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III. Pars Tertia (§§ 17-25).

17_23

Character of Catiline's partisans: (i) rich men in debt (sect. 18 ); (ii) men eager for power and wealth (sect. 19 ); (iii) old soldiers of Sulla (sect. 20 ); (iv) ruined debtors (sect. 21 ); (v) cutthroats and criminals (sect. 22 ); (vi) debauchees (sects. 22 , 23 ). 8

p120_l17

sanare : cf. note on vivere, 1.8, above.

sibi , for their own good: for reflexive, see § 301 , b, N. (I 96, c, N.); G. 520.

placare , gain aver.

p120_l20

comparentur , are made up.

singulis , to them one by one.

p120_l21

si quam , sc. adferre.

p120_l22

[18] est eorum , consists of those (pred. gen.).

p120_l23

possessiones , landed property.

p120_l24

dissolvi , sc. a possessionibus: i.e. although they might pay their debts by the sale of their estates, they cannot make up their minds to do so.

p120_l25

voluntas et causa , their purposes and claims, i.e. their position before the world.

p120_l26

tu : the use of the singular, as if he were addressing one of these men directly, gives point to his reproach of the whole class.

p120_l27

sis : § 444 (268); B. 277; G. 466; H. 5591 4 (484, v); H.-B. 503.

p120_l30

tuas : emphatic.

tabulas novas , new accounts, i.e. a general scaling down of debts by legislative enactment, such as that, B.C. 86, "which reduced every private claim to the fourth part of its nominal amount, and cancelled three-fourths in favor of the debtors."

p121_l2

auctionariae : a forced sale of their estates would give them "new accounts" ( tabulae) by reducing their debts; auctionarinae [ tabulae] would be the placards advertising the sale in question.

p121_l4

quod , obj. of facere, relating to the forced sale.

neque , and not, connects facere and certare.

p121_l5

certare cum usuris , struggle to meet the interest: § 413 , b (248, b); H. (419, II); H.-B. 419, 4.

fructibus : abl. of means.

p121_l6

uteremur , we should find.

p121_l7

hosce : more emphatic than hos.

o vota facturi , likely to offer prayers, i.e. they will confine themselves to sympathizing with Catiline's revolt; no active cooperation with him need be feared from them. 9

p121_l11

[19] premuntur : notice the emphasis,—this class is insolvent; the former class is heavily in debt, but has resources.

p121_l13

quieta re publica : no poor man could hope to gain political prominence at Rome in ordinary times; these men therefore look to anarchy to achieve their political ends.

p121_l15

scilicet , in fact

p121_l16

desperent , have no hope.

p121_l17

me . . . vigilare , etc., indir. disc. dependent on the idea of saying implied in praecipiendum: § 580 , a (336, N.2); G. 652, R.2; H. 642, I (523, i, N.); H.-B. 589, a.

p121_l18

magnos animos : see Vocab. under animus.

p121_l22

praesentis agrees with deos : will be at hand, and, etc.

p121_l23

quod si , now if (as often). The quod is merely adverbial acc.: § 397 , a (240, b); B. 185, 2; G. 610, R.2; H. 416, 2 (378, 2); cf. H.-B. 388, a, N.; not like quod in 1.4, above.

jam , at once.

sint adepti : fut. cond. less vivid.

cum summo furore : § 412 , a (248, N.); G. 399; 14.473, 31 N. (419, iii, N.1); H.-B. 445, 3.

p121_l26

non vident , don't they see? § 332 , a (210, b); B. 162, 2, d; G. 453; H. 378, I (351, 3); H.-B. 231, I, a.

p121_l27

adepti sint , for the fut. perf. indic. of the direct disc.

fugitivo , i.e. one of their own slaves; for, when law is overthrown, brute force will control all.

p121_l28

sit necesse : § 516 , d (307, d); G. 595; H. 580 (508, 4); cf. H.-B. 582, I.

