The conspiracie of Catiline, written by Constancius, Felicius, Durantinus, and translated bi Thomas Paynell: with the historye of Iugurth, writen by the famous Romaine Salust, and translated into Englyshe by Alexander Barcklaye

¶The oration of Catilyne to his souldyours, in whiche he ex∣horteth them to fyght manfully. Cap. lv.

I Knowe verye well good souldiours, that wordes can not make menne couragious, nor a cowarde and a fearefull armye, can not be made stronge and valyaunte by the capitaynes oration: but looke what au∣dacitie euery man hathe by nature or cu∣stome, suche is it wonte to appere in battayle. For in vayne thou shalte exhort hym, whom neyther▪ glory nor peryll can encorage, feare of the mynde an••oyeth the herynge. But I haue tolde you together, to declare vn∣to you a fewe thynges, and also to kreake and open my mynde vnto youe. Ye know my souldiours, to what af∣fliction and myschefe the feynt courage and cowardyse of Lentulus, hath brought hym selfe and vs: and nowe that I taryeng for succours to come frome the citie can not nowe passe into Fraunce. Nowe you all perceyue as well as I, in what case we stande. Oure ennemyes haue two hostes, the tone wyll not suffre vs to drawe to the citie, the tother doth let vs to enter into Fraunce, to tary longer in these places, thoughe we wolde neuer so fayne, nede and lacke of vytayle and other thynges wyll not suffer vs: whither so euer it pleaseth you to goo the way must be opened with your wepons. Wherefore I warne you, be of good courage, and whan ye shall

fyght, remembre, that yf ye fyght manfullye, youe shall wynne with your handes not onely ryches, glorye, and worshyp, but also lybertie and your countrey. If we o∣uercome, all thynges shall surely be ours, we shal haue abundance of vitayles, cities and townes alyed to the Romayns shalbe opened vnto vs. If feare make vs to shrynke, the selfe same thynges shalbe agaynst vs: for neyther place, nor frende shall succour hym, whome his armour coulde not defende. Furthermore my souldiors theyr necessitie and ours is not alyke: we fyghte for our countrey, for our lybertie, and oure lyues, it is no nede for them to fyght, that a fewe maye be myghty & strōg. Wherfore set vpon them the more boldly, remembrynge what noble actes ye haue done in tyme past. Ye myghte haue ledde forth your lyues in exile with greate shame and reproche: and some of you, hauynge none youre sel∣ues, myght haue gaped longe inough at Rome vppon the goodes and ryches of other: But bycause that fa∣cion semed vnto you, beinge men, shamefull and intol∣lerable: ye determyne to take this waye. If ye wyll re∣lynquishe those thynges, it behoueth you to be bolde. For no man excepte a conquerour, changeth warre for peace. For to hope to saue your selfe by flyghte (whan ye returne your backes, or throwe awaye your armour, wherewith youre bodyes are defended) that is a verye madnesse. For euermore in batayle they are in greatest peryll, that be mooste fearefull. Boldenesse is in stede of a stronge wall. Whan I consyder youe my souldy∣ours, and whan I ponder youre dedes, a greatte hope of vyctory enbraceth me: youre lustye stomackes, youre youthe, your strengthe encourageth me, farther, oure extreme neede, the whiche maketh the fearefull stronge

and hardy. The multitude of our enemies can not com∣passe vs about, the straytnes of the place wyll not suf∣fer them. But in case that Fortune wold not fauor your valyante dedes take heede that ye dye not vnreuenged, or be taken & murdred as beastis, but rather fyghtynge lyke men, leaue to our ennemies a blouddy and lamen∣table victorye.