Conspiracy of Catiline (Sallust)

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	Conspiracy of Catiline Author: Sallust	Translator: John Selby Watson
31	Quibus rebus permota civitas atque inmutata urbis facies erat . Ex summa laetitia atque lascivia , quae diuturna quies pepererat , repente omnis tristitia invasit : festinare , trepidare , neque loco neque homini cuiquam satis credere , neque bellum gerere neque pacem habere , suo quisque metu pericula metiri . Ad hoc mulieres , quibus rei publicae magnitudine belli timor insolitus incesserat , adflictare sese , manus supplices ad caelum tendere , miserari parvos liberos , rogitare omnia , omni rumore pavere , superbia atque deliciis omissis sibi patriaeque diffidere . At Catilinae crudelis animus eadem illa movebat , tametsi praesidia parabantur et ipse lege Plautia interrogatus erat ab L . Paulo . Postremo dissimulandi causa aut sui expurgandi , sicut iurgio lacessitus foret , in senatum venit . Tum M . Tullius consul , sive praesentiam eius timens sive ira conmotus , orationem habuit luculentam atque utilem rei publicae , quam postea scriptam edidit . Sed ubi ille adsedit Catilina , ut erat paratus ad dissimulanda omnia , demisso voltu , voce supplici postulare a patribus coepit , ne quid de se temere crederent : ea familia ortum , ita se ab adulescentia vitam instituisse , ut omnia bona in spe haberet ; ne existumarent sibi , patricio homini , cuius ipsius atque maiorum pluruma beneficia in plebem Romanam essent , perdita re publica opus esse , cum eam servaret M . Tullius , inquilinus civis urbis Romae . Ad hoc maledicta alia cum adderet , obstrepere omnes , hostem atque parricidam vocare . Tum ille furibundus : " Quoniam quidem circumventus ", inquit , " ab inimicis praeceps agor , incendium meum ruina restinguam ."	By such proceedings as these the citizens were struck with alarm, and the appearance of the city was changed. In place of that extreme gayety and dissipation, to which long tranquillity had given rise, a sudden gloom spread over all classes; they became anxious and agitated; they felt secure neither in any place, nor with any person; they were not at war, yet enjoyed no peace; each measured the public danger by his own fear. The women, also, to whom, from the extent of the empire, the dread of war was new, gave way to lamentation, raised supplicating hands to heaven, mourned over their infants, made constant inquiries, trembled at every thing, and, forgetting their pride and their pleasures, felt nothing but alarm for themselves and their country. Yet the unrelenting spirit of Catiline persisted in the same purposes, notwithstanding the precautions that were adopted against him, and though he himself was accused by Lucius Paullus under the Plautian law. At last, with a view to dissemble, and under pretense of clearing his character, as if he had been provoked by some attack, he went into the senatehouse. It was then that Marcus Tullius, the consul, whether alarmed at his presence, or fired with indignation against him, delivered that splendid speech, so beneficial to the republic, which he afterward wrote and published. When Cicero sat down, Catiline, being prepared to pretend ignorance of the whole matter, entreated, with downcast looks and suppliant voice, that "the Conscript Fathers would not too hastily believe any thing against him;" saying "that he was sprung from such a family, and had so ordered his life from his youth, as to have every happiness in prospect; and that they were not to suppose that he, a patrician, whose services to the Roman people, as well as those of his ancestors, had been so numerous, should want to ruin the state, when Marcus Tullius, a mere adopted citizen of Rome, was eager to preserve it." When he was proceeding to add other invectives, they all raised an outcry against him, and called him an enemy and a traitor. Being thus exasperated, " Since I am encompassed by enemies," he exclaimed, "and driven to desperation, I will extinguish the flame kindled around me in a general ruin."
