Cat. 22.1Fuēre eā tempestāte quī dīcerent Catilīnam ōrātiōne habitā, quom ad iūs iūrandum populārīs sceleris suī adigeret, hūmānī corporis sanguinem vīnō permixtum in paterīs circumtulisse: inde quom post execrātiōnem omnēs dēgustāvissent, sīcutī in sollemnibus sacrīs fierī cōnsuēvit, aperuisse cōnsilium suom, atque eō ita fēcisse, quō inter sē fīdī magis forent alius aliī tantī facinoris cōnsciī.There were at that time some who said that Catiline, after his speech, when he was binding the partners in his crime by an oath, passed round bowls of human blood mixed with wine; then, when all had tasted it after the curse, as is customary in solemn rites, he revealed his plan, and he did this so that they might be more loyal to one another, each sharing the knowledge of so great a crime with the others.Note. A sensational rumour, which Sallust reports at a distance (Fuēre … quī dīcerent). quō … magis … forent: quō introducing a purpose clause containing a comparative. alius aliī: 'one to another'. Cat. 22.3Nōnnūllī ficta et haec et multa praetereā exīstumābant ab iīs, quī Cicerōnis invidiam quae posteā orta est lēnīrī crēdēbant atrōcitāte sceleris eōrum, quī poenās dederant.Some thought that both this and much else besides had been invented by those who believed that the hatred against Cicero which arose later could be softened by the atrocity of the crime of those who had been punished.Note. Cicero's execution of the conspirators without trial later made him hated; his enemies drove him into exile in 58 BC. Those who wanted to defend him had reason to exaggerate the conspirators' wickedness.
Cat. 22.3Nōbīs ea rēs prō magnitūdine parum comperta est.In view of its importance this matter has not been sufficiently established by me.