be of any use to it; and among the reft, agreed to make an attempt on the ambaffadors of the Allobrogians, a warlike, mutinous, faithlefs people, inhabiting the countries now called Savoy and Dauphiny, greatly difaffected to the Roman power, and already ripe for rebellion. Thefe ambaffadors, who were preparing to return home, much out of humour with the fenate, and without any redrefs of the grievances which they were fent to complain of, received the propofal at firft very greedily, and promifed to engage their nation to affift the confpirators with what they prin cipally wanted, a good body of horse, whenever they should begin the war : but reflecting afterwards, in their cooler thoughts, on the difficulty of the enterprize, and the danger of involving themselves and their country in fo defperate a caufe, they refolved to discover what they knew to Q. Fabius Sanga, the patron of their city, who immediately gave intelligence of it to the conful. Cicero's inftructions upon it were, that the ambaffadors fhould continue to feign the fame zeal which they had hitherto fhewn, and promife every thing which was required of them, till they had got a full infight into the extent of the plot, with diftinct proofs against the particular actors in it; upon which, at their next conference with the confpirators, they infifted on having fome credentials from them to fhew to their people at home, without which they would never be induced to enter into an engagement fo hazardous. This was thought reafonable, and prefently complied with, and Vulturcius was appointed to go along with the ambaffadors, and introduce them to Cataline on their road, in order to confirm the agreement, and exchange affurances alfo with him; to whom Lentulus fent at the fame time a particular letter under his own hand and feal, though without his name. Cicero being punctually informed of all thefe facts, concerted privately with the ambaffadors the time and manner of their leaving Rome in the night, and that on the Milvian bridge, about a mile from the city, they should be arrested with their papers and letters about

them, by two of the prætors, L. Flaccus and C. Pontinius, whom he had inftructed for that purpose, and ordered to lie in ambush near the place, with a strong guard of friends and foldiers: all which was fuccessfully executed, and the whole company brought prifoners to Cicero's houfe by break of day. The rumour of this accident prefently drew a resort of Cicero's principal friends about him, who advised him to open the letters before he produced them in the fenate, left, if nothing of moment were found in them, it might be thought rash and imprudent to raise an unneceffary terror and alarm through the city. But he was too well informed of the contents, to fear any cenfure of that kind; and declared, that in a cafe of public danger, he thought it his duty to lay the matter entire before the public council. He fummoned the fenate therefore to meet immediately, and fent at the fame time for Gabinius, Statilius, Cethegus, and Lentulus, who all came preíently to his houfe, fufpecting nothing of the difcovery; and being informed alfo of a quantity of arms provided by Cethegus for the ufe of the confpiracy, he ordered C. Sulpicius, another of the prætors, to go and fearch his houfe, where he found a great number of fwords and daggers, with other arms, all newly cleaned, and ready for prefent fervice. With this preparation he fet out to meet the fenate in the temple of Concord, with a numerous guard of citizens, carrying the ambaffadors and the confpirators with him in cuflody; and after he had given the affembly an account of the whole affair, the feveral parties were called in and examined, and an ample discovery made of the whole progrefs of the plot. After the criminals and witneffes were withdrawn, the fenate went into a debate upon the state of the republic, and came unanimoufly to the following refolutions: That public thanks fhould be decreed to Cicero in the ampleft manner, by whofe virtue, counsel, and providence, the republic was delivered from the greatest dangers; that Flaccus and Pontinius the prætors, fhould be thanked likewife, for their vigorous and punctual execu

tion of Cicero's orders: that Antonius, the other conful, fhould be praifed, for having removed from his counfels all thofe who were concerned in the confpiracy: that Lentulus, after having abdicated the prætorfhip, and divested himself of his robes; and Cethegus, Statilius, and Gabinius, with their other accomplices alfo when taken, Caffius, Cæparius, Furius, Chilo, and Umbrenus, should be committed to fafe cuftody; and that a public thanksgiving fhould be appointed in Cicero's name, for his having preferved the city from a conflagration, the citizens from a massacre, and Italy from a war. The fenate being difmiffed, Cicero went directly into the Roftra; and, in the following fpeech, gave the people an account of the difcovery that had been made, with the refolutions of the fenate confequent thereupon.