p121_l31

[20] ex eis coloniis : Sulla rewarded his veterans (120,000 in number) by liberal grants of land, partly in municipia already existing, partly in new colonies which he founded for them.

p122_l1

universas , as a whole.

civium esse , consist of etc.

p122_l2

ei sunt coloni , these are colonists of this sort (as opposed to the general character of the colonies, which Cicero does not wish to impugn).

p122_l5

beati , men of wealth.

p122_l7

Sulla , etc., Sulla will have to be raised from the dead, for they can have no such hope in Catiline.

p122_l8

agrestis , farmers, not Sulla's colonists.

p122_l9

veterum : alluding to the plunder of the disorderly times following Sulla's victory over the Marian party.

p122_l12

illorum temporum , i.e. the times of proscription. 10

p122_l18

[21] vacillant , stagger under.

vadimoniis , etc.: the three steps in bankruptcy,— bail, judgment, and sale of property; proscriptio is strictly the public notice that property is for sale.

p122_l21

infitiatores lentos , dilatory debtors (lit. deniers, i.e. persons who avoid payment of their debts by every possible subterfuge).

p122_l22

stare , keep their feet

p122_l23

ita , in such a way.

non modo , etc.: § 217 , e (149, c); B. 343, 2, a; G. 482,5, R.1; H. 656, 3 (552, 2); H.-B. 299.

p122_l29

[22] non revoco : § 467 (276, b); B. 259, 2; G. 233; H. 530 (467, 6); H.-B. 484.

p123_l1

carcer : this is the Tullianum, a dungeon near the Forum, still existing. It was properly a jail for temporary detention, as imprisonment was not recognized in Rome as a form of punishment.

p123_l2

numero , in order; genere , in rank.

p123_l5

imberbis : a mark of effeminacy; bene barbatos , full-bearded, doubtless a military affectation, as, until lately, the wearing of a mustache.

p123_l6

velis , veils, rather than the substantial toga, which was of unbleached wool. The whole description suggests foppishness and effeminacy.

p123_l11

[23] saltare et cantare , these accomplishments were hardly regarded as respectable by the better classes.

spargere , i.e. in food or drink: poisoning has in all ages been carried to a high art in Italy.

p123_l13

scitote : notice the second (fut.) imperat. (regularly used in this word).

p123_l16

his . . . noctibus : although this was spoken Nov. 9, yet the Roman year was at this time in such a state of confusion that the true date was probably some time in December, just when the winter was setting in.

p123_l27

[24] These followers of Catiline contrasted with the defenders of the state. The issue of such a contest cannot be doubtful.

urbes coloniarum , etc.: the colonies and free communities ( municipia ) included the walled cities ( urbes ) in their territory. These well-manned walls would be more than a match for Catiline's rude works ( tumulis ).

p124_l1

[25] causas , i.e. the cause of the conspirators and that of the state in their moral aspect (cf. in eius modi, etc., 1.12, below).

p124_l2

ex eo ipso , from the very comparison.

p124_l10

bona ratio , good counsel;

perdita , desperate. 12

p124_l17

[26] custodiis vigilisque : see Cat. 1, sect. 8 and note.

p124_l19

consultum , etc., provident measures have been taken.

coloni municipesque : a colony differed from a municipium in being founded by Roman (or Latin) citizens, who retained from the first their citizenship, either in whole or in part. By Cicero's time there was no longer any real difference between the two classes of towns; but the colonies always retained a certain precedence in rank.

p124_l20

hac . . . excursione : see Introd., p. 113 of text.

p124_l22

gladiatores : see p. 117, l. 5 .

p124_l23

quamquam (corrective), referring to manum certissimam

p124_l24

tamen : pointing the contrast between the suppression of this body and Catiline's expectations from them.

p124_l29

vocari videtis : the members of the Senate had their gathering place ( senaculum) adjoining the curia, and were summoned by heralds ( praecones) from this into the building. If any were absent, the heralds were sent to their houses. The curia and senaculum were visible from the place of assembly in the Forum, and the heralds could no doubt be seen going their rounds.

