not one Person except such profligate Wretches as are of your own Gang but avoid and hate you What Mark of private Wickedness is there which is not conspicuously branded on you Doth not all infamy cleave to your Name What Lust ever escaped your Eye What Villany your Hand What Vice is there that hath not seized your whole Body What Youth by you drawn into Vice whom you have not hardned in impudence drench'd in Lust and inur'd to Murder And even lately upon the Death of your first Wife did not you slay your own Son and heap one incredible Villany upon another to make way for your second Nuptials But I shall pass by this lest I should disgrace this City by mentioning such an horrid Impiety to have been in it and not to have been sufficiently punished I omit to mention the ruines of your Estate which now hang over you and will quite crush you by the next Ides I will only insist upon such things as concern not your own private Debaucheries and filthiness not your straits and wants but the safety and welfare of the Common-wealth and every one here present Can you take any content in living here Can this Air be pleasant to you when you know that there is none of us ignorant that you came to the Election upon the Day before the Calends of January when Lepidus and Tullus were Consuls armed with a Dart ready to slay the Consuls and Chief men of the City And that you were not prevented by any fear or terrour occasioned by the horridness of the Fact no there was no room for that in your desperate Breast but by the good fortune of the Common-wealth But I shall insist no longer on these actions they are known publickly and are still fresh in every ones Memory How many times did you endeavour to take away my Life when I was Consul Elect How often when I was actually in that Office How many of your attempts which seemed inevitable have I frustrated how often have I put by the very fatal thrust There are none of your contrivances purposes or machinations of which I have not a perfect knowledge yet will you not cease to meditate and endeavour our destruction How often hath your Dagger been wrested out of your Hands How often hath it fall'n as it were slipt out of your Hands by chance Yet can you not be without it What Ceremonies you have used in the Consecration of it I know not but sure I am you esteem your self under a necessity to murder the Consul therewith 7. Now what sort of life do you think to lead For I speak now not as inflamed with hatred which you have deserved but as moved with pity which you have no way merited You came just now into the Senate Who was there in so great a Company among so many of your Friends and intimate Acquaintance that afforded you a Salutation If the like never happened in the memory of Man what need is there of an open reprimand seeing you are already condemned by great silence What was the cause that at your entrance these Seats were left empty That all those of consular Dignity mark'd out for destruction by you as soon as you sat down removed from the places which were near you as infectious How do you think to bear this Certainly if my servants did thus avoid me as all these worthy Citizens do you I should believe it high time to leave my House and do you think the City a place for you If I were so shrewdly suspected and attainted by my Countrey-men as you are I should choose rather to go into a voluntary Exile than abide the hateful and estranged looks of my fellow-Citizens How can you be so bold as to continue in the presence of those to whom you are so offensive who are so disturbed at your sight and whose hate your own Conscience tells you is most justly fix'd upon you If your Parents shunn'd and hated you and would be reconcil'd upon no Terms I believe you would hasten out of their sight Now your Countrey the common Parent of us all abhors you and looks upon you as designing nothing but unnaturally to destroy her yet will you neither stand in aw of their Authority obey their commands nor fear their force And now Catiline she thus seems silently to plead with you No Crime hath been publickly committed of late years in which you have not had an Hand no wickedness but of your contriving You have been continually murdering your fellow Citizens ruining and destroying your Companions yet are you unpunished you have not only set your self to neglect but also to break and over-throw the Laws All your past offences though scarce tolerable I bore as well as possibly I could but now I am wholly endanger'd for your sake alone No designs laid against me but what have their rise from Catiline this is not to be endured Depart therefore and set me free from my fears that if they have a just Foundation I