But O conscript fathers, I cannot conceal what I hear; for sayings are bruited about, which
come to my ears, of those men who seem to fear that I may not have force enough to put in
execution the things which you determine on this day. Everything is provided for, and prepared,
and arranged, O conscript fathers, both by my exceeding care and diligence, and also by the
still greater zeal of the Roman people for the retaining of their supreme dominion, and for the
preserving of the fortunes of all. All men of all ranks are present, and of all ages; the forum
is full, the temples around the forum are full, all the approaches to this place and to this
temple are full. For this is the only cause that has ever been known since the first foundation
of the city, in which all men were of one and the same opinion—except those, who, as they saw
they must be ruined, preferred to perish in company with all the world rather than by
themselves.
These men I except, and I willingly set apart from the
rest; for I do not think that they should be classed in the number of worthless citizens, but
in that of the most bitter enemies. But, as for the rest, O ye immortal gods! in what crowds,
with what zeal, with what virtue do they agree in defence of the common dignity and safety. Why
should I here speak of the Roman knights? who yield to you the supremacy in rank and wisdom, in
order to vie with you in love for the republic,—whom this day and this cause now reunite with
you in alliance and unanimity with your body reconciled after a disagreement of many years. And
if we can preserve for ever in the republic this union now established in nay consulship, I
pledge myself to you that no civil and domestic calamity can hereafter reach any part of the
republic. I see that the tribunes of the treasury—excellent men—have united with similar zeal
in defence of the republic, and all the notaries. The notaries at Rome
were in the pay of the state; they were chiefly employed in making up the public accounts. In
the time of Cicero it seems to have been lawful for any one to obtain the office of scriba by purchase, (see Cic. in Verr.
2.79,) and freedmen and their sons frequently availed themselves of this privilege.
For as this day had by chance brought them in crowds to the treasury, I see that they
were diverted from an anxiety for the money due to them, from an expectation of their capital,
to a regard for the common safety.
The entire multitude of
honest men, even the poorest is present; for who is there to whom these temples, the sight of
the city, the possession of liberty,—in short; this light and this soil of his, common to us
all, is not both dear and pleasant and delightful?
It is worth while, O conscript fathers, to know the inclinations of the freedmen; who, having
by their good fortune obtained the rights of citizens, consider this to be really their
country, which some who have been born here, and born in the highest rank, have considered to
be not their own country, but a city of enemies. But why should I speak of men of this body
whom their private fortunes, whom their common republic, whom, in short, that liberty which is
most delightful has called forth to defend the safety of their country? There is no slave who
is only in an endurable condition of slavery who does not shudder at the audacity of citizens,
who does not desire that these things may stand, who does not contribute all the good-will that
he can, and all that he dares, to the common safety.
Wherefore, if this consideration moves any one, that it
has been heard that some tool of Lentulus is running about the shops,—is hoping that the minds
of some poor and ignorant men may be corrupted by bribery; that, indeed, has been attempted and
begun, but no one has been found either so wretched in their fortune or so abandoned in their
inclination as not to wish the place of their seat and work and daily gain, their chamber and
their bed, and, in short, the tranquil course of their lives, to be still preserved to them.
And far the greater part of those who are in the shops,—yes, indeed, (for that is the more
correct way of speaking,) the whole of this class is of all the most attached to tranquillity;
their whole stock, indeed, their whole employment and livelihood, exists by the peaceful
intercourse of the citizens, and is wholly supported by peace. And if their gains are
diminished whenever their shops are shut, what will they be when they are burnt?
And, as this is the case, O conscript fathers, the protection of the
Roman people is not wanting to you; do you take care that you do not seem to be wanting to the
Roman people.
You have a consul preserved out of many dangers and plots, and from death itself not for his
own life, but for your safety. All ranks agree for the preservation of the republic with heart
and will, with zeal, with virtue, with their voice. Your common country, besieged by the hands
and weapons of an impious conspiracy, stretches forth her hands to you as a suppliant; to you
she recommends herself to you she recommends the lives of all the citizens, and the citadel,
and the Capitol, and the altars of the household gods, and the eternal inextinguishable fire of
Vesta, and all the temples of all the gods, and the altars and the walls and the houses of the
city. Moreover, your own lives, those of your wives and children, the fortunes of all men, your
homes, your hearth; are this day interested in your decision.
You have a leader mindful of you, forgetful of himself—an
opportunity which is not always given to men; you have all ranks, all individuals, the whole
Roman people, (a thing which in civil transactions we see this day for the first time,) full of
one and the same feeling. Think with what great labour this our dominion was founded, by what
virtue this our liberty was established, by what kind favour of the gods our fortunes were
aggrandized and ennobled, and how nearly one night destroyed them all. That this may never
hereafter be able not only to be done, but not even to be thought of you must this day take
care. And I have spoken thus, not in order to stir you up who almost outrun me myself but that
my voice, which ought to be the chief voice in the republic, may appear to have fulfilled the
duty which belongs to me as consul.
