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would not have allowed that gladiator the ufe of one moment's life. For if, in former days, our greatest men, and moft illuftrious citizens, inftead of fullying, have done honour to their memories, by the deftruction of Saturninus, the Gracchi, Flaccus, and many others; there is no ground to fear, that by killing this parricide, any envy would lie upon me with pofterity. Yet if the greatest was fure to befal me, it was always my perfuafion, that envy acquired by virtue was really glory, not envy. But there are fome of this very order, who do not either fee the dangers which hang over us, or elfe diffemble what they fee; who, by the foftnefs of their votes, cherifh Cataline's hopes, and add ftrength to the confpiracy by not believing it; whofe authority influences many, not only of the wicked, but the weak; who, if I had punished this man as he deferved, would not have failed to charge me with acting cruelly and tyrannically. Now I am perfuaded, that when he is once gone into Manlius's camp, whither he actually defigns to go, none can be fo filly, as not to fee that there is a plot; none fo wicked, as not to acknowledge it: whereas by taking off him alone, though this peftilence would be fomewhat checked, it could not be fuppreffed: but when he has thrown himself into rebellion, and carried out his friends along with him, and drawn together the profligate and defperate from all parts of the empire, not only this ripened plague of the republic, but the very root and feed of all our evils, will be extirpated with him at once.

It is now a long time, confcript fathers, that we have trod amidit the dangers and machinations of this confpiracy: but I krow not how it comes to pafs, the fall maturity of all thofe crimes, and of this long rpening rage and infolence, has now broke cut during the period of my confulthip. Should he alone be removed from this powerful band of traitors, it may abate, perhaps, our fears and anxieties for a while; but the danger will ftill remain, and continue lurking in the veins and vitals of the republic. For as men, oppreffed with a fevere fit of illness, and labouring under the raging heat of a fever, are often at firft feemingly relieved by a draught of cold water, but afterwards find the dif eafe return upon them with redoubled furv; in like manner, this diffemper which has feized the commonwealth, eafed a litte by the punishment of this traitor, will

from his furviving affociates foon affume new force. Wherefore, confcript fathers, let the wicked retire, let them separate themfelves from the honest, let them rendezvous in one place. In fine, as I have often faid, let a wall be between them and us: let them cease to lay fnares for the conful in his own house, to befet the tribunal of the city prætor, to invest the senate-house with armed ruffians, and to prepare fire-balls and torches for burning the city: in fhort, let every man's fentiments with regard to the public be infcribed on his forehead. This I engage for and promife, confcript fathers, that by the diligence of the confuls, the weight of your authority, the courage and firmnefs of the Roman knights, and the unanimity of all the honeft, Cataline being driven from the city, you fhall behold all his treafons detected, expofed, crushed, and punished. With these omens, Cataline, of all profperity to the republic, but of deftruction to thyfelf, and all thofe who have joined themfelves with thee in all kinds of parricide, go thy way then to this impious and abominable war: whit thou, Jupiter, whofe religion was established with the foundation of this city, whom we truly call Stator, the ftay and prop of this empire, will drive this man and his accomplices from thy altars and temples, from the houses and walls of the city, from the lives and fortunes of us all; and wilt deftroy with eternal punishments, both living and dead, all the haters of good men, the enemies of their country. the plunderers of Italy, now confederated in this deteftable league and partnership of villainy.

Whitworth's Cicero.

§ 6. Oration against Cataline.

THE ARGUMENT.

