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

II. The Character of the Conspiracy. (

In L. Catilinam Oratia II

) Before the People, Nov. 8.

Argument

I. Pars Prima

ipsum, of his own accord.

verbis prosecuti may apply as well to kind words of dismissal as to invective.

abiit, simply, is gone; excessit, has retreated before the storm; evasit, has escaped by stealth; erupit, has broken forth with violence, — a climax of expression, but nearly identical in sense.

moenibus (dat. following comparabitur), against, etc.

atque (adding with emphasis), and so.

hunc quidem, him at any rate.

sine controversia, without dispute unquestionably.

versabitur, will be busy.

campo, foro, curia, parietes: observe the narrowing climax.

loco motus est, he lost his vantage-ground: a military expression, hence the simple abl.; § 428, f (258, a, N.2); cf. B. 229, I; G. 390, 2, N.2; H. 463 (414, ii); H-B. 408, 2, a.

nullo impediente, i.e. his defenders till now could screen him by forms of law.

justum (if retained in the text), regular, in due form; cf. note on latrocinio, p. 109,1. I.

cruentum (pred.), reeking with blood.

vivis nobis (abl. abs.), leaving us alive.

civis: acc. plur.

jacet, etc., lies prostrate, etc.

retorquet oculos begins the figure of a wild beast, which is continued in faucibus.

profecto, no doubt.

quae quidem, which really.

quod . . . projecerit: see note on quod extulit, 1.9, above; for mood, see § 592,3 (341, d); B. 323; G. 541; H. 588, ii (516, ii); H.-B. 535, 2, a. 2.

qualis omnis: acc. plur.

oportebat: § 522, a (3", c); B. 304, 3, a; G. 254, R.2; H. 583 (511, I, N.1); H.-B. 582, 3, a.

qui . . . accuset, as to accuse: § 535 (320); B. 283, I ; G. 631,2; H. 591, I (503, i); H-B. 521, I.

ista: for gender, see § 296, a (195, d); cf. B. 250,3; G. 211, R.5; H. 396, 2 (445, 4); H.-B. 326, I.

interfectum esse: § 486, b, N. (288, d); B. 270, 2, a; G. 280, R.2; H.-B. 582, 3, a, footnote 2; observe the emphatic position.

oportebat: for tense, see note on Cat. 1, p. 100, l. 13.

hujus imperi: see note on Cat. 1, p. 104, l. 16.

res publica, the public interest.

quam multos, etc.: the passages in brackets are probably spurious; it will be observed that they merely repeat —the preceding statement in each case.

ne . . . probata: nearly equivalent to cum ne vos quidem. . . probaretis: implying that if they do not sustain the act, much less will the people at large.

multassem: for fut. perf. of direct; § 589, 3 (337, 3); B. 319, B; G. 657, 5; H. 646 (527, i).

fore ut, the result would be that, etc.

at . . . possetis, result clause explaining huc.

videretis: § 593 (342); B. 324, I G. 663, I; H. 652 (529, ii); H.-B. 539; if not dependent on possetis, it would be videbetis.

quem quidem, whom, by the way.

intellegatis: § 565 (331, i); B. 295, 6; G. 553, 2; H. 564, ii, I (499, 3); H-B. 531, 2.

quod . . . exierit: § 592, 3(341, d); B. 323; G. 539; H. 588, ii (5I6, ii); H-B. 535, 2, N.2.

mihi: eth. dat.; as if, I notice; § 380 (236); B. 188, 2, b; G. 351; 11.432 (389); H.-B. 372.

aes alienum, etc., i.e. petty debts run up in cook-shops and the like; not like the heavy mortgages spoken of afterwards.

reliquit: notice the emphatic position.

quos viros: for a characterization of Catiline's partisans, see sects. 18-23.

Gallicanis, i.e. those permanently stationed in Cisalpine Gaul. The ager Gallicus below was that strip of sea-coast north of Picenum formerly occupied by the Senones, but at this time reckoned a part of Umbria.

hoc dilecta refers to a levy recently raised.

