§4igitur ubi animus ex multis miseriis atque periculis requievit et mihi reliquam aetatem a re publica procul habendam decrevi, non fuit consilium socordia atque desidia bonum otium conterere, neque vero agrum colundo aut venando, servilibus officiis, intentum aetatem agere; sed a quo incepto studioque me ambitio mala detinuerat, eodem regressus statui res gestas populi Romani carptim, ut quaeque memoria digna videbantur, perscribere, eo magis quod mihi a spe metu partibus rei publicae animus liber erat.
Therefore, when my mind found rest from many hardships and dangers, and I decided that my remaining life must be kept far from public affairs, it was not my intention to waste my valuable leisure in sloth and indolence, nor indeed to pass my life intent on agriculture or hunting, which are servile tasks; but returning to that same undertaking and study from which evil ambition had detained me, I determined to write down the deeds of the Roman people selectively, as each seemed worthy of memory, all the more because my mind was free from hope, fear, and the factions of the state.
Igitur de Catilinae coniuratione quam verissume potero paucis absolvam; nam id facinus in primis ego memorabile existumo sceleris atque periculi novitate.
Therefore, I will explain the conspiracy of Catiline in a few words as truthfully as I can; for I consider that deed especially memorable for the novelty of the crime and the danger.
de quoius hominis moribus pauca prius explananda sunt, quam initium narrandi faciam.
A few things must be explained about this man's character before I begin my narrative.
§5L. Catilina, nobili genere natus, fuit magna vi et animi et corporis sed ingenio malo pravoque.
Lucius Catiline, born of a noble family, possessed great strength both of mind and of body, but a wicked and depraved disposition.
huic ab adulescentia bella intestina caedes rapinae discordia civilis grata fuere, ibique iuventutem suam exercuit.
To him, from his youth, internal wars, slaughter, rapine, and civil discord were pleasing, and there he exercised his youth.
corpus patiens inediae algoris vigiliae supra quam quoiquam credibile est.
His body was able to endure hunger, cold, and lack of sleep beyond what is credible to anyone.
animus audax subdolus varius, quoius rei lubet simulator ac dissimulator, alieni adpetens sui profusus, ardens in cupiditatibus; satis eloquentiae, sapientiae parum.
His mind was bold, cunning, versatile, a simulator and dissimulator of whatever he pleased, covetous of others' property, lavish of his own, burning in his desires; he had enough eloquence, but too little wisdom.
vastus animus inmoderata incredibilia nimis alta semper cupiebat.
His vast mind always desired immoderate, incredible, and excessively high things.
hunc post dominationem L. Sullae lubido maxuma invaserat rei publicae capiundae; neque id quibus modis adsequeretur, dum sibi regnum pararet, quicquam pensi habebat.
After the dictatorship of Lucius Sulla, a supreme lust for seizing the republic had invaded him; nor did he care by what means he might attain it, provided he prepared a kingdom for himself.
agitabatur magis magisque in dies animus ferox inopia rei familiaris et conscientia scelerum, quae utraque iis artibus auxerat, quas supra memoravi.
His fierce mind was agitated more and more day by day by the lack of family property and the consciousness of his crimes, both of which he had increased by those arts which I mentioned above.
incitabant praeterea corrupti civitatis mores, quos pessuma ac divorsa inter se mala, luxuria atque avaritia, vexabant.
Moreover, the corrupt morals of the state incited him, which the worst and mutually opposing evils, luxury and avarice, vexed.
Res ipsa hortari videtur, quoniam de moribus civitatis tempus admonuit, supra repetere ac paucis instituta maiorum domi militiaeque, quo modo rem publicam habuerint quantamque reliquerint, ut paulatim inmutata ex pulcherruma atque optuma pessuma ac flagitiosissuma facta sit, disserere.
Since the occasion has reminded me of the morals of the state, the matter itself seems to encourage me to go back further and discuss in a few words the institutions of our ancestors at home and in war, how they maintained the republic, how great they left it, and how, by changing gradually, it became from the most beautiful and best to the worst and most shameful.
§6Urbem Romam, sicuti ego accepi, condidere atque habuere initio Troiani, qui Aenea duce profugi sedibus incertis vagabantur, cumque iis Aborigines, genus hominum agreste, sine legibus, sine imperio, liberum atque solutum.
The city of Rome, as I have received, was initially founded and held by the Trojans, who, wandering as exiles under the leadership of Aeneas, had uncertain dwellings, and with them the Aborigines, a rustic race of men, without laws, without government, free and unrestrained.
hi postquam in una moenia convenere, dispari genere, dissimili lingua, alius alio more viventes, incredibile memoratu est quam facile coaluerint: ita brevi multitudo dispersa atque vaga concordia civitas facta erat.
After they came together within one wall, though of different origin, dissimilar language, living each by a different custom, it is incredible to relate how easily they coalesced: thus in a short time a dispersed and wandering multitude became a state through concord.
sed postquam res eorum civibus moribus agris aucta satis prospera satisque pollens videbatur, sicuti pleraque mortalium habentur, invidia ex opulentia orta est.
But after their state, increased by citizens, morals, and lands, seemed sufficiently prosperous and powerful, as is the case with most things of mortals, envy arose from opulence.
igitur reges populique finitumi bello temptare, pauci ex amicis auxilio esse: nam ceteri metu perculsi a periculis aberant.
Therefore, neighboring kings and nations attempted war, while few of their friends were of assistance; for the rest, struck with fear, kept away from the dangers.
at Romani domi militiaeque intenti festinare, parare, alius alium hortari, hostibus obviam ire, libertatem patriam parentisque armis tegere.
But the Romans, intent both at home and in war, hastened, prepared, encouraged one another, went to meet the enemy, and protected their liberty, country, and parents with arms.
post ubi pericula virtute propulerant, sociis atque amicis auxilia portabant, magisque dandis quam accipiundis beneficiis amicitias parabant.
Afterward, when they had repelled the dangers by their virtue, they brought aid to their allies and friends, and acquired friendships more by giving than by receiving benefits.
imperium legitumum, nomen imperi regium habebant.
They had a lawful government, and the name of the government was royal.
delecti, quibus corpus annis infirmum, ingenium sapientia validum erat, rei publicae consultabant: hi vel aetate vel curae similitudine patres appellabantur. post ubi regium imperium quod initio conservandae libertatis atque augendae rei publicae fuerat, in superbiam dominationemque se convortit, inmutato more annua imperia binosque imperatores sibi fecere: eo modo minume posse putabant per licentiam insolescere animum humanum.
Chosen men, whose bodies were weak with years but whose minds were strong with wisdom, consulted for the republic; these, either from their age or from the similarity of their care, were called "Fathers." Afterward, when the royal government, which in the beginning had been for preserving liberty and increasing the republic, turned into pride and tyranny, they changed their custom and created for themselves annual governments and two commanders; in that way they thought the human mind could least grow insolent through license.