Bellum Catilinae 44

Cat. 44.1Sed Allobrogēs ex praeceptō Cicerōnis per Gabīnium cēterōs conveniunt.

But the Allobroges, on Cicero's instructions, meet the others through Gabinius.

Cat. 44.1Ab Lentulō, Cethēgō, Statiliō, item Cassiō postulant iūs iūrandum, quod signātum ad cīvīs perferant: aliter haud facile eōs ad tantum negōtium inpellī posse.

From Lentulus, Cethegus, Statilius and also Cassius they demand an oath, which they might carry sealed to their fellow citizens: otherwise, they said, they could hardly be driven to so great an undertaking.

Note. iūs iūrandum, quod signātum … perferant: the oath was to be written down and sealed. The relative clause with the subjunctive expresses purpose. Asking for sealed documents was part of Cicero's trap: written proof that could not be denied.

Cat. 44.2Cēterī nihil suspicantēs dant, Cassius sēmet eō brevī ventūrum pollicētur ac paulō ante lēgātōs ex urbe proficīscitur.

The others, suspecting nothing, give it; Cassius promises that he will come there shortly, and sets out from the city a little before the envoys.

Note. Cassius sēmet eō brevī ventūrum pollicētur: eō 'to that place'. By leaving before the envoys he avoided the arrest at the bridge.

Cat. 44.3Lentulus cum iīs T. Volturcium quendam Crotōniēnsem mittit, ut Allobrogēs, prius quam domum pergerent, cum Catilīnā datā atque acceptā fidē societātem cōnfirmārent.

Lentulus sends with them a certain Titus Volturcius of Croton, so that the Allobroges, before they went on home, might confirm the alliance with Catiline by giving and receiving pledges.

Note. T. Volturcius of Croton went with the envoys as Lentulus' messenger. prius quam … pergerent: subjunctive because it expresses the purpose of the arrangement. datā atque acceptā fidē: ablative absolute, 'pledges given and received'.

Cat. 44.4Ipse Volturciō litterās ad Catilīnam dat, quārum exemplum īnfrā scrīptum est.

He himself gives Volturcius a letter to Catiline, a copy of which is written below.

Note. quārum exemplum īnfrā scrīptum est: Sallust quotes the letter. Cicero (Third Catilinarian 12) gives a slightly different wording, and says it carried no name.

Cat. 44.5"Quī sim, ex eō, quem ad tē mīsī, cognōscēs.

"Who I am you will learn from the man I have sent to you.

Note. The letter is anonymous: quī sim 'who I am' is an indirect question (quī used as an interrogative). ex eō, quem ad tē mīsī: Volturcius.

Cat. 44.5Fac cōgitēs, in quantā calamitāte sīs, et meminerīs tē virum esse.

See that you consider in what great disaster you are, and remember that you are a man.

Note. Fac cōgitēs 'see that you think': fac with a subjunctive without ut. meminerīs is a perfect subjunctive in form, used as a present of meminī.

Cat. 44.5Cōnsīderēs, quid tuae ratiōnēs postulent.

Consider what your interests demand.

Note. cōnsīderēs and petās (next sentence) are jussive subjunctives, polite commands.

Cat. 44.5Auxilium petās ab omnibus, etiam ab īnfumīs."

Seek help from all, even from the lowest."

Note. etiam ab īnfumīs 'even from the lowest': a hint that Catiline should use slaves, which the next sentence makes explicit.

Cat. 44.6Ad hoc mandāta verbīs dat: quom ab senātū hostis iūdicātus sit, quō cōnsiliō servitia repudiet?

In addition he gives instructions by word of mouth: since he has been judged a public enemy by the senate, with what purpose does he reject the slaves?

Note. mandāta verbīs dat 'he gives instructions by word of mouth', reported as indirect speech. quom = cum 'since'. The question quō cōnsiliō servitia repudiet? is a rhetorical question in indirect speech, so subjunctive. Catiline had refused to enlist slaves.

Cat. 44.6In urbe parāta esse quae iusserit: nē cūnctētur ipse propius adcēdere.

In the city what he had ordered was ready; he should not hesitate to come nearer himself.

Note. nē cunctētur: a negative command in indirect speech. propius accēdere 'to come nearer' to Rome.