Cicero against Catiline, in IV invective orations containing the whole manner of discovering that notorious conspiracy / done into English by Christopher Wase.

The First ORATION Against CATILINE, made in the SENATE. (Book 1)

The Argument

In the year after the Founding of Rome DC, Lucius Sergius Catilina, a Nobleman of Rome, of excellent En∣dowments both of Body and Mind, but deprav'd through ill habits; having been train'd up under the Vsurper Sulla, and through his whole time practis'd in Acts of great Licentiousness, stood with many other Competitors for the Consulship; but was accused of Cor∣ruption and miss'd it, Marcus Tullius Cicero and Caius Antonius being cho∣sen: Whereupon he entred into a dan∣gerous

Conspiracy of raising a Civil War, cutting off the Principal of the Senate, and Firing the City. On the VI. and VII. of November in the Nights were held secret Councils with the chief Conspirators, at the House of one M. Lecca a Roman Senator, where, among other particulars concluded for the carrying on the Design, two Knights then present, undertook early that Morning, under colour of a Visit, to kill Tully in his Bed: But he was im∣mediately advis'd of this imminent dan∣ger from Q. Curius a false Brother, by Fulvia, and that attempt frustrated. The same day, being the VIII. of No∣vember, the Consul calls a Senate in the Temple of Jupiter Stator, within the Tower of Rome; where met also Catiline, either to palliate the matter, or purge himself. Vpon sight of whom, Cicero being stirr'd betwixt Fear and Anger, stood up, and thus bespoke him:

1. HOw long, Catiline, will you abuse our pa••ience? How long shall that fury of yours

hector down even us too? To what bound shall your unbridled Audaciousness fly out? Has the Night-Guard of the Palace no∣thing daunted you? Nothing the Watches about the City? No∣thing the Fears and Jealousies of the People? Nothing the Con∣course of all the honest able Men? Nothing the holding the Senate in this place of strength? Do the looks and faces of all these in pre∣sence nothing at all dash you? Are not you aware that all your Plots are discovered? Are not you advi∣sed, that your Conspiracy is palpab∣ly known to all here? What you re∣solved upon last Night, what the Night before, where you were, who were in your Iuncta, of what Debates passed between you, who of us do you think is not fully in∣formed?

2. Oh what times! what a world

do we live in! All this the Senate understands, the Consul sees, yet this fellow lives, lives I, and comes into the House, is present at the Publick Council; marks with his eyes and designs each one of us for slaughter: Mean-while We, Couragious Men, think we have discharged our duty to the State, if we can shift his weapons and fu∣ry. Long since, Catiline, thou should'st have been led by the Consuls Order to Execu••ion; up∣on thine own head should have been turn'd that destruction which thou hast been so long contriving against all of us.

3. Could that most honoura∣ble Person (a) 1.1 Pub. Scipio, The High Priest, being then a private man,

••lay Tib. Gracchus, when he did but lightly shake the State of the Government: And shall We, Consuls, tamely endure Catiline, striving to lay the World desolate with Fire and Sword? To pass by those instances of an old date, that

Quintus Servilius Ahala slew with his own hand (b) 1.2 Spu∣rius Melius, when he went about to alter the Government. There has, there has been in Times of Old, such Courage in the State, that Men of Valour have restrained a dangerous Citizen, with more severe punishment than the most violent Enemy. We have now too made against you, Catiline, a strict and grave Act of Senate. The State wants not advice, nor this House resolution. We, I must speak boldly, We Consuls, are wanting in the Execution.

