very. They know how he rewarded those traitors of Amphipolis, who made him maf ter of that city; and thofe of Pydna, who opened their gates to him. In a word, free ftates, I think, muft ever look with fufpicion on an abfolute monarchy: but a neighbouring monarchy muft double their apprehenfions.

Convinced of what hath now been offered, and poffeffed with every other juft and worthy fentiment; you must be refolved, Athenians! you must exert your fpirit; you muft apply to the war, now, if ever; your fortunes, your perfons, your whole powers, are now demanded. There is no excufe, no pretence left, for declining the performance of your duty. For that which you were all ever urging loudly, that the Olynthians fhould be engaged in a war with Philip, hath now happened of itfelf; and this in a manner moft agreeable to our intereft. For, if they had entered into this war at our perfuafion, they must have been precarious allies, without fteadiness or refolution: but, as their private injuries have made them enemies to Philip, it is probable that enmity will be lafting, both on account of what they fear, and what they have already fuffered. My countrymen! let not fo favourable an opportunity escape you: do not repeat that error which hath been fo often fatal to you. For when, at our return from affifting the Euboeans, Hierax, and Stratocles, citizens of Amphipolis, mounted this gallery, and preffed you to fend out your navy, and to take their city under your protection; had we difcovered that refolution in our own caufe, which we exerted for the fafety of Euboea; then had Amphipolis been yours; and all thofe difficulties had been avoided, in which you have been fince involved. Again, when we received advice of the fieges of Pydna, Potidæa, Methone, Pegafe, and other places, (for I would not detain you with a particular recital) had we ourselves marched with a due fpirit and alacrity to the relief of the first of thefe cities, we fhould now find much more compliance, much more humility in Philip. But by ftill neglecting the prefent, and imagining our future interefts will not demand our care: we have aggrandized our enemy, we have raised him to a degree of eminence, greater than any king of Macedon hath ever yet enjoyed. Now we have another opportunty. That which the Olynthians, of themfelves, prefent to the ftate: one no lefs confiderable than any of the former.

And, in my opinion, Athenians! if a man were to bring the dealings of the gods towards us to a fair account, though many things might appear not quite agreeable to our wishes, yet he would acknowledge that we had been highly favoured by them; and with great reafon: for that many places have been loft in the course of war, is truly to be charged to our own weak conduct. But that the difficulties, arifen from hence, have not long affected us; and that an alliance now prefents itself to remove them, if we are difpofed to make the juft ufe of it; this I cannot but afcribe to the divine goodness. But the fame thing happens in this cafe, as in the use of riches. If a man be careful to fave those he hath acquired, he readily acknowledges the kindness of fortune: but if by his impru dence they be once loft; with them he alfo lofes the fenfe of gratitude. So in political affairs, they who neglect to improve their opportunities, forget the favours which the gods have bestowed; for it is the ultimate event which generally determines mens judgment of every thing precedent. And, therefore, all affairs hereafter fhould engage your ftricteft care; that, by correcting our errors, we may wipe off the inglorious stain of paft actions. But fhould we be deaf to thefe men too, and should he be suffered to fubvert Olynthus; fay, what can prevent him from marching his forces into whatever territory he pleases.

Is there not a man among you, Athenians! who reflects by what steps, Philip, from a beginning fo inconfiderable, hath mounted to this height of power? First, he took Amphipolis: then he became malter of Pydna; then Potidea fell; then Methone: then came his inroad into Theffaly: after this, having difpofed affairs at Phere, at Pegafe, at Magnefia, intirely as he pleased, he marched into Thrace. Here, while engaged in expelling fome, and eftablifhing other princes, he fell fick. Again, recovering, he never turned a moment from his courfe to eafe or indulgence, but inftantly attacked the Olynthians. His expeditions againft the Illyrians, the Pronians, against Arymbas, I pass all over.But I may be asked, why this recital, now? That you may know and fee your own error, in ever neglecting fome part of your affairs, as if beneath your regard: and that active fpirit with which Philip purfueth his defigns: which ever fires him; and which never can permit him to reft fatisfied with thofe things he hath already

accom

accomplished. If then he determines firmly and invariably to pursue his conquefts: and if we are obftinately refolved against every vigorous and effectual measure: think, what confequences may we expect! In the name of Heaven, can any man be fo weak, as not to know, that by neglecting this war, we are transferring it from that country to our own! And should this happen, I fear, Athenians, that as they who inconfiderably borrow money upon high intereft, after a fhortlived affluence are deprived of their own fortunes; fo we, by this continued indolence, by confulting only our eafe and pleafure, may be reduced to the grievous neceffty of engaging in affairs the most shocking and difagreeable, and of expofing ourselves in the defence of this our native territory. To cenfure, fome one may tell me, is eafy, and in the power of every man: but the true counfellor fhould point out that conduct which the prefent exigence demands.-Senfible as I am, Athenians, that when your expectations have in any inftance been disappointed, your refentment frequently falls not on those who merit it, but on him who hath spoken laft; yet I cannot, from a regard to my own fafety, fuppress what I deem of moment to lay before you. I fay then, this occafion calls for a twofold armament. First, we are to defend the cities of the Olynthians, and for this purpose to detach a body of forces: in the next place, in order to infeft his kingdom, we are to fend out our navy manned with other levies. If you neglect either of thefe, I fear your expedition will be fruitless. For, if you content yourfelves with infefting his dominions, this he will endure, until he is matter of Olynthus, and then he can with eafe repel the invafion; or, if you only fend fuccours to the Olynthians, when he fees his own kingdom free from danger, he will apply with conftancy and vigilance to the war, and at length weary out the befieged to a fubmiffion. Your levies therefore must be confiderable enough to ferve both purpofes.-Thefe are my fentiments with respect to our armament.

