§19postea Piso in citeriorem Hispaniam quaestor pro praetore missus est adnitente Crasso, quod eum infestum inimicum Cn. Pompeio cognoverat.
Afterwards, Piso was sent to Hither Spain as quaestor with praetorian powers, through the active support of Crassus, because Crassus had known him to be a bitter enemy to Gnaeus Pompey.
neque tamen senatus provinciam invitus dederat, quippe foedum hominem a re publica procul esse volebat, simul quia boni complures praesidium in eo putabant et iam tum potentia Pompei formidulosa erat.
Nor indeed had the senate given him the province unwillingly, since it wished a shameful man to be far from the republic, and at the same time because many of the good men thought there was a defense in him, and already then the power of Pompey was formidable.
sed is Piso in provincia ab equitibus Hispanis, quos in exercitu ductabat, iter faciens occisus est.
But this Piso, while making a journey in his province, was killed by the Spanish cavalry whom he was leading in his army.
sunt qui ita dicant imperia eius iniusta superba crudelia barbaros nequivisse pati; alii autem, equites illos, Cn. Pompei veteres fidosque clientis, voluntate eius Pisonem aggressos: numquam Hispanos praeterea tale facinus fecisse, sed imperia saeva multa antea perpessos.
There are some who say that the barbarians were unable to endure his unjust, haughty, and cruel commands; but others say that those cavalrymen, old and faithful clients of Gnaeus Pompey, attacked Piso by Pompey's will: that the Spaniards had never before committed such a deed, but had endured many harsh commands in the past.
nos eam rem in medio relinquemus.
We shall leave this matter undecided.
de superiore coniuratione satis dictum.
Enough has been said about the earlier conspiracy.
§20Catilina ubi eos, quos paulo ante memoravi, convenisse videt, tametsi, cum singulis multa saepe egerat, tamen in rem fore credens univorsos appellare et cohortari, in abditam partem aedium secedit atque ibi omnibus arbitris procul amotis orationem huiusce modi habuit:
'Ni virtus fidesque vostra spectata mihi forent, nequiquam opportuna res cecidisset; spes magna, dominatio in manibus frustra fuissent, neque ego per ignaviam aut vana ingenia incerta pro certis captarem.
When Catiline saw that those whom I mentioned a little while ago had assembled, although he had often discussed many things with them individually, yet believing that it would be to the purpose to address and encourage them all together, he withdrew into a secluded part of the house, and there, having removed all witnesses far away, delivered a speech of this kind: 'If your courage and fidelity had not been well-tried by me, this favorable opportunity would have occurred in vain; great hope and dominion would have been in our hands to no purpose, nor would I, through cowardice or empty minds, pursue uncertainties instead of certainties.
sed quia multis et magnis tempestatibus vos cognovi fortis fidosque mihi, eo animus ausus est maxumum atque pulcherrumum facinus incipere, simul quia vobis eadem quae mihi bona malaque esse intellexi;
But because in many and great crises I have known you to be brave and faithful to me, for this reason my mind has dared to begin the greatest and most noble deed, and at the same time because I understood that you have the same goods and evils as I do; for to desire the same things and to reject the same things, that indeed is firm friendship.
nam idem velle atque idem nolle, ea demum firma amicitia est. Sed ego quae mente agitavi, omnes iam antea divorsi audistis.
But as for what I have been revolving in my mind, you have all already heard individually before this.
ceterum mihi in dies magis animus accenditur, quom considero, quae condicio vitae futura sit, nisi nosmet ipsi vindicamus in libertatem.
For the rest, my mind is kindled more day by day, when I consider what the condition of our life will be unless we ourselves claim our freedom.
nam postquam res publica in paucorum potentium ius atque dicionem concessit, semper illis reges tetrarchae vectigales esse, populi nationes stipendia pendere; ceteri omnes, strenui boni, nobiles atque ignobiles, volgus fuimus sine gratia, sine auctoritate, iis obnoxii, quibus, si res publica valeret, formidini essemus.
For after the republic passed into the right and dominion of a few powerful men, kings and tetrarchs have always been tributary to them, peoples and nations have paid taxes; all the rest of us, active, good, noble and ignoble, have been a mere crowd, without influence, without authority, subject to those to whom, if the republic were strong, we should be a terror.
itaque omnis gratia potentia honos divitiae apud illos sunt aut ubi illi volunt; nobis reliquere pericula repulsas iudicia egestatem.
Therefore all influence, power, honor, and riches are in their hands or where they wish them to be; to us they have left dangers, defeats in elections, prosecutions, and poverty.
quae quo usque tandem patiemini, o fortissumi viri? nonne emori per virtutem praestat quam vitam miseram atque inhonestam, ubi alienae superbiae ludibrio fueris, per dedecus amittere? verum enim vero, pro deum atque hominum fidem, victoria in manu nobis est, viget aetas, animus valet; contra illis annis atque divitiis omnia consenuerunt.
How long, indeed, will you endure these things, O bravest of men? Is it not better to die bravely than to lose a miserable and dishonorable life in disgrace, where you have been a laughing-stock to another's pride? But indeed, by the faith of gods and men, victory is in our hands, our age is in its prime, our mind is strong; on the contrary, with them, because of age and riches, all things have grown old.
tantummodo incepto opus est, cetera res expediet.
We only need to begin; the event itself will clear the way.
etenim quis mortalium, quoi virile ingenium est, tolerare potest illis divitias superare, quas profundant in extruendo mari et montibus coaequandis, nobis rem familiarem etiam ad necessaria deesse? illos binas aut amplius domos continuare, nobis larem familiarem nusquam ullum esse? quom tabulas signa toreumata emunt, nova diruunt, alia aedificant, postremo omnibus modis pecuniam trahunt vexant, tamen summa lubidine divitias suas vincere nequeunt.
For who of mortals, who has a manly spirit, can endure that they should have a surplus of riches, which they pour out in building up the sea and leveling mountains, while we lack family property even for necessities? That they should join together two or more houses, while we have no family hearth anywhere? Though they buy paintings, statues, and embossed vessels, pull down new buildings and build others, and in short by every means waste and abuse their money, yet they cannot exhaust their riches even with their utmost indulgence.
at nobis est domi inopia, foris aes alienum, mala res, spes multo asperior: denique quid reliqui habemus praeter miseram animam?
Quin igitur expergiscimini? en illa, illa quam saepe optastis libertas, praeterea divitiae decus gloria in oculis sita sunt; fortuna omnia ea victoribus praemia posuit.
But we have poverty at home, debt abroad, a bad present situation, and a much harsher prospect: in short, what have we left except our miserable lives? Why then do you not wake up? Behold that, that liberty which you have so often wished for, and besides, riches, honor, and glory are placed before your eyes; fortune has set all these as rewards for the victors.
res tempus pericula egestas belli spolia magnifica magis quam oratio mea vos hortantur.
The situation, the time, the dangers, our poverty, and the magnificent spoils of war encourage you more than my speech.
vel imperatore vel milite me utimini: neque animus neque corpus a vobis aberit.
Use me either as your general or as your soldier: neither my mind nor my body shall be absent from you.
haec ipsa, ut spero, vobiscum una consul agam, nisi forte me animus fallit et vos servire magis quam imperare parati estis. '
These very things, as I hope, I shall perform as consul together with you, unless perchance my mind deceives me and you are more prepared to serve than to rule.'