4. The Senate once made an Order, That Lucius Opinius (c) 1.3 the Consul should see that the safety of

the Common-Wealth should not be molested. One Night did not pass over his head, but (d) 1.4 Caius Gracchus, de∣scended of a most No∣ble Father, Grandfa∣thers, Ancestors, was slain upon some suspi∣cion of Factiousness; Marcus Fulvius, a Con∣sular Person, was slain, and all his Children by a like Act of Senate. The security of the State was committed to C. Ma∣rius and L. Valerius the Consuls. Did the Go∣vernment respite L. Sa∣turninus, Tribune of the Commons, and Ca. Ser∣vilius Praetor, one day from pu∣nishment? But We now have left the edge of Authority to grow

blunt these twenty dayes; for we have a like Act of Senate, but shut up in Tables, as a Sword ly∣ing in the Scabbard; by which Act of Senate, Catiline, you should have been immediately executed. You live, and that not to abandon, but to fortifie your boldness. I desire, my Lords, to be merciful, I desire withal not to be thought careless in so imminent dangers of the Common-wealth. But now I begin to condemn my self of sloth and cowardliness.

5. There is a Leagure in Italy against the State, pitched at the Entrance into Tuscany, the num∣ber of the Enemy increases day by day; but the Commander of that Leagure, and the General of those Enemies, we see within the Walls, nay, in the very Senate; daily plot∣ing some destruction against the State. If, Catiline, I should now order

you to be apprehended, if, to be executed, I think I should have reason to fear, least all honest men, should rather say, this was done too late by me; then that any should say it was too cruelly done: But for a certain reason I do for∣bear that, which long since should have been performed: Then will I take thee off, when as no one shall be found so impudent, so desperate, so like thy self, as not to confess it justly done.

6. As long as there shall be any one that dares justifie you, you shall live; but so, as now you do, hemmed in by me with many and strong Guards, as not to be able to stir against the Common-wealth. Many Eyes, and Ears too, that you are a little aware of, as hither to they have, shall spy and watch your Actions. Catiline, What would you have more, if neither

night can shrowd in its darkness your wicked Cabals? Nor a pri∣vate House within its walls, the words of your Conspiracy? If all come to light, all break forth, change then that mind, be ruled by me, do not think of Slaugh∣ter and Burning, you have hands upon you on all sides; all your Plots are as open as the day, which you may recollect with me.

7. Do you remember that I should say in the Senate on the One and twentieth of October, that, On a certain day would be in Arms (which day was to be the 25th of the same) Caius Manlius, the Executio∣ner and Instrument of your Treason. Catiline, was I mistaken, not onely in a thing, so great, so furious, so incredible; but what is mch more strange, in the very day. I said in the House too, that, You had pitched the 28th of the said Mon••th,

••or the assassinating of the Nobles; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 what time many Principal Men ••f the State left the Town, not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 much for their own preservati∣••n, as to suppress your designs: Can you deny on that very day ••hat you was so penn'd up by my Guard and diligence, that you ••ould not stir to prejudice the ••tate; when you said, though ••he rest were gone, The killing of ••s that remained, would serve your ••urn?

8. What when as you were ••onfident you could surprise Prae∣••este by an assault in the night, on ••he very first of November? Did ••ou observe that that Colony was ••y my Order secured with Guards ••f mine to watch and ward there? You act, you plot, you think no∣••hing, but what I not onely hear ••f, but see too, and plainly per∣••eive. Recall to memory with

me the other night, and you wi•••• find, that I am much more inten••••ly vigilant, for the preservatio•• than you for the destruction of th•• State. I say, that the night b••••fore last, you came among th•• Vine-dressers, I must speak plain•• to the house of Marcus Lecca, tha•• very many Abettors of your fu•••• and treachery, had their meetin•• there; Dare you deny it? Wh•• do not you speak? I will make 〈◊〉〈◊〉 appear, if you deny it; for I se•• (e) 1.5 some here in the Senate tha•• were there with you.