Cataline, aftonifhed by the thunder of the laft fpeech, had little to say for himself in answer to it; yet with downcaft looks, and fuppliant voice, he begged of the fathers, not to believe too haftily what was faid against him by an enemy; that his birth and past life offered every thing to him that was hopeful; and it was not to be imagined, that a man of patrician family, whofe ancestors, as well as himself, had given many proofs of their affection to the Roman people, fhould want to overturn the government; while Cicero, a franger, and

late

late inhabitant of Rome, was fo zealous to preferve it. But as he was going on to give foul language, the fenate interrupted him by a general outcry, calling him traitor and parricide: upon which, being furious and defperate, he declared again aloud what he had faid before to Cato, that fince he was circumvented and driven headlong by his enemies, he would quench the flame which was raised about him by the common ruin; and fo rushed out of the affembly. As foon as he was come to his houfe, and began to reflect on 'what had paffed, perceiving it in vain to diffemble any longer, he refolved to enter into action immediately, before the troops of the republic were increafed, or any new levies made: fo that after a fhort conference with Lentulus, Cethegus, and the reft, about what had been concerted in the last meeting, having given fresh orders and affurances of his fpeedy return at the head of a strong army, he left Rome that very night with a fmall retinue, to make the best of his way towards Eutruria. He no fooner difappeared, than his friends gave out that he was gone into a voluntary exile at Marfeilles, which was induftriously spread through the city the next morning, to raile an odium upon Cicero, for driving an innocent man into banishment, without any previous trial or proof of his guilt. But Cicero was too well informed of his motions, to entertain any doubt about his going to Manlius's camp, and into actual rebellion. He knew that he had fent thither already a great quantity of arms, and all the enfigns of military command, with that filver eagle, which he ufed to keep with great superstition in his houfe, for its having belonged to C. Marius, in his expedition against the Cimbri. But, left the story should make an ill impreffion on the city, he called the people together into the forum, to give them an account of what paffed in the fenate the day before, and of Cataline's leaving Rome upon it. And this makes the fubject of the oration now before us.

AT length, Romans, have we driven, dilcarded, and pursued with the keeneft

reproaches to the very gates of Rome, L Cataline, intoxicated with fury, breathing mischief, impiously plotting the deftruction of his country, and threatening to lay waste this city with fire and fword. He is gone, he is fled, he has escaped, he has broke away. No longer fhall that monster, that prodigy of mifchief, plot the ruin of this city within her very walls. We have gained a clear conqueft over this chief and ringleader of domeftic broils. His threatening dagger is no longer pointed at our breafts, nor fhall we now any more tremble in the field of Mars, the forum, the fenate-houfe, or within our domestic walls. In driving him from the city, we have forced his moft advantageous post. We fhall now, without oppofition, carry on a just war against an open enemy. We have effectually ruined the man, and gained a glorious victory, by driving him from his fecret plots into open rebellion. But how do you think he is overwhelmed and crushed with regret, at carrying away his dagger unbathed in blood, at leaving the city before he had effected my death, at fecing the weapons prepared for our deftruction wrefted out of his hands: in a word, that Rome is still standing, and her citizens fafe. He is now quite overthrown, Romans, and perceives himself impotent and defpifed, often cafting back his eyes upon this city, which he fees, with regret, refcued from his deftructive jaws; and which feems to me to rejoice for having difgorged and rid herself of so peftilent a citizen.

But if there be any here, who blame me for what I am boafting of, as you all indeed juftly may, that I did not rather feize than fend away fo capital an enemy: that is not my fault, citizens, but the fault of the times. Cataline ought long ago to have fuffered the laft punishment; the custom of our ancestors, the difcipline of the empire, and the republic itfeif required it: but how many would there have been, who would not have believed what I charged him with? How many, who, through weakness, would never have imagined it? how many, who would even have defended him? how many, who, through wickednefs, would have efpoufed his caufe? But had I judged that his death would have put a final period to all your dan gers, I would long ago have ordered him to execution, at the hazard not only of public cenfure, but even of my life. But when I faw, that by fentencing him to the death

death he deferved, and before you were all fully convinced of his guilt, I fhould have drawn upon myself fuch an odium, as would have rendered me unable to profecute his accomplices; I brought the matter to this point, that you might then openly and vigorously attack Cataline,when he was apparently become a public enemy. What kind of an enemy I judge him to be, and how formidable in his attempt, you may learn from hence, citizens, that I am only forry he went off with fo few to attend him. I wish he had taken his whole forces along with him. He has carried off Tongillus indeed, the object of his criminal paffion when a youth; he has likewife carried off Publicius and Munatius, whofe tavern debts would never have occafioned any commotions in the ftate. But how important are the men he has left behind him? how oppreffed with debt, how powerful, how illuftrious by their descent ?

