3.
The consul is fully informed. Latest acts of the conspirators.
quid est quod iam amplius, etc., what is there for you to wait for more? 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
dicere: for tense, see § 584, a and N. (336 A, N.1); G. 281, 2, N. H. 618, 2 (537, I); H.-B. 593, b. 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.).
Praeneste (Palestrina), an important town of Latium, about twenty miles from Rome, in a very commanding situation. Its possession would have given Catiline a valuable military post. Praeneste had been a chief stronghold of the Marian party in the Civil War, and Sulla had punished it by establishing a military colony there (hence coloniam). 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.