And now, as to the expence of these preparations. You are already provided for the payment of your forces better than any other people. This provifion is distributed among yourselves in the manner moft agreeable; but if you reftore it to the army, the fupplies will be complete without any addition; if not, an addition will be necefary or he whole, rather, will remain to

be raised. "How then (I may be asked) "do you move for a decree to apply thofe "funds to the military fervice?" By no means! it is my opinion indeed, that an army must be raised; that this money really belongs to the army; and that the fame regulation which entitles our citizens to receive, fhould oblige them also to act. At prefent you expend these fums on entertainments, without regard to your affairs. It remains then that a general contribution be raised: a great one, if a great one be required: a fmall one, if fuch may be fufficient. Money must be found: without it nothing can be effected: various fchemes are propofed by various perfons: do you make that choice which you think most advantageous; and, while you have an opportunity, exert yourfelves in the care of your interefts.

It is worthy your attention to confider, how the affairs of Philip are at this time circumstanced. For they are by no means fo well difpofed, fo very flourishing, as an inattentive obferver would pronounce. Nor would he have engaged in this war at all, had he thought he should have been obliged to maintain it. He hoped that, the moment he appeared, all things would fall before him. But these hopes were vain. And this difappointment, in the firft place, troubles and difpirits him. Then the Theffalians alarm him; a people remarkable for their perfidy on all occafions, and to all perfons. And juft as they have ever proved, even fo he finds them now. For they have refolved in council to demand the reftitu tion of Pegafæ, and have oppofed his attempt to fortify Magnefia: and I am informed, that for the future he is to be excluded from their ports and markets, as thefe conveniencies belong to the states of TheTaly, and are not to be intercepted by Philip. And, fhould he be deprived of fuch a fund of wealth, he must be greatly ftreightened to support his foreign troops. Befides this, we mult fuppofe that the Pæonian and the Illyrian, and all the others, would prefer freedom and independence to a ftate of flavery. They are not accustomed to fubjection, and the infolence of this man, it is faid, knows no bounds; nor is this improbable: for great and unexpected fuccess is apt to hurry weak minds into extrava gancies. Hence it often proves much more difficult to maintain acquifitons, than to acquire. It is your part, therefore, to regard the time of his distress as your molt favourable opportunity: improve it to the

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urmoft;

utmoft; fend out your embassies; take the field yourselves, and excite a general ardor abroad; ever confidering how readily Philip would attack us, if he were favoured by any incident like this, if a war had broken out on our borders. And would it not be fhameful to want the refolution to bring that diftrefs on him, which, had it been equally in his power, he certainly would have made you feel?

This too demands your attention, Athenians! that you are now to determine whether it be most expedient to carry the war into his country, or to fight him here. If Olynthus be defended, Macedon will be the feat of war: you may harafs his kingdom, and enjoy your own territories free from apprehenfions. But, fhould that nation be fubdued by Philip, who will oppofe his marching hither? will the Thebans? let it not be thought fevere when I affirm, that they will join readily in the invafion. Will the Phocians? a people fcarcely able to defend their own country, without your affiftance. Will any others? "But, Sir," cries fome one," he would "make no fuch attempt."-This would be the greatest of abfurdities; not to execute thofe threats, when he hath full power, which, now when they appear fo idle and extravagant, he yet dares to utter. And I think you are not yet to learn how great would be the difference between our engaging him here and there. Were we to be only thirty days abroad, and to draw all the neceffaries of the camp from our own Jands, even were there no enemy to ravage them, the damage would, in my opinion, amount to more than the whole expence of the late war. Add then the presence of an enemy, and how greatly must the calamity be increased: but, further, add the infamy; and to thofe who judge rightly, no diftrefs can be more grievous than the fcandal of misconduct.