may not be oppressed if they are only groundless Suspicions I may be eased of them 8. Now then that your Countrey doth thus expostulate with you ought she not to obtain her request although she use no force What will you plead that to avoid Suspicion you proffered to reside in the House of M. Lepidus by whom being refused you had the impudence to come to me and desire that I would keep you in my House When I had told you that I could not be safe under the Roof of the same House with you seeing I was in such great danger from your being within the Walls of the same City you went to Q. Metellus the Praetor who also rejected you Then did you resort to your old Friend honest M. Marcellus whom you could not but think could diligently keep carefully observe very couragiously punish you But how far can he be from Bonds and Imprisonment who being conscious of his own guilt seeks to be taken into Custody Seeing affairs stand thus and you cannot with any content remain here is it not your best way Catiline to go to some other Countrey and devote that life which is thus delivered from condign Punishment to Exile and Solitude Move it you say to the Senate and if they command you into Exile then you declare you will be gone I will not propose that it being contrary to my manner yet will I do so much that you may perceive what their judgment is Go out of the City Catiline deliver the Common-wealth from their fears if you expect I should speak plainer depart into Exile What think you now Catiline Do you take notice of do you consider the silence of all present They are of the same mind none contradict the proposal Why do you expect that they should speak to you when you may perceive their Minds by their silence Should I speak thus to this brave Youth P. Sextius or to the excellent M. Marcellus the Senate
neque tamen Catilinae furor minuebatur sed indies plura agitare Eâ tempestate plurimos cujusque generis homines adscivisse sibi dicitur mulieres etiam aliquot Sall. Bell. Cat. Cap. 24. This Settlement of the Magistracy stunn'd the Conspirators especially the Populace who now knew not how to stir However Catiline's Rage was not in the least asswaged but by all means he promotes his Designs and strengthens his Interest To this purpose he calls in the Assistance of both Sexes makes Manlius General of one as Sempronia was his Principal Agent among the other (g) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dio Cass lib. 37. pag. 49. Manlius was an Old Expert Commander in Sylla's Army and had profusely spent a very large Estate which made him long for a return of like Troubles that he might repair his decayed Fortunes Him Catiline sends into Hetruria which is the most Western part of Italy to a Colony called Faesulae very near the place where the City of Florence now stands and (h) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strabo Lib. 5. pag. 227. where the Apennine Mountains and Rubicon Anciently Separated Italy from the Cisulpine Gaule (i) Interea Manlius in Etruria plebem solicitare egestate simul â—c dolore injuriae novarum rerum cupidam quod Sullae dominatione agros bonaque omnia amiserat praeterea latrones cujusque generis quorum in ea regione magna copia erat nonnullos ex Sullanis colonis quibus lubido atque luxuria ex maginis rapinis nihil reliqui fecerant Sall. Bell. Cat. Cap. 28. The Inhabitants of this Countrey had been brought to great Poverty by Sequestrations and Plunderings in the time of Sylla and now the wants they were at present under and the Injuries they had formerly sustained made them very desirous of a Change The Old Souldiers of Sylla had been planted among them who by Lust and Luxury having spent all that by Rapine they had got together were no less eager than they so that Manlius his Sollicitations had great success among them as might be well expected among Souldiers of Fortune and an Oppressed People Both Enemies yet both Friends in any Cause that offers them common Advantage (k) Igitur C. Manlium Faesulas atque in eam partem Etruriae Septimium quendam Camertem in agrum Picenum C. Julium in Apuliam dimisit praeterea alium alio quem ubique opportunum sibi fore credebat Sall. Bell. Cat. Cap. 27. Septimius another Military Officer was sent into the Countrey of the Piceni in the Neighbourhood of Faesulae extended upon the Adriatick Sea its Cities lay between Ariminum (l) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strabo Lib. 5. pag. 240. Ancona the latter of which gives the present Name of Marca Anconitana to it Caius Julius was also dispatch'd into Apulia which lay next upon the Adriatick and still retains much of its Old Name being the Modern Puglia Many more were dispersed into other