2. cum . . . eiciebam: notice the tense (at the time I was engaged in driving out, etc., also volebam, below), as compared with erupit (burst forth, once for all). Notice also the difference in mood (at the time, etc.), compared with cum reliquisset in ll.13, 14 (not referring to time at all, but to circumstance: having left behind, etc.): see § 545,546 (323, 325. a); B. 288, I; G. 580, 585; H. 600, 601 (521, i, ii); H.-B. 550, a and N.1. invidiam: see Cat. 1, p. 108, l. 27, and note. illa, sc. invidia. quod . . . exierit: § 592, 3 (341, d); B. 323; G. 539; H. 588, ii (516, ii); H.-B. 535, 2, a. restitissent: in direct disc. this would be restiterint (fut. perf.).
quoniam . . . faceret, because (as I thought), etc.: hence the subj. rather than faciebat: § 592, 3, N. (34 i, d, R.); G. 541; H. 588, ii (516, ii); H.-B. 535, 2, a, N.2. fidem faceret, gain credence. oratio, argument rem comprehenderem, get hold of the matter. ut . . . provideretis: purpose. cum . . . videretis: subj. of integral part (otherwise it would be videbitis). Allobrogum: the Allobroges were a Gallic nation between the Rhone and the Alps (in the modern Dauphine and Savoy); subdued B.C. 121, and united with the province Narbonensis. They were restless under their new masters (see sect. 22), and inclined to take up with Catiline's movement. Their ambassadors had come to complain of certain exactions of their provincial governor. belli, i.e. when out of the range of the Roman jurisdiction; tumultus, rebellion, i.e. when nearer home. Lentulo, see Introd., p. 126: he had been consul B.C. 71, but had been expelled from the Senate the next year, with sixty-three others, on account of his character, and he now held the praetorship with the view of beginning the career of office over again. manifesto deprehenderetur, taken in the act: the words apply strictly to the criminals themselves.
praetores: although the regular duties of the praetors were judicial, yet they possessed the imperium, and in virtue of this could command troops in the absence of the consuls, or under their authority. qui . . . sentirent (subj. of characteristic), as men who, etc. pontem Mulvium: the bridge over the Tiber, about two miles above the city, by which the principal roads (the Flaminian and Cassian) led into north Italy. inter eos, i.e. between the two divisions. praefectura: the title given to the politically lowest class of Italian towns, which had lost their independence; cf. Vocab. under colonia and municipium. Reatina: Reate was a very ancient town of the Sabines, about forty miles northeast of Rome. Cicero was the patronus of Reate, that is, acted as its attorney and legal counsel; which accounts for his having this body-guard of young men from that place. Besides, these simple mountaineers still retained something of the old Italian virtues, and therefore were well fitted for this service. praesidio: dat. of service.
tertia. . . exacta, about 3 A.M.: the night, from sunset to sunrise, was divided by the Romans into four vigiliae of equal length. magno comitatu: abl. of accomp.; § 413, a (248, a, N.); cf. B. 222, I ; G. 392, R.1; H. 474, 2 (419, I 1); cf. H.-B. 422, i. res: the occasion of the attack. ignorabatur, etc. Though the Allobroges had played the conspirators false, and knew that the consul had his plans ready, they did not know what these plans were, and therefore were as much taken by surprise as Volturcius himself. Even the troops would appear not to have known what special enterprise they were engaged in.