Commentary on Second Oration against Catiline. James Bradstreet Greenough. ed. James Bradstreet Greenough, ed. George Lyman Kittredge. Boston. 1897.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

Commentary on Second Oration against Catiline (English) (Select Orations of Cicero (Allen and Greenough's Edition). Greenough, James Bradstreet; Kittredge, George Lyman, editors. Boston, London: Ginn & Company, 1897.)

Editions (1)

In L. Catilinam Perseus (Cicero. M. Tulli Ciceronis Orationes, Volume 1. Clark, Albert Curtis, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1908.) — 2.17 focus

[17] 8 sed cur tam diu de uno hoste loquimur et de eo hoste qui iam fatetur se esse hostem, et quem¹, quia, quod semper volui, murus interest, non timeo: de his qui dissimulant, qui Romae remanent, qui nobiscum sunt nihil dicimus? quos quidem ego, si ullo modo fieri possit², non tam ulcisci studeo quam sanare sibi ipsos, placare rei publicae, neque id qua re fieri non possit, si iam me³ audire volent⁴, intellego. exponam enim vobis, Quirites, ex quibus generibus hominum istae copiae comparentur; deinde singulis medicinam consili atque orationis meae, si quam potero, adferam.

[18] Vnum genus est eorum qui magno in aere alieno maiores etiam possessiones habent quarum amore adducti dissolvi nullo modo possunt. Horum hominum species est honestissima — sunt enim locupletes — voluntas vero et causa impudentissima. tu agris, tu aedificiis, tu argento, tu familia, tu rebus omnibus ornatus et copiosus sis, et dubites de possessione detrahere, adquirere ad fidem? quid enim exspectas? bellum? quid ergo? in vastatione omnium tuas possessiones sacrosanctas futuras putes⁵? an tabulas novas? errant qui istas a Catilina exspectant: meo beneficio tabulae novae proferuntur⁶, verum auctionariae; neque enim isti qui possessiones habent alia ratione ulla salvi esse possunt. quod si maturius facere voluissent neque, id quod stultissimum est, certare cum usuris fructibus praediorum, et locupletioribus his et melioribus civibus uteremur. sed hosce homines minime puto pertimescendos, quod aut deduci de sententia possunt aut, si permanebunt, magis mihi videntur vota facturi contra rem publicam quam arma laturi.

[19] 9 alterum genus est eorum qui, quamquam premuntur aere alieno, dominationem tamen exspectant, rerum potiri volunt, honores quos quieta re publica desperant perturbata se consequi⁷ posse arbitrantur. quibus hoc praecipiendum videtur, unum scilicet et idem quod reliquis omnibus, ut desperent id⁸ quod conantur se consequi posse: primum omnium me ipsum vigilare, adesse, providere rei publicae; deinde magnos animos esse in bonis viris, magnam concordiam ordinum⁹, maximam multitudinem¹⁰, magnas praeterea militum copias¹¹; deos denique immortalis huic invicto populo, clarissimo imperio, pulcherrimae urbi contra tantam vim sceleris praesentis auxilium esse laturos. quod si iam sint id quod summo¹² furore cupiunt adepti, num illi in cinere urbis et in sanguine civium, quae mente conscelerata ac nefaria concupiverunt, consules se¹³ aut dictatores aut etiam reges sperant futuros? non vident id se cupere quod, si adepti sint, fugitivo alicui aut gladiatori concedi sit¹⁴ necesse?