Q. Metellus (Celer): see note on Cat. 1, sect. 19, p. 107, l. 13.

senibus, etc., i.e. those classes who naturally look forward to a revolution to mend their fortunes.

luxuria = high-livers: abstract for concrete, as common in Latin and older English; Cf. Shakespeare, All's Well ii. I, 91: "Bring in the admiration"(i.e. this wonderful person).

vadimonia deserere, desert their bondsmen, i.e. leave them in the lurch in their creditors' suits.

edictum praetoris, in effect like a sheriff's writ. Any official order of a magistrate was an edictum.

hos, as opposed to those he did take out.

fulgent purpura, i.e displaying their rank as Senators, who alone had the right to wear the broad purple stripe (latus clavus) on the tunic. The reference, therefore, is to foppish young nobles.

mallem: § 447, I (311, b); B. 280, 4; G. 258, and N.1; H. 556 (486, i); H.-B. 519, I, b.

eduxisset: § 565(331, f a.); B. 295, 8; G. 546, R.2; H. 565, 2 (499, 2); H.-B. 5;9, I, c.

si . . . permanent: a future condition; § 516, a, N. (307, a, N.); G. 228; H. 533, 2 (467, 5); H.-B. 571.

mementote, i.e. let them remember that they are objects of suspicion and shall be watched accordingly.

atque hoc, etc., i.e. their effrontery makes them still more a cause for alarm.

cui sit, etc.: cf. Cat. 1, sect. 9.

superioris noctis, i.e. three nights ago.

ne, surely: an affirmative particle sometimes wrongly spelled nae. 4.

ut . . . videretis: clause of result explaining quod.

nisi vero: ironical (as usual), introducing a reductio ad absurdunt. (The si only doubles that in nisi.)

non. . . jam, no longer.

Aurelia_ via_: see Cat. 1, sect. 24.

sentinam, refuse (see Cat. 1, p. 104, l. 22).

ejecerit: the conclusion is implied in O fortunatam.

exhausto, drained off (cf. sentina).

recreata, invigorated.

toti Itali: § 429, 2 (258,1 2); B. 228, I, b; G. 388; H. 485, I (425, 2); H.-B. 436, a.

subjector, forger; circumscriptor, swindler.

perditus, abandoned wretch.

hosce: § 146, a, N.1 (101, footnote); B. 87, footnote 2; G. 104, i, N 1; H. 178, 2 (186, I); H.-B. 138, 2, c.

diversa studia. In another passage (Cael. 13) Cicero ascribes to Catiline: Cum tristibus severe, cum remissis jucunde, cum senibus graviter, cum juventute comiter, cum facinorosis audaciter, cum libidinosis luxuriose vivere.

in dissimili ratione, in different directions.

ludo, the regular training-school.

gladiatorio: see Cat. 1, p. 110, l. 31, and note.

levior, etc.: the Roman actors, though some of them achieved distinction, were generally regarded as a low class of men.

tamen, i.e. though a companion of such dissolute persons, yet he possessed the qualities of fortitude and endurance so much admired by the Romans.

exercitatione (abl. of means), etc., trained by the practice of debaucheries and crimes to endure, etc.

frigore . . . perferendis: abl. with adsuefactus; § 507, N.1 (301, N.); G. 431; cf. H-B. 612, iv, 431.

fortis, a strong and able fellow.

istis, those creatures: § 297, c (102, c); B. 246, 4; G. 306, N.; H. 507, 3 (450, i, N.); H.-B. 274, 4. 117 11 cum . . . consumeret (not concessive), while consuming.

subsidia, etc., i.e. means (his uncommon powers of body and mind) which might have been used, etc.

audaciae, acts of audacity.

obligaverunt, encumbered.

res, property; fides, credit.

libido, i.e. luxurious habits and tastes.

quidem (concessive), no doubt

homines, viris: observe the difference in sense.

mihi: the ethical dat. gives the phrase a familiar and contemptuous turn which may be reproduced in English by forsooth.

obli^ti: observe the quantity.

caedem, etc.: notice the strong contrast between the character of these worn-out debauchees and the sanguinary nature of their threats.

propagarit: for tense, see § 516, c, N. (307, c, a.) ; G. 595, N.2; H. 540(473).

pertimescamus, possit: subj. of characteristic.

unius: Pompey, just returning from his triumphs in the East.

quacumque ratione, sc. fieri potest

resecanda erunt, shall need the knipe (lit. must be cut away): the figure is derived from surgery.

si. . permanent: § 516, a, N. (307, a, N.); G. 228; H. 533, 2 (467,5); H.-B. 572.

exspectent: hort. subj. in apod.; § 516, d (307, d); B. 305, 2 G. 595; H. 580 (508, 4); H.-B. 532,1.

