Bellum Catilinae 40

Cat. 40.1Igitur P. Umbrēnō quoidam negōtium dat, utī lēgātōs Allobrogum requīrat eōsque, sī possit, inpellat ad societātem bellī, exīstumāns pūblicē prīvātimque aere aliēnō oppressōs, praetereā quod nātūrā gēns Gallica bellicōsa esset, facile eōs ad tāle cōnsilium addūcī posse.

So he gives a certain Publius Umbrenus the task of seeking out the envoys of the Allobroges and, if he could, driving them into an alliance for war; he thought that, crushed as they were by debt both public and private, and because the Gallic race was warlike by nature, they could easily be brought to such a plan.

Note. Sallust's spelling is deliberately old-fashioned: quoidam = cuidam, uti = ut, existumāns = exīstimāns, inpellat = impellat. The Allobroges were a Gallic people of the Roman province (around modern Savoy and Dauphiné) whose envoys were in Rome to complain about debts and their governors. existumāns introduces indirect statement: eōs … addūcī posse, with the reasons in the participle phrase oppressōs and the quod-clause.

Cat. 40.2Umbrēnus quod in Galliā negōtiātus erat, plērīsque prīncipibus cīvitātium nōtus erat atque eōs nōverat.

Umbrenus, because he had done business in Gaul, was known to most of the leading men of the states and knew them.

Note. quod in Galliā negōtiātus erat: negōtior is deponent, 'do business'. Umbrenus was a freedman who had traded in Gaul, so he knew the leading men (prīncipēs cīvitātium; note the genitive plural cīvitātium, an older form of cīvitātum).

Cat. 40.2Itaque sine morā, ubi prīmum lēgātōs in forō cōnspexit, percontātus pauca dē statū cīvitātis et quasi dolēns eius cāsum requīrere coepit, quem exitum tantīs malīs spērārent.

So without delay, as soon as he caught sight of the envoys in the forum, he asked a few questions about the condition of their state and, as if grieving at its misfortune, began to inquire what way out they hoped for from such great troubles.

Note. ubi prīmum 'as soon as'. percontātus is a deponent participle, 'having asked'. quem exitum … spērārent is an indirect question after requīrere; tantīs malīs is dative, 'for such great ills'.

Cat. 40.3Postquam illōs videt querī dē avāritiā magistrātuum, accūsāre senātum, quod in eō auxilī nihil esset, miseriīs suīs remedium mortem expectāre, "at ego" inquit "vōbīs, sī modo virī esse voltis, ratiōnem ostendam, quā tanta ista mala effugiātis".

When he sees them complaining of the greed of the magistrates, accusing the senate because there was no help in it, and waiting for death as the cure for their miseries, he said: "But I will show you a way, if only you are willing to be men, by which you may escape these great troubles of yours."

Note. Historic present (videt) with indirect statement in a string of infinitives: illōs querī …, accūsāre …, exspectāre. quod … nihil esset: subjunctive because it gives the Gauls' reason, not Sallust's. vōltis = vultis. quā … effugiātis is a relative clause of purpose or characteristic: 'a way by which you may escape'.

Cat. 40.4Haec ubi dīxit, Allobrogēs in maxumam spem adductī Umbrēnum ōrāre, ut suī miserērētur: nihil tam asperum neque tam difficile esse, quod nōn cupidissumē factūrī essent, dum ea rēs cīvitātem aere aliēnō līberāret.

When he had said this, the Allobroges, led into the highest hope, begged Umbrenus to take pity on them: there was nothing so harsh or so difficult that they would not do it most eagerly, provided it freed their state from debt.

Note. Allobrogēs … ōrāre: a historical infinitive, used by Sallust for vivid narration in place of a finite verb ('they begged'). Then indirect speech: nihil tam asperum … esse, quod nōn … factūrī essent. dum + subjunctive = 'provided that'. cupidissumē is Sallust's spelling of cupidissimē.

Cat. 40.5Ille eōs in domum D. Brūtī perdūcit, quod forō propinqua erat neque aliēna cōnsilī propter Semprōniam;

He takes them to the house of Decimus Brutus, because it was near the forum and not unconnected with the plot because of Sempronia;

Note. Decimus Brutus (consul 77 BC) was the husband of Sempronia, whom Sallust described in chapter 25 as clever, cultured and reckless. aliēna cōnsilī 'unconnected with the plan': aliēnus with the genitive. propter Semprōniam: her house was a meeting place for the plotters.

Cat. 40.5nam tum Brūtus ab Rōmā aberat.

for Brutus was then away from Rome.

Cat. 40.6Praetereā Gabīnium arcessit, quō maior auctōritās sermōnī inesset.

He also sends for Gabinius, so that his words might carry greater weight.

Note. quō + comparative + subjunctive = purpose clause: quō maior auctōritās … inesset 'so that there might be greater weight'.

Cat. 40.6Eō praesente coniūrātiōnem aperit, nōminat sociōs, praetereā multōs quoiusque generis innoxiōs, quō lēgātīs animus amplior esset.

In his presence he reveals the conspiracy and names the members, and besides them many innocent men of every class, so that the envoys might have more courage.

Note. eō praesente: ablative absolute, 'with him present'. quoiusque generis = cuiusque generis 'of every kind'. He named innocent men too, to make the conspiracy seem larger: another quō + comparative purpose clause.

Cat. 40.6Deinde eōs pollicitōs operam suam domum dīmittit.

Then, when they had promised their help, he sends them home.