Bellum Catilinae 39

Cat. 39.1Sed postquam Cn. Pompēius ad bellum maritumum atque Mithridāticum missus est, plēbis opēs inminūtae, paucōrum potentia crēvit.

But after Gnaeus Pompeius was sent to the war against the pirates and the war against Mithridates, the resources of the people were reduced and the power of the few grew.

Note. In 67 BC the Lex Gabinia gave Pompey command against the pirates (bellum maritumum), and in 66 the Lex Manilia gave him the war against Mithridates, king of Pontus.

Cat. 39.2Iī magistrātūs, prōvinciās aliaque omnia tenēre;

They held the magistracies, the provinces and everything else;

Note. tenere: historical infinitive, as are agere and terrere in the next sentence.

Cat. 39.2ipsī innoxiī, flōrentēs, sine metū aetātem agere cēterōsque iūdiciīs terrēre, quō plēbem in magistrātū placidius trāctārent.

they themselves, unharmed and flourishing, lived without fear, and frightened the others with lawsuits, so that in office they might handle the people more gently.

Note. iudiciis terrere: they used prosecutions to intimidate the tribunes and popular leaders. quo ... tractarent: quo introduces a purpose clause containing a comparative.

Cat. 39.3Sed ubi prīmum dubiīs rēbus novandī spēs oblāta est, vetus certāmen animōs eōrum adrēxit.

But as soon as the uncertain situation offered hope of revolution, the old struggle roused their spirits.

Cat. 39.4Quod sī prīmō proeliō Catilīna superior aut aequā manū discessisset, profectō magna clādēs atque calamitās rem pūblicam oppressisset, neque illīs, quī victōriam adeptī forent, diūtius eā utī licuīsset, quīn dēfessīs et exanguibus quī plūs posset imperium atque lībertātem extorquēret.

And if Catiline had come off victorious or even with the fight drawn in the first battle, certainly great disaster and calamity would have overwhelmed the state, and those who had won the victory would not have been allowed to enjoy it for long without someone more powerful wresting command and liberty from them while they were exhausted and drained.

Note. Quod si: 'but if'. A past contrary-to-fact condition: discessisset ... oppressisset. aequa manu: 'with an even hand', i.e. in a drawn battle. qui plus posset: 'someone more powerful', a hint at the dictatorships that ended the Republic.

Cat. 39.5Fuēre tamen extrā coniūrātiōnem complūrēs, quī ad Catilīnam initiō profectī sunt.

There were, however, a number of men outside the conspiracy who went off to Catiline at the start.

Cat. 39.5In iīs erat Fulvius, senātōris fīlius, quem retractum ex itinere parēns necārī iussit.

Among them was Fulvius, a senator's son; his father had him dragged back from the road and put to death.

Note. Fulvius' father put him to death by his authority as paterfamilias, a power Romans still remembered as legal though it was rarely used.

Cat. 39.6Īsdem temporibus Rōmae Lentulus, sīcutī Catilīna praecēperat, quōscumque mōribus aut fortūnā novīs rēbus idōneōs crēdēbat, aut per sē aut per aliōs sollicitābat, neque sōlum cīvīs sed quoiusque modī genus hominum, quod modo bellō ūsuī foret.

At the same time at Rome Lentulus, as Catiline had instructed, was trying to win over, either himself or through others, all whom he thought suitable for revolution by their character or their fortunes, and not only citizens but every kind of men, provided they would be useful for war.

Note. quoscumque ... idoneos credebat: 'whomever he believed suitable'. novis rebus: dative after idoneus, 'for revolution'. quod modo bello usui foret: 'provided that it would be useful for war'; modo makes the relative clause a condition.