When therefore I think of our Gallic legions, and the levies made by Metellus in Picenum and Lombardy, together with thofe troops we are daily raifing; I hold in utter contempt that army of his, compofed of wretched old men, of debauchees from the country, of ruftic vagabonds, of fuch as have fled from their bail to take fhelter in his camp: men ready to run away not only at the fight of an army, but of the prætor's edit. I could with he had likewife carried with him those whom I fee fluttering in the forum, fauntering about the courts of juftice, and even taking their places in the fenate; men fleek with perfumes, and fhining in purple. If these fill remain here, mark what I fay, the deferters from the army are more to be dreaded than the army itfelf; and the more fo, because they know me to be informed of all their defigns, yet are not in the leaft moved by it. I behold the perfon to whom Apulia is allotted, to whom Etruria, to whom the territory of Picenum, to whom Cifalpine Gaul. I fee the man who demanded the task of fetting fire to the city, and filling it with flaughter. They know that I am acquainted with all the fecrets of their last nocturnal meeting: I laid them open yefterday in the fenate: Cataline himself was disheartened and fled: what then can these others mean? They are much mistaken if they imagine I fhall always use the fame lenity.

Í have at laft gained what I have hi

therto been waiting for, to make you all fenfible that a confpiracy is openly formed against the state: unless there be any one who imagines, that fuch as resemble Cataline may yet refufe to enter into his defigns. There is now therefore no more room for clemency, the cafe itself requires feverity. Yet I will still grant them one thing; let them quit the city, let them follow Cataline, nor fuffer their miferable leader to languish in their absence. Nay, I will even tell them the way; it is the Aurelian road: if they make hafte, they may overtake him before night. O happy ftate, were it but once drained of this fink of wickedness! To me the abfence of Cataline alone feems to have reftored fresh beauty and vigour to the commonwealth. What villainy, what mifchief can be deviled or imagined, that has not entered into his thoughts? What prifoner is to be found in all Italy, what gladiator, what robber, what affaffin, wha: parricide, what forger of wills, what sharper, what debauchee, what fquanderer, what adulterer, what harlot, what corrupter of youth, what corrupted wretch, what abandoned criminal, who will not own an intimate familiarity with Cataline? What murder has been perpetrated of late years without him? What act of lewdness speaks not him for its author? Was ever man poffeffed of fuch talents for corrupting youth? To fome he prostituted himself unnaturally; for others he indulged a criminal paffion. Many were allured by the profpect of unbounded enjoyment, many by the promise of their parents death; to which he not only incited them, but even contributed his affiftance. What a prodigious number of profligate wretches has he juft now drawn together, not only from the city, but alfo from the country? There is not a perfon oppreffed with debt, I will not fay in Rome, but in the remoteft corner of all Italy, whom he has not engaged in this unparalleled confederacy of guilt.

But to make you acquainted with the variety of his talents, in all the different kinds of vice; there is not a gladiator in any of our public fchools, remarkable for being audacious in mifchief, who does not own an intimacy with Cataline; not a player of diftinguifhed impudence and guilt, but openly boafts of having been his companion. Yet this man, trained up in the continual exercife of lewdnefs and villainy, while he was wafting in riot and debau

