M. Tullius Cicero, In Catilinam, Charles Duke Yonge (Translator), 4.16

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[16] The entire multitude of honest men, even the poorest is present; for who is there to whom these temples, the sight of the city, the possession of liberty,—in short; this light and this soil of his, common to us all, is not both dear and pleasant and delightful? 8
It is worth while, O conscript fathers, to know the inclinations of the freedmen; who, having by their good fortune obtained the rights of citizens, consider this to be really their country, which some who have been born here, and born in the highest rank, have considered to be not their own country, but a city of enemies. But why should I speak of men of this body whom their private fortunes, whom their common republic, whom, in short, that liberty which is most delightful has called forth to defend the safety of their country? There is no slave who is only in an endurable condition of slavery who does not shudder at the audacity of citizens, who does not desire that these things may stand, who does not contribute all the good-will that he can, and all that he dares, to the common safety.

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.) — 4.16 focus

[16] omnis ingenuorum adest multitudo, etiam tenuissimorum. quis est enim cui non haec templa, aspectus urbis, possessio libertatis, lux denique haec ipsa et¹ commune patriae solum cum² sit carum tum vero dulce atque iucundum? 8 operae pretium est, patres conscripti, libertinorum hominum studia cognoscere qui, sua virtute fortunam huius civitatis consecuti, vere³ hanc suam patriam esse⁴ iudicant quam quidam⁵ hic nati, et summo nati loco⁶, non patriam suam sed urbem hostium esse iudicaverunt. sed quid ego hosce ordines atque homines⁷ commemoro quos privatae fortunae, quos communis res publica, quos denique libertas ea quae dulcissima est ad salutem patriae defendendam excitavit? servus est nemo, qui modo⁸ tolerabili condicione sit servitutis, qui non audaciam civium perhorrescat, qui non haec stare cupiat, qui non quantum⁹ audet¹⁰ et quantum¹¹ potest conferat ad salutem¹² voluntatis.

Commentary

Commentary on Fourth 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

statueritis : subj. of integral part.

dignitatis : § 343 , c (214, d) ; cf. B. 198, 3; G. 366, R.1; H 439, 3 (401, N.2); cf. H.-B. 340.

adjungit , he [Caesar] adds to his proposal.

ruperit : § 592 , 2 (341, c) ; cf. B. 323; G. 366; H. 439 (401); H.-B. 536, a.

sancit , ordains (under penalties).

per senatum , by an executive decree; per populum, by a law.

uno , Sc. dolore.

itaque , etc.: an artful way of making the punishment of death seem less cruel; since death is a relief, these myths, says Cicero, have been invented to give it terror.

eis remotis : equiv. to a fut. protasis; § 521 , a (310, a); G. 593,2 ; H. 638, 2 (549, 2); H.-B. 578, 6. 5

M. Tullius Cicero In Catilinam 4.16

Charles Duke Yonge (Translator)

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