Bellum Catilinae 50

Cat. 50.1Dum haec in senātū aguntur et dum lēgātīs Allobrogum et T. Volturciō, conprobātō eōrum indiciō, praemia dēcernuntur, lībertī et paucī ex clientibus Lentulī dīvorsīs itineribus opificēs atque servitia in vīcīs ad eum ēripiundum sollicitābant, partim exquīrēbant ducēs multitūdinum, quī pretiō rem pūblicam vexāre solitī erant.

While this was going on in the senate, and while rewards were being voted to the envoys of the Allobroges and to Titus Volturcius now that their information had been confirmed, freedmen and a few of the clients of Lentulus, going different ways, were trying to stir up craftsmen and slaves in the streets to rescue him, and partly were searching out the leaders of mobs who were used to troubling the state for pay.

Note. comprobātō eōrum indiciō: ablative absolute. Lentulus' freedmen tried to raise the craftsmen and slaves in the streets (vīcī) to free him; ad eum ēripiundum: ad + gerundive of purpose.

Cat. 50.2Cethēgus autem per nūntiōs familiam atque lībertōs suōs, lēctōs et exercitātōs, ōrābat, ut grege factō cum tēlīs ad sēsē inrumperent.

Cethegus, for his part, kept sending messages begging his household slaves and freedmen, picked and trained men, to form a band and break through to him with weapons.

Note. lēctōs et exercitātōs 'picked and trained': Cethegus' slaves were armed men. grege factō 'forming a band'.

Cat. 50.3Cōnsul ubi ea parārī cognōvit, dispositīs praesidiīs, ut rēs atque tempus monēbat, convocātō senātū refert, quid dē iīs fierī placeat, quī in custōdiam trāditī erant.

When the consul learned that this was being prepared, he placed guards as the situation and the moment advised, called the senate together and puts the question what it wished to be done about those who had been handed over to custody.

Note. refert … quid dē iīs fierī placeat: the formal question put by the presiding consul to the senate. This opens the debate of 5 December that Cicero's Fourth Catilinarian belongs to.

Cat. 50.3Sed eōs paulō ante frequēns senātus iūdicāverat contrā rem pūblicam fēcisse.

But a full senate had a little before judged that they had acted against the Republic.

Note. iūdicāverat contrā rem pūblicam fēcisse: the formal verdict of 3 December, that the conspirators had acted against the state.

Cat. 50.4Tum D. Iūnius Sīlānus prīmus sententiam rogātus, quod eō tempore cōnsul dēsignātus erat, dē iīs, quī in custōdiīs tenēbantur, et praetereā dē L. Cassiō, P. Fūriō, P. Umbrēnō, Q. Anniō, sī dēprehēnsī forent, supplicium sūmundum dēcrēverat;

Then Decimus Iunius Silanus, asked first for his opinion because he was at that time consul-elect, had proposed that the men who were held in custody, and in addition Lucius Cassius, Publius Furius, Publius Umbrenus and Quintus Annius, if they were caught, should suffer the death penalty;

Note. D. Iunius Silanus, as consul-elect, was asked first. supplicium sūmundum (esse) 'that the penalty should be exacted', meaning death. sūmundum = sūmendum.

Cat. 50.4isque posteā permōtus ōrātiōne C. Caesaris pedibus in sententiam Ti. Nerōnis itūrum sē dīxit, quod dē eā rē praesidiīs additīs referundum cēnsuerat.

and he, later moved by the speech of Gaius Caesar, said that he would vote for the proposal of Tiberius Nero, because Nero had proposed that the matter should be referred again after the guards had been strengthened.

Note. pedibus in sententiam īre: 'to go over to a proposal on foot', the Roman way of voting by walking to one side of the house. Tiberius Nero had proposed postponing a decision until more guards were in place.

Cat. 50.5Sed Caesar, ubi ad eum ventum est, rogātus sententiam ā cōnsule huiusce modī verba locūtus est:

But Caesar, when it came to his turn and he was asked his opinion by the consul, spoke words of this kind:

Note. huiusce modī: 'of this kind'; the -ce strengthens the demonstrative. Sallust now gives Caesar's speech (chapter 51), followed by Cato's reply (chapter 52).