§40igitur P. Umbreno quoidam negotium dat, uti legatos Allobrogum requirat eosque, si possit, inpellat ad societatem belli, existumans publice privatimque aere alieno oppresses, praeterea quod natura gens Gallica bellicosa esset, facile eos ad tale consilium adduci posse.
Therefore he gave a task to a certain P. Umbrenus to seek out the envoys of the Allobroges and, if he could, to impel them to an alliance in the war, thinking that they, oppressed both publicly and privately by debt, and moreover because the Gallic nation was by nature warlike, could easily be led to such a plan.
Umbrenus quod in Gallia negotiatus erat, plerisque principibus civitatium notus erat atque eos noverat.
Umbrenus, because he had done business in Gaul, was known to most of the leading men of the states and knew them.
itaque sine mora, ubi primum legatos in foro conspexit, percontatus pauca de statu civitatis et quasi dolens eius casum requirere coepit, quem exitum tantis malis sperarent.
Therefore, without delay, as soon as he saw the envoys in the forum, having asked a few things about the state of their city and as if grieving over its misfortune, he began to inquire what end they hoped for to such great evils.
postquam illos videt queri de avaritia magistratuum, accusare senatum, quod in eo auxili nihil esset, miseriis suis remedium mortem expectare, 'at ego' inquit 'vobis, si modo viri esse voltis, rationem ostendam, qua tanta ista mala effugiatis'. haec ubi dixit, Allobroges in maxumam spem adducti Umbrenum orare, ut sui misereretur: nihil tam asperum neque tam difficile esse, quod non cupidissume facturi essent, dum ea res civitatem aere alieno liberaret.
After he saw them complaining of the greed of the magistrates, accusing the Senate because there was no help in it, and expecting death as a remedy for their miseries, he said: "But I, if only you wish to be men, will show you a way by which you may escape those so great evils." When he had said this, the Allobroges, brought to the greatest hope, entreated Umbrenus to have pity on them: that there was nothing so harsh nor so difficult that they would not do most eagerly, provided only that matter would free their state from debt.
ille eos in domum D. Bruti perducit, quod foro propinqua erat neque aliena consili propter Semproniam; nam tum Brutus ab Roma aberat.
He led them to the house of D. Brutus, because it was near the forum and not unsuitable for the plan on account of Sempronia; for Brutus was then away from Rome.
praeterea Gabinium arcessit, quo maior auctoritas sermoni inesset.
Furthermore, he summoned Gabinius, so that greater authority might be in the discourse.
eo praesente coniurationem aperit, nominat socios, praeterea multos quoiusque generis innoxios, quo legatis animus amplior esset.
In his presence he opened the conspiracy, named the accomplices, and besides, many innocent people of every class, so that the envoys might have a grander courage.
deinde eos pollicitos operam suam domum dimittit.
Then, after they promised their effort, he dismissed them home.
§41sed Allobroges diu in incerto habuere, quidnam consili caperent.
But the Allobroges were for a long time in uncertainty as to what plan they should adopt.
in altera parte erat aes alienum, studium belli, magna merces in spe victoriae; at in altera maiores opes, tuta consilia, pro incerta spe certa praemia.
On one side was debt, eagerness for war, and a great reward in the hope of victory; but on the other side was greater power, safe plans, and sure rewards instead of uncertain hope.
haec illis volventibus tandem vicit fortuna rei publicae.
While they were revolving these things, at last the fortune of the republic prevailed.
itaque Q. Fabio Sangae, quoius patrocinio civitas plurumum utebatur, rem omnem, uti cognoverant, aperiunt.
Therefore they opened the whole matter, as they had learned it, to Q. Fabius Sanga, whose patronage their state used the most.
Cicero per Sangam consilio cognito legatis praecipit, ut studium coniurationis vehementer simulent, ceteros adeant, bene polliceantur dentque operam, uti eos quam maxume manufestos habeant.
Cicero, having learned the plan through Sanga, instructed the envoys to simulate eagerness for the conspiracy vehemently, to approach the others, to make good promises, and to exert effort to hold them as manifest as possible.
§42Isdem fere temporibus in Gallia citeriore atque ulteriore, item in agro Piceno, Bruttio, Apulia motus erat.
At almost the same times, there was a disturbance in Hither and Farther Gaul, likewise in the Picene, Bruttian, and Apulian territory.
namque illi, quos ante Catilina dimiserat, inconsulte ac veluti per dementiam cuncta simul agebant.
For those whom Catiline had sent out before were acting, inconsiderately and as if through madness, all things at once.
nocturnis consiliis, armorum atque telorum portationibus, festinando, agitando omnia plus timoris quam periculi effecerant.
By nightly consultations, transportations of armor and weapons, by hurrying, and by agitating everything, they had produced more fear than danger.
ex eo numero compluris Q. Metellus Celer praetor ex senatus consulto causa cognita in vincula coniecerat, item in citeriore Gallia C. Murena, qui ei provinciae legatus praeerat.
Out of their number, Q. Metellus Celer the praetor, having investigated the case, had thrown several into chains by a decree of the Senate, likewise C. Murena in Hither Gaul, who was in charge of that province as legate.
§43At Romae Lentulus cum ceteris, qui principes coniurationis erant, paratis ut videbatur magnis copiis constituerant, uti, quom Catilina in agrum Aefulanum cum exercitu venisset, L. Bestia tribunus plebis contione habita quereretur de actionibus Ciceronis bellique gravissumi invidiam optumo consuli inponeret: eo signo proxuma nocte cetera multitude coniurationis suom quisque negotium exequeretur.
But at Rome, Lentulus with the others who were the leaders of the conspiracy, having prepared large forces as it seemed, had decided that, when Catiline had come into the Aefulan territory with his army, L. Bestia, the tribune of the plebs, having held an assembly, should complain of the actions of Cicero and impose the unpopularity of a most grave war upon the excellent consul; at that signal, on the next night, the rest of the multitude of the conspiracy should each execute his own business.
sed ea divisa hoc modo dicebantur: Statilius et Gabinius uti cum magna manu duodecim simul opportuna loca urbis incenderent, quo tumultu facilior aditus ad consulem ceterosque, quibus insidiae parabantur, fieret; Cethegus Ciceronis ianuam obsideret eumque vi aggrederetur; alius autem alium, sed filii familiarum, quorum ex nobilitate maxuma pars erat, parentis interficerent; simul caede et incendio perculsis omnibus ad Catilinam erumperent.
But these tasks were said to have been divided in this manner: that Statilius and Gabinius with a large band should set fire to twelve convenient places of the city at the same time, so that by that confusion a easier access might be made to the consul and the others for whom snares were being prepared; that Cethegus should blockade Cicero's gate and attack him by force; and indeed another should attack another, but the sons of families, of whom the greatest part was from the nobility, should kill their parents; and at the same time, all being struck with slaughter and fire, they should break out to Catiline.
inter haec parata atque decreta Cethegus semper querebatur de ignavia sociorum: illos dubitando et dies prolatando magnas opportunitates corrumpere; facto, non consulto in tali periculo opus esse, seque, si pauci adiuvarent, languentibus aliis impetum in curiam facturum.
Amidst these preparations and decrees, Cethegus always complained of the cowardice of his associates: that they, by hesitating and putting off days, were ruining great opportunities; that in such danger, action, not consultation, was needed, and that he himself, if a few would help, while the others were languishing, would make an attack on the senate house.
natura ferox, vehemens, manu promptus erat, maxumum bonum in celeritate putabat.
He was by nature fierce, vehement, prompt in hand, and thought the greatest good lay in speed.