places as every Mans Interest led him (m) Pecuniam sua aut amicorum fide sumptam mutuam Faesulas ad Manlium quendam portare qui postea princips fuit belli faciundi Sall. Bell. Cat. Cap. 24. But Faesulae was the Principal Rendezvouz and therefore all the Money that Catiline and his Friends either had or could be Trusted for was sent thither to Manlius the Commander in Chief Nor did the Grand Conspirator think fit to neglect the Feminine Intrigues their Power might enfeeble more than Force could subdue (n) Mulieres etiam aliquot quae primo ingentes sumptus stupro corporis toleraverant post ubi aetas tantummodo quaestui neque luxuriae modum fecerant aes alienum grande conflaverant Ibid. Accordingly he insinuates into all those Ladies who by making themselves common had got too great an Influence upon the Publick Interest but especially those who by the decay of Beauty and continuance of Luxury were brought into a Necessity of Advancing his Designs (o) Per eas se Catilina tredebat posse servitia urbana sollicitare urbem incendere viros earum vel adjungerè sibi vel interficere Ibid. By these did Catiline hope to draw in all of the Rascal Party that had not yet been retainers to him to get the City Fired to have their Husbands brought over to him or kill'd out of the way (p) Sed in iis erat Sempronia quae multa saepe virilis audacia facinora commisorat Haec mulier genere atque forma praeterea viro atque liberis satis fortunata fuit Literis Graecis Latinis doctà psallere saltare elegantius quam necesse est probae multa alia quae instrumenta luxuriae sunt sed ei cariora semper omnia quam decus atque pudicitia fuit Pecuniae an famae minus parceret haud facile discerneres Luxuria atque inopia praeceps abierat Sall. Bell. Cat. Cap. 25. The most Eminent of these was Sempronia of good Birth and Beauty Happy enough at home in her Husband and Children accomplish'd both in Greek and Latine Learning She could sing well and dance better than was necessary for a Modest Woman but nothing was less valued by her than Vertue and Reputation She was equally Prodigal of her Fame and Money till she at length arrived at a most pernicious Impudence fit for the present execrable purposes (q) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dio Cass Lib. 37. pag. 48 49. But his most esteemed City-strength lay in the Consul Antonius (r) Catilina nihilominus in proximum annum Consulatum petebat sperans si designatus foret facile se ex voluntate Antonio usurum Sall. Bell. Cat. Cap. 26. whom he did not doubt but if he could get himself Elected to the Consulship for the ensuing Year he should be able to make an easie tool of He had also Publius Lentulus the Praetor his fast Friend having been turned out of the Senate after he had born the Consular Office and was now got to be Praetor in hopes of being restor'd again (Å¿) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plutar. Cicer. pag. 868. as was the Custom for those who design'd to be re-elected into that Honourable Assembly To Countermine all these Intrigues the Vigilant Cicero kept continual Correspondence with the Lady Fulvia and by many Rich Presents engaged her to reveal to him all the Councels of the Conspiracy Some have suspected that the Consul did condescend to the Familiarity of her Vices but as to that neither Plutarch the Excellent and Impartial Writer of his Life nor any other of our Authors mention the least suspicion of it Others may admire that Quintus Curius giving her such constant and speedy Intelligence (*) Cicer. Orat. in Cat. prima cap. 2 3. so Publickly bragged of by Cicero was not suspected to betray them But then if we consider that they had all of them their Fulvia's and that their Vicious intercourses gave every one of them the same private Opportunities of Discovery they could not well trace
the River Aesis at first afterward by the River Rubicon both running into the Adriatick Sea (q) Dii faxint ut meus Collega vir fortissimus hoc Catilinae nefarium latrocinium armatus opprimat ego togatus vobis bonisque omnibus adjutoribus hoc quod conceptum Respubl periculum parturit concilio discutiam comprimam Cicer. Orat. pro Muraen Cap. 29. At this time whilst Catiline was in Arms and C. Antonius leading the Consular Forces against him an unhappy Controversie fell out which might have proved of very ill consequence to the Common-wealth it being of publick concern and contested between the most sincere Patriots whose disagreements must needs be extreamly dangerous since the safety of all depends upon their unanimity (*) Vid. Cicer. Orationem pro Muraena Servius Sulpitius late Competitor for the Consulship accuses L. Licinius Muraena Consul Elect of Bribery in his canvasing