city, against the daring attempts of guilty vioince. And even fuppofing thein to accomplish what they with fo much frantic rage defire, do they hope to ipring up contuls, dictators, or kings, from the athes 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 muft themfelves fall-a prey to fome fugitive or gladiator. The third clafs confits of men of advanced age, but hardened in all the exercites of war. Of this fort is Manlius, whom Cataline now fucceeds. Thefe come moftly from the colonies planted by Sylla at Fefulæ ; which, I am ready to allow, confift of the beft citizens, and the braveft men: but coming many of them to the fudden and unexpected poffeflion of great wealth, they ran into all the excelles of luxury and profufion. Thefe, by building fine houies, by affluent living, fplendid equipages, numerous attendants, and fimptuous entertaiments, have plunged themfelves fo deeply in debt, that, in order to retrieve their affairs, they muft recal Sylla from his tomb. I fay nothing of thofe needy indigent ruftics, whom they have gained over to their party, by the hopes of feeing the fcheme of rapine renewed: for I confider both in the fame light of robbers, and plunderers. But I advife them to drop their frantic ambition, and think no more of dictatorfhips and proferiptions. For fo deep an impreffion have the calamities of thofe times made upon the ftate, that not only men, but the very beafis would not bear a repetition of fnch outrages.

The fourth is a mixt, motley, 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. Thefe 1 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 thock. For I am unable to perceive why, if they cannot live with honour, they should chufe to die with infainy or why they thould fancy it lefs painful to die in company with others, than to perith by themfelves.

The fifth fort is a collection of parricides, aflatlins, and ruffians of all kinds; whom I afk not to abandon Cataline, as knowing them to be infeparable. Let thele even perish in their robberies, fince their number is fo great, that no prifon could be found large enough to contain them. The lait clats, not only in this enumeration, but likewife in character and morals, are Cataline'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 instead of gowns; whofe whole labour of life, and industry of watching, are exhaufted upon midnight entertainments. Under this clafs we may rank all gamefters, whoremasters, and the lewd and luftful of every denomination. Thefe flim, delicate youths, practifed in all the arts of railing 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. Unless these depart, unless these perifli, know, that was eyen Cataline himfelf to fall, we fhall ftill have a nursery of Catalines in the ftate. But what can this miferable 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 garrifons and armies: and, firit, to that battered and maimed gladiator, oppofe your confuls and generals: next, againfì 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 omitting all thofe advantages of which we are provided, and he deftitute, as the fenate, the Roman knights, the people, the city, the treafury, the public revenues, all Italy, all the provinces, foreign itates: I

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 chattity, 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, rathnefs; 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 struggle 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 advifed, watch and keep guard in your private houfes; 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 of gladiators, whom Cataline always depended upon, as his best and fureft fupport, though in truth they are better affected than fome part of the patricians, are nevertheless taken care of in such 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 diftrict of Picenum, will either wholly crufh the traitor, or baffle all his motions and attempts. And to fettle, ripen, and bring all other matters to a conclusion, I am just going to lay them before the fenate, which you fee now aflembling. As for those therefore who continue in the city, and were left behind by Cataline, for the destruction 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 himfelf, he may go wherever he pleafes. 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 ihall 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 least hurry; the greateft 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 poflible, not one even of the guilty, thall fuffer punishment in the city: but if their audacioufnefs 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 shall fall, but all of you be fafe by the punishment of a few. This I promife, 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 affift 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 houfes. 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 moit beautiful, the most flourishing, and molt powerful on earth, from the deteftable treafons of its own defperate citizens. Whitworth's Cicero.

be of any ufe to it; and among the reft, agreed to make an attempt on the amballadors of the Allobrogians, a warlike, mutinous, faithless people, inhabiting the countries now called Savoy and Dauphiny, greatly disaffected to the Roman power, and already ripe for rebellion. Thete 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 principally wanted, a good body of horie, 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 reasonable, 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 these 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 fhould 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 ftrong guard of friends and foldiers; all which was fuccefsfully executed, and the whole company brought prifoners to Cicero's houfe by break of day. The rumour of this accident presently 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 rafh and imprudent to raise an unneceflary terror and aların 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 Gabinins, Statilius, Cethegus, and Lentulus, who all came presently to his house, 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 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 state of the republic, and came unanimoufly to the following refolutions: That public thanks fhould be decreed to Cicero in the amplest manner, by whofe virtue, counfel, and providence, the republic was delivered from the greatest dangers; that Flaccus and Pontinius, the prætors, fhould be thanked likewise, for their vigorous and punctual execu

tion of Cicero's orders: that Antonius, the other conful, thould be praised, for having removed from his counfels all thofe who were concerned in the confpiracy: that Lentulus, after having abdicated the prætorship, and divested himself of his robes; and Cethegus, Statilius, and Gabinius, with their other accomplices alfo when taken, Caffius, Caparius, Furius Chile, and Umbrenus, fhould 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 maffacre, and Italy from a war. The fenate being difmitled, 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, fortunes, 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 were 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 because we enter upon life without confcioufnefs, but are always fenfible to the joys of prefervation furely, fince our gratitude and efteem for Romulus, the founder of this city, has induced us to rank him amongft 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

to what has happened, and wait with impatience to be informed, may understand what a terrible and manifest destruction hung over them, how it was traced out, and in what manner discovered. And firft, 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 amidst 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 reft of his accomplices would either follow him, or, being depriv ed of his afliftance, 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 ftate 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 difficulty, and been the constant 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. I laid the whole matter before. them, and made them acquainted with what I defigned. They, full of the noblest and moft generous fentiments with regard to their country, undertook the butinefs without delay or hesitation; and upon

Ti 4

the