TO-Day, Romans, you behold the commonwealth, your lives, eftates, for tunes, your wives and children, the auguft feat of this renowned empire, this fair and flourishing city, preferved and restored to you, refcued from fire and fword, and almoft fnatched from the jaws of fate, by the diftinguished love of the immortal gods towards you, and by means of my toils, counfels and dangers. And if the days in which we are preferved from ruin, be no lefs joyous and memorable than thofe of our birth; because the pleasure of deliverance is certain, the condition to which we are born uncertain; and becaufe we enter upon life without consciousness, but are always fenfible to the joys of prefervation: urely, fince our gratitude and efteem for Romulus, the founder of this city, has induced us to rank him amongst the immortal gods; he cannot but merit honour with you and pofterity, who has preferved the fame city, with all its acceffions of ftrength and grandeur. For we have extinguished the flames that were difperfed on all fides, and just ready to feize the temples, fanctuaries, dwellings, and walls of this city; we have blunted the fwords that were drawn against the ftate; and turned afide the daggers that were pointed at your throats. And as all thefe particulars have been already explained, cleared, and fully proved by me in the fenate; I fhall now, Romans, lay them briefly before you, that fuch as are ftrangers

to what has happened, and wait with impatience to be informed, may understand what a terrible and manifeft deftruction hung over them, how it was traced out, and in what manner difcovered. And first, ever fince Cataline, a few days ago, fled from Rome; as he left behind him the partners of his treafon, and the boldest champions of this execrable war, I have always been upon the watch, Romans, and ftudying how to fecure you amidit fuch dark and complicated dangers.

For at that time, when I drove Cataline from Rome (for I now dread no reproach from that word, but rather the cenfure of having fuffered him to escape alive) I fay, when I forced him to quit Rome, I naturally concluded, that the rest of his accomplices would either follow him, or, being deprived of his affiftance, would proceed with lefs vigour and firmnefs. But when I found that the moft daring and forward of the confpirators ftill continued with us, and remained in the city, I employed myself night and day to unravel and fathom all their proceedings and designs; that fince my words found lefs credit with you, becaufe of the inconceivable enormity of the treafon, I might lay the whole fo clearly before you, as to compel you at length to take meafures for your own fafety, when you could no longer avoid feeing the danger that threatened you. Accordingly, when I found, that the ambaffadors of the Allobrogians had been folicited by P. Lentulus to kindle a war beyond the Alps, and raife commotions in Hither Gaul; that they had been fent to engage their state in the confpiracy, with orders to confer with Cataline by the way, to whom they had letters and inftructions; and that Vulturcius was appointed to accompany them, who was likewife entrusted with letters to Cataline; I thought a fair opportunity offered, not only of fatisfying myfelf with regard to the confpiracy, but likewife of clearing it up to the fenate and you, which had always appeared a matter of the greateft difficulty. and been the conftant fubject of my prayers to the immortal gods. Yefterday, therefore, I fent to the prætors L. Flaccus, and C. Pontinius, men of known courage, and diftinguished zeal for the republic.

1 laid the whole matter before them, and made them acquainted with what I defigned. They, full of the nobleft and most generous fentiments with regard to their country, undertook the bufinefs without delay or hefitation; and

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upon

upon the approach of night, privately repaired to the Milvian bridge, where they difpofed themselves in fuch manner in the neighbouring villages, that they formed two bodies, with the river and bridges between them. They likewife carried along with them a great number of brave foldiers, without the leaft fufpicion; and I difpatched from the præfecture of Reate feveral chofen youths well armed, whofe affiftance I had frequently used in the defence of the commonwealth. In the mean time, towards the clofe of the third watch, as the deputies of the Allobrogians, accompanied by Vulturcius, began to pafs the bridge with a great retinue, our men came out against them, and words were drawn on both fides. The affair was known to the prætors alone, none elfe being admitted into the fecret.