9. Immortal Gods! wherea••bouts are we? What a Govern••ment have we? In what City d•• we live? In this, this very place are some, of our own House, m•• Lords, of this most Venerabl•• and Grave Council of all th•• World, which project my ruin and all yours, together with th••

destruction of this City and the Empire of the World. These ••ersons, I that am Consul, be∣••old, and take their Votes about ••he Government; and those that ••hould have been cut off by the ••word, I do not yet wound with my word. You were then, Cat••∣••ine, at Lecca's house that night; You divided Italy into Posts, you appointed every one which way it was concluded he should march; you selected whom to leave at Rome, and whom to carry with your self; you divided the several parts, at which the City was to be ••ired; you gave assurance you would speedily leave the Town; onely, you said, One petty business, that is, my being alive, stayed your Iourney. There were (f) 1.6 two Roman Knights presently replied, They would re∣move

that obstruction, and promi••sed they would that very night, a littl•• before day kill me in my Bed.

10. I was in••o••med of all th•••• full as soon as your Company w•••• broke up, and secured and guarde•• my house the better; kept ou•• those that you sent in the mornin•• to give me a Visit, having befor•• told several persons that such woul•• come at the very same time. Whic•• things being so, Catiline, hold o•• the course you have begun, ge•• you out of Town at length; th•• Gates are open; take your Jour••ney. That Army of Manlius•• does too long want you to head it carry out all your Complices wit•• you, at least as many as may be•• rid the City, you will deliver m•• from much fear, so there be but •• Wall between you and me. You ca•• no longer continue among Us, •• will not bear it, I will not suffer it•• I will not endure it.

11. Great thanks be to the Im∣mortal Gods, and particularly to Iupiter Stator, the most ancient Guardian of this City, that we have so often already escaped this so villainons, so dreadful, and so dangerous a plague to the State; the safety of the Government must not any more be hazarded in one person. As long, Catiline, as you plotted against me, Consul Elect∣ed, I secured my self, not by any Publick Guard, but my private diligence. When as at the last Consular Election, you would have slain me the Consul and your other Competitors in the Field; I dashed your wicked attempts, by the assistance and strength of my friends, without giving any alarm to the Publick: In a word, as of∣ten as you struck at me, I opposed you by mine own interest; al∣though I saw, that my destruction

was inseparable from the great af∣fliction of the State.

12. But now with open face, you strike at the whole State, you bid ruin and desolation to the Temples of the Immortal Gods, to the Buildings of the City, to the l••fe of all the Citizens: In summe, to all Italy. Whe••efore, since I dare not execute that which were principally to be done, and is pro∣per to this Empire, and the seve∣rity of our Ancestors, I will do that which is more gentle, as to censure; more useful, as to the publick safety. For if I should or∣der you to be slain, the relicks of your Complices would still stick in the Common-wealth: But if you, which I frequently advise you to, shall march off, a great and dan∣gerous sink in the State, of your Comrades, shall be drained out.

13. What's the matter, Cati∣line? Do you make any question to do that at my Order, which you were before a doing of your own accord? The Consul com∣mands an Enemy to go out of Town, Do you ask, Whether to Banishment? I do not command you. But if you ask my Counsel, I advise you; For what is there, Catiline, which can any longer be pleasing to you in the City? wherein there is none, bating that Gang of desperate Conspirators, but fears you; none but hates you. (g) 1.7 What mark of domestical baseness has not been branded up∣on your life? What private dis∣grace does not asperse your Name? Have your Eyes ever been refrain'd from any lust? your Hands from any attempt, or any villany from your whole body? What young man is there by your pleasures in∣veagled,

whom you have not fur∣nished, either with a weapon to boldness or with an in••enrive to lust?

14. For example, newly (h) 1.8 when by the death of your former Wife, you had made house room for a se∣cond match, did you not by that villany add another incredible vil∣lany? which I pass by, and am well content should be wrapt up in ••ilence, least such an inhumane act should have been thought to have had being, or not to have been avenged under this Government. I pass by the decay of your Estate, all which you will find to hang over your head next Quarter-day. I come to those points, which do not concern the private reproach of your Vices, nor the necessitousness and baseness of your Family; but do more nearly relate unto the well-being of the State, and the life and safety of us all.

