Catiline, and the other Confpirators, had met together in the Houfe of one Marcus Lecca; where it was propofed, that Catiline should leave the City, while the others remained to execute the bloody Purposes of their Confpiracy. Upon Catiline's making a small kind of a Difficulty in leaving the City before Cicero was murdered, two Roman Knights who were prefent, whofe Names were Caius Cornelius, and Lucius Vargunteius, undertook to murder him. before break of Day. But Cicero having Advice of this, by one. Fulvia, a noted Courtezan, took fuch Meafures as entirely disappointed them, and next Day fummoned the Senate into the Temple of Jupiter Stator, with a Defign to lay before them the whole of the Confpiracy. Catiline appearing at the Place appointed, with the other Confpirators, his Audacity feems to have provoked our Orator fo much, that he rushes. into an abrupt Invective against him, and his Affociates, whom he pathetically exhorts to be gone out of Rome.

It was pronounced in the Senate, convened in the Temple of Jupiter Stator, in the Year of the City 609, and of Cicero's Age 44.

M.

M. T.

CICER O's

FIRST

ORATION

AGAINST

CATILINE.

OW far

a

wilt thou, O Catiline! abuse our Patience? How long hall thy Madness outbrave our Juftice? To what Extremities art thou resolved to push thy unbridled Infolence of Guilt? Canft thou behold the nocturnal

B 2

a The Reader, no doubt, perceives how finely Cicero rushes into this Invective, as if the Danger had been too immediate to give him Leifure for the Formality of Address and Intro duction.

Orig. Eludet: For the Meaning of this Word, see the Orátion for Milo.

Catiline, and the other Confpirators, had met together in the Houfe of one Marcus Lecca; where it was proposed, that Catiline Should leave the City, while the others remained to execute the bloody Purposes of their Confpiracy. Upon Catiline's making a small kind of a Difficulty in leaving the City before Cicero was murdered, two Roman Knights who were pre fent, whofe Names were Caius Cornelius, an Lucius Vargunteius, undertook to murder hi before break of Day. But Cicero having A vice of this, by one. Fulvia, a noted Courtez took fuch Measures as entirely disappoin them, and next Day fummoned the Senate i the Temple of Jupiter Stator, with a Defig lay before them the whole of the Confpir Catiline appearing at the Place appointed, ‹ the other Confpirators, his Audacity feems have provoked our Orator fo much, that he ri into an abrupt Invective against him, and Affociates, whom he pathetically exhorts to gone out of Rome.

It was pronounced in the Senate, convene the Temple of Jupiter Stator, in the Year City 609, and of Cicero's Age 44.

'C

d

nocturnal Arms that watch the PALATIUM, the Guards of the City, the Confternation of the Citizens; all the Wife and Worthy clustering into Confultation; this impregnable Situation of the Seat of the Senate, and the reproachful Looks of the Fathers of Rome? Canft thou, I fay, behold all this, and yet remain undaunted and unabashed? Art thou infenfible thy Measures are detected! Art thou infenfible that this Senate, now thoroughly informed, comprehend the whole Extent of thy Guilt? Point me out the Senator ignorant of thy Practices during the laft and the preceding Night; of the Place where you met, the Company you fummoned, and the Crime you concerted. The Senate is conscious, the Conful is witness to this: yet, mean and degenerate! the Traitor lives: Lives! did I say? He mixes with the Senate; he shares in our Counfels; with a steady Eye he furveys us; he anticipates his Guilt; he enjoys the murderous Thought, and coolly

marks

The Romans had no ftanding Army at this Time, nor any regular Guards within the City; but on the Discovery of this Confpiracy, they had placed a strong Garrifon in the Palatium, which was the highest Hill in Rome, and ferved as a Citadel; at the fame Time, they ordered several Parties to patrole through the Streets, under the Command of the Ediles, and other inferior Magiftrates, to prevent the Conspirators setting Fire to the City in the Night.

d Orig. Concurfus: But Quintilian feems to have read Confenfus.