Bellum Catilinae 48

Cat. 48.1Intereā plēbs coniūrātiōne patefactā, quae prīmō cupida rērum novārum nimis bellō favēbat, mūtātā mente Catilīnae cōnsilia execrārī, Cicerōnem ad caelum tollere: velutī ex servitūte ērepta gaudium atque laetitiam agitābat.

Meanwhile the common people, now that the conspiracy was laid open, though at first in their eagerness for revolution they had been only too favourable to war, changed their minds, cursed Catiline's plans and praised Cicero to the skies: as if rescued from slavery, they gave themselves up to joy and gladness.

Note. exsecrārī, tollere: historical infinitives. ad caelum tollere 'to praise to the skies'. gaudium atque laetitiam agitābat 'gave itself up to joy'.

Cat. 48.2Namque alia bellī facinora praedae magis quam dētrīmentō fore, incendium vērō crūdēle, inmoderātum ac sibi maxumē calamitōsum putābat, quippe quoi omnēs cōpiae in ūsū cottīdiānō et cultū corporis erant.

For they thought that other deeds of war would bring them more booty than loss, but fire cruel, without limit, and most ruinous to themselves, since all their wealth lay in daily needs and the clothes on their backs.

Note. The reason for the change of mood: looting would profit the poor, but fire would destroy everything they had. praedae … dētrīmentō: datives of purpose with fore. quippe quoi 'since for them': quippe with a relative gives a reason; quoi = cui.

Cat. 48.3Post eum diem quīdam L. Tarquinius ad senātum adductus erat, quem ad Catilīnam proficīscentem ex itinere retractum aiēbant.

The day after, a certain Lucius Tarquinius had been brought before the senate, who, they said, had been dragged back from his journey as he was setting out to Catiline.

Note. post eum diem 'the day after'. aiēbant 'they said', from aiō.

Cat. 48.4Is quom sē dīceret indicātūrum dē coniūrātiōne, sī fidēs pūblica data esset, iussus ā cōnsule quae scīret ēdīcere, eadem ferē quae Volturcius dē parātīs incendiīs, dē caede bonōrum, dē itinere hostium senātum docet: praetereā sē missum ā M. Crassō, quī Catilīnae nūntiāret, nē eum Lentulus et Cethēgus aliīque ex coniūrātiōne dēprehēnsī terrērent, eōque magis properāret ad urbem adcēdere, quō et cēterōrum animōs reficeret et illī facilius ē perīculō ēriperentur.

When he said that he would give information about the conspiracy if a public pledge of safety were given, and was ordered by the consul to declare what he knew, he tells the senate much the same as Volturcius about the fires that had been prepared, the slaughter of loyal citizens and the march of the enemy; in addition, that he had been sent by Marcus Crassus to tell Catiline not to let the arrest of Lentulus, Cethegus and others of the conspiracy alarm him, and to hurry all the more to approach the city, so that he might both revive the spirits of the rest and the others might more easily be snatched from danger.

Note. sē indicātūrum (esse): future infinitive in indirect statement. quī Catilīnae nūntiāret: relative clause of purpose. eōque magis … quō: 'all the more … so that'.

Cat. 48.5Sed ubi Tarquinius Crassum nōmināvit, hominem nōbilem, maxumīs dīvitiīs, summā potentiā, aliī rem incrēdibilem ratī, pars tametsī vērum exīstumābant tamen quia in tālī tempore tanta vīs hominis magis lēniunda quam exagitanda vidēbātur, plērīque Crassō ex negōtiīs prīvātīs obnoxiī, conclāmant indicem falsum esse, dēque eā rē postulant utī referātur.

But when Tarquinius named Crassus, a man of noble birth, of very great wealth and the highest influence, some thinking the matter beyond belief, others, though they thought it true, yet because at such a time so great a power seemed better soothed than stirred up, and most because they were bound to Crassus by private business, cry out together that the informer is lying, and demand that the matter be put to the vote.

Note. The senators' reasons for rejecting the charge against Crassus are given in parallel groups: aliī … rātī, pars … quia …, plērīque … obnoxiī. lēniunda … exagitanda: gerundives in Sallust's old spelling (lēnienda). M. Licinius Crassus was the richest man in Rome, and many senators owed him money.

Cat. 48.6Itaque cōnsulente Cicerōne frequēns senātus dēcernit Tarquinī indicium falsum vidērī eumque in vinculīs retinendum neque amplius potestātem faciundam, nisi dē eō indicāret, quoius cōnsiliō tantam rem esset mentītus.

So, on Cicero's motion, a full senate decrees that Tarquinius' information appears false, that he is to be kept in chains, and that no further hearing is to be granted him unless he gave information about the man on whose advice he had lied about so great a matter.

Note. cōnsulente Cicerōne 'when Cicero put the question'. retinendum and faciundam are gerundives of obligation with esse left out.

Cat. 48.7Erant eō tempore quī exīstumārent indicium illud ā P. Autrōniō māchinātum, quō facilius appellātō Crassō per societātem perīculī reliquōs illīus potentiā tegeret.

There were some at the time who thought that the information had been contrived by Publius Autronius, so that, once Crassus had been named, he might more easily shield the rest by that man's power through their sharing the danger.

Note. per societātem perīculī: if Crassus was implicated, the conspirators hoped his power would protect them all.

Cat. 48.8Aliī Tarquinium ā Cicerōne inmissum aiēbant, nē Crassus mōre suō susceptō malōrum patrōciniō rem pūblicam conturbāret.

Others said that Tarquinius had been put up by Cicero, so that Crassus should not, after his habit, take up the defence of wicked men and throw the Republic into confusion.

Cat. 48.9Ipsum Crassum ego posteā praedicantem audīvī tantam illam contumēliam sibi ab Cicerōne inpositam.

I myself later heard Crassus declare that this great insult had been put upon him by Cicero.

Note. Sallust speaks in the first person: he had heard Crassus himself say this, years later. A rare personal touch from the historian.