Conspiracy of Catiline (Sallust)

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	Conspiracy of Catiline Author: Sallust	Translator: John Selby Watson
41	Sed Allobroges diu in incerto habuere , quidnam consili caperent . In altera parte erat aes alienum , studium belli , magna merces in spe victoriae , at in altera maiores opes , tuta consilia , pro incerta spe certa praemia . Haec illis volventibus tandem vicit fortuna rei publicae . Itaque Q . Fabio Sangae , cuius patrocinio civitas plurumum utebatur , rem omnem , uti cognoverant , aperiunt . Cicero per Sangam consilio cognito legatis praecipit , ut studium coniurationis vehementer simulent , ceteros adeant , bene polliceantur dentque operam , uti eos quam maxume manufestos habeant .	Yet the Allobroges were long in suspense what course they should adopt. On the one hand, there was debt, an inclination for war, and great advantages to be expected from victory ; on the other, superior resources, safe plans, and certain rewards instead of uncertain expectations. As they were balancing these considerations, the good fortune of the state at length prevailed. They accordingly disclosed the whole affair, just as they had learned it, to Quintus Fabius Sanga, to whose patronage their state was very greatly indebted. Cicero, being apprized of the matter by Sanga, directed the deputies to pretend a strong desire for the success of the plot, to seek interviews with the rest of the conspirators, to make them fair promises, and to endeavor to lay them open to conviction as much as possible.
42	Isdem fere temporibus in Gallia citeriore atque ulteriore , item in agro Piceno , Bruttio , Apulia motus erat . Namque illi , quos ante Catilina dimiserat , inconsulte ac veluti per dementiam cuncta simul agebant . Nocturnis consiliis armorum atque telorum portationibus , festinando , agitando omnia plus timoris quam periculi effecerant . Ex eo numero compluris Q . Metellus Celer praetor ex senatus consulto causa cognita in vincula coniecerat , item in citeriore Gallia C . Murena , qui ei provinciae legatus praeerat .	Much about the same time there were commotions in Hither and Further Gaul, in the Picenian and Bruttian territories, and in Apulia. For those, whom Catiline had previously sent to those parts, had begun, without consideration, and seemingly with madness, to attempt every thing at once; and, by nocturnal meetings, by removing armor and weapons from place to place, and by hurrying and confusing every thing, had created more alarm than danger. Of these, Quintus Metellus Celer, the prætor, having brought several to trial, under the decree of the senate, had thrown them into prison, as had also Caius Muræna in Further Gaul, who governed that province in quality of legate.
43	At Romae Lentulus cum ceteris , qui principes coniurationis erant , paratis , ut videbatur , magis copiis constituerant , uti , cum Catilina in agrum Faesulanum cum exercitu venisset , L . Bestia tribunus plebis contione habita quereretur de actionibus Ciceronis bellique gravissumi invidiam optumo consuli inponeret ; eo signo proxuma nocte cetera multitudo coniurationis suum quisque negotium exsequeretur . Sed ea divisa hoc modo dicebantur : Statilius et Gabinius uti cum magna manu duodecim simul opportuna loca urbis incenderent , quo tumultus facilior aditus ad consulem ceterosque , quibus insidiae parabantur , fieret ; Cethegus Ciceronis ianuam obsideret eumque vi aggrederetur , alius autem alium , sed filii familiarum , quorum ex nobilitate maxuma pars erat , parentis interficerent ; simul caede et incendio perculsis omnibus ad Catilinam erumperent . Inter haec parata atque decreta Cethegus semper querebatur de ignavia sociorum : illos dubitando et dies prolatando magnas opportunitates corrumpere ; facto , non consulto in tali periculo opus esse seque , si pauci adiuvarent , languentibus aliis impetum in curiam facturum . Natura ferox , vehemens , manu promptus erat , maxumum bonum in celeritate putabat .	