaving each person to measure the crisis according to the level of dread in his heart.

ad hoc mulieres, quibus rei publicae magnitudine belli timor insolitus incesserat, afflictare sese, manus supplices ad caelum tendere, miserari paruos liberos, rogitare omnia, omni rumore pauere, arripere omnia superbiâ atque deliciis omissis, sibi patriaeque diffidere.

In addition, the women, who were struck with a fear of war that was completely outside their experience because of the republic's vast resources, began to experience tremendous inner turmoil, stretching out their hands to heaven in prayer, suffering pity for their small children, asking continually about everything, trembling at every rumor, and snatching up everything they could, with no regard for their comfort or social standing. They were losing confidence in themselves and in their country.

at Catilinae crudelis animus eadem illa mouebat, tametsi praesidia parabantur et ipse lege Plautia interrogatus erat ab L.~Paulo.

But Catiline's cruel heart was promoting these very things, even though protective forces were being readied and he himself was being arraigned by Lucius Paulus under the Plautian law.

postremo dissimulandi causa aut sui expurgandi, sicut iurgio lacessitus foret, in senatum uenit.

Finally, in order to pretend innocence or to clear himself, he came into the senate as if he had been provoked by a quarrel.

tum M.~Tullius consul, siue praesentiam eius timens siue irâ commotus, orationem habuit luculentam atque utilem rei publicae, quam postea scriptam edidit.

Then, Consul Marcus Tullius, either because he was afraid or because he was outraged at Catiline's presence there, gave a brilliant speech that served the republic's interests well, which he later wrote down and published.

sed ubi ille assedit, Catilina, ut erat paratus ad dissimulanda omnia, demisso uultu, uoce supplici postulare a patribus coepit, ne quid de se temere crederent: eâ familiâ ortum, ita se ab adulescentia uitam instituisse, ut omnia bona in spe haberet; ne existimarent sibi, patricio homini, cuius ipsius atque maiorum plurima beneficia in plebem Romanam essent, perditâ rê publicâ opus esse, cum eam seruaret M.~Tullius, inquilinus ciuis urbis Romae.

But when he sat down, Catiline, as he had been ready to pretend that everything was untrue, with head downcast and in a submissive tone, began to request the senators not be too quick to believe what they had heard about him. He had been born and raised from his early youth to have every excellent prospect of success. They should not think that he, a patrician who along with his forebears had contributed so extensively to the Roman commoners, had any need of the government's collapse, while Marcus Tullius, who was not a pure citizen of Rome, was "preserving" it.

ad hoc male dicta alia cum adderet, obstrepere omnes, hostem atque parricidam uocare.

When he went on to become abusive, everyone shouted him down and called him an enemy and a parricide.

tum ille furibundus 'quoniam quidem circumuentus' inquit 'ab inimicis praeceps agor, incendium meum ruinâ extinguam.'

Then in a rage he said, "Since my enemies have backed me into a corner and I am being driven to my own destruction, I will pull down everything to put out my fire."

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deinde se ex curia domum proripuit.

With that, he tore out of the senate house and went home.

ibi multa ipse secum uoluens, quod neque insidiae consuli procedebant et ab incendio intellegebat urbem uigiliis munitam, optimum factu credens exercitum augere ac, prius quam legiones scriberentur, multa antecapere, quae bello usui forent, nocte intempesta cum paucis in Manliana castra profectus est.

There he thought deeply about the failure of his trap for the consul, and he realized that the city was employing guards to protect itself against fire. He believed that the best thing to do was to enlarge the army and before enrolling new legions, to make many preliminary arrangements that would be helpful in war. So in the dead of night, with a small group, he set out for Manlius's camp.

sed Cethego atque Lentulo ceterisque, quorum cognouerat promptam audaciam, mandat, quibus rebus possent, opes factionis confirment, insidias consuli maturent, caedem, incendia, aliaque belli facinora parent: sese propediem cum magno exercitu ad urbem accessurum.

To Cethegus and Lentulus and the rest who he knew had the readiness to act boldly, he entrusted the task of doing what they could to strengthen the conspiracy's resources and go ahead with the plot against the consul, and prepare for the slaughter, fires, and other acts of war. He would very soon reach the city with a large army.

dum haec Romae geruntur, C.~Manlius ex suo numero legatos ad Marcium Regem mittit cum mandatis huiusce modi:

While these things were happening in Rome, Gaius Manlius sent envoys from his group to Marcius Regius with a message that ran something like this:

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'deos hominesque testamur, imperator, nos arma neque contra patriam cepisse neque quo periculum aliis faceremus, sed uti corpora nostra ab iniuria tuta forent, qui miseri, egentes uiolentiâ atque crudelitate faeneratorum, plerique patriâ, sed omnes famâ atque fortunis expertes sumus.