Upon the coming up of Pontinius and Flaccus, the conflict ceafed; all the let ters they carried with them were delivered fealed to the prætors; and the deputies, with their whole retinue being feized, were brought before me towards the dawn of day. I then fent for Gabinius Cimber, the contriver of all thefe deteftable treafons, who fufpected nothing of what had paffed: L. Statilius was fummoned next, and then Cethegus: Lentulus came the last of all, probably becaufe, contrary to cuflom, he had been up the greatest part of the night before, making out the difpatches. Many of the greatest and most illuftrious men in Rome, hearing what had paffed, crowded to my houfe in the morning, and advised me to open the letters before I communicated them to the fenate, left, if nothing material was found in them, I fhould be blamed for rafhly occafioning fo great an alarm in the city. But I refufed to comply, that an affair which threatened public danger, might come entire before the public council of the ftate. For, citizens, had the informations given me appeared to be without foundation, I had yet little reafon to apprehend, that any cenfure would befal me for my over-diligence in fo dangerous an aspect of things. I immediately affembled, as you faw, a very full fenate; and at the fame time, in confuence of a hint from the Allobrogian deputics, dispatched C. Sulpicius the prætor, a man of known courage, to fearch the hope of Cethegus, where he found a great number of words and daggers.

I introduced Vulturcius without the Gallic deputies, and by order of the houfe,

offered him a free pardon in the name of the public, if he would faithfully discover all that he knew: upon which, after some hefitation, he confeffed, that he had letters and inftructions from Lentulus to Cataline, to prefs him to accept the affistance of the flaves, and to lead his army with all expedition towards Rome, to the intent that when, according to the fcheme previously fettled and concerted among them, it should be fet on fire in different places, and the general maffacre begun, he might be at hand to intercept thofe who escaped, and join with his friends in the city. The ambaffadors were next brought in, who declared that an oath of fecrecy had been exacted from them, and that they had received letters to their nation from Lentulus, Cethegus, and Statilius; that these three, and L. Caffius alfo, required them to fend a body of herfe as foon as poffible into Italy, declaring, that they had no occafion for any foot: that Lentulus had aflured them from the Sibylline books, and the answers of foothfayers, that he was the third Cornelius, who was defined to empire, and the fovereignty of Rome, which Cinna and Sylla had enjoyed before him; and that this was the fatal year marked for the deftruction of the city and empire, being the tenth from the acquittal of the veltal virgins, and the twentieth from the burning of the capitol: that there was fome difpute between Cethegus and the reft about the time of firing the city; because, while Lentulus and the other confpirators were for fixing it on the feaft of Saturn, Cethegus thought that day too remote and dilatory.

But not to be tedious, Romans, I at laft ordered the letters to be produced, which were faid to be fent by the different parties. I firft fhewed Cethegus his feal; which he owning, I opened and read the letter. It was written with his own hand, and addiefed to the fenate and people of the Allobrogians, fignifying that he would make good what he had promifed to their ambafladers, and entreating them alo to perform what the ambaladors had undertaken for them. Then Cethegus, who a little before, being interrogated about the arms that were found at his houfe, had anfwered that he was always particularly fond of neat arms; upon hearing his letter read, was fo dejected, confounded, and felf-convicted, that he could not utter a word in his own defence. Statilius was then brought in, and acknowledged his