But at Rome, in the mean time, Lentulus, with the other leaders of the conspiracy, having secured what they thought a large force, had arranged, that as soon as Catiline should reach the neighborhood of Fæsulæ, Lucius Bestia, a tribune of the people, having called an assembly, should complain of the proceedings of Cicero, and lay the odium of this most oppressive war on the excellent consul ; and that the rest of the conspirators, taking this as a signal, should, on the following night, proceed to execute their respective parts. These parts are said to have been thus distributed. Statilius and Gabinius, with a large force, were to set on fire twelve. places of the city, convenient for their purpose, at the same time; in order that, during the consequent tumult, an easier access might be obtained to the consul, and to the others whose destruction was intended; Cethegus was to beset the gate of Cicero, and attack him personally with violence; others were to single out other victims; while the sons of certain families, mostly of the nobility, were to kill their fathers; and, when all were in consternation at the massacre and conflagration, they were to sally forth to join Catiline. While they were thus forming and settling their plans, Cethegus was incessantly complaining of the want of spirit in his associates; observing, that they wasted excellent opportunities through hesitation and delay; that, in such an enterprise, there was need, not of deliberation, but of action; and that he himself, if a few would support him, would storm the senatehouse while the others remained inactive. Being naturally bold, sanguine, and prompt to act, he thought that success depended on rapidity of execution.
44	Sed Allobroges ex praecepto Ciceronis per Gabinium ceteros conveniunt . Ab Lentulo , Cethego , Statilio , item Cassio postulant ius iurandum , quod signatum ad civis perferant ; aliter haud facile eos ad tantum negotium inpelli posse . Ceteri nihil suspicantes dant , Cassius semet eo brevi venturum pollicetur ac paulo ante legatos ex urbe proficiscitur . Lentulus cum iis T . Volturcium quendam Crotoniensem mittit , ut Allobroges , priusquam domum pergerent , cum Catilina data atque accepta fide societatem confirmarent . Ipse Volturcio litteras ad Catilinam dat , quarum exemplum infra scriptum est : " Qui sim , ex eo , quem ad te misi , cognosces . Fac cogites , in quanta calamitate sis , et memineris te virum esse ! Consideres , quid tuae rationes postulent ! Auxilium petas ab omnibus , etiam ab infumis !" Ad hoc mandata verbis dat : Cum ab senatu hostis iudicatus sit , quo consilio servitia repudiet ? In urbe parata esse , quae iusserit ; ne cunctetur ipse propius accedere .	The Allobroges, according to the directions of Cicero, procured interviews, by means of Gabinius, with the other conspirators; and from Lentulus, Cethegus, Statilius, and Cassius, they demanded an oath, which they might carry under seal to their countrymen, who otherwise would hardly join in so important an affair. To this the others consented without suspicion; but Cassius promised them soon to visit their country, and, indeed, left the city a little before the deputies. In order that the Allobroges, before they reached home, might confirm their agreement with Catiline, by giving and receiving pledges of faith, Lentulus sent with them one Titus Volturcius, a native of Crotona, he himself giving Volturcius a letter for Catiline, of which the following is a copy: "Who I am, you will learn from the person whom I have sent to you. Reflect seriously in how desperate a situation you are placed, and remember that you are a man. Consider what your views demand, and seek aid from all, even the lowest." In addition, he gave him this verbal message: "Since he was declared an enemy by the senate, for what reason should he reject the assistance of slaves ? That, in the city, every thing which he had directed was arranged; and that he should not delay to make nearer approaches to it."
