M. Tullius Cicero, In Catilinam, ed. Albert Curtis Clark, 4.11

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[11] 6 quam ob rem, sive hoc statueritis, dederitis mihi comitem ad contionem populo carum atque iucundum, sive Silani sententiam sequi malueritis, facile me atque vos¹ crudelitatis vituperatione populus Romanus² liberabit³, atque obtinebo eam multo leniorem fuisse. quamquam, patres conscripti, quae potest esse in tanti sceleris immanitate punienda crudelitas? ego enim de meo sensu iudico. nam ita mihi salva re publica vobiscum perfrui liceat ut ego, quod in hac causa vehementior sum, non atrocitate animi moveor⁴ — quis enim est me mitior? — sed singulari quadam humanitate et misericordia. videor enim mihi videre hanc urbem, lucem orbis terrarum atque arcem omnium gentium, subito uno incendio concidentem. cerno animo sepulta in patria⁵ miseros atque insepultos acervos civium, versatur mihi ante oculos aspectus Cethegi et furor in vestra caede bacchantis.

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.) — 4.11 focus

[11]
Wherefore, if you decide on this you give me a companion in my address, dear and acceptable to the Roman people; or if you prefer to adopt the opinion of Silanus, you will easily defend me and yourselves from the reproach of cruelty, and I will prevail that it shall be much lighter. Although, O conscript fathers, what cruelty can there be in chastising the enormity of such excessive wickedness? For I decide from my own feeling. For so may I be allowed; to enjoy the republic in safety in your company, as I am not moved to be somewhat vehement in this cause by any severity of disposition, (for who is more merciful than I am?) but rather by a singular humanity and mercifulness. For I seem to myself to see this city, the light of the world and the citadel of all nations, falling on a sudden by one conflagration. I see in my mind's eye miserable and unburied heaps of cities in my buried country; the sight of Cethegus and his madness raging amid your slaughter is ever present to my sight.

Notes on the current edition

In Catilinam

1. vos αβ: vos a cett.

2. populus Romanus populo Romano a, Müller: om. l αγ

3. liberabit scripsi ( cf. Har. Resp. 49): om. α: exsolvitis αβ h: defendetis l αγ: eripiam i: purgabo Müller

4. moveor AV αβ( l2): movear ahl1 αγ

5. sepulta in patria Aah: sepultam patriam cett.

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

sed , i.e. though you have in fact decided.

tamquam integrum , as if an open question (i.e. as if you had not already expressed your judgment).

judicetis refers to their judgment as a court with respect to the facts;

censeatis , to their view as a public council respecting the punishment.

illa . . . consulis , etc., I will say in advance what belongs to [me as] the consul: i.e. declare the need of instant action; what action, it is for the Senate to determine; for construction, see § 343 ,4 (214, c); G. 366; H. 439 (401); H.-B. 340.

nova . . . misceri , that a revolution subversive of the government was on foot ;

nova (subject of

misceri ) means innovations or unconstitutional measures ;

misceri refers to the disorder which these would produce.

concitari mala , that evil designs were set in motion.

videbam : for tense, see § 471 , b (277, b); B. 260, 4; G. 234; H. 535(469, 2); H.-B. 485.

opinione : § 406 ,a(247, b); B.217,4; G.398,N.1; H. 471,7 (417, 1, N.1); H.-B. 416, e.

provincias , especially Spain, with which Cn. Piso had had relations. It had not yet become fully reconciled since the overthrow of Sertorius, only eight years before.

sustentando , by forbearance ;

prolatando , by procrastination.

ratione : abl. of manner.

placet , sc. vindicare.

M. Tullius Cicero In Catilinam 4.11

ed. Albert Curtis Clark

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