The Conspiracy of Catiline

But the Allobroges, according to the instruction of Cicero, meet the others through Gabinius. From Lentulus, Cethegus, Statilius, and likewise Cassius, they demand a signed oath which they may carry to their citizens; otherwise, they say, they cannot easily be impelled to so great an enterprise. The others, suspecting nothing, give it; Cassius promises that he himself will come there shortly, and departs from the city a little before the envoys. Lentulus sends with them a certain T. Volturcius of Croton, so that the Allobroges, before they proceeded home, might confirm the alliance with Catiline by giving and receiving pledges of faith. He himself gives Volturcius letters for Catiline, a copy of which is written below: ”Who I am, you will learn from him whom I have sent to you. Mind you reflect in how great a disaster you are, and remember that you are a man. Consider what your plans demand. Seek help from all, even from the lowest.” In addition to this, he gives verbal instructions: since he has been judged an enemy by the Senate, for what purpose does he reject the slaves? In the city, those things which he ordered are prepared; let him not hesitate to approach closer himself.

These things having been so done, and the night being appointed on which they should depart, Cicero, having been fully informed of everything through the envoys, commands the praetors L. Valerius Flaccus and C. Pomptinus to capture the company of the Allobroges by an ambush at the Mulvian bridge. He opens the whole matter for the sake of which they were sent, and permits them to act in other things as there might be need of action. They, being military men, having stationed guards without tumult, secretly blockade the bridge as they had been instructed. After the envoys arrived at that place with Volturcius, and at the same time a shout arose on both sides, the Gauls, quickly understanding the plan, surrender themselves without delay to the praetors. Volturcius at first, having encouraged the others, defended himself with his sword against the multitude; then, when he was abandoned by the envoys, having first pleaded much with Pomptinus for his safety because he was known to him, at last, terrified and despairing of his life, surrendered himself to the praetors as if to enemies.

These things having been accomplished, all things are hastily declared to the consul through messengers. But a huge anxiety and joy occupied him at the same time. For he rejoiced, understanding that by the disclosure of the conspiracy the state was snatched from dangers; yet he was anxious, doubting what ought to be done since such great citizens were caught in so great a crime: he believed that their punishment would be a burden to himself, and their impunity would be the ruin of the republic. Therefore, with his mind strengthened, he orders Lentulus, Cethegus, Statilius, Gabinius, and likewise Caeparius of Terracina, who was preparing to depart for Apulia to stir up the slaves, to be called to him. The others come without delay; Caeparius, having gone out of his house a little before, had fled from the city upon learning of the disclosure. The consul, holding Lentulus by the hand because he was a praetor, leads him into the Senate; the rest he orders to come with guards into the Temple of Concord. He summons the Senate thither, and in a great assembly of that order, introduces Volturcius with the envoys; he orders Flaccus the praetor to bring thither the portfolio with the letters which he had received from the envoys.

Volturcius, being questioned about his journey, about the letters, and finally what plan he had held or for what reason, at first fabricated other things and dissembled about the conspiracy; but afterwards, when he was ordered to speak under the public pledge of safety, he discloses all things as they had been done, and shows that he, having been admitted as an associate a few days before by Gabinius and Caeparius, knew nothing more than the envoys, except that he was accustomed to hear from Gabinius that P. Autronius, Ser. Sulla, L. Vargunteius, and many others besides were in that conspiracy. The Gauls confess the same things, and convict Lentulus, who was dissembling, not only by the letters but also by the conversations which he was accustomed to hold: that from the Sibylline books, the kingship of Rome was portended to three Cornelii; that Cinna and Sulla had been before, and he was the third to whom it was fated to possess the city; moreover, that this was the twentieth year from the burning of the Capitol, which the haruspices had often answered from prodigies would be bloody with civil war. Therefore, the letters having been read through, since all had first recognized their own seals, the Senate decrees that, having resigned his office, Lentulus and likewise the others should be held in free custody. Thus Lentulus is delivered to P. Lentulus Spinther, who was then aedile, Cethegus to Q. Cornificius, Statilius to C. Caesar, Gabinius to M. Crassus, and Caeparius—for he had been brought back from flight a little before—to Cn. Terentius the senator.