M. Tullius Cicero, In Catilinam, ed. Albert Curtis Clark, 4.15

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[15] hosce ego homines excipio et secerno libenter, neque in improborum civium sed in acerbissimorum hostium numero habendos puto. ceteri vero, di immortales! qua frequentia, quo studio, qua virtute ad communem salutem dignitatemque consentiunt! quid ego hic equites Romanos commemorem? qui vobis ita summam ordinis consilique concedunt ut vobiscum de amore rei publicae certent; quos ex multorum annorum dissensione huius ordinis ad societatem concordiamque revocatos hodiernus dies vobiscum atque haec causa coniungit. quam si coniunctionem in consulatu confirmatam meo perpetuam in re publica tenuerimus, confirmo vobis nullum posthac malum civile ac domesticum ad ullam rei publicae partem esse venturum. Pari studio defendendae rei publicae convenisse video tribunos aerarios, fortissimos viros; scribas item universos quos, cum casu hic dies ad aerarium frequentasset, video ab exspectatione sortis ad salutem communem esse conversos.

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

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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.) — 4.15 focus

[15]
These men I except, and I willingly set apart from the rest; for I do not think that they should be classed in the number of worthless citizens, but in that of the most bitter enemies. But, as for the rest, O ye immortal gods! in what crowds, with what zeal, with what virtue do they agree in defence of the common dignity and safety. Why should I here speak of the Roman knights? who yield to you the supremacy in rank and wisdom, in order to vie with you in love for the republic,—whom this day and this cause now reunite with you in alliance and unanimity with your body reconciled after a disagreement of many years. And if we can preserve for ever in the republic this union now established in nay consulship, I pledge myself to you that no civil and domestic calamity can hereafter reach any part of the republic. I see that the tribunes of the treasury—excellent men—have united with similar zeal in defence of the republic, and all the notaries. ¹ For as this day had by chance brought them in crowds to the treasury, I see that they were diverted from an anxiety for the money due to them, from an expectation of their capital, to a regard for the common safety.

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

ad , for.

consentiunt , unite.

ita . . ut , only to, etc. (lit. with this limitation that): see § 537 , b (319, b); G. 552, R3; H-B. 521, 2, d.

summam ordinis consilique , superiority in rank andprecedence in counsel ,

hujus ordinis (i.e. the Senate) limits dissensione in the sense of cum hoc, etc. For the long contest here alluded to, see Introduction, p. lxv.

quam st etc. , and if we keep this union, etc.

confirmo , I assure, in a different sense from confirmatam: Latin style does not (as ours does) object to such repetitions with a variation in meaning.

tribunos aerarios , deans if the tribes. The Roman people were divided into thirty-five tribes, local and territorial, like wards. These tribes were made the basis of the comitia centuriata, as well as of the comitia tributa. They served also as general administrative and financial divisions. From the latter character the name tribuni aerarii was given to their presiding officers.

scribas : the scribae quaestorii (treasury clerks) formed an important and powerful corporation. As they were a permanent body, while the

quaestors (treasurers) were elected annually, they had the real responsibility in the management of the treasury.

sortis : the quaestors entered upon office on the Nones of December (Dec. 5); all other patrician magistrates on the first of January. The scribae had therefore come together in order to be present while the quaestors drew lots for their provinces.

M. Tullius Cicero In Catilinam 4.15

ed. Albert Curtis Clark

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