M. Tullius Cicero, In Catilinam, Charles Duke Yonge (Translator), 1.8

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[8] What? when you made sure that you would be able to seize Praeneste on the first of November by a nocturnal attack, did you not find that that colony was fortified by my order, by my garrison, by my watchfulness and care? You do nothing, you plan nothing, you think of nothing which I not only do not hear, but which I do not see and know every particular of. 4
Listen while I speak of the night before. You shall now see that I watch far more actively for the safety than you do for the destruction of the republic. I say that you came the night before (I will say nothing obscurely) into the Scythe-dealers' street, to the house of Marcus Lecca; that many of your accomplices in the same insanity and wickedness came here too. Do you dare to deny it? Why are silent? I will prove it if you do deny it; for I see here in the senate some men who were there with you.

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.) — 1.8 focus

[8] quid? cum te¹ Praeneste Kalendis ipsis Novembribus occupaturum nocturno impetu esse confideres, sensistin² illam coloniam meo iussu meis praesidiis, custodiis, vigiliis esse munitam? nihil agis, nihil moliris, nihil cogitas quod non ego non modo³ audiam sed etiam videam planeque sentiam. 4 recognosce mecum tandem⁴ noctem illam superiorem; iam intelleges multo me vigilare acrius ad salutem quam te ad perniciem rei publicae. dico te priore nocte venisse inter falcarios — non agam obscure — in M. M arci Laecae domum; convenisse eodem compluris eiusdem amentiae scelerisque socios. num negare audes? quid taces? convincam, si negas. video enim esse hic in senatu quosdam qui tecum una fuerunt.

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

decrevit : translate, to preserve the emphasis, there was once a decree, etc.

ut . . . videret , subst. clause of purp., obj. of decrevit: § 563 (331); B. 295, 4; G. 546; H. 564, i (498); H-B. 502, 3, a.

Opimius : Lucius Opimius was consul B.C. 121, when Caius Gracchus, the younger brother of Tiberius, was attempting to carry through a series of measures far more revolutionary than those of his brother. The Senate took alarm, and entrusted the consul with absolute power. In the tumult that ensued, some 3,000 are said to have lost their lives, including Gracchus and his leading associate, Fulvius.

ne . . . caperet , obj. of videret.

interfectus est (emphat.), i.e. in that case death was promptly inflicted.

patre : Tiberius Gracchus, the elder, one of the most eminent statesmen of his day.

avo : Scipio Africanus, the conqueror of Hannibal.

Mario (dat. after

permissa ): this was in Marius' sixth consulship ( B.C. 100). He was secretly in league with the revolutionists, —Saturninus and Servilius Glaucia, corrupt demagogues, unworthy imitators of the noble Gracchi. When it came to the point, however, the courage of Marius failed him: he deserted his accomplices, and joined the Senate in crushing the revolt.

rei publicae : poss. gen., the punishment being looked on as something belonging to the party avenged, and exacted from the other party as a payment due.

remorata est (governing Saturninum, etc.), keep Saturninus and Servilius waiting, i.e. did they have to wait one day, etc.?

vicesimum : strictly speaking, it was now (Nov. 6) the 19th day by Roman reckoning from Oct. 21; cf. § 424 , c (259, c); G. 336, R.1

patimur : for tense, see § 466 (276, a); B. 259, 4; G. 230; H. 532, 2 (467, 2); H.-B. 485.

horum , i.e. the Senate.

hujusce modi , i.e. like those just mentioned; § 146 , a, N.1 (101, footnote); B. 87, footnote 2; G. 104, I, N.1; H. 178, 3 (186, I); H.-B. 138, 2, c.

tabulis : brazen tablets, on which the laws, etc., were inscribed. The edict is said to be shut up in them (until put in force), like a sword hidden in its scabbard.

interfectum esse : § 486 , b and N. (288, d); B. 270, 2, a; G. 280, 2; H-B. 582, 31 a, footnote 2

convenit , perf.: § 522 , a (311, c); B. 304,3, a; G. 254, a.1; H. 583(511, I, N.1); H-B. 582,3, a.

ad deponendam , etc.: § 506 (300); B. 338, 3; G. 432; H. 628, 623 (542, iii, 544, I); H.-B. 384, 3, a.

cupio (emphat.), I am anxious: a concession, opposed by sed, below.

me esse : § 563 , b, I (331, b, N.); B. 331, iv, a; G. 532, R.2; H. 614 (535, ii); H.-B. 586, b.

dissolutum , arbitrary .

ipse : Latin in such cases emphasizes the subject; English, the object; § 298 ,f(195, 1); B. 249, 2; G. 311, 2; H. 509, I (452, I); H-B. 268.

inertiae : § 352 (220); B. 228, 2; G. 378; H. 456 (409, U); H.-B. 342.

M. Tullius Cicero In Catilinam 1.8

Charles Duke Yonge (Translator)

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