A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Cicero Denounces Catiline 439
All these facts, while they were still secret, were communicated
to Cicero by Fulvia, a woman of quality. Her
lover, Quintus Curius, who had been expelled from the
senate for immorality, and was one of
told her in
the conspirators,
a vain and boastful way that he would soon
be in a position of great power. And now a rumor of
what was transpiring in Italy was noised about. Accordingly
Cicero stationed guards at intervals throughout the
city, and sent many of the nobihty to the suspected places
to watch what was going on.
(Catiline had the boldness to take his usual place in the
senate, whereupon Cicero delivered against him a terrible
invective. Some extracts from this speech are given below.)
How long, Catiline, will you abuse our patience?
How
To
long will your frantic rage baffle the efforts of justice?
what height do you mean to carry your daring insolence?
Are you not daunted by the nightly watch posted to secure
the Palatine Hill? or by the city guards? or by the fear of
the people? or by the union of all the wise and worthy
citizens? or by the senate's assembling in this place of
strength? or by the looks and faces of all here present?
Do you not see that all your designs are brought to light?
that the senators are thoroughly informed of your conspiracy?
that they are acquainted with what you did last
night and the night before, your place of meeting, the
company you summoned, and the measures you concerted?
Alas for our degeneracy! alas for the depravity of the
times; the senate is informed of this whole plot, the consul
sees it, yet the traitor lives. Lives, did I say? He even
comes into the senate; he shares in the public deliberations;
he marks us out with his eye for destruction.
We,
bold in our country's cause, think we have sufJ&ciently
The
conspiracy
divulged.
Appian,
Civil Wars,
ii. 3-
Cicero
denounces
Catiline.
Cicero,
Against Catiline,
i.