§37neque solum illis aliena mens erat, qui conscii coniurationis fuerant, sed omnino cuncta plebes novarum rerum studio Catilinae incepta probabat.
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.
id adeo more suo videbatur facere.
This, indeed, they seemed to do according to their custom.
nam semper in civitate, quibus opes nullae sunt, bonis invident, malos extollunt, vetera odere, nova exoptant, odio suarum rerum mutari omnia student, turba atque seditionibus sine cura aluntur, quoniam egestas facile habetur sine damno.
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.
sed urbana plebes, ea vero praeceps erat de multis causis.
But the urban populace, they indeed were headlong for many reasons.
primum omnium qui ubique probro atque petulantia maxume praestabant, item alii per dedecora patrimoniis amissis, postremo omnes quos flagitium aut facinus domo expulerat, ii Romam sicut in sentinam confluxerant.
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.
deinde multi memores Sullanae victoriae, quod ex gregariis militibus alios senatores videbant, alios ita divites, ut regio victu atque cultu aetatem agerent, sibi quisque, si in armis foret, ex victoria talia sperabat.
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.
praeterea iuventus, quae in agris manuum mercede inopiam toleraverat, privatis atque publicis largitionibus excita urbanum otium ingrato labori praetulerat.
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.
eos atque alios omnis malum publicum alebat.
These and all others the public misfortune fed.
quo minus mirandum est homines egentis, malis moribus, maxuma spe rei publicae iuxta ac sibi consuluisse.
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.
praeterea, quorum victoria Sullae parentes proscripti, bona erepta, ius libertatis inminutum erat, haud sane alio animo belli eventum expectabant.
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.
ad hoc quicumque aliarum atque senatus partium erant, conturbari rem publicam quam minus valere ipsi malebant.
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.
id ad eo malum multos post annos in civitatem revorterat.
This, indeed, was an evil that had returned into the state after many years.
§38nam postquam Cn.
For after the tribunician power was restored in the consulship of Cn.
Pompeio et M. Crasso consulibus tribunicia postestas restituta est, homines adulescentes summam potestatem nacti, quibus aetas animusque ferox erat, coepere senatum criminando plebem exagitare, dein largiundo atque pollicitando magis incendere, ita ipsi clari potentesque fieri.
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.
contra eos summa ope nitebatur pleraque nobilitas senatus specie pro sua magnitudine.
Against them, most of the nobility strove with their utmost power, under the pretense of the Senate, for their own greatness.
namque, uti paucis verum absolvam, post illa tempora quicumque rem publicam agitavere, honestis nominibus, alii sicuti populi iura defenderent, pars quo senatus auctoritas maxuma foret, bonum publicum simulantes pro sua quisque potentia certabant.
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.
neque illis modestia neque modus contentionis erat: utrique victoriam crudeliter exercebant.
Nor was there any moderation or limit to their strife: both sides exercised their victory cruelly.
§39sed postquam Cn.
But after Cn.
Pompeius ad bellum maritumum atque Mithridaticum missus est, plebis opes inminutae, paucorum potentia crevit.
Pompey was sent to the maritime and Mithridatic war, the power of the plebs was diminished, and the influence of a few grew.
ii magistratus, provincias aliaque omnia tenere; ipsi innoxii, florentes, sine metu aetatem agere ceterosque iudiciis terrere, quo plebem in magistratu placidius tractarent.
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.
sed ubi primum dubiis rebus novandi spes oblata est, vetus certamen animos eorum adrexit.
But as soon as the hope of change was offered in doubtful circumstances, the old contest aroused their minds.
quod si primo proelio Catilina superior aut aequa manu discessisset, profecto magna clades atque calamitas rem publicam oppressisset, neque illis, qui victoriam adepti forent, diutius ea uti licuisset, quin defessis et exanguibus qui plus posset imperium atque libertatem extorqueret.
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.
fuere tamen extra coniurationem complures, qui ad Catilinam initio profecti sunt.
There were, however, several outside the conspiracy who set out for Catiline at the beginning.
in iis erat Fulvius, senatoris filius, quem retractum ex itinere parens necari iussit.
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.
Isdem temporibus Romae Lentulus, sicuti Catilina praeceperat, quoscumque moribus aut fortuna novis rebus idoneos credebat, aut per se aut per alios sollicitabat, neque solum civis sed quoiusque modi genus hominum, quod modo bello usui foret.
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.