[18]
There is one class of them, who, with enormous debts,
have still greater possessions, and who can by no means be detached from their affection to
them. Of these men the appearance is most respectable, for they are wealthy, but their
intention and their cause are most shameless. Will you be rich in lands, in houses, in money,
in slaves, in all things, and yet hesitate to diminish your possessions to add to your
credit? What are you expecting? War? What! in the devastation of all things, do you believe
that your own possessions will be held sacred? do you expect an abolition of debts? They are
mistaken who expect that from Catiline. There may be schedules made out, owing to my
exertions, but they will be only catalogues of sale. Nor can those who have possessions be
safe by any other means; and if they had been willing to adopt this plan earlier, and not, as
is very foolish, to struggle on against usury with the profits of their farms, we should have
them now richer and better citizens. But I think these men are the least of all to be
dreaded, because they can either be persuaded to abandon their opinions, or if they cling to
them, they seem to me more likely to form wishes against the republic than to bear arms
against it.
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