M. Tullius Cicero, In Catilinam, Charles Duke Yonge (Translator), 1.3

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[3]
What? Did not that most illustrious man, Publius Scipio, ¹ the Pontifex Maximus, in his capacity of a private citizen, put to death Tiberius Gracchus, though but slightly undermining the constitution? And shall we, who are the consuls, tolerate Catiline, openly desirous to destroy the whole world with fire and slaughter? For I pass over older instances, such as how Caius Servilius Ahala with his own hand slew Spurius Maelius when plotting a revolution in the state. There was—there was once such virtue in this republic, that brave men would repress mischievous citizens with severer chastisement than the most bitter enemy. For we have a resolution ² of the senate, a formidable and authoritative decree against you, O Catiline; the wisdom of the republic is not at fault, nor the dignity of this senatorial body. We, we alone,—I say it openly, —we, the consuls, are waiting in our duty.

In Catilinam. M. Tullius Cicero. Charles Duke Yonge (Translator). London. 1856.

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Current edition Perseus

Against L. Catiline (English) (Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, Volume 2. Yonge, Charles Duke, translator. London: Bell, 1856.)

Editions (1)

In L. Catilinam Perseus (Cicero. M. Tulli Ciceronis Orationes, Volume 1. Clark, Albert Curtis, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1908.) — 1.3 focus

[3] an vero vir amplissimus, P. Scipio, pontifex maximus, Ti. T itum Gracchum mediocriter labefactantem statum rei publicae privatus interfecit: Catilinam¹ orbem terrae caede atque incendiis vastare cupientem nos consules perferemus²? nam illa nimis antiqua praetereo, quod³ C. G aius Servilius Ahala Sp. Maelium novis rebus studentem manu sua occidit. fuit, fuit ista quondam in hac re publica virtus ut viri fortes acrioribus suppliciis civem perniciosum quam acerbissimum hostem coercerent. habemus⁴ senatus consultum in te, Catilina, vehemens et grave⁵, non deest rei publicae consilium neque auctoritas huius ordinis: nos, nos, dico aperte, consules desumus.

Notes on the current edition

Against L. Catiline

1. This was Scipio Nasica, who called on the consul Mucius Scaevola to do his duty and save the republic; but as he refused to put any one to death without a trial, Scipio called on all the citizens to follow him, and stormed the Capitol, which Gracchus had occupied with his party, and slew many of the partisans of Gracchus, and Gracchus himself.

2. This resolution was couched in the form Videant Consules nequid respublica detrimenti capiat; and it exempted the consuls from all obligation to attend to the ordinary forms of law, and invested them with absolute power over the lives of all the citizens who were intriguing against the republic.

Commentary

Commentary on First Oration against Catiline (Select Orations of Cicero (Allen and Greenough's Edition). Greenough, James Bradstreet; Kittredge, George Lyman, editors. Boston, London: Ginn & Company, 1897.) focus

an vero properly belongs both to interfecit and perferemus; in English we should connect the two clauses by and. On the force of an, see § 335 , b (211, b); B. 162, 4, a; G. 457, 1 ; H. 380, 3 (353, N.4); H.-B. 236.

vir amplissimus , pontifex maximus: observe how these words strengthen the force of the example.

Ti. Gracchium : Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, a young man of high rank and great purity of character, attempted to carry through some important reforms, particularly touching the tenure of the public lands, B.C. 133. Requiring more time to make his legislation effective, he attempted illegally to secure his own re-election as tribune, when he was attacked and killed by a mob of Senators headed by P. Scipio Nasica.

privatus : at the time referred to, Nasica was only a private citizen of consular rank. He afterwards went into exile, and was made Pontifex Maximus in his absence. The word privatus is rhetorically opposed to

nos consules .

illa , that case, plural for singular as referring to the circumstances of the case.

Ahala : the magister equitum of the famous Cincinnatus; he killed without legal process the eques Maelius, on suspicion that the latter was aiming at royal power ( B.C. 439);

novis rebus (the classic expression for a violent change of government), revolution: dat. after studentem .

fuit (emphat.), there was, etc., implying that it is so no longer; § 598 , d (344 d, 3). Cf. fuit Ilium, Aeneid 2.325 .

habemus (emphat.), i.e. it is not that we lack, etc.

senatus consultum : i.e. the decree conferring dictatorial power on the consuls (see note on sect. 2 , 1.12, above), ut videant consules, etc.

vehemens , severe, as regards Catiline; grave, carrying weight, and so justifying the consuls in any extreme measures.

non deest , etc., it is not that the state lacks wise counsels, etc., but that the consuls are remiss in executing them. 2

M. Tullius Cicero In Catilinam 1.3

Charles Duke Yonge (Translator)

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