Bellum Catilinae 6

Cat. 6.1Urbem Rōmam, sīcutī ego accēpī, condidēre atque habuēre initiō Trōiānī, quī Aenēā duce profugī sēdibus incertīs vagābantur, cumque iīs Aborīginēs, genus hominum agreste, sine lēgibus, sine imperiō, līberum atque solūtum.

The city of Rome, as I have heard, was founded and at first inhabited by Trojans, who were wandering as exiles with no fixed home under the leadership of Aeneas, and with them the Aborigines, a rustic race of men, without laws, without government, free and unrestrained.

Note. Sallust follows the legend that Rome was founded by Trojans under Aeneas together with the native Aborigines. Aenēā duce: ablative absolute, 'with Aeneas as leader'.

Cat. 6.2Hī postquam in ūna moenia convēnēre, disparī genere, dissimilī linguā, alius aliō mōre vīventēs, incrēdibile memorātū est quam facile coaluerint: ita brevī multitūdō dispersa atque vaga concordiā cīvitās facta erat.

After these came together within one set of walls, unlike in race, different in language, each living by a different custom, it is incredible to tell how easily they grew together: in a short time a scattered and wandering crowd had become, through harmony, a community of citizens.

Note. memorātū: supine, 'to tell'. coāluerint: from coalēscō, 'grow together'. brevī (tempore): 'in a short time'.

Cat. 6.3Sed postquam rēs eōrum cīvibus mōribus agrīs aucta satis prospera satisque pollēns vidēbātur, sīcutī plēraque mortālium habentur, invidia ex opulentiā orta est.

But when their state, enlarged in citizens, customs and lands, seemed quite prosperous and quite powerful, envy arose from their wealth, as is the way with most mortal things.

Note. cīvibus, mōribus, agrīs: ablatives of respect after aucta. sīcutī pleraque mortālium habentur: 'as most human things go'.

Cat. 6.4Igitur rēgēs populīque fīnitumī bellō temptāre, paucī ex amīcīs auxiliō esse: nam cēterī metū perculsī ā perīculīs aberant.

So neighbouring kings and peoples attacked them in war; few of their friends came to help, for the rest, struck with fear, kept away from the dangers.

Note. temptāre, esse: historical infinitives, used for vivid narration in place of a past indicative; their subjects are nominative (rēgēs populīque, paucī). auxiliō esse: double dative, 'to be of help'.

Cat. 6.5At Rōmānī domī mīlitiaeque intentī festīnāre, parāre, alius alium hortārī, hostibus obviam īre, lībertātem patriam parentīsque armīs tegere.

But the Romans, intent at home and in the field, made haste, made ready, encouraged one another, went out to meet the enemy, and protected their liberty, their country and their parents with arms.

Note. A run of historical infinitives (festīnāre, parāre, hortārī, īre, tegere), all with Rōmānī as subject. parentīs = parentēs.

Cat. 6.5Post ubi perīcula virtūte prōpulerant, sociīs atque amīcīs auxilia portābant, magisque dandīs quam accipiundīs beneficiīs amīcitiās parābant.

Later, when they had driven off the dangers by their courage, they brought help to their allies and friends, and won friendships more by giving than by receiving favours.

Note. magis dandīs quam accipiundīs beneficiīs: gerundives with beneficiīs, 'by favours being given rather than received'.

Cat. 6.6Imperium lēgitumum, nōmen imperī rēgium habēbant.

They had a government bound by law; the name of the government was kingship.

Cat. 6.6Dēlēctī, quibus corpus annīs īnfirmum, ingenium sapientiā validum erat, reī pūblicae cōnsultābant: hī vel aetāte vel cūrae similitūdine patrēs appellābantur.

Chosen men, whose bodies were weak with years but whose minds were strong in wisdom, took counsel for the state; these, from their age or from the likeness of their duties, were called Fathers.

Note. patrēs: the senators, 'Fathers', a title kept in the formal address patrēs cōnscrīptī.

Cat. 6.7Post ubi rēgium imperium quod initiō cōnservandae lībertātis atque augendae reī pūblicae fuerat, in superbiam dominātiōnemque sē convortit, inmūtātō mōre annua imperia bīnōsque imperātōrēs sibi fēcēre: eō modō minumē posse putābant per licentiam īnsolēscere animum hūmānum.

Later, when the kingly power, which at first had served to preserve liberty and enlarge the state, turned into arrogance and tyranny, they changed the custom and set up for themselves yearly commands and two commanders: in this way they thought the human spirit would be least able to grow arrogant through unchecked power.

Note. annua imperia binōsque imperātōrēs: the two consuls elected each year after the kings were expelled (traditionally 509 BC). minumē: old spelling of minimē.