15. Can it be delighful to you, Catiline, to behold the light o•• this world, and to draw the breath of this air, when as you know, there is none of these present, that is not informed that (i) 1.9 the day be∣fore New-years-day, Lepidus and Tullus being Consuls, you (k) 1.10 wore Arms in the Assembly, that you had got a Crew together to kill the Consuls and Nobles; that no good meaning of yours, nor yet fear, but the fortune of the Com∣mon-wealth, hindred your trea∣son and rage: But I pass by those things, as neither obscure, nor long since committed. How often would you have killed me, when designed, how often since entred,

upon the Consulship? How many passes of yours, so made, that they seemed unavoidable, have I put by by a slight turn, and as the word is, with the motion of my body? You plot, you pursue, you con∣trive nothing, but I have timely notice of it; and yet for all that, you will never give over working and designing.

16. How many, many times already has that Dagger been wrung out of your hands? How often by some casualty dropt and slipt down? yet you cannot for your life be without it, which Dagger, under what Vow and Consecration it is, I know not, that you should have such a super∣stition, that it must needs be stuck up for a Monument in the Consuls heart. But now, what life do you lead? for I will so deal with you, not as though I were moved with

anger, as I have reason, but wi••h compassion, as you have no rea∣son to expect. You came even now into the Senate, did any one of this great Company of so many friends and acquaintance of yours, do you any reverence? If such a thing as this never happened to any in the memory of man, do you wait for them to speak out their indig∣nation, when you are already cast by the grand consent of their si∣lence? Nay at your coming in, great room was made for you; far∣ther, ••ll the Consular Persons, who had been oftentimes designed by you for slaughter, so soon as you sate down, sate them farther from you, leaving that part of the Seats bare and empty.

17. How do you think that is to be taken by you? Truly if my Servants were in such fear of me, as your Fellow Citizens stand in dread

of you, I should think fit to quit my House: Do not you so think it fit to quit the Town? And if I saw my self under so great suspicion and displeasure of my Countreymen, though unjustly, I would rather with-draw my self out of their sight, than be under their conti∣nual frowns. And do you, when your Conscience must tell you, that you have incurred the just and long deserved hatred of all, make any scruple to avoid their sight and presence, whose very souls and hearts you break? Suppose your Parents were afraid of, and fallen out with you, and you could by no means recover their favour, I conceive you would retire some whither out of their sight. Now your Countrey, which is the com∣mon Parent of us all, hates and fears you, and judges of you, that for this great while, you unnatu∣rally

contrive nothing but treason against her. Will you neither re∣verence her Authority? nor be guided by her Direction? nor stand in fear of her Power?

18. Which, Catiline, thus ad∣dresses to you, and in a manner, thus silently be-speaks you; There has been no violence for these many years past, but by your abettment; no lewdn••ss but by your contrivance; you are the onely man, that have car∣ried away free and unpunished the murders (l) 1.11 of many Citizens; you, (m) 1.12 the vexation and plundering of the Allies; you have not been onely so great as to slight the Laws and Iudgements, but also to pervert and

break through them. Your former Actions, although not to be born with, yet I digested as well as I could: but now, that I should be all over in a fright for your onely sake; that at the least stir Catiline should be suspected: no Plot can be thought to be laid against me, but through your Treachery, is intollerable: Wherefore with draw and rid me of this terror; if true, to prevent my destruction; if false, to remove at length my fears.

19. If your Countrey should thus address to you, ought she not to obtain it; although she could not force you? Nay further, you have offered your self into custody; nay, you said, To clear you of all suspicion, you would go dwell with Marcus Lepidus; who not enter∣taining you, you had the confi∣dence to come to me, and desired that, I would secure you in my

house. When you had from me too this Answer, that, I could by no means be safe with you under the same roof, that am in great danger, whilest we are within the same Ci••y Wall. You came to Q. Metellus the Praetor, by whom, when you were rejected, you took up your Lodging at your own Comrades, honest Marcus Marcellus: Him in good time you took, as one very careful to watch you, and very acute to discover you, and very couragious to punish you. But how far may he be thought from Goal and Irons, who judges him∣self worthy of Restraint?