It is incumbent therefore, upon us all, (juftly influenced by these confiderations) to unite vigorously in the common cause, and repel the danger that threatens this territory. Let the rich exert themselves on this occafion; that, by contributing a small portion of their affluence, they may fecure the peaceful poffeffion of the reft. Let thofe who are of the age for military duty; that, by learning the art of war in Philip's dominions, they may become formidable defenders of their native land. our orators, that they may fafely fubmit their conduct to the public infpećtion. For

Let

L. Sergius Cataline was of Patrician extraction, and had fided with Sylla, during the civil wars between him and Marius. Upon the expiration of his prætorfhip, he was fent to the government of Africa; and after his return, was accufed of mal-administration by P. Clodius, under the confulfhip of M. Emilius Lepidus, and L. Volcatius Tullus. It is commonly believed, that the defign of the confpiracy was formed about this time, three years before the oration Cicero here pronounces against it. Cataline, after his return from Africa, had fued for the confulfhip, but was rejected. The two fo'lowing years he likewife ftood candidate, but ftill met with the fame fate. It appears that he made a fourth attempt under the confulfhip of Cicero, who made ufe of all his credit and authority to exclude him, in which he fucceeded to his with. After the picture Salluft has drawn of Cataline, it were needless to attempt his character here; befides that the four following orations will make the reader fufficiently acquainted with it. This firft fpeech was pronounced in the fenate, convened in the temple of Jupiter Stator, on the eighth of November, in the fix hundred and ninth year of the city, and forty-fourth of Cicero's age. The occafion of it was as follows: Cataline, and the other confpirators, had met together in the houfe of one Marcus Lecca; where it was refolved, that a general infurrection should be raised through Italy, the different parts of which were affigned to different leaders; that Cataline should put himself at the head of the troops in Etruria; that Rome fhould be fired in many places at once, and a maffacre begun at the fame time of the whole fenate and all their enemies, of whom none were to be fpared except the fons of Pompey, who were to be kept as hoftages of their peace and reconciliation with their father; that in the confternation

of

of the fire and maflacre, Cataline fhould be ready with his Tufcan army to take the benefit of the public confufion, and make himself mafter of the city; where Lentulus in the mean while, as firft in dignity, was to prefide in their general councils; Caffius to manage the affair of firing it; Cethegus to direct the maffacre. But the vigilance of Cicero being the chief obstacle to all their hopes, Cataline was very defirous to fee him taken off before he left Rome; upon which two knights of the company undertook to kill him the next morning in his bed, in an early vifit on pretence of bufinefs. They were both of his acquaintance, and ufed to frequent his houfe; and knowing his culom of giving free accefs to all, made no doubt of being readily admitted, as C. Cornelius, one of the two, afterwards confeffed. The meeting was no fooner over, than Cicero had information of all that paffed in it: for by the intrigues of a woman named Fulvia, he had gained over Curius her gallant, one of the confpirato:s of fenatorian rank, to fend him a punctual account of all their d liberations. He pretently imparted Lis intelligence to fome of the chiefs of the city, who were affembled that evening, as ufual, at his house, informing them not only of the defign, but naming the men who were to execute it, and the very hour when they would be at his gate: all which fell out exactly as he foretold; for the two knights came before break of day, but had the mortification to find the house well guarded, and all admittance refufed to them. Next day Cicero fummoned the fenate to the temple of Jupiter in the capitol, where it was not ufually held but in times of public alarm. There had been feveral debates before this on the fame fubject of Cataline's treafons, and his defign of killing the conful; and a decree had paffed at the motion of Cicero, to offer a public reward to the first discoverer of the plot; if a flave, his liberty, and eight hundred pounds; if a citizen, his pardon, and fixteen hundred. Yet Cataline, by a profound diffimulation, and the conftant profeffions of his innocence, ftill deceived many of all ranks; repre

fenting the whole as the fiction of his enemy Cicero, and offering to give fecurity for his behaviour, and to deliver himself to the cuftody of any whom the fenate would name; of M. Lepidus, of the prætor Metellus, or of Cicero himself: but none of them would receive him; and Cicero plainly told him, that he should never think himfelf fafe in the fame houfe, when he was in danger by living in the fame city with him. Yet he till kept on the mask, and had the confidence to come to this very meeting in the capitol; which fo fhocked the whole affembly, that none even of his acquaintance durft venture to falute him; and the confular fenators quitted that part of the house in which he fat, and left the whole bench clear to him. Cicero was fo provoked by his impudence, that inftead of entering upon any business, as he defigned, addreffing himself directly to Cataline, he broke out into the prefent molt fevere invective against him; and with all the fire and force of an incenfed eloquence, laid open the whole course of his villainies, and the notoriety of his treasons.

HOW far, O Cataline, wilt thou abufe our patience? How long fhall thy frantic rage baffle the efforts of juftice? To what height meanest thou to carry thy daring infolence? Art thou nothing daunted by the nocturnal watch posted to fecure the Palatium? nothing by the city guards? nothing by the confternation of the people? nothing by the union of all the wife and worthy citizens? nothing by the fenate's affembling in this place of strength? nothing by the looks and countenances of all here prefent? Seeft thou not that all thy defigns are brought to light? that the fenators are thoroughly apprized of thy confpiracy? that they are acquainted with thy laft night's practices; with the practices of the night before; with the place of meeting, the company fummoned together, and the measures concerted? Alas for our degeneracy! alas for the depravity of the times! the fenate is apprized of all this, the conful beholds it; yet the traitor lives. Lives! did I fay, he even comes into the fenate; he fhares in the public deliberations; he marks us out with his eye for deftruction. While we, bold in our country's caufe, think we have

fufficiently