depulsum sit. Subj. because he is putting their thoughts into words.

vestris. Some editions add liberis.

condicio. See on 2. 14, 'if these were the terms on which I received the consulship.'

in quo omnis aequitas continetur, 'the home of all justice,' because the praetor's courts were held in the Forum and adjacent buildings.

consularibus auspiciis, 'the auspices taken at the election of the consuls.' They were elected by the Comitia Centuriata, which met in the Campus Martius. For 'auspicia' see on 1. 33.

summum auxilium, etc. The control of foreign relations belonged particularly to the senate.

ad quietem datus, epithet of 'lectus' ('datus' must not be mistaken for the main verb, which is 'fuit').

sedea honoris. Some MSS. add the explanatory words 'sella curulis.'

multa tacui. He hints at the suppression of the names of certain persons suspected by him to be implicated. Crassus and Caesar may have been among these. See Sall. Cat. 48, 49.

meo quodam dolore, abl. of attendant circumstances, 'at some pain to myself.'

templa atque delubra. See on 3. 2.

fatale ad perniciem, 'destined to the destruction of,' referring to his belief that he was the third Cornelius who should rule over Rome (3. 9). In the second clause 'prope' ('I may almost say') is added because the expression might seem too arrogant without qualification. Cf. 3. 19 'nisi di immortales prope fata ipsa flexissent.'

pro eo ac mereor, 'in proportion to my deserts.' Cf. 'simul ac,' 'aeque ac,' 'aliter ac,' etc.

consulari, 'to one who has been consul,' because no higher honour remained to be won.

misera sapienti. The Stoic philosophy, of which Cicero was an adherent, taught that true happiness consisted in being independent of the external accidents of life.

ille ferreus, 'a man of such iron nature.'

fratris. Q. Cicero, now praetor designatus.

uxor, Terentia; filia, Tullia; filius, Marcus, now two years old.gener, C. Calpurnius Piso, Tullia's first husband. Not being yet a senator he was not seated in the assembly, but standing with the crowd at the open doors of the temple.

sed in eam partem uti, etc., 'but only in the direction (of wishing) that,' etc.

Non Ti. Gracchus, etc. The negatives go closely with the proper names, and the present 'adducitur' is emphatic. Tr. 'It is no Ti. Gracchus, for proposing to become tribune a second time, no C. Gracchus, for attempting to incite the agrarian party to violence, no L. Saturninus, for the murder of C. Memmius, that is now brought to trial before the bar of your severity; you have in your hands men who,' etc. He uses the indic. ('voluit,' 'conatus est,' etc.) instead of the subj. to emphasize the fact that the persons named had actually committed the offences in question; he is not simply quoting the grounds of an accusation which might or might not have been true.

iterum, the election of the same person in successive years was illegal. Ti. Gracchus was tribune 133 b.c. In attempting to secure his re-election for the next year he fell a victim to the armed attack of the senate.

agrarios, properly those interested in the distribution of the public land. C. Gracchus carried on the agrarian schemes of his brother, but it was not the most important part of his legislation. He trusted no doubt for support to the agricultural population of Italy, but this was rather in view of his plans for admitting them all to the franchise.

C. Memmius, a popular leader at the time of the Jugurthine War; he changed sides, and was murdered by Saturninus and Glaucia on opposing the latter in the consular election for 99 b.c.

restiterunt (resto), 'have stayed behind.'

servitia, abstract for concrete.

vos multis iam, etc. 'You have affirmed by many proofs of your judgment'; i.e. the senate, by the measures they had already taken, had practically affirmed their belief in the conspirators' guilt.

in custodiam. See on 1. 19.

qui honos, etc. Cf. 3. 15 and 2. 28.

The object of referre is de facto quid iudicetis, etc.; tanquam integrum, 'as though it were an open question.'

ego magnum, etc. 'I had long seen that a dangerous madness was abroad, and that evils of an unheard-of kind were seething and stirring in the state.'

latius opinione, 'more widely than you think.' The following sentence should be noted, as showing that Cicero recognized that the importance of the decision lay in the effect it would have upon Catilina's adherents abroad.

sententias, the technical word for the senator's formal declaration of his vote. See on 1. 9. Tr. 'proposals.'

D. Silani, now consul designatus.

censet, not 'thinks,' but 'gives it as his opinion,' 'votes.'

haec, i.e. all that is around us, the houses, temples, etc.

C. Caesaris, now praetor designatus.

recordatur, 'remembers.' Cicero suggests that the recollection influenced Silanus, not that he actually mentioned the precedents.

aut necessitatem, etc. Each aut still further qualifies the idea of death. So far from being a punishment, it is the common necessity of our nature, or may even sometimes be an actual benefit.

municipiis, 'provincial towns.' See on 2. 24.

si velis. Subj. because contingency is expressed by 'habere videtur' (= 'habeat'), 'seems to have,' 'might have.' Cf. 1. 2 'satisfacere videmur si vitemus.' The sense is: it would be unfair to order any town to undertake the duty, and difficult to induce any to do so if they merely asked it as a favour.