20. Which things being so, Catiline, do you make any scruple, if you cannot be contented to die here, to go into some foreign place? and to commit that life of yours, conveyed away from many due and well dese••ved punishments,

to Exile and Obscurity? Move it, say you, in the house, for that is your request; and if the Senate shall vote, you must be banished, you say, you will submit. I will not move it, which is a thing goes much against my disposition; and yet I will so order the matter, that you may so understand the sense of the House concerning you. Ca∣tiline, Go out of the Town, put the State out of fear, go your way into Banishment, since you look for that word. What is the matter, Cati∣line? Do you mind? Do you ob∣serve the silence of all present? They are contracted, they are still. What, do you expect they should speak and give Order, whose meaning you will know by their silence?

21. But if I had said the same thing, to this worthy young Man, P. Sextius, if as much to Ma. Mar∣cellus,

a Person of great Valour, the Senate would immediately have laid violent hands, with all the reason in the world, upon me, that am now Consul, in this very Sanctuary, where we are: But for you, Catiline, being they are qui∣et, they give their consent; be∣ing they are contented, they vote it: being silent, they proclaim it. Nor onely the Senators, whose Authority it seems is with you ve∣ry dear, their lives cheap; but al∣so those Roman Knights, Men of great honour and worth, and other valiant Citizens, which attend at the Senate, whose number you might see, and perceive their af∣fections, and even now plainly hear their very words; whose hands and weapons for this good while, I have had much ado to keep off from you. I can easily prevail upon them, that if you

leave these parts, which you are plotting to ru••n, they shall all wait upon you to the City Gates.

22. But wherefore, do I talk, Can any thing daunt you? Can you ever be reformed? That you should ever think of with-drawing? Intend to leave the Town? Would the Immortal Gods would give you such a frame of heart•• Although I fore-see, if you upon the terror of these words, should take up a Resolution to go to Ba∣nishment, what a storm of Envy would hang over us? Though not so much at the present, whilest the memory of your villanies is fresh, but in after times. But I stand not much upon that, so the Calamity might be your own in parti••ular, and severed from the dangers of the State. But that you should be sensible of your own Vices, or fear the Penalties of the

Laws, or comply with the neces∣sity of the times, is a thing not to be expected: for, Catiline, you are none of those that either shame should keep you back from base∣ness, fear from hazard, or reason from rage.

23. Wherefore, as I have often said to you before, go your wayes, and if you have a mind, to procure me ill will, your Enemy, as you give out, go directly to Banish∣ment. I shall hardly endure the censures of men, if you do so; scarcely stand under the load of tha•• Envy, if you should go into Banishment at the Consuls Order: But if you had ••ather be instrumen∣tal to my praise and glory, match out with your dangerous Crew of Tray••ors, go straitwayes to Man∣lius, stir up the discontented peo∣ple, separate your ••elf from the well affected, make War upon

your Countrey, triumph in your unnatural robberies, that you may be thought not to have been cast out by me among strangers, but invited to your own.

24. But what need I invite you, who I know, have sent some to wait for you in Arms at Forum Au∣relium. I know a day is pitched upon and agreed with Manlius, by whom I know too that Silver Ea∣gle, which I trust will turn to the ruin and confusion of you and all yours; which set in your House was the Chappel of all your Treasons; is sent away. Can you want that Image, which you us'd to pray to, when you went out upon a Murder; from whose Altars you often car∣ry'd your polluted hand to the as∣sassinating of Citizens? Go your wayes at last, whither that un∣bridled and raging lust of yours has long time hurried you; for this

occasion does not bring you any grief, but a kind of incredible pleasure; to such sottishness has nature bred, your will practis'd, and fortune guided you. You ne∣ver longed for, I do not say, Peace, but any War, save such as is un∣natural. You have got a party of lewd persons, not onely lost in their fortunes, but also in their hopes. Here, what complacence will you find? What joy will you triumph in? What pleasure will you rant in? when amidst so great a number of followers, you will neither hear of an honest man, nor see one. Those labours of yours, that are so much cried up, have been trained to this course of life: Lying perdue, not onely to watch a Mistriss, but to take a Purse; Watchfulness both over the sleep of married men, and the Estates of the murdered. You have now

an opportunity to shew that you•• brave hardiness in hunger, cold, and want of all things, wherewith you shall shortly find your self pinched. I gained so much, what time I put you from the Consul∣ship, that you might rather in Ba∣nishment attempt, than in the su∣pream Government effect, the ••in of the State•• and that the thing, which was treasonably by you undertaken, might rather ••ear the Name of Rebellion, than War.