[20] Tertium genus est aetate iam adfectum, sed tamen exercitatione robustum; quo ex genere iste est¹⁵ Manlius cui nunc Catilina succedit. hi¹⁶ sunt homines ex eis coloniis quas¹⁷ Sulla constituit; quas ego universas civium esse optimorum et fortissimorum virorum sentio, sed tamen ei sunt¹⁸ coloni qui se in¹⁹ insperatis ac repentinis pecuniis sumptuosius insolentiusque iactarunt. hi dum aedificant tamquam beati, dum praediis²⁰ lectis²¹, familiis magnis, conviviis apparatis delectantur, in tantum aes alienum inciderunt ut, si salvi esse velint, Sulla sit eis ab²² inferis excitandus: qui etiam non nullos agrestis homines tenuis atque egentis in eandem illam spem rapinarum veterum impulerunt. quos ego utrosque²³ in eodem genere praedatorum direptorumque pono, sed eos hoc moneo, desinant furere ac proscriptiones et dictaturas cogitare. tantus enim illorum temporum dolor inustus est civitati ut iam ista non modo homines sed ne pecudes quidem mihi passurae esse videantur.

[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, proscriptione²⁴ 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 quam²⁵ 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 pereant²⁶ arbitrentur.

[22] Quintum genus est parricidarum, sicariorum, denique omnium facinerosorum. quos ego a Catilina non revoco; nam neque ab eo divelli²⁷ possunt et pereant sane in latrocinio, quoniam sunt ita multi ut eos carcer capere non possit. postremum autem genus est non solum numero verum etiam genere ipso atque vita quod proprium Catilinae est, de eius dilectu, immo vero de complexu eius ac sinu; quos pexo capillo, nitidos, aut imberbis aut bene barbatos videtis, manicatis et talaribus tunicis, velis amictos, non togis; quorum omnis industria vitae²⁸ et vigilandi labor in antelucanis cenis expromitur.

[23] in his gregibus omnes aleatores, omnes adulteri, omnes impuri impudicique versantur. hi pueri tam lepidi ac delicati non solum amare et amari neque saltare et cantare sed etiam sicas vibrare et spargere venena didicerunt. qui nisi exeunt, nisi pereunt, etiam si Catilina perierit, scitote hoc in re publica seminarium Catilinarum futurum. verum tamen quid sibi isti miseri volunt? num suas secum mulierculas sunt in castra ducturi? quem ad modum autem illis carere poterunt, his praesertim iam noctibus? quo autem pacto illi Appenninum atque illas pruinas ac nivis perferent? nisi idcirco se facilius hiemem toleraturos putant, quod nudi in conviviis saltare didicerunt.

[24] 11 O bellum magno opere pertimescendum, cum hanc sit habiturus Catilina scortorum cohortem praetoriam! instruite nunc, Quirites, contra has tam praeclaras Catilinae copias vestra praesidia vestrosque exercitus. et primum gladiatori illi confecto et saucio consules imperatoresque vestros opponite; deinde contra illam naufragorum eiectam ac debilitatam manum florem totius Italiae ac robur educite. iam vero urbes²⁹ coloniarum ac municipiorum respondebunt Catilinae tumulis silvestribus. neque ego ceteras copias, ornamenta, praesidia vestra cum illius latronis inopia atque egestate conferre debeo.

[25] sed si, omissis his rebus³⁰ quibus nos suppeditamur, eget ille, senatu, equitibus Romanis³¹, urbe, aerario, vectigalibus, cuncta Italia, provinciis omnibus, exteris nationibus, si his rebus omissis causas ipsas quae inter se confligunt contendere velimus, ex eo ipso quam valde illi iaceant intellegere possumus. ex hac enim parte pudor pugnat, illinc petulantia; hinc pudicitia, illinc stuprum; hinc fides, illinc fraudatio; hinc pietas, illinc scelus; hinc constantia, illinc furor; hinc honestas, illinc turpitudo; hinc continentia, illinc libido; hinc denique³² aequitas, temperantia, fortitudo, prudentia, virtutes omnes certant cum iniquitate, luxuria, ignavia, temeritate, cum vitiis omnibus; postremo copia³³ cum egestate, bona ratio cum perdita, mens sana cum amentia, bona denique spes cum omnium rerum desperatione confligit. in eius modi certamine ac proelio nonne, si³⁴ hominum studia deficiant, di ipsi immortales cogant ab his praeclarissimis virtutibus tot et tanta vitia superari?

