The Conspiracy of Catiline

And not only those who had been accomplices in the conspiracy had a hostile mind, but the entire populace, in their eagerness for change, approved of Catiline’s undertakings. This, indeed, they seemed to do according to their custom. For in a state, those who have no resources always envy the good, extol the bad, hate the old, long for the new, desire all things to be changed out of hatred for their own circumstances, and feed themselves on turmoil and seditions without care, since poverty is easily maintained without loss. But the urban populace, they indeed were headlong for many reasons. First of all, those who everywhere were most prominent for disgrace and insolence, likewise others who had lost their patrimonies through shameful conduct, and finally all whom disgrace or crime had driven from home, had flowed into Rome as if into a cesspool. Then, many, mindful of Sulla’s victory, because they saw some from common soldiers become senators, and others so rich that they passed their lives in royal food and luxury, each hoped for himself such things from victory, if he should be in arms. Furthermore, the youth, who in the fields had tolerated poverty through the wages of their hands, excited by private and public largesses, had preferred urban leisure to ungrateful labor. These and all others the public misfortune fed. Wherefore it is the less to be wondered at that needy men, of bad morals, with the greatest hope, took counsel for the republic just as for themselves. Moreover, those whose parents had been proscribed, whose goods snatched away, and whose right of liberty diminished by Sulla’s victory, expected the outcome of the war with indeed no other mind. In addition to this, whoever were of a different party from that of the Senate preferred that the republic should be thrown into confusion rather than that they themselves should have less power. This, indeed, was an evil that had returned into the state after many years.

For after the tribunician power was restored in the consulship of Cn. Pompey and M. Crassus, young men having obtained the highest power, whose age and mind were fierce, began to agitate the plebs by accusing the Senate, then to inflame them further by giving and promising, and thus to become famous and powerful themselves. Against them, most of the nobility strove with their utmost power, under the pretense of the Senate, for their own greatness. For, to sum up the truth in a few words, after those times, whoever agitated the republic with honorable names, some as if they were defending the rights of the people, others so that the authority of the Senate might be greatest, while pretending the public good, each contended for his own power. Nor was there any moderation or limit to their strife: both sides exercised their victory cruelly.

But after Cn. Pompey was sent to the maritime and Mithridatic war, the power of the plebs was diminished, and the influence of a few grew. These held the magistracies, provinces, and all other things; themselves unhurt, flourishing, they passed their lives without fear, and terrified the others with trials, so that they might treat the plebs more gently while in office. But as soon as the hope of change was offered in doubtful circumstances, the old contest aroused their minds. But if Catiline had departed from the first battle superior or with an equal hand, surely a great disaster and calamity would have oppressed the republic, nor would those who had obtained the victory have been allowed to enjoy it for long, without someone who was more powerful extorting the command and liberty from them, exhausted and bloodless. There were, however, several outside the conspiracy who set out for Catiline at the beginning. Among them was Fulvius, the son of a senator, whom, having been dragged back from his journey, his parent ordered to be put to death. At the same times at Rome, Lentulus, as Catiline had commanded, was soliciting, either by himself or through others, whoever he believed to be fit for change by their morals or fortune, and not only citizens, but any kind of men, provided only they were of use for war.