hand

hand and feal; and when his letter was read, to the fame purpose with that of Cethegus, he confeffed it to be his own. Then Lentulus's letter was produced. I afked if he knew the feal: he owned he did. It is indeed, faid I, a well known feal; the head of your illuftrious grandfather, fo diftinguished for his love to his country and fellow-citizens, that it is amazing the very fight of it was not fufficient to retrain you from fo black a treafon. His letter, directed to the fenate and people of the Allobroges, was of the fame import with the other two: but having leave to speak for himself, he at firft denied the whole charge, and began to question the ambasadors and Vulturcius, what bufinefs they ever had with him, and on what occafion they came to his houfe; to which they gave clear and diftin&t anfwers; fignifying by whom, and how often, they had been introduced to him; and then afked him, in their turn, whether he had never mentioned any thing to them about the Sibylline oracles; upon which being confounded, or infatuated rather by the fenfe of his guilt, he gave a remarkable proof of the great force of confcience: for not only his ufual parts and eloquence, but his impudence too, in which he outdid all men, quite failed him; fo that he confeffed his crime, to the furprife of the whole affembly. Then Vulturcius defired, that the letter to Cataline, which Lentulus had fent by him, might be opened; where Lentulus again, though greatly difordered, acknowledged his hand and feal. It was written without any name, but to this effect: "You will know who I "am, from him whom I have fent to you. "Take care to fhew yourself a man, and "recollect in what fituation you are, and confider what is now neceflary for you. “Be fure to make ufe of the affillance of all, even of the loweft." Gabinius was then introduced, and behaved impudently for a while; but at laft denied nothing of what the ambaffadors charged him with. And indeed, Romans, though their letters, feals, hands, and lastly their feveral voluntary confeffions, were strong and convincing evidences of their guilt; yet had I ftill clearer proofs of it from their looks, change of colour, countenances, and filence. For fuch was their amazement, fuch their downcaft looks, fuch their stolen glances one at another, that they seemed not fo much convicted by the information of others, as detected by the consciousnels of their own guilt.

The proofs being thus laid open and cleared, I confulted the fenate upon the measures proper to be taken for the public fafety. The most severe and vigorous refolutions were propofed by the leading men, to which the fenate agreed without the leaft oppofition. And as the decree is not yet put into writing, I fhall, as far as my memory ferves, give you an account of the whole proceeding. First of all, public thanks were decreed to me in the ampleft manner, for having by my courage, counfel, and forefight, delivered the republic from the greateft dangers: then the prætors L. Flaccus, and C. Pontinius were likewife thanked, for their vigorous and punctual execution of my orders. My colleague, the brave Antonius was praised, for having removed from his own and the counfels of the republic, all thofe who were concerned in the confpiracy. They then. came to a refolution, that P. Lentulus, after having abdicated the prætorship, fhould be committed to fafe cuftody; that C. Cethegus, L. Statilius, P. Gabinius, all three then prefent, fhould likewise remain in confinement; and that the fame fentence fhould be extended to L. Caffius, who had offered himself to the talk of firing the city; to M. Ceparius, to whom, as appeared, Apulia had been affigned for raifing the fhepherds; to P. Furius, who be-. longed to the colonies fettled by Sylla at Fefule; to Q Magius Chilo, who had always feconded this Furius, in his application to the deputies of the Allobrogians; and to P. Umbrenus, the fon of a freedman, who was proved to have first introduced the Gauls to Gabinius. The fenate chofe to proceed with this lenity, Romans, from a perfuafion that though the confpiracy was indeed formidable, and the ftrength and number of our domeftic enemies very great; yet by the punishment of nine of the most defperate, they fhould be able to preferve the state, and reclaim all the reit. At the fame time, a public thanksgiving was decreed in my name to the immortal gods, for their fignal care of the commonwealth; the firft, Romans, fince the building of Rome, that was ever decreed to any man in the gown. It was conceived in thefe words: Because I had "preferved the city from a conflagration, "the citizens from a maflacre, and Italy "from a war." A thankfgiving, my countrymen, which, if compared with others of the fame kind, will be found to differ from them in this; that all others were appointed

appointed for fome particular fervices to the republic, this alone for faving it. What required our first care was firft executed and dispatched. For P. Lentulus, though in confequence of the evidence brought against him, and his own confeffion, the fenate had adjudged him to have forfeited not only the prætorfhip, but the privileges of a Roman citizen, divefted himself of his magistracy: that the confideration of a public character, which yet had no weight with the illuftrious C. Marius, when he put to death the prætor C. Glaucia, against whom nothing had been exprefsly decreed, might not occafion any fcruple to us in punishing P. Lentulus, now reduced to the condition of a private man.