45	His rebus ita actis constituta nocte , qua proficiscerentur , Cicero per legatos cuncta edoctus L . Valerio Flacco et C . Pomptino praetoribus imperat , ut in ponte Mulvio per insidias Allobrogum comitatus deprehendant . Rem omnem aperit , cuius gratia mittebantur ; cetera , uti facto opus sit , ita agant , permittit . Illi , homines militares , sine tumultu praesidiis conlocatis , sicuti praeceptum erat , occulte pontem obsidunt . Postquam ad id loci legati cum Volturcio venerunt et simul utrimque clamor exortus est , Galli cito cognito consilio sine mora praetoribus se tradunt ; Volturcius primo cohortatus ceteros gladio se a multitudine defendit , deinde , ubi a legatis desertus est , multa prius de salute sua Pomptinum obtestatus , quod ei notus erat , postremo timidus ac vitae diffidens velut hostibus sese praetoribus dedit .	Matters having proceeded thus far, and a night being appointed for the departure of the deputies, Cicero, being by them made acquainted with every thing, directed the prætors, Lucius Valerius Flaccus, and Caius Pomtinus, to arrest the retinue of the Allobroges, by laying in wait for them on the Milvian Bridge ; he gave them a full explanation of the object with which they were sent, and left them to manage the rest as occasion might require. Being military men, they placed a force, as had been directed, without disturbance, and secretly invested the bridge; when the deputies, with Volturcius, came to the place, and a shout was raised from each side of the bridge, the Gauls, at once comprehending the matter, surrendered themselves immediately to the prætors. Volturcius, at first, encouraging his companions, defended himself against numbers with his sword; but afterward, being unsupported by the Allobroges, he began earnestly to beg Pomtinus, to whom he was known, to save his life, and at last, terrified and despairing of safety, he surrendered himself to the prætors as unconditionally as to foreign enemies.
46	Quibus rebus confectis omnia propere per nuntios consuli declarantur . At illum ingens cura atque laetitia simul occupavere . Nam laetabatur intelligens coniuratione patefacta civitatem periculis ereptam esse : porro autem anxius erat dubitans , in maxumo scelere tantis civibus deprehensis quid facto opus esset : poenam illorum sibi oneri inpunitatem perdundae rei publicae fore credebat . Igitur confirmato animo vocari ad sese iubet Lentulum , Cethegum , Statilium , Gabinium itemque Caeparium Terracinensem , qui in Apuliam ad concitanda servitia proficisci parabat . Ceteri sine mora veniunt ; Caeparius , paulo ante domo egressus , cognito indicio ex urbe profugerat . Consul Lentulum , quod praetor erat , ipse manu tenens in senatum perducit , reliquos cum custodibus in aedem Concordiae venire iubet . Eo senatum advocat magnaque frequentia eius ordinis Volturcium cum legatis introducit ; Flaccum praetorem scrinium cum litteris , quas a legatis acceperat , eodem adferre iubet .	The affair being thus concluded, a full account of it was immediately transmitted to the consul by messengers. Great anxiety, and great joy, affected him at the same moment. He rejoiced that, by the discovery of the conspiracy, the state was freed from danger; but he was doubtful how he ought to act, when citizens of such eminence were detected in treason so atrocious. He saw that their punishment would be a weight upon himself, and their escape the destruction of the Commonwealth. Having, however, formed his resolution, he ordered Lentulus, Cethegus, Statilius, Gabinius, and one Quintus Cæparius of Terracina, who was preparing to go to Apulia to raise the slaves, to be summoned before him. The others came without delay; but Cæparius, having left his house a little before, and heard of the discovery of the conspiracy, had fled from the city. The consul himself conducted Lentulus, as he was prætor, holding him by the hand, and ordered the others to be brought into the Temple of Concord, under a guard. Here he assembled the senate, and in a very full attendance of that body, introduced Volturcius with the deputies. Hither also he ordered Valerius Flaccus, the prætor, to bring the box with the letters which he had taken from the deputies.