II. Pars Secunda

quod, obj. of adsequi, if I could effect it (referring to ipsos, etc.), i.e. their expulsion.

enim, i.e. the idea is absurd, as is implied in the irony following.

quid, tell me: i.e. "is that possible ?" in view of the circumstances, which he proceeds to narrate.

hesterno die qualifies convocavi.

detuli: technical term for laying a matter before the Senate; cf. referre (ad senatum) in the Vocabulary.

necne: § 335,d(211,d); B. 162,4; G.459; H.380, 1 (353, N.1); H.-B. 234, a.

ei: dat. of agent; § 375 (232, a); B. 189, 2; G. 354; H. 431, 2 (388, I); H-B. 373, 2.

teneretur, was caught

pararet: for pluperf. (see note on Cat. 1, p. 100, l. 13).

securis, fascis: the use of these signified that Catiline intended to assume the authority and imperium of consul (see Fig. 25, p.290).

aquilam: see Cat. 1, p. 109, l. 6, and note.

credo: ironical, as very often in this parenthetical use.

suo nomine, i.e. not by Catiline's order; the whole is, of course, ironical, as is already indicated by credo.

Massiliam: Marseilles, an ancient Greek city of Gaul, always faithful and friendly to Rome. It was a favorite place of sojourn for Romans who went into voluntary exile. 7.

condicionem, terms.

nunc, even now.

pertimuerit, take alarm.

spe conatuque: referring of course to his treasonable hopes and designs.

depellatur: § 528(314); B. 310,ii; G.573; H. 587(313,i); H.-B. 529.

sane (concessive), f you like (see Vocab.).

invidiae, etc.: rather than have his predictions verified in this way, Cicero prefers the unjust odium of having arbitrarily driven Catiline to exile.

aliquando, some day.

quod. . . emiserim: § 592, 3 (341, d); B. 323; G. 541; H. 588, ii (516, ii); H-B. 535, 2, a.

emiserim, eiecerim, let him go... drove him out

si interfectus, etc.: he thus adroitly excuses himself to those who would have preferred harsher measures. Notice the identity in sound in profectus, interfectus, and observe how the argument a fortiori is brought out by the exact antithesis.

dictitant: notice the frequentative.

nemo, not a man.

misericors: his going to Manlius was his inevitable ruin, and yet, for all their pity, they still wished him to go.

latrocinantem, in partisan warfare (see note on p.109, L I).

vivere: § 583, c (336, c, N.2) ; G. 644, R3, b; cf. H. 613, 7 (535, i, 6); H.-B. 535, I, c.

vivis nobis, i.e. without assassinating me.

III. Pars Tertia

sibi, for their own good: for reflexive, see § 301, b, N. (I 96, c, N.); G. 520.

placare, gain aver.

comparentur, are made up.

singulis, to them one by one.

si quam, sc. adferre.

possessiones, landed property.

dissolvi, sc. a possessionibus: i.e. although they might pay their debts by the sale of their estates, they cannot make up their minds to do so.

voluntas et causa, their purposes and claims, i.e. their position before the world.

tu: the use of the singular, as if he were addressing one of these men directly, gives point to his reproach of the whole class.

sis: § 444 (268); B. 277; G. 466; H. 5591 4 (484, v); H.-B. 503.

tuas: emphatic.

tabulas novas, new accounts, i.e. a general scaling down of debts by legislative enactment, such as that, B.C. 86, "which reduced every private claim to the fourth part of its nominal amount, and cancelled three-fourths in favor of the debtors."

auctionariae: a forced sale of their estates would give them "new accounts" (tabulae) by reducing their debts; auctionarinae [tabulae] would be the placards advertising the sale in question.

quod, obj. of facere, relating to the forced sale.

neque, and not, connects facere and certare.

certare cum usuris, struggle to meet the interest: § 413, b (248, b); H. (419, II); H.-B. 419, 4.

fructibus: abl. of means.

uteremur, we should find.

hosce: more emphatic than hos.

o vota facturi, likely to offer prayers, i.e. they will confine themselves to sympathizing with Catiline's revolt; no active cooperation with him need be feared from them. 9.

quieta re publica: no poor man could hope to gain political prominence at Rome in ordinary times; these men therefore look to anarchy to achieve their political ends.

scilicet, in fact

desperent, have no hope.

me . . . vigilare, etc., indir. disc. dependent on the idea of saying implied in praecipiendum: § 580, a (336, N.2); G. 652, R.2; H. 642, I (523, i, N.); H.-B. 589, a.