32	Deinde se ex curia domum proripuit . Ibi multa ipse secum volvens , quod neque insidiae consuli procedebant et ab incendio intellegebat urbem vigiliis munitam , optumum factu credens exercitum augere ac , priusquam legiones scriberentur , multa antecapere , quae bello usui forent , nocte intempesta cum paucis in Manliana castra profectus est . Sed Cethego atque Lentulo ceterisque , quorum cognoverat promptam audaciam , mandat , quibus rebus possent , opes factionis confirment , insidias consuli maturent , caedem , incendia aliaque belli facinora parent : sese propediem cum magno exercitu ad urbem accessurum . Dum haec Romae geruntur , C . Manlius ex suo numero legatos ad Marcium Regem mittit cum mandatis huiusce modi :	He then hurried from the senate to his own house; and then, after much reflection with himself, thinking that, as his plots against the consul had been unsuccessful, and as he knew the city to be secured from fire by the watch, his best course would be to augment his army, and make provision for the war before the legions could be raised, he set out in the dead of night, and with a few attendants, to the camp of Manlius. But he left in charge to Lentulus and Cethegus, and others of whose prompt determination he was assured, to strengthen the interests of their party in every possible way, to forward the plots against the consul, and to make arrangements for a massacre, for firing the city, and for other destructive operations of war; promising that he himself would shortly advance on the city with a large army. During the course of these proceedings at Rome, Caius Manlius dispatched some of his followers as deputies to Quintus Marcius Rex, with directions to address him to the following effect:
33	" Deos hominesque testamur , imperator , nos arma neque contra patriam cepisse neque quo periculum aliis faceremus , sed uti corpora nostra ab iniuria tuta forent , qui miseri , egentes violentia atque crudelitate faeneratorum plerique patria , sed omnes fama atque fortunis expertes sumus . Neque cuiquam nostrum licuit more maiorum lege uti neque amisso patrimonio liberum corpus habere : tanta saevitia faeneratorum atque praetoris fuit . Saepe maiores vostrum , miseriti plebis Romanae , decretis suis inopiae eius opitulati sunt ac novissume memoria nostra propter magnitudinem aeris alieni volentibus omnibus bonis argentum aere solutum est . Saepe ipsa plebs aut dominandi studio permota aut superbia magistratuum armata a patribus secessit . At nos non imperium neque divitias petimus , quarum rerum causa bella atque certamina omnia inter mortalis sunt , sed libertatem , quam nemo bonus nisi cum anima simul amittit . Te atque senatum obtestamur : consulatis miseris civibus , legis praesidium , quod iniquitas praetoris eripuit , restituatis neve nobis eam necessitudinem inponatis , ut quaeramus , quonam modo maxume ulti sanguinem nostrum pereamus !"	"We call gods and men to witness, general, that we have taken up arms neither to injure our country, nor to occasion peril to any one, but to defend our own persons from harm; who, wretched and in want, have been deprived, most of us, of our homes, and all of us of our character and property, by the oppression and cruelty of usurers; nor has any one of us been allowed, according to the usage of our ancestors, to have the benefit of the law, or, when our property was lost to keep our persons free. Such has been the inhumanity of the usurers and of the prætor. "Often have your forefathers, taking compassion on the commonalty at Rome, relieved their distress by decrees ; and very lately, within our, own memory, silver, by reason of the pressure of debt, and with the consent of all respectable citizens, was paid with brass. "Often too, we must own, have the commonalty themselves, driven by desire of power, or by the arrogance of their rulers, seceded under arms from the patricians. But at power or wealth, for the sake of which wars, and all kinds of strife, arise among mankind, we do not aim; we desire only our liberty, which no honorable man relinquishes but with life. We therefore conjure you and the senate to befriend your unhappy fellow-citizens; to restore us the protection of the law, which the injustice of the prætor has taken from us; and not to lay on us the necessity of considering how we may perish, so as best to avenge our blood."
34	Ad haec Q . Marcius respondit : Si quid ab senatu petere vellent , ab armis discedant , Romam supplices proficiscantur ; ea mansuetudine atque misericordia senatum populi Romani semper fuisse , ut nemo umquam ab eo frustra auxilium petiverit . At Catilina ex itinere plerisque consularibus , praeterea optumo cuique litteras mittit : Se falsis criminibus circumventum , quoniam factioni inimicorum resistere nequiverit , fortunae cedere , Massiliam in exsilium proficisci , non quo sibi tanti sceleris conscius esset , sed uti res publica quieta foret neve ex sua contentione seditio oreretur . Ab his longe divorsas litteras Q . Catulus in senatu recitavit , quas sibi nomine Catilinae redditas dicebat . Earum exemplum infra scriptum est :	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 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:
35	" L . Catilina Q . Catulo . Egregia tua fides re cognita , grata mihi magnis in meis periculis , fiduciam commendationi meae tribuit . Quam ob rem defensionem in novo consilio non statui parare ; satisfactionem ex nulla conscientia de culpa proponere decrevi , quam , medius fidius , veram licet cognoscas . Iniuriis contumeliisque concitatus , quod fructu laboris industriaeque meae privatus statum dignitatis non obtinebam , publicam miserorum causam pro mea consuetudine suscepi , non quin aes alienum meis nominibus ex possessionibus solvere non possem et alienis nominibus liberalitas Orestillae suis filiaeque copiis persolveret -, sed quod non dignos homines honore honestatos videbam meque falsa suspicione alienatum esse sentiebam . Hoc nomine satis honestas pro meo casu spes reliquae dignitatis conservandae sum secutus . Plura cum scribere vellem , nuntiatum est vim mihi parari . Nunc Orestillam commendo tuaeque fidei trado ; eam ab iniuria defendas per liberos tuos rogatus ! Haveto !"	XXXV. "Lucius Catiline to Quintus Catulus, wishing health. Your eminent integrity, known to me by experience, gives a pleasing confidence, in the midst of great perils, to my present recommendation. I have determined, therefore, to make no formal defense with regard to my new course of conduct; yet I was resolved, though conscious of no guilt, to offer you some explanation, which, on my word of honor, you may receive as true. Provoked by injuries and indignities, since, being robbed of the fruit of my labor and exertion, I did not obtain the post of honor due to me, 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 ; 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 on groundless suspicion, I have for this very reason, adopted a course, 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 ; intreating you, by your love for your own children, to defend her from injury. Farewell."
