Bellum Catilinae 19

Cat. 19.1Posteā Pīsō in citeriōrem Hispāniam quaestor prō praetōre missus est adnītente Crassō, quod eum īnfestum inimīcum Cn. Pompēiō cognōverat.

Afterwards Piso was sent to Nearer Spain as quaestor with the powers of a praetor, with Crassus supporting it, because he knew him to be a bitter enemy of Gnaeus Pompey.

Note. quaestor prō praetōre: a quaestor sent with the powers of a praetor, an unusual appointment. adnītente Crassō: ablative absolute.

Cat. 19.1Neque tamen senātus prōvinciam invītus dederat, quippe foedum hominem ā rē pūblicā procul esse volēbat, simul quia bonī complūrēs praesidium in eō putābant et iam tum potentia Pompēī formīdulōsa erat.

Nor, however, had the senate given him the province unwillingly, since it wanted that foul man far from the state, and also because many loyal men saw a defence in him, and already then Pompey's power was alarming.

Note. quippe … volēbat: 'since, of course, it wanted'. boni: 'the loyal men', the conservative senators (a political label).

Cat. 19.3Sed is Pīsō in prōvinciā ab equitibus Hispānīs, quōs in exercitū ductābat, iter faciēns occīsus est.

But this Piso, while on the march in his province, was killed by Spanish cavalrymen whom he was leading in his army.

Cat. 19.4Sunt quī ita dīcant imperia eius iniūsta superba crūdēlia barbarōs nequīvisse patī;

Some say that the barbarians could not bear his unjust, arrogant and cruel commands;

Note. Sunt quī … dīcant: relative clause of characteristic. imperia iniūsta superba crūdēlia: three adjectives without 'and'. barbarōs nequīvisse patī: indirect statement.

Cat. 19.4aliī autem, equitēs illōs, Cn. Pompēī veterēs fīdōsque clientīs, voluntāte eius Pīsōnem aggressōs: numquam Hispānōs praetereā tāle facinus fēcisse, sed imperia saeva multa anteā perpessōs.

others that those horsemen, old and faithful clients of Gnaeus Pompey, attacked Piso at his wish: never before had the Spaniards done such a deed, but they had put up with many harsh commands in the past.

Cat. 19.5Nōs eam rem in mediō relinquēmus.

We shall leave this matter undecided.

Note. in mediō relinquēmus: 'we shall leave undecided', a historian's way of admitting uncertainty.

Cat. 19.6Dē superiōre coniūrātiōne satis dictum.

Enough has been said about the earlier conspiracy.