magnos animos: see Vocab. under animus.

praesentis agrees with deos: will be at hand, and, etc.

quod si, now if (as often). The quod is merely adverbial acc.: § 397, a (240, b); B. 185, 2; G. 610, R.2; H. 416, 2 (378, 2); cf. H.-B. 388, a, N.; not like quod in 1.4, above.

jam, at once.

sint adepti: fut. cond. less vivid.

cum summo furore: § 412, a (248, N.); G. 399; 14.473, 31 N. (419, iii, N.1); H.-B. 445, 3.

non vident, don't they see? § 332, a (210, b); B. 162, 2, d; G. 453; H. 378, I (351, 3); H.-B. 231, I, a.

adepti sint, for the fut. perf. indic. of the direct disc.

fugitivo, i.e. one of their own slaves; for, when law is overthrown, brute force will control all.

sit necesse: § 516, d (307, d); G. 595; H. 580 (508, 4); cf. H.-B. 582, I.

universas, as a whole.

civium esse, consist of etc.

ei sunt coloni, these are colonists of this sort (as opposed to the general character of the colonies, which Cicero does not wish to impugn).

beati, men of wealth.

Sulla, etc., Sulla will have to be raised from the dead, for they can have no such hope in Catiline.

agrestis, farmers, not Sulla's colonists.

veterum: alluding to the plunder of the disorderly times following Sulla's victory over the Marian party.

illorum temporum, i.e. the times of proscription. 10.

vadimoniis, etc.: the three steps in bankruptcy,—bail, judgment, and sale of property; proscriptio is strictly the public notice that property is for sale.

infitiatores lentos, dilatory debtors (lit. deniers, i.e. persons who avoid payment of their debts by every possible subterfuge).

stare, keep their feet

ita, in such a way.

non modo, etc.: § 217, e (149, c); B. 343, 2, a; G. 482,5, R.1; H. 656, 3 (552, 2); H.-B. 299.

carcer: this is the Tullianum, a dungeon near the Forum, still existing. It was properly a jail for temporary detention, as imprisonment was not recognized in Rome as a form of punishment.

numero, in order; genere, in rank.

imberbis: a mark of effeminacy; bene barbatos, full-bearded, doubtless a military affectation, as, until lately, the wearing of a mustache.

velis, veils, rather than the substantial toga, which was of unbleached wool. The whole description suggests foppishness and effeminacy.

spargere, i.e. in food or drink: poisoning has in all ages been carried to a high art in Italy.

scitote: notice the second (fut.) imperat. (regularly used in this word).

his . . . noctibus: although this was spoken Nov. 9, yet the Roman year was at this time in such a state of confusion that the true date was probably some time in December, just when the winter was setting in.

11.

ex eo ipso, from the very comparison.

bona ratio, good counsel;

perdita, desperate. 12.

consultum, etc., provident measures have been taken.

coloni municipesque: a colony differed from a municipium in being founded by Roman (or Latin) citizens, who retained from the first their citizenship, either in whole or in part. By Cicero's time there was no longer any real difference between the two classes of towns; but the colonies always retained a certain precedence in rank.

hac . . . excursione: see Introd., p. 113 of text.

gladiatores: see p. 117, l. 5.

quamquam (corrective), referring to manum certissimam

tamen: pointing the contrast between the suppression of this body and Catiline's expectations from them.

vocari videtis: the members of the Senate had their gathering place (senaculum) adjoining the curia, and were summoned by heralds (praecones) from this into the building. If any were absent, the heralds were sent to their houses. The curia and senaculum were visible from the place of assembly in the Forum, and the heralds could no doubt be seen going their rounds.

IV. Peroratio

solutior: for compar., see § 291, a (93, a); B. 240, I G. 297; H. 498 (444, I); H.-B. 241, 2.

quod, etc., as for the rest, i.e. what remains to be done.

horum and his relate to the citizens by whom he is surrounded, and imply a gesture.

cujus: referring, like qui, to the subject of sentiet. 13.

togato, in perfect peace, i.e. without any military demonstration: the toga was the regular dress of the Roman in time of peace.

illud: in appos. with ut . . . possitis: I will secure that, etc.

neque. . . -que, not... and.

quam urbem... hanc, this city which: § 307, b, N. (200, b, N.); G. 616; H. 399, 5(445, 9); or (repeating the noun) the city which, etc.,— that city.