[26] 12 quae cum ita sint, Quirites, vos, quem ad modum iam antea dixi³⁵, vestra tecta vigiliis custodiisque³⁶ defendite; mihi ut urbi sine vestro metu³⁷ ac sine ullo tumultu satis esset praesidi consultum atque provisum est. coloni omnes municipesque vestri certiores a me facti de hac nocturna excursione Catilinae facile urbis suas finisque defendent; gladiatores, quam sibi ille manum certissimam³⁸ fore putavit, quamquam animo meliore sunt quam pars patriciorum, potestate tamen nostra continebuntur. Q. Q uintus Metellus quem ego hoc prospiciens in agrum Gallicum Picenumque praemisi aut opprimet hominem aut eius omnis³⁹ motus conatusque prohibebit. reliquis autem de rebus constituendis, maturandis, agendis iam ad senatum referemus, quem vocari videtis.

Translations (1)

Against L. Catiline Perseus (Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, Volume 2. Yonge, Charles Duke, translator. London: Bell, 1856.) — 2.17 focus

[17]
But why are we speaking so long about one enemy; and about that enemy who now avows that he is one; and whom I now do not fear, because, as I have always wished, a wall is between us; and are saying nothing about those who dissemble, who remain at Rome , who are among us? Whom, indeed, if it were by any means possible, I should be anxious not so much to chastise as to cure, and to make friendly to the republic; nor, if they will listen to me, do I quite know why that may not be. For I will tell you, O Romans, of what classes of men those forces are made up, and then, if I can, I will apply to each the medicine of my advice and persuasion.

[18]
There is one class of them, who, with enormous debts, have still greater possessions, and who can by no means be detached from their affection to them. Of these men the appearance is most respectable, for they are wealthy, but their intention and their cause are most shameless. Will you be rich in lands, in houses, in money, in slaves, in all things, and yet hesitate to diminish your possessions to add to your credit? What are you expecting? War? What! in the devastation of all things, do you believe that your own possessions will be held sacred? do you expect an abolition of debts? They are mistaken who expect that from Catiline. There may be schedules made out, owing to my exertions, but they will be only catalogues of sale. Nor can those who have possessions be safe by any other means; and if they had been willing to adopt this plan earlier, and not, as is very foolish, to struggle on against usury with the profits of their farms, we should have them now richer and better citizens. But I think these men are the least of all to be dreaded, because they can either be persuaded to abandon their opinions, or if they cling to them, they seem to me more likely to form wishes against the republic than to bear arms against it.

[19]
There is another class of them, who, although they are harassed by debt, yet are expecting supreme power; they wish to become masters. They think that when the republic is in confusion they may gain those honours which they despair of when it is in tranquillity. And they must, I think, be told the same as every one else,—to despair of obtaining what they are aiming at; that in the first place, I myself am watchful for, am present to, am providing for the republic. Besides that, there is a high spirit in the virtuous citizens, great unanimity, great numbers, and also a great body of troops. Above all that, the immortal gods will stand by and bring aid to this invincible nation, this most illustrious empire, this most beautiful city, against such wicked violence. And if they had already got that which they with the greatest madness wish for, do they think that in the ashes of the city and blood of the citizens, which in their wicked and infamous hearts they desire, they will become consuls and dictators and even kings? Do they not see that they are wishing for that which, if they were to obtain it, must be given up to some fugitive slave, or to some gladiator?

[20]
There is a third class, already touched by age, but still vigorous from constant exercise; of which class is Manlius himself; whom Catiline is now succeeding. These are men of those colonies which Sulla established at Faesulae , which I know to be composed, on the whole, of excellent citizens and brave men; but yet these are colonists, who, from becoming possessed of unexpected and sudden wealth, boast themselves extravagantly and insolently; these men, while they build like rich men, while they delight in farms, in litters, in vast families of slaves, in luxurious banquets, have incurred such great debts, that, if they would be saved, they must raise Sulla from the dead; and they have even excited some countrymen, poor and needy men, to entertain the same hopes of plunder as themselves. And all these men, O Romans, I place in the same class of robbers and banditti. But, I warn them, let them cease to be mad, and to think of proscriptions and dictatorships; for such a horror of these times is ingrained into the city, that not even men, but it seems to me that even the very cattle would refuse to bear them again.

