§52#2Nolite existumare maiores nostros armis rem publicam ex parva magnam fecisse.
Do not suppose that our ancestors made the republic great from a small one by arms.
si ita esset, multo pulcherrumam eam nos haberemus: quippe sociorum atque civium, praeterea armorum atque equorum maior copia nobis quam illis est.
If that were so, we should possess it in by far its most beautiful state; for we have a greater abundance of allies and citizens, and besides of arms and horses, than they had.
sed alia fuere, quae illos magnos fecere, quae nobis nulla sunt: domi industria, foris iustum imperium, animus in consulundo liber, neque delicto neque lubidini obnoxius.
But there were other things that made them great, which we do not have at all: industry at home, a just rule abroad, a mind free in deliberation, subservient neither to crime nor to passion.
pro his nos habemus luxuriam atque avaritiam, publice egestatem, privatim opulentiam.
In place of these, we have luxury and avarice, public poverty, private wealth.
laudamus divitias, sequimur inertiam.
We praise riches, we pursue idleness.
inter bonos et malos discrimen nullum, omnia virtutis praemia ambitio possidet.
No distinction is made between the good and the bad; ambition possesses all the rewards of virtue.
neque mirum: ubi vos separatim sibi quisque consilium capitis, ubi domi voluptatibus, hic pecuniae aut gratiae servitis, eo fit, ut impetus fiat in vacuam rem publicam.
Nor is it any wonder: when each of you takes counsel separately for himself, when at home you serve your pleasures, and here money or favor, the result is that an assault is made upon a defenseless republic.
Sed ego haec omitto.
But I pass over these things.
coniuravere nobilissumi cives patriam incendere, Gallorum gentem infestissumam nomini Romano ad bellum arcessunt, dux hostium cum exercitu supra caput est;
Most noble citizens have conspired to set fire to their country, they summon the Gallic nation, most hostile to the Roman name, to war, the leader of the enemies with his army is over our heads; do you hesitate even now and doubt what you should do with enemies caught within the walls?
vos cunctamini etiam nunc et dubitatis, quid intra moenia deprensis hostibus faciatis? misereamini censeo — deliquere homines adulescentuli per ambitionem — atque etiam armatos dimittatis: ne ista vobis mansuetudo et misericordia, si illi arma ceperint, in miseriam convortat.
I suppose you should show mercy—young men have erred through ambition—and even dismiss them armed: take care lest that clemency and compassion of yours, if they take up arms, turn into misery for you.
scilicet res ipsa aspera est, sed vos non timetis eam.
To be sure, the situation itself is harsh, but you do not fear it.
immo vero maxume.
Nay, indeed, you fear it exceedingly.
sed inertia et mollitia animi alius alium expectantes cunctamini, videlicet dis inmortalibus confisi, qui hanc rem publicam saepe in maxumis periculis servavere.
But from inertia and softness of mind, waiting for one another, you hesitate, evidently relying on the immortal gods, who have often saved this republic in the greatest dangers.
non votis neque suppliciis muliebribus auxilia deorum parantur; vigilando, agundo, bene consulundo prospera omnia cedunt.
Not by vows nor by womanly supplications is the help of the gods secured; by watching, by acting, by consulting well, all things turn out prosperously.
ubi socordiae te atque ignaviae tradideris, nequiquam deos inplores: irati infestique sunt.
When you have surrendered yourself to sloth and laziness, you would implore the gods in vain: they are angry and hostile.
apud maiores nostros A. Manlius Torquatus bello Gallico filium suom, quod is contra imperium in hostem pugnaverat, necari iussit, atque ille egregius adulescens inmoderatae fortitudinis morte poenas dedit;
In the time of our ancestors, Aulus Manlius Torquatus, in the Gallic war, ordered his own son to be put to death, because he had fought against the enemy contrary to orders, and that distinguished youth paid the penalty by death for his immoderate courage; do you hesitate about what to decide concerning the most cruel parricides?
vos de crudelissumis parricidis quid statuatis, cunctamini? videlicet cetera vita eorum huic sceleri obstat.
Evidently, the rest of their lives stands against this crime.
verum parcite dignitati Lentuli, si ipse pudicitiae, si famae suae, si dis aut hominibus umquam ullis pepercit.
Indeed, spare the dignity of Lentulus, if he himself ever spared his chastity, his reputation, or any gods or men.
ignoscite Cethegi adulescentiae, nisi iterum patriae bellum fecit.
Forgive the youth of Cethegus, unless this is not the second time he has made war on his country.
nam quid ego de Gabinio, Statilio, Caepario loquar? quibus si quicquam umquam pensi fuisset, non ea consilia de re publica habuissent.
For why should I speak of Gabinius, Statilius, Caeparius? To whom if anything had ever been of any concern, they would not have had such designs against the republic.
postremo, patres conscripti, si mehercule peccato locus esset, facile paterer vos ipsa re corrigi, quoniam verba contemnitis.
Finally, conscript fathers, if by Hercules there were room for error, I would easily allow you to be corrected by the event itself, since you despise words.
sed undique circumventi sumus.
But we are surrounded on all sides.
Catilina cum exercitu faucibus urget; alii intra moenia atque in sinu urbis sunt hostes; neque parari neque consuli quicquam potest occulte: quo magis properandum est.
Catiline with his army presses upon our throat; other enemies are within the walls and in the very heart of the city; nothing can be prepared or deliberated in secret: wherefore we must make the greater haste.
Quare ego ita censeo, quom nefario consilio sceleratorum civium res publica in maxuma pericula venerit, iique indicio T. Volturci et legatorum Allobrogum convicti confessique sint caedem, incendia aliaque se foeda atque crudelia facinora in civis patriamque paravisse, de confessis, sicuti de manufestis rerum capitalium, more maiorum supplicium sumundum. '
Therefore, I vote thus: since by the nefarious design of criminal citizens the republic has come into the greatest dangers, and they have been convicted and have confessed by the evidence of Titus Volturcius and the envoys of the Allobroges that they prepared slaughter, arson, and other foul and cruel deeds against their fellow citizens and country, punishment must be inflicted, according to the custom of our ancestors, upon those who have confessed, just as upon those caught in the act of capital crimes."