Bellum Catilinae 43

Cat. 43.1At Rōmae Lentulus cum cēterīs, quī prīncipēs coniūrātiōnis erant, parātīs ut vidēbātur magnīs cōpiīs cōnstituerant, utī, quom Catilīna in agrum Aefulānum cum exercitū vēnisset, L. Bēstia tribūnus plēbis cōntiōne habitā quererētur dē āctiōnibus Cicerōnis bellīque gravissumī invidiam optumō cōnsulī inpōneret: eō signō proxumā nocte cētera multitūdō coniūrātiōnis suom quisque negōtium exequerētur.

But at Rome Lentulus, with the others who were the leaders of the conspiracy, having prepared what seemed large forces, had arranged that when Catiline had arrived with his army in the territory of Aefula, Lucius Bestia, tribune of the plebs, should hold a public meeting and complain about Cicero's actions and lay the odium of a very grave war on the excellent consul; at that signal, on the following night, the rest of the conspirators were each to carry out his own task.

Note. A long sentence giving the plan. constituerant, utī … quererētur … impōneret: indirect commands. quom = cum. L. Calpurnius Bestia had been elected tribune for 62 BC; a tribune's public meeting (cōntiō) would be the signal. eō signō 'at that signal'. suom quisque negōtium exsequerētur: quisque stands with its own possessive, 'each his own task'.

Cat. 43.2Sed ea dīvīsa hōc modō dīcēbantur: Statilius et Gabīnius utī cum magnā manū duodecim simul opportūna loca urbis incenderent, quō tumultū facilior aditus ad cōnsulem cēterōsque, quibus īnsidiae parābantur, fieret;

These tasks were said to have been divided in this way: Statilius and Gabinius with a large band were to set fire to twelve convenient places in the city at once, so that in the uproar access to the consul and to the others against whom plots were being laid might be made easier;

Note. ea dīvīsa … dīcēbantur 'these tasks were said to have been divided'. The indirect commands continue without a governing verb: Statilius et Gabīnius utī … incenderent. quō tumultū: a relative adjective, 'by which uproar'.

Cat. 43.2Cethēgus Cicerōnis iānuam obsidēret eumque vī aggrederētur;

Cethegus was to besiege Cicero's door and attack him by force;

Cat. 43.2alius autem alium, sed fīliī familiārum, quōrum ex nōbilitāte maxuma pars erat, parentīs interficerent;

one man was to kill another, but the sons of families, most of whom were of the nobility, were to kill their fathers;

Note. alius alium: 'one man (should kill) another', a distributive idiom. fīliī familiārum: sons still under their fathers' legal power (patria potestās). parentīs is the old accusative plural in -īs.

Cat. 43.2simul caede et incendiō perculsīs omnibus ad Catilīnam ērumperent.

at the same time, when everyone was stunned by the slaughter and fire, they were to break out to Catiline.

Cat. 43.3Inter haec parāta atque dēcrēta Cethēgus semper querēbātur dē ignāviā sociōrum: illōs dubitandō et diēs prōlātandō magnās opportūnitātēs corrumpere;

Amid these preparations and decisions Cethegus was always complaining of the cowardice of his allies: by hesitating and putting off the day they were wasting great opportunities;

Note. inter haec parāta atque dēcrēta 'amid these preparations and decisions'. Cethegus' complaint is in indirect speech: illōs … corrumpere.

Cat. 43.3factō, nōn cōnsultō in tālī perīculō opus esse, sēque, sī paucī adiuvārent, languentibus aliīs impetum in cūriam factūrum.

in such danger there was need of action, not of deliberation, and he himself, if a few would help, would make an attack on the senate house while the others hung back.

Note. factō, nōn cōnsultō … opus esse: opus est takes the ablative of the thing needed, 'there was need of action, not of deliberation'. sē … factūrum (esse): future infinitive with esse left out. languentibus aliīs: ablative absolute, 'while the others were sluggish'.

Cat. 43.4Nātūrā ferōx, vehemēns, manū promptus erat, maxumum bonum in celeritāte putābat.

By nature he was fierce, violent and quick to use his hand; he thought speed the greatest good.

Note. Sallust sums up Cethegus in a short character sketch: nātūrā (ablative of respect), manū promptus 'quick with his hand'. maxumum bonum is the object of putābat, with in celeritāte.