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chery the means of virtue, and fupplies of induftry, was extolled by these his affociates for his fortitude and patience in fupporting cold, hunger, thirst, and watchings. Would his companions but follow him, would this profligate crew of defperate men but leave the city; how happy would it be for us, how fortunate for the commonwealth, how glorious for my confulfhip? It is not a moderate degree of depravity, a natural or fupportable meafure of guilt that now prevails. Nothing lefs than murders, rapines, and conflagrations employ their thoughts. They have fquandered away their patrimonies, they have wafted their fortunes in debauchery; they have long been without money, and now their credit begins to fail them; yet fill they retain the fame defires, though deprived of the means of enjoyment. Did they, amidst their revels and gaming, affect no other pleafures than thofe of lewdnefs and feafting, however defperate their cafe muft appear, it might fill notwith standing be borne with. But it is altogether infufferable, that the cowardly hould pretend to plot against the brave, the foolish against the prudent, the drunken against the fober, the drowsy against the vigilant; who lolling at feafts, embracing mitreffes, ftaggering with wine, ftuffed with victuals, crowned with garlands, daubed with perfumes, wafted with intemperance, belch in their converfations of maffacring the honeft, and firing the city. Over fuch, I truft, fome dreadful fatality now hangs; and that the vengeance fo long due to their villainy, bafenefs, guilt, and crimes, is either juft breaking, or juft ready to break upon their heads. If my confulfhip, fince it cannot cure, fhould cut off all thefe, it would add no fmall period to the duration of the republic. For there is no nation, which we have reafon to fear; no king, who can make war upon the Roman people. All difturbances abroad, both by land and fea, are quelled by the virtue of one man. But a domeftic war ftill remains the treason, the danger, the enemy is within. We are to combat with luxury, with madness, with villainy. In this war I profefs myfelf your leader, and take upon myself all the animofity of the defperate. Whatever can poffibly be healed, I will heal; but what ought to be cut off, I will never fuffer to fpread to the ruin of the city. Let them therefore depart, or be at reft; but if they are refolved both to remain in the

city, and continue their wonted practices, let them look for the punishment they deferve.

But fome there are, Romans, who affert, that I have driven Cataline into banifhment. And indeed, could words compafs it, I would not fcruple to drive them into exile too. Cataline, to be fure, was fo very timorous and modeft, that he could not ftand the words of the conful; but being ordered into banishment, immediately acquiefced and obeyed. Yesterday, when I ran fo great a hazard of being murdered in my own houfe, I affembled the fenate in the temple of Jupiter Stator, and laid the whole affair before the confcript fathers. When Cataline came thither, did fo much as one fenator accoft or falute him? In fine, did they regard him only as a defperate citizen, and nor rather as an outrageous enemy? Nay, the confular fenators quitted that part of the houfe where he fat, and left the whole bench clear to him. Here I, that violent conful, who by a fingle word drive citizens into banifhment, demanded of Cataline, whether he had not been at the nocturnal meeting in the houfe of M. Lecca. And when he, the moft audacious of men, ftruck dumb by felf-conviction, returned no anfwer, I laid open the whole to the fenate; acquainting them with the tranfactions of that night; where he had been, what was referved for the next, and how he had fettled the whole plan of the war. appeared difconcerted and fpeechlefs, I afked what hindered his going upon an expedition, which he had fo long prepared for; when I knew that he had already fent before him arms, axes, rods, trumpets, military enfigns, and that filver eagle, to which he had raised an impious altar in his own houfe. Can I be faid to have driven into banishment a man who had already commenced hoftilities against his country? Or is it credible that Manlius, an obfcure centurion, who has pitched his camp upon the plains of Fefulæ, would declare war against the Roman people in his own name: that the forces under him do not now expect Cataline for their general: or that he, fubmitting to a voluntary banithment, has, as fome pretend, repaired to Marseilles, and not to the before-mentioned camp?