27. Now, My Lords, That I may remove, and deprecate from me, a kind of almost just Com∣plaint of my Countrey, mark I be∣seech you, attentively what I shall say, and treasure it up faithfully in your minds and memories: For, if my Countrey, which is far deare•• to me than my life; if all Italy, if the whole Common-wealth

should speak to me, Marcus Tu••∣ly, What do you mean? Would you suffer him to go forth, that you know certainly to be a Rebel; that you see will be the General of the War; that you are sensible, is expected as Chief Captain in the Enemies Camp; ha∣ving been the Contriver of the Trea∣son, the Chief of the Conspiracy, the Raiser of the Slaves and despe∣rate Citizens: that he may be thought not so much let out, as set on the Town? Will not you command him to be put in Irons, to be carried to Execution, to be punished with death?

28. What I pray hinders? Is it the old Custom? Nay often in this State, Persons out of Commission have put dangerous Citizens to death: Or the Laws which have been made about the punishing free Citizens of Rome? But never in this State have those, who revolted

from the Government, preserved the Priviledges of Freemen. Do you fear the Envy of Posterity? Now you fairly requite the People of Rome, who has exalted you, a Person known for your self onely•• without any Commendation of your Ancestors, so early to the supream Magistracy, through all the degre••s of subordinate Offices; if for envy or the fear of any danger, you neglect the safety of your Countreymen. But if there be any fear of Envy, is the Censure of Severity and Courage more greatly to be feared, than that of Baseness and Cowardise? Do you not think, when Italy shall be made desolate with War, the Cities plun∣dered, the Houses a-fire, you shall then fall under a flagrant Eny?

29. To these most sacred words of the State, and the minds of those men, which are of the same judgment, I shall answer a word:

Had I, my Lords, Judged it most expedient for Catiline to be put to death, I had not allowed that Sword-Player one hours respite to live: For if those most eminen•• and honourable Patriots were so far from polluting, that they ra∣ther ennobled themselves with the bloud of Saturninus and the Grac∣chi, and Flaccus, and of many o∣thers in former times: Truly I have no reason to fear, least this Murderer of the Citizens being slain, any envy should rise against me for the future. But if never so much did hang over me, yet I was alwayes of this Judgment, to think Envy gotten by Vertue to be no Envy but Glory.

30. Although there are some in this House, who either not se•• what is imminent, or dissembl•• what they see; who have cherish'd the hopes of Catiline with ••e••iss

Votes, and have con••irmed ••he rising Conspiracy, by not believ∣ing it: whose Authority many, not onely out of malice, but of sim∣plicity following, had I executed him, would have said, it had been a cruel and tyrannical Act. Now I understand, if he shall arrive, whither he intends at the Camp of Manlius, no body will be so fool∣ish, as not to see it was a Plot; no body so bold as not to confess it: But if he singly was slain, I un∣derstand this plague of the State might be a little supprest, but not wholly extinguished: But if he fly out, and carry his party along with him, and gather to the same place all other desperate persons, from every part gleaned up; not only this so ripe a plague of the Common-wealth will be extin∣guished and rooted out, but also the very strings and seeds of all mischief.