47	Volturcius interrogatus de itinere , de litteris , postremo quid aut qua de causa consili habuisset , primo fingere alia , dissimulare de coniuratione ; post , ubi fide publica dicere iussus est , omnia , uti gesta erant , aperit docetque se paucis ante diebus a Gabinio et Caepario socium adscitum nihil amplius scire quam legatos ; tantummodo audire solitum ex Gabinio P . Autronium , Ser . Sullam , L . Vargunteium , multos praeterea in ea coniuratione esse . Eadem Galli fatentur ac Lentulum dissimulantem coarguunt praeter litteras sermonibus , quos ille habere solitus erat : Ex libris Sibyllinis regnum Romae tribus Corneliis portendi ; Cinnam atque Sullam antea , se tertium esse , cui fatum foret urbis potiri ; praeterea ab incenso Capitolio illum esse vigesumum annum , quem saepe ex prodigiis haruspices respondissent bello civili cruentum fore . Igitur perlectis litteris , cum prius omnes signa sua cognovissent , senatus decernit , uti abdicato magistratu Lentulus itemque ceteri in liberis custodiis habeantur . Itaque Lentulus P . Lentulo Spintheri , qui tum aedilis erat , Cethegus Q . Cornificio , Statilius C . Caesari , Gabinius M . Crasso , Caeparius ( nam is paulo ante ex fuga retractus ) erat Cn . Terentio senatori traduntur .	Volturcius, being questioned concerning his journey, concerning his letter, and lastly, what object he had had in view, and from what motives he had acted, at first began to prevaricate, and to pretend ignorance of the conspiracy; but at length, when he was told to speak on the security of the public faith, he disclosed every circumstance as it had really occurred, stating that he had been admitted as an associate, a few days before, by Gabinius and Cæparius; that he knew no more than the deputies, only that he used to hear from Gabinius, that Publius Autronius, Servius Sylla, Lucius Vargunteius, and many others, were engaged in the conspiracy. The Gauls made a similar confession, and charged Lentulus, who began to affect ignorance, not only with the letter to Catiline, but with remarks which he was in the habit of making, "that the sovereignity of Rome, by the Sibylline books, was predestined to three Cornelii; that Cinna and Sylla had ruled already ; and that he himself was the third, whose fate it would be to govern the city; and that this, too, was the twentieth year since the Capitol was burned; a year which the augurs, from certain omens, had often said would be stained with the blood of civil war." The letter then being read, the senate, when all had previously acknowledged their seals, decreed that Lentulus, being deprived of his office, should, as well as the rest, be placed in private custody. Lentulus, accordingly, was given in charge to Publius Lentulus Spinther, who was then ædile; Cethegus, to Quintus Cornificius; Statilius, to Caius Cæsar; Gabinius, to Marcus Crassus; and Cæparius, who had just before been arrested in his flight, to Cneius Terentius, a senator.
48	Interea plebs coniuratione patefacta , quae primo cupida rerum novarum nimis bello favebat , mutata mente Catilinae consilia exsecrari , Ciceronem ad caelum tollere , veluti ex servitute erepta gaudium atque laetitiam agitabat . Namque alia belli facinora praeda magis quam detrimento fore , incendium vero crudele , inmoderatum ac sibi maxume calamitosum putabat , quippe cui omnes copiae in usu cotidiano et cultu corporis erant . Post eum diem quidam L . Tarquinius ad senatum adductus erat , quem ad Catilinam proficiscentem ex itinere retractum aiebant . Is cum se diceret indicaturum de coniuratione , si fides publica data esset , iussus a consule , quae sciret , edicere , eadem fere , quae Volturcius , de paratis incendiis , de caede bonorum , de itinere hostium senatum docet ; praeterea se missum a M . Crasso , qui Catilinae nuntiaret , ne eum