36	Sed ipse paucos dies conmoratus apud C . Flaminium in agro Arretino , dum vicinitatem antea sollicitatam armis exornat , cum fascibus atque aliis imperi insignibus in castra ad Manlium contendit . Haec ubi Romae comperta sunt , senatus Catilinam et Manlium hostis iudicat , ceterae multitudini diem statuit , ante quam sine fraude liceret ab armis discedere praeter rerum capitalium condemnatis . Praeterea decernit , uti consules dilectum habeant , Antonius cum exercitu Catilinam persequi maturet , Cicero urbi praesidio sit . Ea tempestate mihi imperium populi Romani multo maxume miserabile visum est . Cui cum ad occasum ab ortu solis omnia domita armis parerent , domi otium atque divitiae , quae prima mortales putant , adfluerent , fuere tamen cives , qui seque remque publicam obstinatis animis perditum irent . Namque duobus senati decretis ex tanta multitudine neque praemio inductus coniurationem patefecerat neque ex castris Catilinae quisquam omnium discesserat : tanta vis morbi ac veluti tabes plerosque civium animos invaserat .	Catiline himself, having stayed a few days with Caius Flaminius Flamma in the neighborhood of Arretium, while he was supplying the adjacent parts, already excited to insurrection, with arms, marched with his fasces, and -other ensigns of authority, to join Manlius in his camp. When this was known at Rome, the senate declared Catiline and Manlius enemies to the state, and fixed a day as to the rest of their force, before which they might lay down their arms with impunity, except such as had been convicted of capital offenses. They also decreed that the consuls should hold a levy; that Antonius, with an army, should hasten in pursuit of Catiline; and that Cicero should protect the city. At this period the empire of Rome appears to me to have been in an extremely deplorable condition ; for though every nation, from the rising to the setting of the sun, lay in subjection to her arms, and though peace and prosperity, which mankind think the greatest blessings, were hers in abundance, there yet were found, among her citizens, men who were bent with obstinate determination, to plunge themselves and their country into ruin; for, notwithstanding the two decrees of the senate, not one individual, out of so vast a number, was induced by the offer of reward to give information of the conspiracy; nor was there a single deserter from the camp of Catiline. So strong a spirit of disaffection had, like a pestilence, pervaded the minds of most of the citizens.
