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. 4.

Catiline resolues the death of Cicero, but is preuen∣ted by Fuluiaes intelli∣gence. Manlius raiseth a rebellion in Hetruria.

THese prouisions be∣ing made, Catiline re∣solues

notwithstanding all opposition, to sue for the Consul-ship the next yeere, hoping if he were elected, that hee should be able to deale with An∣tonius according to his pleasure. Neither was hee quiet in the meane time, but sought to intrappe Cicero by all possible meanes, who wanted nei∣ther fraud nor subtletie, to assure himselfe against his plots, for from the be∣ginning of his Consull∣ship, he had dealt with Fuluia, by promising her largely, that Qu. Curius (of whom we haue spo∣ken before) should be∣wray to him the depth of Catilines Counsels. His

Colleague Antonius hee had likewise obliged by the exchange of his Pro∣uince, that he should not entertaine any thoughts of innouation against the Commonwealth. Besides he had Guardes of his friends and Clients atten∣ding in secret vpon his person.

The day of election be∣ing now come, and Cati∣lines suite and plot against the Consull, wanting both successe, he resolues to make open warre, and to hazard all extremities; because those attempts which he made in Couert, proued vaine and with∣out successe. Vpon this he dispatcheth C. Menlius to

Fesulae, and to the adia∣cent parts of Hetruria. He sends Septimius a certaine Camertaine into the Pice∣nian territorie, as he did C. Iulius into Apulia, and others into other places, where hee thought they could best opportune his purpose. In the meane time hee proiects many things at Rome, he lyes in waite for the Consull; prepares Incendiaries, sur∣prizeth places of aduan∣tage with his armed fol∣lowers; he himselfe stāding vpon his garde in armes. Againe, hee commands some, and perswades o∣thers to be prouident and ready to bee forward and vigilant at all seasons,

being neither tired with watching not labour. At length, when as nothing succeeded in his seuerall vndertakings, hee sum∣mons againe late in the night the principals of the Conspiracie, by his A∣gent M. Portius Lecca, and there hauing complained much of their slacknesse, he sheweth, that hee for his part, had already sent Manlius to those troupes, which he had formerly prouided for this warre; that others were disperst into other conuenient places, to lay the founda∣tion of the warre: that his chiefe desire was to visit the Army; conditionally that Cicero were first slaine;

he being the greatest obsta∣cle of all his proceedings.

Vpon this the residue be∣ing terrified & wauering, Cornelius a Roman Knight, and with him L. Vargunte∣ius•• Senatour, hauing pro∣mised their best assistance, determined forthwith to visit Cicero the same night, vnder the colour of saluta∣tion, & to kil him suddain∣ly in his own house, being vnprouided for defence. Curius no sooner vnder∣stood the greatnesse of the danger impēdant ouer the Consull, but opportunely by Fului••, he discloseth the intended plot to Cicero; v∣pon which intelligence they being restrained at the gate, this attēpt of theirs

was then frustrated.

In this intercourse of time, Manlius sollicited the Commons in Hetruria, being of themselues de∣sirous of innouation through their pouerty, and former greeuances of wrong, for that during Syllaes tyrannicall gouern∣ment, they had lost all their lands and mouables. Besides these, he drew to his party, Theeues of all sorts, with diuers male∣contents of the Syllan Co∣lonies, to whom lust and and luxury had left no re∣mainder of their former rapines. When these oc∣currences were related to Cicero, he was much trou∣bled with the doubtful∣nesse

of the danger, be∣cause that neither by his counsell could he free the Cittie from further tre∣chery; neither could hee be sufficiently informed, of what numbers Manlius Army consisted, nor what was the scope of his designed. Therefore he re∣ferres the matter to the Senate, being now ru∣moured euery where by the vulgar report.

They againe, (as it is vsuall in times of most danger) did forthwith decree, that the Consuls should endeuour them∣selues to the vtmost, that the Republicke suffred no detriment. That power is granted by the Senate,

vnto the chiefest Magi∣strate after the Romane custome: by which he is inabled to wage warre, to leuie at his discretion, both allies and Citizens: withall, to command in chiefe, both at home and abroad. Otherwise, with∣out the peoples authori∣sing, none of these priui∣ledges are permitted to the Consuls. Some fewe dayes after, Lu. Seruius, a Senatour, recited certaine letters, which he said, were brought vnto him from Fesulae, by Quin. Fa∣bius. In these thus it was written: That C. Manlius had taken Armes with great numbers, before the sixth day of the Kalends of Nouem∣ber.