31. For, my Lords, this great while, are we engaged in the dan∣ger, and the snare of this Conspi∣racy. But now how it comes to pass I know not, the ripeness of all Treasons, and old rage, and boldness, is broke forth in the time of our Consulship. Now if this one person shall be taken off, we shall be thought perhaps relieved of our cares and fears; but the danger will stick close, and will be locked up in the bowels and veins of the Common-wealth; as often times men in an acute Sickness, when they are tossed with hea•• and feaver, if they drink cold water, seem at first to be eased; then afterwards, are more grievou∣sly and violently afflicted: so this Disease in the Body Politick being abated by his punishment, will return more violently, if the rest be left alive.

32. Wherefore, my Lords, Let the Malignants fall off, let them separate from the honest party, let them draw to a head: In a word, as I have often before said, Let them be parted from us with a Wall; let them leave plotting against the Consul in his own house, invest∣ing the Judges Bench, surround∣ing the Senate with their Swords, making Fire-balls and Brands, to burn the City. Lastly, let it be written in every ones Fore-head how he stands affected to the State. I promise you this, my Lords, there shall be so great diligence in us Consuls, so much authority in you, so much courage in the Ro∣man Knights, so great consent in the honest party, that you may see the whole Plot discovered, laid open, suppressed, and punish∣ed, by the going out of Catiline.

33. (n) 1.13 With this Prayer after you, Catiline, wishing, It may prove preservation to the State, ruin and confusion to your self, and de∣struction to all those, who have com∣bined themselves with you in all vil∣lany and treason. Go your way to an unnatural and rebellious War: (o) 1.14 And thou, Oh Juppiter, who at the same dedication as the City, wert consecrated by Romulus, whom we truly style, the Stay of this State and Empire; repulse him and his Complices from the Altars, and other Temples; from the Houses and Walls of the City; from the life and fortunes of all the Citizens: And all the Maligners of the well-affect••d, Enemies of their Countrey, Plunder∣ers of Italy, confound them both quick and dead with eternal punishment.

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  Much of the divisions in the Popu∣lar State of Rome, was about a Levelling the State, in such sort a•• that the over-weal∣••hiness of some Grandees, and extream indigence of the Ge∣nerality, might be taken away, and a middle Proportion of Estates, the very soul of Democracy, might be establish'd; to support Marriage and enable to Warfare, two great In∣struments of Empire. To effect this, C. Licinlus Stolo pro∣cur'd a Law, limiting each Citizen within the possession of 500 Acres; and also to a rate of great and small Ca••tl•• and Servants to keep them But as this Law was above 120 years e'r it could be obtain'd, so within less than 200 years i•• was undermin'd and quite overthrowns and all Italy found ingros∣sed into the Hands of a few Lords, who leas'd it out to Slaves and Barbarians. This mischief C. Laeli••s sought first to redress, but was wrought off by the Wealthy Party, and thereby acquir'd the Title of the Wise. Then Tiberius Grac∣chus undertook the reviving of it, with the Advice of Crassus the High-Priest, Mucius Scaevola, the Eminent Law∣yer, then Consul, and Appius Claudius his Father-in-Law; upon most moderate condi••ions, not of restori••g the Lands illegally held and refunding the mean profits, but of parting with them for a valuable consideration, to their poor ••ellow-Citizens (himself, his Fa••her-in-Law Appiu•• ••laudius, and his Brother C. Gracchus being Ioynt-Commissioners for the dividing those Lands.) and contenting themselves with 500 Acres, and their Children with half as much. Yet in the very publishing of it, he was taken off, as was su••pos'd•• by Scipio Na••ic••, who was, through the envy of the Fact, fain to retire from his Countrey.
• (b) 1.2

  Sp. Melius for distri∣buting Corn to the Commons in tim•• of great Dearth, fell under suspicion of affecting a Supremacy: Hereupon Qu. Cincinnatus is made Dicta∣tor, or Protector, and Cap∣tain General; (an Officer not appointed but in time of great fea••, and to continue but Six Moneths) he nominates Q. Servilius Ahala his Lieute∣nant General or Magister E∣qui••um; who summoning Sp. Melius, upon his non-appear∣ance before him, sent and stab'd him.
• (c) 1.3