37	Neque solum illis aliena mens erat , qui conscii coniurationis fuerant , sed omnino cuncta plebes novarum rerum studio Catilinae incepta probabat . Id adeo more suo videbatur facere . Nam semper in civitate , quibus opes nullae sunt , bonis invident , malos extollunt , vetera odere , nova exoptant , odio suarum rerum mutari omnia student , turba atque seditionibus sine cura aluntur , quoniam egestas facile habetur sine damno . Sed urbana plebes , ea vero praeceps erat de multis causis . Primum omnium , qui ubique probro atque petulantia maxume praestabant , item alii per dedecora patrimoniis amissis , postremo omnes , quos flagitium aut facinus domo expulerat , ii Romam sicut in sentinam confluxerant . Deinde multi memores Sullanae victoriae , quod ex gregariis militibus alios senatores videbant , alios ita divites , ut regio victu atque cultu aetatem agerent , sibi quisque , si in armis foret , ex victoria talia sperabat . Praeterea iuventus , quae in agris manuum mercede inopiam toleraverat , privatis atque publicis largitionibus excita urbanum otium ingrato labori praetulerat . Eos atque alios omnis malum publicum alebat . Quo minus mirandum est homines egentis , malis moribus , maxuma spe , rei publicae iuxta ac sibi consuluisse . Praeterea , quorum victoria Sullae parentes proscripti , bona erepta , ius libertatis imminutum erat , haud sane alio animo belli eventum exspectabant . Ad hoc , quicumque aliarum atque senatus partium erant , conturbari rem publicam quam minus valere ipsi malebant . Id adeo malum multos post annos in civitatem revorterat .	Nor was this disaffected spirit confined to those who were actually concerned in the conspiracy; for the whole of the common people, from a desire of change, favored the projects of Catiline. This they seemed to do in accordance with their general character; for, in every state, they that are poor envy those of a better class, and endeavor to exalt the factious ; they dislike the established condition of things, and long for something new; they are discontented with their own circumstances, and desire a general alteration; they can support themselves amid tumult and sedition, without anxiety, since poverty does not easily suffer loss. As for the populace of the city, they had become disaffected from various causes. In the first place, such as every where took the lead in crime and profligacy, with others who had squandered their fortunes in dissipation, and, in a word, all whom vice and villainy had driven from their homes, had flocked to Rome as a general receptacle of impurity. In the next place, many, who thought of the success of Sylla, when they had seen some raised from common soldiers into senators, and others so enriched as to live in regal luxury and pomp, hoped, each for himself, similar results from victory, if they should once take up arms. In addition to this, the youth, who, in the country, had earned a scanty livelihood by manual labor, tempted by public and private largesses, had preferred idleness in the city to unwelcome toil in the field. To these, and all others of similar character, public disorders would furnish subsistence. It is not at all surprising, therefore, that men in distress, of dissolute principles and extravagant expectations, should have consulted the interest of the state no further than as it was subservient to their own. Besides, those whose parents, by the victory of Sylla, had been proscribed, whose property had been confiscated, and whose civil rights had been curtailed, looked forward to the event of a war with precisely the same feelings. All those, too, who were of any party opposed to that of the senate, were desirous rather that the state should be embroiled, than that they themselves should be out of power. This was an evil, which, after many years, had returned upon the community to the extent to which it now prevailed.
38	Nam postquam Cn . Pompeio et M . Crasso consulibus tribunicia potestas restituta est , homines adulescentes summam potestatem nacti , quibus aetas animusque ferox erat , coepere senatum criminando plebem exagitare , dein largiundo atque pollicitando magis incendere , ita ipsi clari potentesque fieri . Contra eos summa ope nitebatur pleraque nobilitas senatus specie pro sua magnitudine . Namque , uti paucis verum absolvam , post illa tempora quicumque rem publicam agitavere , honestis nominibus , alii , sicuti populi iura defenderent , pars , quo senatus auctoritas maxuma foret , bonum publicum simulantes pro sua quisque potentia certabant . Neque illis modestia neque modus , contentionis erat : utrique victoriam crudeliter exercebant .	For after the powers of the tribunes, in the consulate of Cneius Pompey and Marcus Crassus, had been fully restored, certain young men, of an ardent age and temper, having obtained that high office, began to stir up the populace by inveighing against the senate, and proceeded, in course of time, by means of largesses and promises, to inflame them more and more; by which methods they became popular and powerful. On the other hand, the most of the nobility opposed their proceedings to the utmost; under pretense, indeed, of supporting the senate, but in reality for their own aggrandizement. For, to state the truth in few words, whatever parties, during that period, disturbed the republic under plausible pretexts, some, as if to defend the rights of the people, others, to make the authority of the senate as great as possible, all, though affecting concern for the public good, contended every one for his own interest. In such contests there was neither moderation nor limit; each party made a merciless use of its successes.
