The workes of Caius Crispus Salustius contayning the Conspiracie of Cateline The Warre of Iugurth. V. bookes of historicall fragments. II orations to Cæsar for the institution of a co[m]monwealth and one against Cicero.

CHAP. 2.

Catilines life, linage, and condition.

LVcius Catiline was des∣cended of a Noble fa∣milie, his abilities both of body and mind were great, but his disposition was euill and corrupt, from the age of a stripling, intestine broyles, murthers, ra∣pines, and ciuill dis∣cords were his pleasures, & in these he exercised his ri∣per youth: his body was patient of hunger, cold, and watching, beyond the reach of humane beliefe. His mind was daring, sub∣tile and various▪ He could 〈1 page missing〉〈1 page missing〉

pline was strictly obserued, both in the Citty and Campe. There was an vni∣forme concord without the least blemish of couetous∣nesse equity and goodnesse were maintained amongst them, more by the instinct of nature, then by the writ∣ten Tables.

Their strifes, discordes, angers, and enmities, they wraked vpon their enemies: Citizens contended with Citizens in the emulation of vertue: they were magni∣ficent in diuine ceremonies, frugall in domesticke ex∣pences, faithfull to their friends. By these two cour∣ses of courage in warfare, and equity after peace, was concluded, they prouided

for their owne and the pu∣blicke safety. Of these par∣ticulars, I haue this espe∣ciall proofe; because in the time of warre, more seue∣rity was for the most part exercised against those, who ingaged sight without command, or retired too slowly, the retreate being sounded, then vpon such as forsooke their Ensignes, or fled, being beaten from their appointed stations. But in the time of peace, they swayed the Gouern∣ment more by bounty then terrour, being willing to forgiue, rather then re∣uenge iniuries. Thus as soone as industrie, and iu∣stice had inlarged the State, mighty Kings were con∣quered

by their Armes fierce Nations, and multi∣tudes of people were sub∣dued by their Forces; yea, Carthage, emulous of the Roman Empire, was ra∣zed without hope of re∣couery; all Seas and Lands gaue way to their Armies.

Then fortune began to frowne, and to blend all things with confusion. Those men who had suf∣fred without disturbance la∣bours, dangers, hard and harsh fortunes, to them ease and wealth, things to be wished for of others, became a burden and cala∣mitie. Then first the desire of money, and after that, of Soueraignety began to in∣crease: these proued the

materials of all mischiefes: for auarice subuerted faith, honesty, and o∣ther good practises: in¦steed of them it taught pride, cruelty, irreligion, and bribery, with all ambi∣tion made many men hol∣low-hearted, they reserued one thing in their breasts, expressed another with promptnesse of language. They valued amity and en∣mity not by desert, but by profit, and more affected a good shew then sub∣stauce. These abuses at first, crept foreward by degrees, being sometimes subiect to punishment: after, when the contagion spred it selfe like a pestilence, the face of the Citty was changed, and

the forme of Gouernment which was most iust and ex∣cellent, grew to be tyran∣nous and vnsufferable.

But first of all, ambition (which vice is vertues next counterfeit) exercised mens affections, more then co∣uetousnesse, for glory, ho∣nour, and dominion, are desired indifferently by the good and euill: but the first of these takes the direct way, the other, because he wants fit meanes, pursues their inquest with deceit and false-hood.

Couetousnesse hath with it an immoderate desire of riches, which neuer any wise man did affect: she as if infected with viru∣lent humours, effeminates

both mens bodies and minds, she is alwayes vnli∣mited, and vnsatiable, not lessened with plenty, nor penury.

Now, after that Locius Sylla had recouered by Armes, the sway of the Re∣publicke, from good be∣ginnings, ill euents atten∣ded him, for all men gaue themselues to rapine and pillage: this man longed for a house, that other for a field: the victours knew neither meane nor mode∣stie: barbarous and bloody executions were inflicted vpon their fellow Citizens. This mischiefe was furthe∣red by another, because that Sylla, to the intent hee might oblige the Army to

his seruice, which he com∣manded in Asia, had con∣trary to the discipline of his Ancestours, entertained them with too much luxu∣ry and freedome. Places of pleasure, and voluptuous allurements, had easily mollified in this time of va∣cancy, the fierce courage of his Souldiers. There first the Romane Armie learned to whore, to ca∣rowse, and to fancy scut∣cheons, pictures, and in∣chased vtensils: these they purloyned priuatly and pu∣blickly; withall they pilla∣ged the Temples, and pol∣luted all diuine and pro∣fane ordinances: so that these were the Souldiers, who after they had gotten

the victory, left nothing to bee possessed by the van∣quished. Prosperitie for cer∣taine, cloyes the mindes of wise men, much lesse could those men, whose conditions were dissolute, moderate them∣selues after the victorie.

From thence foreward riches were accounted honourable, and these were courted by Domination, glory and and power. Then the edge of vertue was aba∣ted, pouerty was thought a disgrace, and innocency was esteemed a sin. There∣fore by the causall meanes of riches, ryot, auarice, and pride, corrupted the youth, who made large spoiles and expences, being carelesse of their owne

estates, yet couetous after other mens. They confoun∣ded promiscuously, shame and modesty together, with the Lawes of God & man: they were neither mode∣rate, nor prouident in their actions.

It is a subiect worth the obseruation, when you shall behold houses and priuate dwellings, inlar∣ged with buildings in the manner of Citties, to sur∣uay therewithall the Tem∣ples of the Gods, which our most religious Predeces∣sours erected. But these they beautified with piety, as they did their owne houses with glory. Neither did they take any thing from the conquered, but

the liberty of doing wrong. But these debaucht persons tooke most iniuriously from their associates, these proprieties, which those valiant Conquerours spa∣red to their enemies; as though the doing of iniury were a true argument of command. But why should I recount those abuses, which are not credible to any that haue not seene them, as the leuelling of mountaines, and the dam∣ming vp of seas at priuate mens charges; who made wealth the scorne of their folly, because they were lewd, and lauish of that, the honest fruition whereof had beene lawfull?

Besides, their lusts, ryots,

and other lewde practices, were not inferiour to their former crimes: men inured themselues to feminine suf∣ferances, and women pu∣blikly prostituted their ho∣nours. To please their pa∣lates, both lands and seas were searcht from farre: they went to sleepe before naturall desire vrged it. They could not brooke hunger, thirst, cold, nor wearinesse, but did antici∣pate all of them with luxu∣ry. These motiues incited the youth to dangerous at∣tempts, as soone as their properstore was exhausted. A mind infected with this va∣riety of vices, could hardly re∣straine the inuasion of lusts. By meanes whereof the wayes

of getting and spending were affected with more profusion.