Catilinae Coniuratio

Among those present at this meeting was Quintus Curius,[*](XXIII. Quintus Curius] The same that is mentioned in c. 17.) a man of no mean family, but immersed in vices and crimes, and whom the censors had ignominiously expelled from the senate. In this person there was not less levity than impudence; he could neither keep secret what he heard, nor conceal his own crimes; he was altogether heedless what he said or what he did. He had long had a criminal intercourse with Fulvia, a woman of high birth; but growing less acceptable to her, because, in his reduced circumstances, he had less means

of being liberal, he began, on a sudden, to boast, and to promise her seas and mountains;[*](To promise her seas and mountains] Maria montesque polliceri. A proverbial expression. Ter. Phorm., i. 2, 18: Modò non montes auri pollicens. Pers., iii. 65: Et quid opus Cratero magnos promittere emontes.) threatening her, at times, with the sword, if she were not submissive to his will; and acting, in his general conduct, with greater arrogance than ever.[*](With greater arrogance than ever] Ferociùs quàm solitus erat.) Fulvia, having learned the cause of his extravagant behavior, did not keep such danger to the state a secret; but, without naming her informant, communicated to several persons what she had heard and under what circumstances, concerning Catiline's conspiracy. This intelligence it was that incited the feelings of the citizens to give the consulship to Marcus Tullius Cicero.[*](To Marcus Tullius Cicero] Cicero was now in his forty-third year, and had filled the office of quæstor, edile, and prætor.) For before this period, most of the nobility were moved with jealousy, and thought the consulship in some degree sullied, if a man of no family,[*](A man of no family] Novus homo. A term applied to such as could not boast of any ancestor that had held any curule magistracy, that is, had been consul, prætor, censor, or chief edile.) however meritorious, obtained it. But when danger showed itself, envy and pride were laid aside.