  An or∣der for the Safety of the Common-w••alth. Hereby wa•• committed to the Con∣suls a Power of levying War and executing Marti∣al Law upon Citizen of Al∣ly, not allow'd but in case of extream danger.
• (d) 1.4

  C. Gracchus ca••ry'd on the design of his Brother and among other Laws, that of dividing ••he Lands of Conquest; hims••lf, M. Ful∣vius ••laccus and Papi••ius Carbo being Ioynt-Com∣missioners: ••he two former were slain by Order of L. Opinius,and the Son of M. Fulvius sent to inter∣cede for hi•• Father, being a comely and bashful youth, when sent back, with charge of coming no more, returning, by his Fathers order was cruelly kill'd in prison, having nev••r bore Arms. L. Opinius was af∣ter upon some occasion con∣demn'd and banish'd.
• (e) 1.5

  Salust reckons up xi Senators of the Con∣spiracy, Len∣tulus, An∣tonius, Lon∣ginus, Ce∣thegus, P, & Ser. Sulla, Vargunteius, Annius, Lec∣ca, Bestia, & Curius.
• (f) 1.6

  C. Cor∣nelius Sulls and M. C••••••thegus. Appian. Salust joyns with C. Cornelius, L. V••••••gunteiu••, but him he had nominated as a Sen••tor before.
• (g) 1.7

  He is reported ••o have marry'd her that w••s judg'd his Daughter, to have kill'd his Brother, and got him after he was dead except∣ed from pa••∣don.
• (h) 1.8

  He is imply'd to have made ••∣way his first Wife, to make •• room for Aurelia Orestilla; whom, be∣cause she did not like to have a grown Step-son, he is also recor∣ded to have gra••ifi'd with the ta∣king him al∣so off out of the way.
• (i) 1.9

  When L. ••orqua••u•• and L. Cotta design'd ••on∣suls, were to ••nter upo•• their Office, L. Catiline, P. An••roni∣us, and C. Pi∣so, about th•• 5th of De∣cember con∣spir'd to kill them; after∣w••rds they put it off to the 5th of the following February, what tim•• they com∣bin'd no•• on∣ly to kill th•• Consuls, bu•• most of th•• Senators•• which had been effected, had not Catiline been ••ver-forward to give the word, before all the Conspirators we••e m••t toge∣ther: this was two years past, and is call'd his former Con∣spiracy.
• (k) 1.10

  It was forbidden to wear Arms in the Place of As∣sembly, in the Iudgment Hall; and in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉••
• (l) 1.11

  T•• pass by those of lesser mark•• he slew of those in the Black Book o•• Sulla, L. Caecilius, M. Volumenius, L. Tanusiu••, and M. Ma∣rius, Grati∣dianus, one dear to the People and intimate with Tully, whose ••eek∣ing head and full of spi∣rits, be car∣ried in his hand to Sul∣la, from the one end of the City, beyond the Bridge, to the other.
• (m) 1.12

  When L. Catiline was Chief Iustice in the Province of Africa, he so pillag'd the subject, that he was accus'd of Bribery by Clodius, whom he so corrupted, that he shamefully betray'd the Cause, and so came off; again being indicted of Murder, for his many slaughters in the Action of Sulla, by the favour of the Nobility, who favour'd Sulla, he was clear'd.
• (n) 1.13

  The Hea∣thens had a strong Su••er∣stition about the accidents, or Voices of Birds or Men, parti∣cularly at the Entring up∣on a Jour∣ney, especi∣ally in any great Un∣dertaki••g •• that they were omi∣nous, if good, to the ••les∣sing, if bad, to the Blast∣ing their De∣sign. There∣fore he thus ••oe-speaks ill success to his design'd Expedition.
• (o) 1.14

  This being spoken in the Temple of Jupiter S••ator, hath a greater presence of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Dev••tion, and a kind of solemn Excommunication, some Image of ••hich was even among the Heathens in use towards men guil••y of Treasons, Murders, and such high Misdemeanors.