Vpon this (as it is vsu∣all in such euents) some spake of portentuous signes and prodigies. O∣thers discoursed or vnlaw∣full assemblies, of trans∣portation of Armes, and of a seruile commotion in Capua, and Apulta.

Whereupon by the Decree of the Senate, Quin. Martius Rex, was sent into Fesulae, and Quin. Metellus Creticus into Apu∣lia and the neighbouring Regions. Both these ha∣uing beene Generals of the field, were hindred from triumphing, by the calumniation of some few, vnto whom all suites, whether good or bad, were wont to be venall.

But as for the Praetours, Qu. Pompeius Rufus was commissioned to goe to Capua, and Quintus Metel∣lus Celer, for the Picenian territory, and these had power by permission to raise an Armie, as the oc∣casion and case required. Moreouer, if any man could reueale any thing concerning this Conspi∣racie (intended against the safety of the State) it was decreed he should haue a large reward; a seruant his freedome, and a hundred Sesterties: •• free-man impunity of the fact, and two hundred Sesterties. They decreed besides, that the families of the Sword-players,

should be billetted in Ca∣pua, and other infranchi∣sed Townes, according to the ability of the inha∣bitants; that watch and ward should bee kept at Rome, and that the infe∣riour Magistrates should haue the command there∣of. With these nouelties the Citty was amazed, and the face of it was changed; in stead of mirth and frollicknesse, which diuturnall ease had produced, forthwith there followed a gene∣rall sadnesse. This man speedes to preuent, that man trembles, neither place nor person could as∣sure their di••••idence. Nei∣ther had they open war,

nor certaine peace: euery man esteemed the dan∣gers according to, his owne fearefull apprehen∣sion. Besides this, the weaker sexe, to whom (in regard of the maiestie of the State) the terrour of warre was vnusuall, did bewaile their hard for∣tunes, they lifted vp their suppliant hands to hea∣uen, commiserated their little children, prayed fre∣quently, and feared the worst in all things, so that their pride and pleasures being neglected, they be∣gan to distrust themselues, and their Countries safe∣tie.

Amidst these distur∣bances, Catilines fierce

mind still prosecuted the same courses, yea, al∣though gardes were pro∣uided, and that hee was examined by Lu. Paulus, vpon the breach of the Plautian Lawe. At last for palliations sake, and vn∣der the pretence of pur∣ging himselfe, as though he had beene prouoked thither by iniurious dea∣ling, he makes his appea∣rance in the Senate, vpon this the Consull M. Tul∣lius, whether fearing his presence, or incensed with anger, made a pithy and profitable Oration for the good of the Com∣mon-wealth, which after∣wards he published in writing. But as soone as

he was set downe, Catiline being one that could rea∣dily counterfeit al shapes, began to petition the Fa∣thers with a deiected countenance, and sup∣plaint voyce, that they would not without iust cause, giue credit to any thing that might be sus∣pected against him. That he being extracted from such noble a family, had so demeaned his conuersa∣tion from his youth vp∣ward; that onely, that which was good, had been harboured in his hopes: neither should they con∣ceiue thus of him, that he being a Patrician borne, (who together with his Ancestours, had merited

well of the Roman peo∣ple) could not subsist without the ruine of the Common-wealth: when as, forsooth, M. Tullius a petty Inmate in the Cit∣ty of Rome, must bee thought to preserue the same.

When he superadded other scandals to these, all the house husht at his speech, calling him Trai∣tour & parricide publick∣ly. Then all inraged hee replies, because being cir∣cumuented I am ouer∣borne by mine enemies, nothing but ruine shall determine my reuenge. Thereupon, from the Court hee poasteth to his owne dwelling house:

there pondering many things seriously with him∣selfe, as that his plots a∣gainst the Co••sull did not succeed, and that his In∣telligencers assured him, that the Citty by reason of the Guardes, was secu∣red from firing: he thin∣king it the best expedient, to reinforce his Army, before more Legions were inrolled, and to an∣ticipate all aduantages, which might be vsefull for him in the warre, he takes his iourney late in the night towards Manlius Camp, with some few persons in his retenue. But before this he had charged Cethegus, Lentu∣lus and others, whose

courage he knewe to be most actiue, that by all meanes possible they should assure the strength of the faction, that they should hasten their trea∣cheries designed against the Consull, and dispose before-hand slaughter, fi∣rings, and other mis∣chiefes incident to warre: as for himselfe, he would martch speedily to the Citty with an Army of sufficient force.