Lentulus et Cethegus aliique ex coniuratione deprehensi terrerent eoque magis properaret ad urbem accedere , quo et ceterorum animos reficeret et illi facilius e periculo eriperentur . Sed ubi Tarquinius Crassum nominavit , hominem nobilem , maxumis divitiis , summa potentia , alii rem incredibilem rati , pars , tametsi verum existumabant , tamen , quia in tali tempore tanta vis hominis magis leniunda quam exagitanda videbatur , plerique Crasso ex negotiis privatis obnoxii , conclamant indicem falsum esse deque ea re postulant uti referatur . Itaque consulente Cicerone frequens senatus decernit Tarquini indicium falsum videri eumque in vinculis retinendum neque amplius potestatem faciundam , nisi de eo indicaret , cuius consilio tantam rem esset mentitus . Erant eo tempore , qui existumarent indicium illud a P . Autronio machinatum , quo facilius appellato Crasso per societatem periculi reliquos illius potentia tegeret . Alii Tarquinium a Cicerone inmissum aiebant , ne Crassus more suo suspecto malorum patrocinio rem publicam conturbaret . Ipsum Crassum ego postea praedicantem audivi tantam illam contumeliam sibi ab Cicerone inpositam .	The common people, meanwhile, who had at first, from a desire of change in the government, been too much inclined to war, having, on the discovery of the plot, altered their sentiments, began to execrate the projects of Catiline, to extol Cicero to the skies; and, as if rescued from slavery, to give proofs of joy and exultation. Other effects of war they expected as a gain rather than a loss; but the burning of the city they thought inhuman, outrageous, and fatal, especially to themselves, whose whole property consisted in their daily necessaries and the clothes which they wore. On the following day, a certain Lucius Tarquinius was brought before the senate, who was said to have been arrested as he was setting out to join Catiline. This person, having offered to give information of the conspiracy, if the public faith were pledged to him, and being directed by the consul to state what he knew, gave the senate nearly the same account as Volturcius had given, concerning the intended conflagration, the massacre of respectable citizens, and the approach of the enemy, adding that " he was sent by Marcus Crassus to assure Catiline that the apprehension of Lentulus, Cethegus, and others of the conspirators, ought not to alarm him, but that he should hasten, with so much the more expedition to the city, in order to revive the courage of the rest, and to facilitate the escape of those in custody." When Tarquinius named Crassus, a man of noble birth, of very great wealth, and of vast influence, some, thinking the statement incredible, others, though they supposed it true, yet, judging that at such a crisis a man of such power was rather to be soothed than irritated (most of them, too, from personal reasons, being under obligation to Crassus), exclaimed that he was " a false witness," and demanded that the matter should be put to the vote. Cicero, accordingly, taking their opinions, a full senate decreed " that the testimony of Tarquinius appeared false; that he himself should be kept in prison; and that no further liberty of speaking should be granted him, unless he should name the person at whose instigation he had fabricated so shameful a calumny." There were some, at that time, who thought that this affair was contrived by Publius Autronius, in order that the interest of Crassus, if he were accused, might, from participation in the danger, more readily screen the rest. Others said that Tarquinius was suborned by Cicero, that Crassus might not disturb the state, by taking upon him, as was his custom, the defense of the criminals. That this attack on his character was made by Cicero, I afterward heard Crassus himself assert.
