Sallust Catilinae Coniuratio 34

To this address Quintus Marcius replied, that, "if they wished to make any petition to the senate, they must lay down their arms, and proceed as suppliants to Rome;" adding, that "such had always been the kindness ¹ and humanity of the Roman senate and people, that none had ever asked help of them in vain."

Catiline, on his march, sent letters to most men of consular dignity, and to all the most respectable citizens, stating that "as he was beset by false accusations, and unable to resist the combination of his enemies, he was submitting to the will of fortune, and going into exile at Marseilles; not that he was guilty of the great wickedness laid to his charge, but that the state might be undisturbed, and that no insurrection might arise from his defense of himself."

Quintus Catulus, however, read in the senate a letter of a very different character, which, he said, was delivered to him in he name of Catiline, and of which the following is a copy:

² XXXV. "Lucius Catiline to Quintus Catulus, wishing health. Your eminent integrity, known to me by experience, ³ gives a pleasing confidence, in the midst of great perils, to my present recommendation. ⁴ I have determined, therefore, to make no formal defense ⁵ with regard to my new course of conduct; yet I was resolved, though conscious of no guilt, ⁶ to offer you some explanation, ⁷ which, on my word of honor, ⁸ you may receive as true. ⁹ Provoked by injuries and indignities, since, being robbed of the fruit of my labor and exertion, ¹⁰ I did not obtain the post of honor due to me, ¹¹ I have undertaken, according to my custom, the public cause of the distressed. Not but that I could have paid, out of my own property, the debts contracted on my own security ; ¹² while the generosity of Orestilla, out of her own fortune and her daughter's, would discharge those incurred on the security of others. But because I saw unworthy men ennobled with honors, and myself proscribed ¹³ on groundless suspicion, I have for this very reason, adopted a course, ¹⁴ amply justifiable in my present circumstances, for preserving what honor is left to me. When I was proceeding to write more, intelligence was brought that violence is preparing against me. I now commend and intrust Orestilla to your protection ; ¹⁵ intreating you, by your love for your own children, to defend her from injury. ¹⁶ Farewell."