And now, Romans, as the deteftable leaders of this impious and unnatural rebellion are feized and in cuftody, you may jufly conclude, that Cataline's whole ftrength, power, and hopes are broken, and the dangers that threatened the city difpelled. For when I was driving him out of the city, Romans, I clearly forefaw, that if he was once removed, there would be nothing to apprehend from the drowsiness of Lentulus, the fat of Caffius, or the rafhnefs of Cethegus. He was the alone formidable perfon of the whole number, yet no longer fo, than while he remained within the walls of the city. He knew every thing; he had accefs in all places; he wanted neither abilities nor boldness to addrefs, to tempt, to folicit. He had a head to contrive, a tongue to explain, and a hand to execute any undertaking. He had felect and proper agents to be employed in every particular enterprize; and never took a thing to be done, because he had ordered it; but always purfued, urged, attended, and faw it done himself; declining neither hunger, cold, nor thirst. Had I not driven this man, fo keen, fo refolute, fo daring, fo crafty, fu alert in mifchief, fo active in defperate defigns, from his fecret plots within the city, into open rebellion in the fields, I could never fo easily, to fpeak my real thoughts, Romans, have delivered the republic from its dangers. He would not have fixed upon the feast of Saturn, nor name the fatal day for our destruction fo long before-hand, nor fuffered his hand and feal to be brought against him, as manifeft proofs of his guilt. Yet all this has been fo managed in his abfence, that no theft in any private house was ever more clearly detected than this whole confpiracy. But if Cata

line had remained in the city till this day; though to the utmoft I would have obftructed and oppofed all his defigns; yet, to fay the leaft, we must have come at laft to open force; nor would we have found it poffible, while that traitor was in the city, to have delivered the commonwealth from fuch threatening dangers with fo much eafe, quiet, and tranquillity.

Yet all thefe tranfactions, Romans, have been fo managed by me, as if the whole was the pure effect of a divine inAuence and forefight. This we may conjecture, not only from the events themfelves being above the reach of human counfel, but because the gods have fo remarkably interpofed in them, as to fhew themselves almoft visibly. For not to mention the nightly streams of light from the western sky, the blazing of the heavens, the thunders, the earthquakes, with the other many prodigies which have happened in my confulthip, that feem like the voice of the gods predicting thefe events; furely, Romans, what I am now about to fay, ought neither to be omitted, nor pass without notice. For, doubtless, you must remember, that under the confulfhip of Cotta and Torquatus, feveral turrets of the capitol were ftruck down with lightning: that the images of the immortal gods were likewife overthrown, the ftatues of ancient heroes difplaced, and the brazen tables of the laws melted down that even Romulus, the founder of this city, efcaped not unhurt; whofe gilt ftatue, reprefenting him as an infant fucking a wolf, you may remember to have feen in the capitol. At that time the foothfayers, being called together from all Etruria, declared, that fire, flaughter, the overthrow of the laws, civil war, and the ruin of the city and empire, were portended, unless the gods, appeafed by all forts of means, could be prevailed with to interpofe, and bend in fome measure the deftinies themselves. In confequence of this answer, folemn games were celebrated for ten days, nor was any method of pacifying the gods omitted. The fame foothfayers likewife ordered a larger ftatue of Jupiter to be made, and placed on high, in a pofition contrary to that of the former image, with its face turned towards the eaft; intimating, that if his ftatue, which you now behold, looked towards the rifing fun, the forum, and the fenate-houfe; then all fecret machinations against the city and empire would be detected fo

evidently,