Adiungit, sc. Caesar.

aut per senatum, etc., i.e. either by a 'senatus consultum,' or a 'lex' passed by the Comitia.

illi antiqui, the well-known writers of old time. The order of the words is 'illi antiqui voluerunt eius modi quaedam supplicia apud inferos impiis constituta esse.' voluerunt, lit. 'wished,' i.e. 'would have had us believe.' Cf. Virg. Aen. 1. 626 'Seque ortum antiqua Teucrorum ab stirpe volebat.' Contrast Cicero's language here (where he is speaking to a more intelligent audience) with that in 3. 18-22.

ipsam, 'by itself.'

mea quid intersit, 'what is for my own interest.'

quoniam hanc. 'Viam' is 'path,' 'course.' In English we may perhaps change the metaphor, and say 'since he has taken what we agree to call the popular side in politics.' The 'populares' were the opponents of the 'optimates'; they aimed at breaking down the aristocratic rule of the senate.

cognitore, properly one who acts for another in a law-suit, 'advocate.'

nescio an, lit. 'I hardly know whether'; so affirmatively = 'I am disposed to think.'

rationes, 'considerations.'

enim, used like ???, to introduce a narrative or discussion of a point. 'Now we have,' etc.

obsidem, 'pledge.'

intellectum est, etc. 'We understood (when we heard Caesar) how great was the contrast between the frivolity of demagogues and the true democratic spirit, which has the interest of the people at heart.'

ne de capite, i.e. because the senate had no legal right to decide questions affecting the caput (life, or civil rights) of a citizen, which ought to come before the Comitia Centuriata. On this question see Introd. Note B.

nudius tertius='nunc dies tertius,' 'the day before yesterday,' according to the Roman inclusive method of reckoning.

hoc, explained by quid iudicarit. The order is 'hoc, quid (ille) qui . . . decrerit de tota re et causa iudicarit, nemini dubium est.' Cicero argues that the absent senators, by assenting to the previous measures, have acknowledged their jurisdiction in the matter. It appears that these measures had been unanimously adopted.

quaesitori, properly of the president of a law-court: here of Cicero, as the conductor of the investigations. Cf. Virg. Aen. 6. 432 'Quaesitor Minos urnam movet.'

legem Semproniam. What this was is not quite certain; but C. Gracchus seems to have passed a law still further securing the right of citizens to appeal to the people as against the arbitrary sentence of a magistrate, though this was already provided by the Lex Valeria and the Lex Porcia (see on 1. 28). Cicero refers to the Lex Sempronia here as being the most recent legislation on the subject, and because the fact that summary measures were taken against its author strengthens his argument.

qui autem, etc. On this see Introd. Note B.

iniussu is a conjectural emendation for the MS. reading iussu, because C. Gracchus was not put to death by order of the people; he was killed by the agents of the consul Opimius, who professed to rely upon the 'ultimum decretum' previously passed by the senate (see on 1. 4). Cicero quotes it as a precedent exactly suiting the present case.

sive, 'if on the one hand,' answered by sive below. dederitis is the apodosis to the first clause, exsolvet to the second.

comitem. Cicero would be expected to address the people after the meeting, to acquaint them with the senate's decision (cf. the Third Oration), and according to usage he would be accompanied by the proposer of the successful motion. Connect populo with carum atque iucundum.populus Romanus exsolvet. The reading of the MSS. here is unintelligible; that in the text is a conjectural emendation. Other suggestions are 'apud populum Romanum exsolvam,' 'populo Romano exsolveritis.'

obtinebo, 'I shall maintain.' eam, sc: 'sententiam.'

ita . . . ut. A common way of emphasizing a declaration, by expressing a wish that the welfare of the speaker may depend upon its truth. 'So may it be mine to enjoy with you the blessings of preservation, as I am moved,' etc. Cf. the phrase 'ita di me ament, ut,' and the formula 'So help me God' appended to oaths in English law-courts.

purpuratum. A name for ministers at Eastern courts, from the magnificence of their dress; 'with Gabinius as his grand vizier.'

qui non lenierit, causal, 'in that he did not alleviate.'

id egerunt, ut, 'have made it their object to place,' etc.

L. Caesar, consul 64 b.c., not to be confused with C. Julius Caesar. sororis suae virum, Lentulus; avum, M. Fulvius Flaccus, the friend and adherent of C. Gracchus, whose fate he shared. When the disturbance broke out he sent his young son to treat with the consul Opimius, who had him arrested and put to death.