Now, before I return to the decision, I will say a few words concerning myself. As numerous
as is the band of conspirators—and you see that it is very great,—so numerous a multitude of
enemies do I see that I have brought upon myself. But I consider them base and powerless and
despicable and abject. But if at any time that band shall be excited by the wickedness and
madness of any one, and shall show itself more powerful than your dignity and that of the
republic, yet. O conscript fathers, I shall never repent of my actions and of my advice. Death,
indeed, which they perhaps threaten me with, is prepared for all men; such glory during life as
you have honoured me with by your decrees no one has ever attained to. For you have passed
votes of congratulation to others for having governed the republic successfully, but to me
alone for having saved it.
Let Scipio be thought illustrious, he by whose wisdom and
valour Hannibal was compelled to return into Africa, and to depart from Italy. Let the second
Africanus be extolled with conspicuous praise, who destroyed two cities most hostile to this
empire, Carthage and Numantia. Let Lucius Paullus be thought a great man, he whose triumphal
car was graced by Perses, previously a most powerful and noble monarch. Let
Marius be held in eternal honour, who twice delivered Italy from siege, and from the fear of
slavery. Let Pompey be preferred to them all—Pompey, whose exploits and whose virtues are
bounded by the same districts and limits as the course of the sun. There will be, forsooth,
among the praises of these men, some room for my glory, unless haply it be a greater deed to
open to us provinces whither we may fly, than to take care that those who are at a distance
may, when conquerors; have a home to return to.
Although in one point the circumstances of foreign triumph are better than those of domestic
victory; because foreign enemies, either if they be crushed become one's servants, or if they
be received into the state, think themselves bound to us by obligations; but those of the
number of citizens who become depraved by madness and once begin to be enemies to their
country,—those men, when you have defeated their attempts to injure the republic, you can
neither restrain by force nor conciliate by kindness. So that I see that an eternal war with
all wicked citizens has been undertaken by me; which, however, I am confident can easily be
driven back from me and mine by your aid, and by that of all good men, and by the memory of
such great dangers, which will remain, not only among this people which has been saved, but in
the discourse and minds of all nations forever. Nor, in truth, can any power be found which
will be able to undermine and destroy your union with the Roman knights, and such unanimity as
exists among all good men.
As, then, this is the case, O conscript fathers, instead of my military command—instead of
the army,——instead of the province Cicero, in order to tempt Antonius to
aid him in counteracting the treasonable designs of Catiline, had given up to him the province
of Macedonia, which had fallen to his own lot; and having accepted that or Cisalpine Gaul in
exchange for it, he gave that also to Quintus Metellus; being resolved to receive no
emolument, directly or indirectly, from his consulship. which I have neglected, and the
other badges of honour which have been rejected by me for the sake of protecting the city and
your safety,—in place of the ties of clientship and hospitality with citizens in the provinces,
which, however, by my influence in the city, I study to preserve with as much toil as I labour
to acquire them,—in place of all these things, and in reward for my singular zeal in your
behalf, and for this diligence in saving the republic which you behold, I ask nothing of you
but the recollection of this time and of my whole consulship. And as long as that is fixed in
your minds, I still think I am fenced round by the strongest wall. But if the violence of
wicked men shall deceive and overpower my expectations, I recommend to you my little son, to
whom, in truth, it will be protection enough, not only for his safety, but even for his dignity
if you recollect that he is the son of him who has saved all these things at his own single
risk.
Wherefore, O conscript fathers, determine with care, as you have begun, and boldly,
concerning your own safety, and that of the Roman people, and concerning your wives and
children; concerning your altars and your hearths your shrines and temples; concerning the
houses and homes of the whole city; concerning your dominion, your liberty and the safety of
Italy and the whole republic. For you have a consul who will not hesitate to obey your decrees,
and who will be able as long as he lives, to defend what you decide on and of his own power to
execute it. This speech was spoken, and the criminals executed, on the
fifth of December. But Catiline was not yet entirely overcome. He had with him in Etruria two
legions,—about twelve thousand men; of which, however, not above one quarter were regularly
armed. For some time by marches and counter marches he eluded Antonius, but when the news
reached his army of the fate of the rest of the conspirators it began to desert him in great
numbers. He attempted to escape into Gaul but found himself intercepted by Metellus who had
been sent thither by Cicero with three legions. Antonius is supposed not to have been
disinclined to connive at his escape if he had not been compelled as it were by his quaestor
Sextus and his lieutenant Petreius to force him to a battle, in which, however, Antonius
himself being ill of the gout did not take the command, which devolved on Petreius who after a
severe action destroyed Catiline and his whole army, of which every man is said to have been
slain in the battle.