49	Sed isdem temporibus Q . Catulus et C . Piso neque gratia neque pretio Ciceronem inpellere potuere , uti per Allobroges aut alium indicem C . Caesar falso nominaretur . Nam uterque cum illo gravis inimicitias exercebat : Piso oppugnatus in iudicio pecuniarum repetundarum propter cuiusdam Transpadani supplicium iniustum , Catulus ex petitione pontificatus odio incensus , quod extrema aetate , maxumis honoribus usus , ab adulescentulo Caesare victus discesserat . Res autem opportuna videbatur , quod is privatim egregia liberalitate , publice maxumis muneribus grandem pecuniam debebat . Sed ubi consulem ad tantum facinus inpellere nequeunt , ipsi singillatim circumeundo atque ementiundo , quae se ex Volturcio aut Allobrogibus audisse dicerent , magnam illi invidiam conflaverant usque eo , ut nonnulli equites Romani , qui praesidi causa cum telis erant circum aedem Concordiae , seu periculi magnitudine seu animi mobilitate inpulsi , quo studium suum in rem publicam clarius esset , egredienti ex senatu Caesari gladio minitarentur .	Yet, at the same time, neither by interest, nor by solicitation, nor by bribes, could Quintus Catulus, and Caius Piso, prevail upon Cicero to have Caius Cæsar falsely accused, either by means of the Allobroges, or any other evidence. Both of these men were at bitter enmity with Cæsar; Piso, as having been attacked by him, when he was on his trial for extortion, on a charge of having illegally put to death a Transpadane Gaul; Catulus, as having hated him ever since he stood for the pontificate, because, at an advanced age, and after filling the highest offices, he had been defeated by Cæsar, who was then comparatively a youth. The opportunity, too, seemed favorable for such an accusation; for Cæsar, by extraordinary generosity in private, and by magnificent exhibitions in public, had fallen greatly into debt. But when they failed to persuade the consul to such injustice, they themselves, by going from one person to another, and spreading fictions of their own, which they pretended to have heard from Volturcius or the Allobroges, excited such violent odium against him, that certain Roman knights, who were stationed as an armed guard round the Temple of Concord, being prompted, either by the greatness of the danger, or by the impulse of a high spirit, to testify more openly their zeal for the republic, threatened Cæsar with their swords as he went out of the senate-house.
50	Dum haec in senatu aguntur et dum legatis Allobrogum et T . Volturcio conprobato eorum indicio praemia decernuntur , liberti et pauci ex clientibus Lentuli divorsis itineribus opifices atque servitia in vicis ad eum eripiundum sollicitabant , partim exquirebant duces multitudinum , qui pretio rem publicam vexare soliti erant . Cethegus autem per nuntios familiam atque libertos suos , lectos et exercitatos , orabat , ut grege facto cum telis ad sese inrumperent . Consul ubi ea parari cognovit , dispositis praesidiis , ut res atque tempus monebat , convocato senatu refert , quid de iis fieri placeat , qui in custodiam traditi erant . Sed eos paulo ante frequens senatus iudicaverat contra rem publicam fecisse . Tum D . Iunius Silanus primus sententiam rogatus , quod eo tempore consul designatus erat , de iis , qui in custodiis tenebantur , et praeterea de L . Cassio , P . Furio , P . Umbreno , Q . Annio , si deprehensi forent , supplicium sumundum decreverat ; isque postea permotus oratione C . Caesaris pedibus in sententiam Ti . Neronis iturum se dixit , qui de ea re praesidiis abductis referundum censuerat . Sed Caesar , ubi ad eum ventum est , rogatus sententiam a consule huiusce modi verba locutus est :	While these occurrences were passing in the senate, and while rewards were being voted, an approbation of their evidence, to the Allobrogian deputies and to Titus Volturcius, the freedmen, and some of the other dependents of Lentulus, were urging the artisans and slaves, in various directions throughout the city, to attempt his rescue; some, too, applied to the ringleaders of the mob, who were always ready to disturb the state for pay. Cethegus, at the same time, was soliciting, through his agents, his slaves and freedmen, men trained to deeds of audacity, to collect themselves into an armed body, and force a way into his place of confinement. The consul, when he heard that these things were in agitation, having distributed armed bodies of men, as the circumstances and occasion demanded, called a meeting of the senate, and desired to know " what they wished to be done concerning those who had been committed to custody." A full senate, however, had but a short time before declared them traitors to their country. On this occasion, Decimus Junius Silanus, who, as consul elect, was first asked his opinion, moved that capital punishment should be inflicted, not only on those who were in confinement, but also on Lucius Cassius, Publius Furius, Publius Umbrenus, and Quintus Annius, if they should be apprehended; but afterward, being influenced by the speech of Caius Cæsar, he said that he would go over to the opinion of Tiberius Nero, had proposed that the guards should be increased, and that the senate should deliberate further on the matter. Cæsar, when it came to his turn, being asked his opinion by the consul, spoke to the following effect: