city, against the daring attempts of guilty violence. And even fuppofing them to accomplish what they with fo much frantic rage defire, do they hope to fpring up confuls, dictators, or kings, from the afhes of a city, and blood of her citizens, which with fo much treachery and facrilege they have confpired to fpill? They are ignorant of the tendency of their own defires, and that, in cafe of fuccefs, they must themselves fall a prey to fome fugitive or gladiator. The third clafs confifts of men of advanced age, but hardened in all the exercises of war. Of this fort is. Manlíus, whom Cataline now fucceeds. Thefe come moftly from the colonies planted by Sylla at Fefule; which, I am ready to allow, confift of the best citizens, and the bravest men: but coming many of them to the fudden and unexpected poffeffion of great wealth, they ran into all the exceffes of luxury and profufion. Thefe, by building fine houses, by affluent living, fplendid equipages, numerous attendants, and fumptuous entertainments, have plunged them felves fo deeply in debt, that, in order to retrieve their affairs, they must recal Sylla from his tomb. I fay nothing of those needy indigent ruftics, whom they have gained over to their party, by the hopes of feeing the scheme of rapine renewed: for I confider both in the fame light of robbers, and plunderers. But I advise them to drop their frantic ambition, and think no more of dictatorships and profcriptions. For fo deep an impreffion have the calamities of thofe times made upon the ftate, that not only men, but the very beasts would not bear a repetition of fuch

outrages.

The fourth is a mixt, motly, mutinous tribe, who have been long ruined beyond hopes of recovery; and, partly through indolence, partly, through ill management, partly too through extravagance, droop beneath a load of ancient debt: who, perfecuted with arrefts, judgments, and confifcations, are faid to refort in great numbers, both from city and country, to the enemy's camp. These I confider, not as brave foldiers, but difpirited bankrupts. If they cannot fupport themfelves, let them even fall: yet fo, that neither the city nor neighbourhood may receive any fhock. For I am unable to perceive why, if they cannot live with honour, they should chufe to die with infamy: or why they should fancy it lefs painful to die in company with others, than to perish by themselves. The

fifth fort is a collection of parricides, af faffins, and ruffians of all kinds; whom I afk not to abandon Cataline, as knowing them to be infeparable. Let thefe even perish in their robberies, fince their number is fo great, that no prison could be found large enough to contain them. The laft clafs, not only in this enumeration, but likewife in character and morals, are Ca taline's peculiar affociates, his choice companions, and bofom friends: fuch as you fee with curled locks, neat array, beardlefs, or with beards nicely trimmed; in full drefs, in flowing robes, and wearing mantles inftead of gowns; whose whole labour of life, and induftry of watching, are exhaufted upon midnight entertainments. Under this clafs we may rank all gamefters, whoremasters, and the lewd and luftful of every denomination. These flim delicate youths, practifed in all the arts of raifing and allaying the amorous fire, not only know to fing and dance, but on occafion can aim the murdering dagger, and adminifter the poisonous draught. Unlefs these depart, unless these perish, know, that was even Cataline himself to fall, we shall still have a nursery of Catalines in the flate. But what can this miserable race have in view? Do they propofe to carry their wenches along with them to the camp? Indeed, how can they be without them thefe cold winter nights? But have they confidered of the Appennine frofts and fnows? or do they imagine they will be the abler to endure the rigours of winter, for having learned to dance naked at revels? O formidable and tremendous war! where Cataline's prætorian guard confifts of fuch a diffolute effeminate crew.

Against thefe gallant troops of your adverfary, prepare, O Romans, your garri fons and armies: and first, to that battered and maimed gladiator, oppose your confuls and generals: next, against that outcaft miferable crew, lead forth the flower and ftrength of all Italy. The walls of our colonies, and free towns will easily refift the efforts of Cataline's ruftic troops. But I ought not to run the parallel farther, or compare your other refources, preparations, and defences, to the indigence and nakedness of that robber. But if onitting all thofe advantages of which we are provided, and he deftitute, as the fenate, the Roman knights, the people, the city, the treafur, the public revenues, Italy, all the provinces, foreign ftates: I

all

fay,

Fay, if omitting all thefe, we only compare the contending parties between themfelves, it will foon appear how very low our enemies are reduced. On the one fide modefty contends, on the other petulance: here chastity, there pollution: here integrity, there treachery: here piety, there profaneness: here refolution, there rage: here honour, there bafenefs: here moderation, there unbridled licentioufnefs: in fhort, equity, temperance, fortitude, prudence, ftruggle with iniquity, luxury, cowardice, rafhnefs; every virtue with every vice. Laftly, the conteft lies between wealth and indigence, found and depraved reafon, ftrength of understanding and frenzy; in fine, between well-grounded hope, and the moft abfolute defpair. In fuch a conflict and ftruggle as this, was even human aid to fail, will not the immortal gods enable fuch illuftrious virtue to triumph over fuch complicated vice?

Such, Romans, being our prefent fituation, do you, as I have before advised, watch and keep guard in your private hoafes: for as to what concerns the public tranquillity, and the defence of the city, I have taken care to fecure that, without tumult or alarm. The colonies and municipal towns, having received notice from me of Cataline's nocturnal retreat, will be upon their guard against him. The band gladiators, whom Cataline always depended upon, as his beft and fureft fupport, though in truth they are better affected than fome part of the patricians, are nevertheless taken care of in fuch a manner, as to be in the power of the republic. Q. Metellus the prætor, whom, foreseeing Cataline's flight, I fent into Gaul and the district of Picenum, will either wholly crush the traitor, or baffle all his motions and attempts. And to fettle, ripen, and bring all other matters to a conclufion, I am just going to lay them before the fenate, which you fee now affembling. As for thofe therefore who continue in the city, and were left behind by Cataline, for the deftruction of it and us all; though they are enemies, yet as by birth they are likewife fellow-citizens, I again and again admonish them, that my lenity, which to fome may have rather appeared remiffness, has been waiting only for an opportunity of demonftrating the certainty of the plot. As for the reft, I fhall never forget that this is my country, that I am its conful, and that I think it my duty either to live with my countrymen, or die for them.

There is no guard upon the gates, none to watch the roads; if any one has a mind to withdraw himself, he may go wherever he pleases. But whoever makes the leaft ftir within the city, fo as to be caught not only in any overt act, but even in any plot or attempt against the republic; he fhall know, that there are in it vigilant confuls, excellent magiftrates, and a refolute fenate; that there are arms, and a prifon, which our ancestors provided as the avenger of manifeft and atrocious crimes.

And all this fhall be tranfacted in fuch a manner, citizens, that the greatest diforders fhall be quelled without the leaft hurry; the greatest dangers without any tumult; a domeftic and inteftine war, the moft cruel and defperate of any in our memory, by me, your only leader and general, in my gown; which I will manage fo, that, as far as it is poffible, not one even of the guilty fhall fuffer punishment in the city: but if their audacioufness and my country's danger fhould neceffarily drive me from this mild refolution; yet I will effect, what in fo cruel and treacherous a war could hardly be hoped for, that not one honeft man fhall fall, but all of you be fafe by the punishment of a few. This I promile, citizens, not from any confidence in my own prudence, or from any human counfels, but from the many evident declarations of the gods, by whofe impulfe I am led into this perfuafion; who affist us, not as they used to do, at a diftance, against foreign and remote enemies, but by their prefent help and protection defend their temples and our houses. It is your part, therefore, citizens, to worship, implore, and pray to them, that fince all our enemies are now fubdued both by land and fea, they would continue to preferve this city, which was defigned by them for the most beautiful, the moft flourishing and moft powerful on earth, from the deteitable treafons of its own defperate citizens. Whitworth's Cicero.

Cataline, as we have feen, being forced to leave Rome, Lentulus, and the reft who remained in the city, began to prepare all things for the execution of their grand defign. They folicited men of all ranks, who feemed likely to favour their cause, or to

be of any ufe 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 redress of the grievances which they were fent to complain of, received the propofal at firft very greedily, and promifed to engage their nation to affilt the confpirators with what they principally 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 ambafladors, 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. Flac cus ard C. Pontinius, whom he had inftructed for that purpose, and ordered to lie in ambush near the place, with a ftrong guard of friends and foldiers all which was fuccefsfully executed, and the whole company brought prifoners to Cicero's houte by break of day. The rumour of this accident prefently drew a refort 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 dan ger, he thought it his duty to lay the matter entire before the public coun cil. He fummoned the fenate there. fore to meet immediately, and fent at the fame time for Gabinius, Statis lius, Cethegus, and Lentulus, who all came prefently 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, lo goand 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 senate in the temple of Concord, with a numerous guard of citizens, carry, ing the ambaffadors and the confpirators with him in cuftody; and after he had given the affembly an account of the whole affair, the feveral parties were called in and examined, and an ample difcovery made of the whole progrefs of the plot. After the criminals and witneffes were withdrawn, the fenate went into a debate upon the fate 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 praised, for having removed from his counfels all thofe who were concerned in the confpiracy that Lentulus, after having abdicated the prætorthip, and divetted himself of his robes; and Cethegus, Statilius, and Gabinius, with their other accomplices alfo when taken, Caffius, Caparius, Furius, Chilo, and Umbrenus, thould be committed to fafe cuftody; and that a public thanksgiving thould be appointed in Cicero's name, for his having preserved the city from a contlagration, the citizens from a maffacre, 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 august feat of this renowned empire, this fair and flourishing city, preferved and reflored to you, rescued from fire and fword, and almat 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 leis joyous and memorable than thofe of our birth; because the pleasure of deliverance is certain, the condition to which we are born uncertain; and because we enter upon life without confcioufnefs, 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 fo me city, with all its acceffions of ftrength and grandeur. For we have extinguished the flames that were difperfed on all fides, and juft 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 these 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 rangers

to what has happened, and wait with impatience to be informed, may understand what a terrible and manifeft destruction hung over them, how it was traced out, and in what manner difcovered. And firft, ever fince Cataline, a few days ago, fied from Rome; as he left behind him the partners of his treafon, and the boldeft 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 centure of having fuffered him to efcape 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 firmness. But when I found that the most daring and forward of the confpirators ftill continued with us, and remained in the city, I employed myfelf night and day to unravel and fathom all their proceedings and defigns; 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 measures 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 greatest diffi culty. and been the conftant fubject of my prayers to the immortal gods. Yefterday, therefore, I fent to the prætors L. Flaccus, and C. Pontipius, men of known courage, and diftinguished zeal for the republic. I 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 bunefs without delay or hefitation; and

T:4

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 likewise carried along with them a great number of brave foldiers, without the leaft fufpicion; and I dispatched 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 fwords were drawn on both fides. The affair was known to the prætors alone, none else 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 these deteftable treasons, who fufpected nothing of what had paffed: L. Statilius was fummoned next, and then Cethegus: Lentulus came the laft of all, probably becaufe, contrary to cuftom, he had been up the greateft part of the night before, making out the dispatches. Many of the greatest and most illuftrious men in Rome, hearing what had paffed, crowded to my house 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 afpect of things. I immediately affembled, as you faw, a very full fenate; and at the fame time, in confequence of a hint from the Allobrogian deputies, dispatched C. Sulpicius the prætor, a man of known courage, to fearch the house of Cethegus, where he found a great number of fwords and daggers.

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

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 scheme 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 those 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 horse as foon as poffible into Italy, declaring, that they had no occafion for any foot: that Lentulus had affured them from the Sibylline books, and the answers of foothfayers, that he was the third Cornelius, who was deftined 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 veftal 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 feast of Saturn, Cethegus thought that day too remote and dilatory.

But not to be tedious, Romans, I at last 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 addreffed to the fenate and people of the Allobrogians, fignifying that he would make good what he had promifed to their ambaffadors, and entreating them also to perform what the ambaffadors had undertaken for them. Then Cethegus, who a little before, being interrogated about the arms that were found at his house, 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