The following table will show the relationship:

M. Fulvius Flaccus (cos. 125)
"
———————————————
""
M.F. FlaccusFulvia m. L.J. Caesar (cos. 90)
(filius) "
—————————————
" "
L.J. Caesar (cos. 64) Julia m. (1) M. Antonius Creticus.
(2) P.C. Lentulus.

nudius tertius. At the meeting of the senate described in the Third Speech.

quorum, etc. 'What had they (i.e. Flaccus and C. Gracchus) done that could compare with this' (the present conspiracy)? factum is treated as a substantive.

largitionis voluntas, etc. 'Designs of largess were then rife in the state, accompanied by some party rivalry.' C. Gracchus passed a law providing the people with corn at low rates. He also transferred the right of sitting as iudices in the law-courts from the senate to the equites, and thus stirred up strife ('partium contentio') between the two orders.

Cicero purposely makes light of those measures, which had really very important effects, in order to give point to his argument, which is—If such comparatively moderate designs as those of C. Gracchus met with so signal a punishment, what do the violent schemes of Catilina deserve? Cf. 1. 4.

avus. Cornelius Lentulus, consul 162 b.c., and princeps senatus at the time of Gracchus' death. Cf. 3. 10.

ne quid, etc., 'lest the majesty of the state should be in any degree impaired.'

Vereamini censeo, lit. 'it is my opinion that you should fear' ('ut' being omitted, as often after 'censeo'). Ironical advice, where the contrary is really intended. 'You had better be afraid, I should think.' Cf. the similar ironical passage in Sallust, Cat. 52 (Cato is speaking in favour of executing the conspirators), 'Misereamini censeo—deliquere homines adulescentuli per ambitionem—atque etiam armatos dimittatis.' multo magis verendum, etc. below gives his serious opinion.

Note the distinction between vereri ut and vereri ne.

imperium, i.e. the sovereign authority of the Comitia, for which a revolution might substitute that of a despot. Cf. 'regnantem Lentulum' §12.

loci, the Temple of Concord, on the Capitol.

in qua = 'talis, ut in ea,' followed by consec. subj. 'sentirent.'

Ceteri. He goes through all the classes in turn; first the knights (the disposition of the senate being already clear); then the official classes (the Civil Service as we might say); then the general body of freeborn citizens; lastly, the freedmen and slaves.

equites, see Introd. p. 9, note. As large holders of property, they dreaded Catilina's schemes, and supported Cicero by occupying the Capitol in arms, in order to protect the Senate.

ita . . . ut. 'Ut' has a limiting force; it shows with what reservation the main statement is to be accepted. 'Only so far ... that.' In English, 'who yield to you the first place in rank and wisdom, only to rival you in patriotism.' Cf. Cic. de Off. 1. 88 'ita probanda est mansuetudo, ut adhibeatur reipublicae causa severitas,' and Livy 23. 3 'ita vos irae indulgere oportet, ut potiorem ira salutem habeatis.'

ex, 'after.' The ground of quarrel was the right of sitting as iudices in the law-courts. Transferred from the senate to the equites by C. Gracchus, it had been restored by Sulla, and was now shared between the two and the tribuni aerarii (see below).

Cicero's great hope for the state lay in a union between the two orders (cf. §22 ad fin.), but that now existing was soon broken.tribunos aerarios, probably revenue officers of some kind, but not much is known about them.

scribas, etc., the permanent government clerks, a certain number of whom were attached to each magistrate. On this day (Dec. 5) the quaestors for the next year entered on their office, and the scribae had to draw lots to decide which quaestor they should severally attend. This drawing took place at the treasury, which was in the Temple of Saturn at the west end of the Forum, in full view of the Temple of Concord. Hence tr.: 'the entire body of clerks also, who having been brought to-day by chance to the treasury have I see been diverted from the anticipation of the lot to thoughts of the public safety.'

ingenuorum, 'freeborn citizens,' opposed to libertini, who though citizens were not freeborn.

sit, not subj. after 'cum' (which = 'not only'), but consecutive.

operae pretium est, 'it is worth while.'

sua virtute, etc., 'who by their own exertions have won the advantages of our citizenship'; because only those would be manumitted whose industry and energy deserved it.

qui modo sit . . . qui non, etc., the first relative clause limits the subject ('servus'); the second is consecutive. 'There is no slave,—none at least whose condition of servitude is bearable—who does not,' etc. Cf. in Pisonem §45 'Nemo denique civis est, qui modo se civem esse meminerit, qui vos non oculis fugiat.'

voluntatis, gen. after 'tantum.'

aut fortuna miseri, etc., 'so poverty-stricken or so disaffected.'

