M. Tullius Cicero, In Catilinam, ed. Albert Curtis Clark, 1.21

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[21] at¹ si hoc idem huic adulescenti optimo P. P ublio Sestio, si fortissimo viro M. M arco Marcello dixissem, iam mihi consuli hoc ipso in templo senatus² iure optimo vim et manus intulisset. de te autem, Catilina, cum quiescunt, probant, cum patiuntur, decernunt, cum tacent, clamant, neque hi solum quorum tibi auctoritas est videlicet cara, vita vilissima, sed etiam illi equites Romani, honestissimi atque optimi viri, ceterique fortissimi cives qui circumstant³ senatum, quorum tu et⁴ frequentiam videre et studia perspicere et voces paulo ante exaudire potuisti. quorum ego vix abs te iam diu manus ac tela contineo, eosdem facile adducam ut te haec quae vastare⁵ iam pridem studes relinquentem usque ad portas prosequantur.

In Catilinam. M. Tullius Cicero. ed. Albert Curtis Clark. Oxford. 1908.

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Funding provided by National Endowment For The Humanities (NEH).

Current edition Perseus

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

Translations (1)

Against L. Catiline Perseus (Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, Volume 2. Yonge, Charles Duke, translator. London: Bell, 1856.) — 1.21 focus

[21]
But had I said the same to this excellent young man, Publius Sextius, or to that brave man, Marcus Marcellus, before this time the senate would deservedly have laid violent hands on me, consul though I be, in this very temple. But to you, Catiline, while they are quiet they approve, while they permit me to speak they vote, while they are silent they are loud and eloquent. And not they alone, whose authority forsooth is dear to you, though their lives are unimportant, but the Roman knights too, those most honourable and excellent men, and the other virtuous citizens who are now surrounding the senate, whose numbers you could see, whose desires you could know, and whose voices you a few minutes ago could hear,—yes, whose very hands and weapons I have for some time been scarcely able to keep off from you; but those, too, I will easily bring to attend you to the gates if you leave these places you have been long desiring to lay waste.

Notes on the current edition

In Catilinam

1. at ao2: ac cett.

2. senatus hoc loco hab. αh: post optimo αβγ

3. circumstant α h: stant circum (-ca l) cett.

4. tu et et tu CAVt: fort. tu delendum

5. vastare hoc loco hab. αh: post pridem cett.

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

huic , this.. . here: the demonstrative pronouns are often thus employed in the so-called deictic use, accompanied by a gesture.

Sestio : a member of the aristocratic party whom Cicero afterwards defended in one of his greatest orations.

M. Marcello : a prominent member of the aristocracy, consul B.C. 51; not to be confounded with the person of the same name mentioned in sect. 19 . He took a leading part in the Civil War against Caesar, and was afterwards defended by Cicero (see p.213)-jam, by this time.

consuli , consul as I ant.

in templo , i.e. notwithstanding the sacredness of the place.

vim et manus (hendiadys), violent hands.

cum quiescunt , i.e. by keeping quiet: § 549 , a (326, a); G. 582; H. 599(517,2); H-B. 551.

videlicet cara , alluding to his demand to have the matter submitted to the Senate.

voces , cries (of the crowd outside).

haec (with a gesture, cf. huic, sect. 21 , first note), i.e. all that is round us, the city, etc.

prosequantur , escort It was the custom for those who were going into voluntary exile to be thus accompanied to the gate by their friends. Cicero sarcastically declares that, if Catiline will depart, the whole Senate will be so glad to be rid of him as to forget his crimes and pay him this honor. 9

M. Tullius Cicero In Catilinam 1.21

ed. Albert Curtis Clark

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