As he

O wretched condition! not only of governing, but even of preferving the fate. For fhould Cataline, difcouraged and difconcerted by my counfels, vigilance, and

frenuous

geance, than to reclaim them, if poffible, from their errors, and reconcile them to the republic. Nor do I perceive any dif ficulty in the undertaking, if they will but litten to my advice. For first I will fhew you, citizens, of what different forts of men their forces confift, and then apply to each, as far as I am able, the moit powerful remedies of perfuafion and eloquence. The first fort confits of those, who having great debts, but ftill greater poffeffions, are fo paffionately fond of the latter, that they cannot bear the thought of infringing them. This, in appearance, is the most honourable clafs, for they are rich: but their intention and aim is the most infamous of all. Art thou diftinguifhed by the poffeffion of an eftate, houses, money, flaves, and all the conveniences and fuperfluities of life; and dot thou fcruple to take from thy poffeffions, in order to add to thy credit? For what is it thou expecteft? Is it war? and doft thou hope thy poffeffions will remain unviolated, amidit an univerfal invasion of property? Is it new regulations about debts, thou haft in view? 'Tis an error to expect this from Cataline. New regulations fhall indeed be proffered by my means, but attended with public auctions, which is the only method to preferve thofe who have eftates from ruin. And had they confented to this expedient focner, nor foolishly run out their eftates in mortgages, they would have been at this day both richer men, and better citizens. But I have no great dread of this clafs of men, as believing they may be eafily difengaged from the confpiracy; or, should they per fit, they feem more likely to have recourse to imprecations than arms.

ftrenuous care of the republic, be feized with a fudden dread, change his refolution, defert his party, quit his hoftile defigns, and alter his courfe of war and guilt, into that of flight and banishment; it will not then be faid, that I have wrefted out of his hands the weapons of infolence, that I have aftonished and confounded him by my diligence, and that I have driven him from all his hopes and fchemes: but he will be confidered as a man innocent and uncondemned, who has been forced into banishment by the threats and violence of the conful. Nay there are, who in this event, would think him not wicked, but unhappy; and me not a vigilant conful, but a cruel tyrant. But I little regard this form of bitter and undeserved cenfure, provided I can fcreen you from the danger of this dreadful and impious war. Let him only go into banishment and I am content it be afcribed to my threats. But believe me, he has no defign to go. My defire of avoiding public envy, Romins, fhall never induce me to with you may hear of Cataline's being at the head of an army, and traverfing, in a hoftile manner, the territories of the republic. But affuredly you will hear it in three days; and I have much greater reafon to fear being cenfured for letting him efcape, than that I forced him to quit the city. But if men are fo perverfe as to complain of his being driven away, what would they have faid if he had been put to death? Yet there is not one of those who talk of his going to Marseilles, but would be forry for it if it was true; and with all the concern they exprefs for him, they had much rather hear of his being in Manlius's camp. As for himself, had he never before thought of the project he is now engaged in, yet fuch is his particular turn of mind, that he would rather fall as a robber, than live as an exile. But now, as nothing has happened contrary to his expectation and defire, except that I was left alive when he quitted Rome; let us rather with he may go into banishment, than complain of it.

But why do I fpeak fo much about one enemy? An enemy too, who has openly proclaimed himfelf fuch; and whom I no longer dread, fince, as I always wished, there is now a wall between us. Shall I fay nothing of those who diflemble their treafon, who continue at Rome, and mingle in our affemblies? With regard to thefe, indeed, I am lefs intent upon ven

The next clafs confifts of those, who though oppreffed with debt, yet hope for power, and afpire at the chief manage meat of public affairs; imagining they fhall obtain those honours by throwing the ftate into confufion, which they despair of during its tranquillity. To thefe I fhall give the fame advice as to the rest which is, to quit all hope of fucceeding in their attempts. For first, I myself am watchful, active, and attentive to the intereft of the republic: then there is on the fide of the honeft party, great courage, great unanimity, a vaft multitude of citizens, and very numerous forces: in fine, the immortal gods themselves will not fail to interpofe in behalf of this unconquered people, this illuftrious empire, this fair

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