In Catilinam 3.12

3.27Sed quoniam eārum rērum quās ego gessī nōn eadem est fortūna atque condiciō quae illōrum quī externa bella gessērunt, quod mihi cum eīs vīvendum est quōs vīcī ac subēgī, illī hostīs aut interfectōs aut oppressōs relīquērunt, vestrum est, Quirītēs, sī cēterīs facta sua rēctē prōsunt, mihi mea nē quandō obsint prōvidēre.

But since the fortune and condition of the deeds I have done are not the same as those of men who have waged foreign wars, because I must live with those I have defeated and subdued, while they left their enemies killed or crushed, it is your task, citizens, if others are rightly helped by their deeds, to see that mine never harm me.

Note. vīvendum est mihi: impersonal gerundive with dative of agent, 'I must live'. vestrum est: 'it is your duty'. nē quandō: 'that never', with quandō indefinite after nē.

3.27Mentēs enim hominum audācissimōrum scelerātae ac nefāriae nē vōbīs nocēre possent ego prōvīdī, nē mihi noceant vestrum est prōvidēre.

For I have seen to it that the wicked and villainous minds of the most reckless men could not harm you; it is your task to see that they do not harm me.

Note. Mentēs: the subject of the nē-clause, brought forward for emphasis. nē … possent, nē … noceant: clauses after prōvideō, 'see to it that not'.

3.27Quamquam, Quirītēs, mihi quidem ipsī nihil ab istīs iam nocērī potest.

And yet, citizens, no harm can now be done to me myself by those men.

Note. nihil: adverbial accusative, 'not at all'. noceō takes the dative, so its passive is impersonal: mihi … nocērī potest, 'harm can be done to me'.

3.27Magnum enim est in bonīs praesidium quod mihi in perpetuum comparātum est, magna in rē pūblicā dignitās quae mē semper tacita dēfendet, magna vīs cōnscientiae quam quī neglegunt, cum mē violāre volent, sē indicābunt.

For there is great protection in the loyal, which has been won for me for ever; great is the standing in the state which will always defend me without a word; great is the force of conscience, and those who neglect it, when they wish to harm me, will betray themselves.

Note. in bonīs: 'in the loyal citizens', the boni, Cicero's word for the respectable supporters of the senate. quam quī neglegunt … sē indicābunt: 'those who neglect (it) … will give themselves away'; quam is the object of neglegunt.

3.28Est enim nōbīs is animus, Quirītēs, ut nōn modo nūllīus audāciae cēdāmus sed etiam omnīs improbōs ultrō semper lacessāmus.

For we have such a spirit, citizens, that we not only give way to no man's boldness but always attack the wicked of our own accord.

Note. nūllīus audāciae: dative after cēdāmus; this rare dative in -īus is the reading of Clark's text.

3.28Quod sī omnis impetus domesticōrum hostium dēpulsus ā vōbīs sē in mē ūnum converterit, vōbīs erit videndum, Quirītēs, quā condiciōne posthāc eōs esse velītis quī sē prō salūte vestrā obtulerint invidiae perīculīsque omnibus: mihi quidem ipsī quid est quod iam ad vītae frūctum possit adquīrī, cum praesertim neque in honōre vestrō neque in glōriā virtūtis quicquam videam altius quō mihi libeat ascendere?

But if all the assault of the enemies at home, driven back from you, turns against me alone, you will have to consider, citizens, on what terms you want those men to be in future who have exposed themselves to ill will and every danger for your safety; as for me, what more can now be gained for the enjoyment of life, especially when I see nothing higher, either in the honours you give or in the glory of merit, to which I would care to climb?

Note. converterit: future perfect in the condition. vōbīs erit videndum: 'you will have to consider'. quā condiciōne … velītis: indirect question. The closing rhetorical question says Cicero has already reached the highest honour and has nothing more to gain.

3.29Illud perficiam profectō, Quirītēs, ut ea quae gessī in cōnsulātū prīvātus tuear atque ōrnem, ut, sī qua est invidia in cōnservandā rē pūblicā susceptā, laedat invidōs, mihi valeat ad glōriam.

This I shall surely accomplish, citizens: as a private citizen I shall guard and add lustre to what I did as consul, so that if any ill will has been incurred in saving the state, it may hurt the envious and serve my glory.

Note. Illud … ut: 'this … namely that'. prīvātus: as a private citizen, after his consulship ends on 31 December. sī qua: 'if any'; qua is the indefinite after sī.

3.29Dēnique ita mē in rē pūblicā trāctābō ut meminerim semper quae gesserim, cūremque ut ea virtūte nōn cāsū gesta esse videantur.

In short, I shall so conduct myself in public life as always to remember what I have done, and take care that it is seen to have been done by merit, not by chance.

3.29Vōs, Quirītēs, quoniam iam est nox, venerātī Iovem illum custōdem huius urbis ac vestrum in vestra tēcta discēdite et ea, quamquam iam est perīculum dēpulsum, tamen aequē ac priōre nocte custōdiīs vigiliīsque dēfendite.

You, citizens, since it is now night, pay your respects to Jupiter, the guardian of this city and of you, and go to your homes; and though the danger has now been driven off, guard them with watches and patrols just as you did last night.

Note. venerātī Iovem: deponent participle with active meaning, 'having worshipped Jupiter'. vestrum: genitive plural of vōs, 'guardian of this city and of you'. aequē ac: 'just as'.

3.29Id nē vōbīs diūtius faciendum sit atque ut in perpetuā pāce esse possītis prōvidēbō, Quirītēs.

I shall see to it, citizens, that you need not do this any longer, and that you can live in lasting peace.