"We invoke gods and men as witnesses, commander, that we have taken up arms neither against our country nor to endanger others, but to protect our bodies from harm. We are unfortunates who are needy because of the violence and the cruelty of the moneylenders. We have been in large part excluded from our country, and in fact all of us have been excluded from reputation and success.

neque cuiquam nostrum licuit more maiorum lege uti neque amisso patrimonio liberum corpus habere: tanta saeuitia faeneratorum atque praetoris fuit.

We have no recourse to legal means as we should by ancestral tradition, nor do we even have essential human rights since our patrimony has been lost: so savage have the moneylenders and praetor been.

saepe maiores uestrum, miseriti plebis Romanae, decretis suis inopiae eius opitulati sunt, ac nouissime memoriâ nostrâ propter magnitudinem aeris alieni, uolentibus omnibus bonis, argentum aere solutum est.

Often our ancestors, taking pity on the Roman commoners, would enact decrees to relieve their neediness, and most recently, within our memories, silver was paid off in bronze because of the magnitude of the debt, and all the decent people went along with this.

saepe ipsa plebs, aut dominandi studio permota aut superbiâ magistratuum, armata a patribus secessit.

Often the commoners themselves, driven either by the desire for control or by the arrogant behavior of the officials, armed themselves and withdrew from the patricians.

at nos non imperium neque diuitias petimus, quarum rerum causâ bella atque certamina omnia inter mortalîs sunt, sed libertatem, quam nemo bonus nisi cum anima simul amittit.

But we seek neither ultimate power nor wealth. That is what all wars and struggles on earth are about. We seek liberty, which no decent person loses except along with his life.

te atque senatum obtestamur, consulatis miseris ciuibus, legis praesidium quod iniquitas praetoris eripuit restituatis, neue nobis eam necessitudinem imponatis, ut quaeramus, quonam modo maxime ulti sanguinem nostrum pereamus.'

We implore you and the senate: take thought for your disadvantaged citizens. Restore the legal protection that the praetor's injustice has taken away, and do not force us into a desperate search for the best way to avenge ourselves as we are destroyed."

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ad haec Q.~Marcius respondit, si quid ab senatu petere uellent, ab armis discedant, Romam supplices proficiscantur:

Quintus Marcius made a reply to these words: he said that if they wanted to ask the senate for anything, they should lay down their arms and set out for Rome as suppliants.

eâ mansuetudine atque misericordiâ senatum populi Romani semper fuisse, ut nemo umquam ab eo frustra auxilium petiuerit.

The Senate of the Roman People have always been marked by such compassion and mercy that no one ever asked anything of it in vain.

at Catilina ex itinere plerisque consularibus, praeterea optimo cuique, litteras mittit: se falsis criminibus circumuentum, quoniam factioni inimicorum resistere nequiuerit, fortunae cedere, Massiliam in exilium proficisci, non quo sibi tanti sceleris conscius esset, sed uti res publica quieta foret neue ex sua contentione seditio oreretur.

As he was travelling, Catiline sent a letter to several of the consulars, and also to leading citizens, saying that he was being harassed by false charges and so had to yield to fortune since he could not put up a fight against the faction of his enemies. He was setting out into exile in Marseilles not because he had any complicity in such a major crime, but with the intention that the republic stay quiet and no sedition should arise from his own struggle.

ab his longe diuersas litteras Q.~Catulus in senatu recitauit, quas sibi nomine Catilinae redditas dicebat.

Quintus Catulus read aloud in the senate a letter quite different from this, which he said had been delivered to him in the name of Catiline.

earum exemplum infra scriptum est.

A copy of the letter follows here:

XXXV

XXXV

'L.Catilina Q.~Catulo.

'Lucius Catiline to Quintus Catulus.

egregia tua fides, re cognita, grata mihi magnis in meis periculis, fiduciam commendationi meae tribuit.

Your outstanding trustworthiness, tested in experience, so valuable to me in my troubles, gives me the confidence to make a request.

quam ob rem defensionem in nouo consilio non statui parare:

For that reason, I have decided not to defend my new undertaking.

satisfactionem ex nullâ conscientiâ de culpa proponere decreui, quam mediusfidius ueram licet cognoscas.

I have decided to set out an explanation from no awareness of guilt, and this explanation, by God, you can take as true.

iniuriis contumeliisque concitatus, quod fructu laboris industriaeque meae priuatus statum dignitatis non obtinebam, publicam miserorum causam pro mea consuetudine suscepi, non quia aes alienum meis nominibus ex possessionibus soluere non possem — et alienis nominibus liberalitas Orestillae suis filiaeque copiis persolueret —, sed quod non dignos homines honore honestatos uidebam meque falsa suspicione alienatum esse sentiebam.

Goaded on by damage and insult, because I was deprived of the fruit of my energetic labor and did not get an official rank, I adopted for my approach the general cause of the unfortunate, not because I could not pay my own debts with my own resources — and Orestilla's generosity would have paid other debts from her own holdings and from those of her daughter — but because I saw unworthy men graced with honor and I felt that I was being excluded on the basis of a false suspicion.

hoc nomine satis honestas pro meo casu spes reliquae dignitatis conseruandae sum secutus.

In this situation, I pursued a path sufficiently honorable for a person in my position to save what dignity was left to me.

plura cum scribere uellem, nuntiatum est uim mihi parari.

I would be willing to give more explanation, but I have been informed that violence is being prepared against me.

nunc Orestillam commendo tuaeque fidei trado; eam ab iniuria defendas, per liberos tuos rogatus. haueto.'

Now I commend Orestilla and entrust her to your good keeping; keep her from harm. I ask you to swear to this on your children. Farewell.

XXXVI

XXXVI

sed ipse, paucos dies commoratus apud C.~Flaminium in agro Arretino, dum uicinitatem antea sollicitatam armis exornat, cum fascibus atque aliis imperi insignibus in castra ad Manlium contendit.

Catiline himself stayed a few days with Gaius Flaminius in the Arretine region, while he was fully equipping the surrounding region, which had already been stirred up. Then he hurried off with the fasces and other military insignia to Manlius's encampment.

haec ubi Romae comperta sunt, senatus Catilinam et Manlium hostîs iudicat, ceterae multitudini diem statuit, ante quam sine fraude liceret ab armis discedere praeter rerum capitalium condemnatis.

When this information reached Rome, the senate declared Catiline and Manlius enemies, and it set a day before which the rest of the force could lay down their arms with impunity, excepting those sentenced for capital crimes.

praeterea decernit, uti consules dilectum habeant, Antonius cum exercitu Catilinam persequi maturet, Cicero urbi praesidio sit.

In addition it decreed that the consuls should conduct a levy, that Antonius should go after Catiline with an army, and that Cicero should protect the city.

ea tempestate mihi imperium populi Romani multo maxime miserabile uisum est.

At that time, it seemed that Roman rule was by far in the worst condition it had ever experienced.

cui cum ad occasum ab ortu solis omnia domita armis parerent, domi otium atque diuitiae, quae prima mortales putant, affluerent, fuere tamen ciues, qui seque remque publicam obstinatis animis perditum irent.

When it had gained through military means the obedience of the world from east to west, when at home it possessed the leisure and wealth that mortals value above everything else, still there were citizens who were stubbornly bent on destroying themselves and the republic.

namque duobus senati decretis ex tanta multitudine neque praemio inductus coniurationem patefecerat neque ex castris Catilinae quisquam omnium discesserat: tanta uis morbi aeque uti tabes plerosque ciuium animos inuaserat.

For neither the two decrees of the senate nor the reward induced anyone from such a great crowd to expose the conspiracy, nor did even a single person leave Catiline's camp — so powerful was the disease that like an infection had worked its way into the hearts of so many citizens.

XXXVII

XXXVII

neque solum illis aliena mens erat, qui conscii coniurationis fuerant, sed omnino cuncta plebes nouarum rerum studio Catilinae incepta probabat.

Not only were those who were part of the conspiracy of an entirely different mindset, but the entire population of commoners approved Catiline's enterprise in their eagerness for a whole new system.

id adeo more suo uidebatur facere.

It seemed to be acting exactly the way it usually does.

nam semper in ciuitate, quibus opes nullae sunt, bonis inuident, malos extollunt, uetera odêre, noua exoptant, odio suarum rerum mutari omnia student, turbâ atque seditionibus sine cura aluntur, quoniam egestas facile habetur sine damno.

For a society's dispossessed always begrudge decent people, they exalt wicked ones, they hate traditional practices, hope for new ones, and in their contempt for what they have, they are eager for radical change; they thrive on mob-behavior and riots without any worry, since they have nothing to lose.

sed urbana plebes, ea uero praeceps erat de multis causis.

But the city commoners were in desperate straits for many reasons.

primum omnium qui ubique probro atque petulantiâ maxime praestabant, item alii per dedecora patrimoniis amissis, postremo omnes quos flagitium aut facinus domo expulerat, ii Romam sicut in sentinam confluxerant.

First of all, those who stood out as the very worst in criminality and impudence, and likewise others who had squandered their inheritances in dishonorable behavior, and finally all who had to leave their homes because of a disgrace or criminal act, — these had streamed into Rome as if into a cesspool.

deinde multi memores Sullanae uictoriae, quod ex gregariis militibus alios senatores uidebant, alios ita diuites, ut regio uictu atque cultu aetatem agerent, sibi quisque, si in armis foret, ex uictoria talia sperabat.

Then, many who remembered Sulla's victory, because they saw some rise from ordinary soldiers to the rank of senator, and some so rich that they were living their lives enjoying comforts and cuisine suitable for a king, — these each believed that these sorts of things might be theirs if they took up arms and won.

praeterea iuuentus, quae in agris manuum mercede inopiam tolerauerat, priuatis atque publicis largitionibus excita urbanum otium ingrato labori praetulerat.

In addition, the youth that had gotten along in poverty through employment in manual labor in the fields were excited by the lavish private and public spending, and they preferred unemployment in the city to drudgery.

eos atque alios omnîs malum publicum alebat.

They and all the others were fed by society's trouble.

quo minus mirandum est homines egentîs, malis moribus, maxima spe rei publicae iuxta ac sibi consuluisse.

So it is not so suprising that needy, disreputable people with the greatest expectations took the same low level of prudential care for the republic that they had been taking for themselves.

praeterea, quorum uictoriâ Sullae parentes proscripti, bona erepta, ius libertatis imminutum erat, haud sane alio animo belli euentum expectabant.

Besides, those whose parents had been proscribed in Sulla's victory, whose goods had been stolen away, and whose legal claim to freedom had been curtailed, looked forward to the outcome of the war with absolutely the same interest.

ad hoc quicumque aliarum atque senatus partium erant, conturbari rem publicam quam minus ualere ipsi malebant.

Also, those who belonged parties other than the senatorial one preferred that the republic be thrown into tumult than that they themselves lose power.

id adeo malum multos post annos in ciuitatem reuerterat.

Just that same trouble had come back to the state after many years.

XXXVIII

XXXVIII

nam postquam Cn.~Pompeio et M.~Crasso consulibus tribunicia postestas restituta est, homines adulescentes summam potestatem nacti, quibus aetas animusque ferox erat, coepêre senatum criminando plebem exagitare, dein largiendo atque pollicitando magis incendere, ita ipsi clari potentesque fieri.

For after the tribune's power was restored under the consulship of Gnaeus Pompey and Marcus Crassus, young men in the most fiery and passionate time of life got hold of the highest power. They began to stir up the people by making charges against the senate. Then, they inflamed them even more through bribery and promises, so that they themselves became powerful celebrities.

contra eos summa ope nitebatur pleraque nobilitas senatûs specie pro sua magnitudine.

Most of the nobility did everything they could to oppose them, under the pretext of the senate, for their own expansion of power.

namque, uti paucis uerum absoluam, post illa tempora quicumque rem publicam agitauêre, honestis nominibus, alii sicuti populi iura defenderent, pars quo senatûs auctoritas maxima foret, bonum publicum simulantes pro suâ quisque potentiâ certabant.

For to speak the truth succinctly, after those times, whoever got into politics in the promotion of honorable causes either defended the rights of the people or tried to make the senate's authority supreme; they all pretended that they were concerned for the common good, but in actuality they were each struggling for their own power.

neque illis modestia neque modus contentionis erat: utrique uictoriam crudeliter exercebant.

They had no restraint or measure in the struggle: they each made cruel use of their victories.

XXXIX

XXXXIX

sed postquam Cn.~Pompeius ad bellum maritimum atque Mithridaticum missus est, plebis opes imminutae, paucorum potentia creuit.

But after Gnaeus Pompeius was sent to the maritime war and the war against Mithridates, the resources of the commoners were diminished and the power of the few increased.

ii magistratus, prouincias aliaque omnia tenere; ipsi innoxii, florentes, sine metu aetatem agere ceterosque iudiciis terrere, quo plebem in magistratu placidius tractarent.

These held magistracies, provinces, and everything else. They themselves lived their lives in security, flourishing, without any fear, and they terrified the rest through the judicial system so that they could more smoothly manage the commoners through state officials.

sed ubi primum dubiis rebus nouandi spes oblata est, uetus certamen animos eorum arrexit.

But as soon as doubtful times gave rise to the hope of revolution, the old contest aroused their fighting spirit.

quod si primo proelio Catilina superior aut aequa manu discessisset, profecto magna clades atque calamitas rem publicam oppressisset,

If Catiline emerged from the first battle as a winner or as an equal contestant, in all likelihood a tremendous disastaster and a catastrophe would have overwhelmed the republic.

neque illis, qui uictoriam adepti forent, diutius eâ uti licuisset, quin defessis et exsanguibus qui plus posset imperium atque libertatem extorqueret.

And those who would have achieved victory would not have been allowed to enjoy it for long: no, a more powerful party would twist their rule and their freedom from them when they had grown weak and weary from the struggle.

fuêre tamen extra coniurationem complures, qui ad Catilinam initio profecti sunt.

Still there were several outside of the conspiracy who set out for Catiline at the start.

in iis erat Fuluius, senatoris filius, quem retractum ex itinere parens necari iussit.

Among them was Fulvius, the son of a senator, whose father had dragged back from his journey and killed.

isdem temporibus Romae Lentulus, sicuti Catilina praeceperat, quoscumque moribus aut fortunâ nouis rebus idoneos credebat, aut per se aut per alios sollicitabat, neque solum ciuîs, sed cuiusque modi genus hominum, quod modo bello usui foret.

Around the same time at Rome, Lentulus, just as Catiline had ordered, incited personally or through others whichever people he believed suitable for revolution because of their character or bad luck. These were not only citizens, but any kind of people that would be useful for war.

XL

XL

igitur P.~Umbreno cuidam negotium dat, uti legatos Allobrogum requirat eosque, si possit, impellat ad societatem belli, existimans publice priuatimque aere alieno oppressos, praeterea quod naturâ gens Gallica bellicosa esset, facile eos ad tale consilium adduci posse.

Therefore he commissioned a certain Publius Umbrenus to search out the official representatives of the Allobroges, and induce them into a war-alliance. He thought that they were saddled with public and private debt, and in addition that the warlike nature of Gauls made them easy to entice into such a plan.

Umbrenus, quod in Gallia negotiatus erat, plerisque principibus ciuitatium notus erat atque eos nouerat.

Because Umbrenus had done business in Gaul, he was known to many of the chieftains of their communities, and he knew them.

itaque sine mora, ubi primum legatos in foro conspexit, percontatus pauca de statu ciuitatis et quasi dolens eius casum requirere coepit, quem exitum tantis malis sperarent.

And so without delay, as soon as he caught sight of the envoys in the forum, he asked them a few things about the conditions of their home communities, and he sympathetically began to ask about their situation, and about what outcome they expected from such troubles.

postquam illos uidet queri de auaritia magistratuum, accusare senatum, quod in eo auxili nihil esset, miseriis suis remedium mortem expectare, 'at ego' inquit 'uobis, si modo uiri esse uultis, rationem ostendam, quâ tanta ista mala effugiatis'.

After he saw them complaining about the greed of the officials and making accusations against the senate, saying that it was no source of help to them and that they were awaiting death as the cure for their miseries, he said, "But I will show you a way to escape those troubles if only you want to be men."

haec ubi dixit, Allobroges in maximam spem adducti Umbrenum orare, ut sui misereretur:

When he said this, the Allobroges began to hope for the best and to beg Umbrenus to have pity on them.

nihil tam asperum neque tam difficile esse, quod non cupidissime facturi essent, dum ea res ciuitatem aere alieno liberaret.

Nothing, they said, was so hard or difficult that they would not do it with the greatest eagerness, provided that it freed their community from debt.

ille eos in domum D.~Bruti perducit, quod foro propinqua erat neque aliena consili propter Semproniam; nam tum Brutus ab Roma aberat.

He took them to the home of Decimus Brutus, because it was nearby and not unknown to the conspiracy because of Sempronia, and Brutus was away from Rome at the time.

praeterea Gabinium arcessit, quo maior auctoritas sermoni inesset.

He also summoned Gabinius, in order to give greater authority to his presentation.

eo praesente coniurationem aperit, nominat socios, praeterea multos cuiusque generis innoxios, quo legatis animus amplior esset.

With Gabinius present, he laid out the conspiracy and named the members, including all kinds of people who were actually not involved, to make the envoys more confident.

deinde eos pollicitos operam suam domum dimittit.

Then, after they had promised him their help, he sent them home.