immo vero corrects the preceding. 'The greater part, nay the whole'; see on 1. 2. A large part of the retail trade at Rome was in the hands of slaves.

instrumentum, 'means of trade.'

futurum fuit, 'was about to happen,' i.e. 'would have happened'; incensis represents the protasis, 'si incensae essent.' Cf. Livy 2. 1 'Quid enim futurum fuit, si illa plebs agitari coepta esset tribuniciis procellis?'

ignem illum Vestae, pointing perhaps to the Temple of Vesta in the Forum below him.

in civili causa, 'on a political question.'

cogitate, etc. A short form of expression combining two really distinct indirect questions, (1) 'cogitate quantis laboribus imperium fundatum sit,' and (2) 'cogitate ut una nox paene (imperium) delerit.' In English, 'Think by what toil was the empire established, which one night nearly destroyed.'una nox, the night of the arrest of the Allobroges. See pro Flacco §102 'O nox illa, quae paene aeternas huic urbi tenebras attulisti, cum Galli ad bellum, Catilina ad urbem, coniurati ad ferrum et flammam vocabantur.'

non modo, understand 'non possit' after confici, and see on 1. 25.

sententiam, sc. 'rogandam,' see on 1. 9. The consul would not pronounce a formal 'sententia' himself.

Quodsi, etc. Cicero's fears were realized five years later (58 b.c.), when Clodius carried a motion for his banishment.

Scipio. The elder Scipio restored the Roman supremacy in Spain during the Second Punic War, and invaded Africa. Hannibal returned from Italy to oppose him, and was defeated at Zama (202 b.c.).

alter Africanus. Cornelius Scipio (Aemilianus) Africanus, son of Aemilius Paullus, but adopted by the elder Scipio's son. He took and destroyed Carthage 146, Numantia 133 b.c.

Paullus. L. Aem. Paullus defeated and made prisoner Perseus king of Macedonia at Pydna, 168 b.c.

bis. He defeated the Teutones at Aquae Sextiae (102), the Cimbri near Vercellae on the Campus Raudius (101).

Pompeius, see on 2. 11. Note the rhetorical exaggeration in 'eisdem quibus solis cursus,' etc.

uno loco, 'in one point'

serviunt, 'become slaves.'

possis is the apodosis of a conditional sentence with the protasis suppressed. 'You would not be able (if you were to try),' i.e. 'you can never hope to be able.'

neque ulla, etc. This hope was not realized. The immediate danger being removed, the equites fell back into their habitual attitude of opposition to the senate.

pro imperio, 'in the place of military command.' The imperium was the authority vested in a general in virtue of which he controlled his army by martial law. It belonged equally to all the higher magistrates, but within the walls of Rome itself its exercise was restricted. Cicero was not going to govern a province, and therefore not to command an army.

pro provincia. Sulla had ordained that each of the ten chief magistrates (two consuls and eight praetors) should, after the expiration of his year of office in the city, govern a province as proconsul or propraetor. The senate decided which should be the consular provinces, and the consuls settled between themselves (by lot or otherwise) which each should take. The consular provinces for 62 b.c. were Macedonia and Cisalpine Gaul. As Macedonia was a rich province, Cicero had given it up to Antonius, in order to secure his support against the conspirators. His own province would therefore in the ordinary course have been Cisalpine Gaul. But subsequently he asked to be allowed to resign it, and it fell to the praetor Metellus Celer. (See Ep. ad Att. 2. 1 'cum provinciam in contione deposui,' and ad Fam. 5. 2, where writing to Metellus Celer he says 'si hoc dicam, me tui causa praetermisisse provinciam, tibi ipsi levior videar esse.') By resigning his province he gave up the command of an army, and with it the chance of a triumph.

pro clientelis, etc. Provincial communities often attached themselves as 'clients' to their former governors, who became their 'patroni' and were specially bound to look after their interests. Cicero here says that by giving up a province he has given up the best opportunities of forming such connections; nevertheless though confined to the city he will still do his best in that direction. Tr. 'In the place of ties of clientship and mutual friendship with provincials, which nevertheless by such influence as I can exercise in the city (urbanis opibus) I strive to acquire as zealously as I maintain them' (when acquired).

pro meis, etc. Note that 'pro' is here used in a different sense from the foregoing; 'in return for my zeal,' etc.

suo solius periculo. Cf. phrases like 'mea ipsius manu.' 'Solius' agrees with the genitive of the personal pronoun to be understood from 'suo.'

per se ipsum, 'by himself'; cf. 1. 11 'per me tibi obstiti.'

praestare is 'to be responsible for,' 'guarantee,' and so, 'to execute.' He means that he will take upon himself the sole responsibility of carrying out the senate's decrees.

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