Whilst these things wer acted at Rome, C. Manlius sends certaine Agents of his owne retinue vnto Q. Martius ex, with this message following:

We call both gods and

men to witnes (most noble Generall) that wee haue not taken Armes against our Countrie, nor that we might heape danger vpon other men: but one∣ly to secure our bodies from violence, who being wretched and wanting through the oppression and cruelty of vsurious creditours, haue for the most part lost our Coun∣trie, as all of vs haue our Fame and fortunes. Nei∣ther is it permitted to any of vs to take the benefit of the Lawe (according to the custome of our An∣cestours) nor to keepe our bodies free, our Patrimo∣nies being forfeited. So great hath beene the ri∣gour

of the Vsurers and Praetour. Our Predeces∣sours oftentimes taking compassion of the Plebe•• an Romanes, by publicke Decrees releeued their pouerty; and of late, euen in our memories, in re∣gard of them excessiue debts, it was agreed vp∣on by the consent of all good men, that they should be paid out of the common stocke.

Oftentimes hath the very Commonalty disivnited themselues from the Fa∣thers; either induced by the desire of superiority, or otherwise armed through the pride of the Magistrates. But we af∣fect neither rule nor Ri∣ches,

by whose causing all warres and quar∣rels arise amongst mor∣tals: we onely desire liber∣ty, which no free nature can indure to lose, ex∣cept it be with the losse of life. We importune both thee and the Senate, that you would releeue vs, your miserable fellow Ci∣tizens, and restore vnto vs the benefit of the Law, from which the iniustice of the Praetour seekes, to debarre vs; not imposing vpon vs the last of all ex∣tremities, that we should seeke the meanes, by which we should die, ha∣uing first fully reuenged our deaths.

To these demands

Q. Martius replied, that they would request any fauour from the Senate, they should surcease from Armes, and goe to Rome in the nature of sup∣pliants; that there both the Senate and people were of such clemencie and compassion, that ne∣uer any man required their helpe in vaine.

But Catilene being vpon his iourney, wrote to di∣uers of the Confular or∣der, and to sundry other persons of quality. His letters imported, that he was wronged by false as∣persions, that because he could not resist the power∣fulnesse of his enemies,

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he gaue way to his hard fortune, that he would goe to Marselles to liue in exile: not because he was conscious to himselfe of so hainous a crime, but that the State might re∣maine vndisturbed, and that no sedition might proceed from his quar∣rell, farre contrarie to the tenure of these. Q. Cat••lus did reade others letters in the Senate, which he a∣uouched to be deliuered vnto him in Catilines name: The Copie of them is here vnderwritten.

Lu. Catiline to Qu. Catu∣lus, wisheth health.

Thy remarkable con∣stancy,

confirmed by ex∣perience, which hath come acceptably to me in my greatest dangers, war∣rants confidence to these my commendations. For what cause I did not re∣solue to vndertake my owne defence in that new Counsell, I meane to giue thee satisfaction, yet not out of the guiltinesse of any crime. This (so God helpe mee) you may re∣ceiue for a truth: being prouoked with iniuries and disgraces, withall de∣priued of the fruite of my labour and industrie, be∣cause I failed in obtaining the Consular dignity, I haue vndertaken, accor∣ding to my custome, the

protection of distressed men. Not because I was vnsufficient to satisfie my debts vpon my owne cre∣dit, and out of my owne Reuenues: since vpon other mens credit, the meere liberality of Aure∣lia Orestilla was able to discharge them all, out of her owne and her daughters store. But for that I saw vnworthy per∣sons dignified with ho∣nour, and my selfe reie∣cted vpon false suspitions: for this cause I haue pro∣secuted these hopes of preseruing the remainder of my reputation, they be∣ing honest enough for my present fortune. Being willing to write more, it

is related to me, that pro∣uisions are made to force me. Now I commend Orestilla to thee, and deli∣uer her to thy trust. De∣fend her from wrong, be∣ing coniured by the loue of thy children. Farewell.