[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.

[22]
There is a fifth class, of parricides, assassins, in short of all infamous characters, whom I do not wish to recall from Catiline, and indeed they cannot be separated from him. Let them perish in their wicked war, since they are so numerous that a prison cannot contain them.
There is a last class, last not only in number but in the sort of men and in their way of life; the especial body-guard of Catiline, of his levying; yes, the friends of his embraces and of his bosom; whom you see with carefully combed hair, glossy, beardless, or with well-trimmed beards; with tunics with sleeves, or reaching to the ankles; clothed with veils, not with robes; all the industry of whose life, all the labour of whose watchfulness, is expended in suppers lasting till daybreak.

[23]
In these bands are all the gamblers, all the adulterers, all the unclean and shameless citizens. These boys, so witty and delicate, have learnt not only to love and to be loved, not only to sing and to dance, but also to brandish daggers and to administer poisons; and unless they are driven out, unless they die, even should Catiline die, I warn you that the school of Catiline would exist in the republic. But what do those wretches want? Are they going to take their wives with them to the camp? how can they do without them, especially in these nights? and how will they endure the Apennines , and these frosts, and this snow? unless they think that they will bear the winter more easily because they have been in the habit of dancing naked at their feasts. O war much to be dreaded, when Catiline is going to have his bodyguard of prostitutes!

[24]
Array now, O Romans, against these splendid troops of Catiline, your guards and your armies; and first of all oppose to that worn-out and wounded gladiator your consuls and generals; then against that banished and enfeebled troop of ruined men lead out the flower and strength of all Italy instantly the cities of the colonies and municipalities will match the rustic mounds of Catiline; and I will not condescend to compare the rest of your troops and equipments and guards with the want and destitution of that highwayman.

[25] But if, omitting all these things in which we are rich and of which he is destitute,—the senate, the Roman knights, the people, the city, the treasury, the revenues, all Italy , all the provinces, foreign nations,—if I say, omitting all these things, we choose to compare the causes themselves which are opposed to one another, we may understand from that alone how thoroughly prostrate they are. For on the one side are fighting modesty, on the other wantonness; on the one chastity, on the other uncleanness; on the one honesty, on the other fraud; on the one piety, on the other wickedness; on the one consistency, on the other insanity; on the one honour, on the other baseness; on the one continence, on the other lust; in short, equity, temperance, fortitude, prudence, all the virtues contend against iniquity with luxury, against indolence, against rashness, against all the vices; lastly, abundance contends against destitution, good plans against baffled designs, wisdom against madness, well-founded hope against universal despair. In a contest and war of this sort, even if the zeal of men were to fail, will not the immortal gods compel such numerous and excessive vices to be defeated by these most eminent virtues?

[26]
And as this is the case, O Romans, as I have said before, defend your house with guards and vigilance. I have taken care and made arrangements that there shall be sufficient protection for the city without distressing you and without any tumult. All the colonists and citizens of your municipal towns, being informed by me of this nocturnal sally of Catiline, will easily defend their cities and territories; the gladiators which he thought would be his most numerous and most trusty band, although they are better disposed than part of the patricians, will be held in cheek by our power. Quintus Metellus, whom I, making provision for this, sent on to the Gallic and Picenian territory, will either overwhelm the man, or will prevent all his motions and attempts; but with respect to the arrangement of all other matters, and maturing and acting on our plans, we shall consult the senate, which, as you are aware, is convened.

James Bradstreet Greenough Commentary on Second Oration against Catiline III

ed. James Bradstreet Greenough, ed. George Lyman Kittredge

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III. Pars Tertia (§§ 17-25).

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