M. Tullius Cicero, In Catilinam, ed. Albert Curtis Clark, 2.21

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[21] 10 quartum genus est sane varium et mixtum et turbulentum; qui iam pridem premuntur, qui numquam emergunt, qui partim inertia, partim male gerendo negotio, partim etiam sumptibus in vetere aere alieno vacillant, qui vadimoniis, iudiciis, proscriptione¹ bonorum defetigati permulti et ex urbe et ex agris se in illa castra conferre dicuntur. hosce ego non tam milites acris quam infitiatores lentos esse arbitror. qui homines quam² primum, si stare non possunt, conruant, sed ita ut non modo civitas sed ne vicini quidem proximi sentiant. nam illud non intellego quam ob rem, si vivere honeste non possunt, perire turpiter velint, aut cur minore dolore perituros se cum multis quam si soli pereant³ arbitrentur.

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.) — 2.21 focus

[21]
There is a fourth class, various, promiscuous and turbulent; who indeed are now overwhelmed; who will never recover themselves; who, partly from indolence, partly from managing their affairs badly, partly from extravagance, are embarrassed by old debts; and worn out with bail bonds, and judgments, and seizures of their goods, are said to be betaking themselves in numbers to that camp both from the city and the country. These men I think not so much active soldiers as lazy insolvents; who, if they cannot stand at first, may fall, but fall so, that not only the city but even their nearest neighbours know nothing of it. For I do not understand why, if they cannot live with honour, they should wish to die shamefully; or wily they think they shall perish with less pain in a crowd, than if they perish by themselves.

Notes on the current edition

In Catilinam

1. proscriptione α h: proscriptionibus αβγ defetigati A1tux1: defaet. a: defat. CA2 cett.

2. quam Halm: om. codd.

3. pereunt ah

Commentary

Commentary on Second 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

sui : § 301 , b (196, c); B. 244, 4; G. 309, 2; H. 503, 2 (449, 3); H.-B. 264, 2.

audaciae , acts of audacity.

obligaverunt , encumbered.

res , property; fides, credit.

libido , i.e. luxurious habits and tastes.

quidem (concessive), no doubt

homines ,

viris : observe the difference in sense.

mihi : the ethical dat. gives the phrase a familiar and contemptuous turn which may be reproduced in English by forsooth.

obli^ti : observe the quantity.

caedem , etc.: notice the strong contrast between the character of these worn-out debauchees and the sanguinary nature of their threats.

M. Tullius Cicero In Catilinam 2.21

ed. Albert Curtis Clark

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