§52#1Postquam Caesar dicundi finem fecit, ceteri verbo alius alii varie adsentiebantur.
\n After Caesar made an end of speaking, the others verbally assented, some to one, some to another, in various ways.
at M. Porcius Cato rogatus sententiam huiusce modi orationem habuit:
'Longe alia mihi mens est, patres conscripti, quom res atque pericula nostra considero, et quom sententias nonnullorum ipse mecum reputo.
But Marcus Porcius Cato, when asked for his opinion, delivered a speech of this kind:\n"My mind is far different, conscript fathers, when I consider our circumstances and dangers, and when I reflect with myself upon the opinions of some of the speakers.
illi mihi disseruisse videntur de poena eorum, qui patriae, parentibus, aris atque focis suis bellum paravere; res autem monet cavere ab illis magis quam quid in illos statuamus consultare.
They seem to me to have discussed the punishment of those who have prepared war against their country, parents, altars, and hearths; but the situation warns us to guard against them rather than to deliberate on what we should decree against them.
nam cetera maleficia tum persequare, ubi facta sunt; hoc nisi provideris ne accidat, ubi evenit, frustra iudicia inplores: capta urbe nihil fit reliqui victis.
For you may prosecute other misdeeds only when they have been committed; as for this one, unless you take precautions to prevent it from happening, when it does occur, you will implore the courts in vain: once the city is captured, nothing is left to the vanquished.
sed, per deos inmortalis, vos ego appello, qui semper domos, villas, signa, tabulas vostras pluris quam rem publicam fecistis: si ista, quoiuscumque modi sunt quae amplexamini, retinere, si voluptatibus vostris otium praebere voltis, expergiscimini aliquando et capessite rem publicam.
But, by the immortal gods, I call upon you, who have always valued your houses, villas, statues, and paintings more than the republic: if you wish to retain those things, of whatever kind they are, which you embrace, and if you wish to afford leisure for your pleasures, wake up at last and take charge of the republic.
non agitur de vectigalibus neque de sociorum iniuriis: libertas et anima nostra in dubio est. Saepenumero, patres conscripti, multa verba in hoc ordine feci, saepe de luxuria atque avaritia nostrorum civium questus sum, multosque mortalis ea causa advorsos habeo.
We are not dealing with taxes nor with the wrongs of our allies: our liberty and our very lives are in danger.\n Often, conscript fathers, have I spoken at length in this body, often have I complained of the luxury and avarice of our citizens, and for that reason I have many men opposed to me.
qui mihi atque animo meo nullius umquam delicti gratiam fecissem, haud facile alterius lubidini male facta condonabam.
Since I had never granted myself or my own mind indulgence for any transgression, I was not likely to excuse the misdeeds of another's passion easily.
sed ea tametsi vos parvi pendebatis, tamen res publica firma erat, opulentia neglegentiam tolerabat.
But although you valued those things lightly, nevertheless the republic remained firm; its wealth tolerated your negligence.
nunc vero non id agitur, bonisne an malis moribus vivamus, neque quantum aut quam magnificum imperium populi Romani sit, sed haec, quoiuscumque modi videntur, nostra an nobiscum una hostium futura sint.
But now the question is not whether we live by good or bad morals, nor how great or how magnificent the empire of the Roman people is, but whether these things, of whatever kind they seem to be, are to remain ours or to become, along with ourselves, the property of our enemies.
hic mihi quisquam mansuetudinem et misericordiam nominat.
At this point, someone mentions clemency and compassion to me.
iam pridem equidem nos vera vocabula rerum amisimus: quia bona aliena largiri liberalitas, malarum rerum audacia fortitudo vocatur, eo res publica in extremo sita est.
Indeed, we have long since lost the true names of things: because squandering other people's property is called liberality, and audacity in evil deeds is called fortitude, for this reason the republic is situated on the brink of ruin.
sint sane, quoniam ita se mores habent, liberales ex sociorum fortunis, sint misericordes in furibus aerari: ne illi sanguinem nostrum largiantur et, dum paucis sceleratis parcunt, bonos omnis perditum eant. Bene et conposite C. Caesar paulo ante in hoc ordine de vita et morte disseruit, credo falsa existumans ea, quae de inferis memorantur: divorso itinere malos a bonis loca taetra, inculta, foeda atque formidulosa habere.
Let them indeed, since morals are such, be liberal at the expense of our allies' fortunes, let them be merciful to the thieves of the treasury; only let them not squander our blood, and, while sparing a few scoundrels, go on to destroy all good men.\n Well and orderly did Gaius Caesar just now in this body discourse upon life and death, believing, I suppose, as false the things which are reported about the underworld: that the wicked, by a different path from the good, inhabit places that are grim, desolate, foul, and terrifying.
itaque censuit pecunias eorum publicandas, ipsos per municipia in custodiis habendos, videlicet timens, ne, si Romae sint, aut a popularibus coniurationis aut a multitudine conducta per vim eripiantur; quasi vero mali atque scelesti tantummodo in urbe et non per totam Italiam sint, aut non ibi plus possit audacia, ubi ad defendundum opes minores sunt.
And so he recommended that their property be confiscated, and they themselves be kept in custody throughout the municipia, evidently fearing that, if they remained in Rome, they might be rescued by force either by their fellow conspirators or by a hired mob; as if, forsooth, bad and wicked men were only in the city and not throughout all Italy, or as if audacity could not accomplish more where the resources for defense are smaller.
quare vanum equidem hoc consilium est, si periculum ex illis metuit; si in tanto omnium metu solus non timet, eo magis refert me mihi atque vobis timere.
Wherefore this plan is indeed useless, if he fears danger from them; if in such great fear of everyone he alone does not fear, so much the more does it concern me to fear for myself and for you.
qua re quom de P. Lentulo ceterisque statuetis, pro certo habetote vos simul de exercitu Catilinae et de omnibus coniuratis decernere.
Wherefore, when you decide concerning Publius Lentulus and the rest, hold it for certain that you are deciding at the same time about Catiline's army and all the conspirators.
quanto vos attentius ea agetis, tanto illis animus infirmior erit; si paulum modo vos languere viderint, iam omnes feroces aderunt.
The more attentively you act in this matter, the weaker their spirit will be; if they see you hesitate even a little, they will all immediately be present with fierce courage."