39	Sed postquam Cn . Pompeius ad bellum maritumum atque Mithridaticum missus est , plebis opes inminutae , paucorum potentia crevit . Ii magistratus , provincias aliaque omnia tenere ; ipsi innoxii , florentes , sine metu aetatem agere ceterosque iudiciis terrere , quo plebem in magistratu placidius tractarent . Sed ubi primum dubiis rebus novandi spes oblata est , vetus certamen animos eorum adrexit . Quod si primo proelio Catilina superior aut aequa manu discessisset , profecto magna clades atque calamitas rem publicam oppressisset ; neque illis , qui victoriam adepti forent , diutius ea uti licuisset , quin defessis et exsanguibus , qui plus posset , imperium atque libertatem extorqueret . Fuere tamen extra coniurationem complures , qui ad Catilinam initio profecti sunt . In iis erat Fulvius , senatoris filius , quem retractum ex itinere parens necari iussit . Isdem temporibus Romae Lentulus , sicuti Catilina praeceperat , quoscumque moribus aut fortuna novis rebus idoneos credebat , aut per se aut per alios sollicitabat , neque solum civis , sed cuiusque modi genus hominum , quod modo bello usui foret .	After Pompey, however, was sent to the maritime and Mithridatic wars, the power of the people was diminished, and the influence of the few increased. These few kept all public offices, the administration of the provinces, and every thing else, in their own hands; they themselves lived free from harm, in flourishing circumstances, and without apprehension; overawing others, at the same time, with threats of impeachment, so that, when in office, they might be less inclined to inflame the people. But as soon as a prospect of change, in this dubious state of affairs, had presented itself, the old spirit of contention awakened their passions; and had Catiline, in his first battle, come off victorious, or left the struggle undecided, great distress and calamity must certainly have fallen upon the state, nor would those, who might at last have gained the ascendency, have been allowed to enjoy it long, for some superior power would have wrested dominion and liberty from them when weary and exhausted. There were some, however, unconnected with the conspiracy, who set out to join Catiline at an early period of his proceedings. Among these was Aulus Fulvius, the son of a senator, whom, being arrested on his journey, his father ordered to be put to death. In Rome, at the same time, Lentulus, in pursuance of Catiline's directions, was endeavoring to gain over, by his own agency or that of others, all whom he thought adapted, either by principles or circumstances, to promote an insurrection; and not citizens only, but every description of men who could be of any service in war.
40	Igitur P . Umbreno cuidam negotium dat , uti legatos Allobrogum requirat eosque , si possit , inpellat ad societatem belli , existumans publice privatimque aere alieno oppressos , praeterea quod natura gens Gallica bellicosa esset , facile eos ad tale consilium adduci posse . Umbrenus , quod in Gallia negotiatus erat , plerisque principibus civitatum notus erat atque eos noverat . Itaque sine mora , ubi primum legatos in foro conspexit , percontatus pauca de statu civitatis et quasi dolens eius casum requirere coepit , quem exitum tantis malis sperarent . Postquam illos videt queri de avaritia magistratuum , accusare senatum , quod in eo auxili nihil esset , miseriis suis remedium mortem exspectare : " At ego ", inquit , " vobis , si modo viri esse voltis , rationem ostendam , qua tanta ista mala effugiatis ." Haec ubi dixit , Allobroges in maxumam spem adducti Umbrenum orare , ut sui misereretur : nihil tam asperum neque tam difficile esse , quod non cupidissume facturi essent , dum ea res civitatem aere alieno liberaret . Ille eos in domum D . Bruti perducit , quod foro propinqua erat neque aliena consili propter Semproniam ; nam tum Brutus ab Roma aberat . Praeterea Gabinium arcessit , quo maior auctoritas sermoni inesset . Eo praesente coniurationem aperit , nominat socios , praeterea multos cuiusque generis innoxios , quo legatis animus amplior esset . Deinde eos pollicitos operam suam domum dimittit .	He accordingly commissioned one Publius Umbrenus to apply to certain deputies of the Allobroges, and to lead them, if he could, to a participation in the war; supposing that as they were nationally and individually involved in debt, and as the Gauls were naturally warlike, they might easily be drawn into such an enterprise. Umbrenus, as he had traded in Gaul, was known to most of the chief men there, and personally acquainted with them; and consequently, without loss of time, as soon as he noticed the deputies in the Forum, he asked them, after making a few inquiries about the state of their country, and affecting to commiserate its fallen condition, " what termination they expected to such calamities?" When he found that they complained of the rapacity of the magistrates, inveighed against the senate for not affording them relief, and looked to death as the only remedy for their sufferings, "Yet I," said he, "if you will but act as men, will show you a method by which you may escape these pressing difficulties." When he had said this, the Allobroges, animated with the highest hopes, besought Umbrenus to take compassion on them; saying that there was nothing so disagreeable or difficult, which they would not most gladly perform, if it would but free their country from debt. He then conducted them to the house of Decimus Brutus, which was close to the Forum, and, on account of Sempronia, not unsuitable to his purpose, as Brutus was then absent from Rome. In order, too, to give greater weight to his representations, he sent for Gabinius, and, in his presence, explained the objects of the conspiracy, and mentioned the names of the confederates, as well as those of many other persons, of every sort, who were guiltless of it, for the purpose of inspiring the embassadors with greater confidence. At length, when they had promised their assistance, he let them depart.