for that high Dignity (r) Quod ad Catonem pertinet summam illi faelicitatem contigisse consensus hominum fatebitur Quem sibi rerum natura delegit cum quo metuenda collideret Seneca Lib. de provid Cap. 3. M. Porcius Cato the Oracle of Rome and Elected by Nature as the most eminent instance of invincible Virtue becomes also one of his accusers (s) Si L. Catilina cum suo consilio nefariorum hominum quos secum eduxit hac de re possit judicare condemnaret L. Muraenam si interficere possit occideret Cicer. Orat. pro Mur. Cap. 39. for though this was much to the advantage of Catiline who would gladly had it been in his power not only have put by Muraena but cut his Throat yet (t) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plutarchi Cato minor Pag. 769. that inflexible Stoick having sworn to accuse any Person whatsoever who should give Mony to carry the Election doth with great fierceness prosecute the cause The eloquent Hortensius the powerful Crassus and the learned Cicero defended him (u) Quis mihi in republica potest aut debet esse conjunctior quà m is cui respub à me unà traditur sustinenda magnis meis laboribus periculis sustentata Cicer. pro Mur. Cap. 2. the Consul professed it his greatest duty and concern to put the Common-wealth so happily preserved by him into the Hands of Muraena (w) Nec minus vellent Cato te quoque aliqua ratione si possent tollere Sed cum consulari Authoritate auxilio spoliatum vim tribunitiam viderint tum se facilius inermem debilitatum te oppressuros arbitrantur Ibid. Cap. 38. Cato Tribune Elect for the ensuing year was bid to consider the storm that would come upon him who was raised up by good men to stop the fury of his pernicious Colleagues That his Enemies did by all means endeavour to destroy him and when his Tribunitian power was bereaved of the Consular assistance they would easily suppress him as he should then be weak and desolate (x) Invidiam verò his temporibus habere consulatus ipse nullam potest Objicitur enim concionibus Seditiosorum insidiit conjuratorum telis Catilinae ad omne denique periculum atque ad omnem invidiam Solus opponitur Ibid. Cap. 39. That in these times no Man need envy Muraena the Consulship 't would expose him to the slanderous raillery of the Seditious to the snares of the Conspirators to the Darts of Catiline He must be the Principal Person on whom all the hatred and danger was like to fall This with a great deal more that had been said to the advantage of his reputation prevailed upon the Judges and the Old Election was confirmed Now the Conspirators came to lay their last design in which the entire Treason might be consummated (y) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut. Cicer. Pag. 869. the Principal of them left at Rome was Cornelius Lentulus whose discontented and aspiring Genius was mightily raised by the Fortune-tellers of those times Singing many Poetick Prophecies and Oracles which they pretended to have out of the Sibyllin Records That three Cornelius's should be Monarchs of Rome which had been already accomplished in two Cinna and Sylla that now the Fates were offering to him the Third Cornelius the Supream Power he ought not to neglect the acceptance and spoil the opportunity by delay (z) Praeterea ab incenso Capitolio illum esse vigesimum annum quem saepe ex prodigiis haruspices respondissent bello civili cruentum fore Sall. Bell. Cat. Cap. 47. Besides the (a) Veteri lege sancitum erat ut priusquam augurandi scientia Romanis innotuisset haec ad Etruscot deferentur verba legis sunt PRODIGIA ET PORTENTA AD. HETRUSCOS HARUSPICES SI SENATUS JUSSERIT DEFERUNTO HETRURIAEQUE PRINCIPES DISCIPLINAM DISCUNTO QUIBUS DIVIS DECREVERINT PROCURANTO IISDEM FULGURA ET OSTENTA PIANTA AUSPICIA SERVANTO AUGURI PARENTO Ex hac lege decreto senatûs sex optimatum filios Hetruscis in disciplinam tradi solitos ut augurandi artem addiscerent proditum est Qua quidem arte Faesulae claruerunt ubi domicilium collegium Augurum fuit Peucer de di vinat Hetrurian Prophets to whom the ancient Laws of Rome committed the Authority of Divination and whose Principal Colledge was at Faesulae often foretold that this Twentieth Year from the burning of the Capitol (b) Capitolium interjecto CCCCXV. annorum spacio L. Scipione C. Norbano Coss Flagraverat curam Vict. Sulla suscepit neque tamen dedicavit hoc solum faelicitati ejus negatum Lutalis Catuli nomen inter tanta Caesarum opera usque ad Vitellium mansit Cor. Tacit. Hist Lib. 3. Cap. 72. which was in the Consulship of Scipio and Norbanus but again rebuilt by Sylla and dedicated in the Name of the Noble Lutatius Catulus should be very Bloody by a Civil War * Cicer. Orat. in Cat. 3. Cap. 4. This was also the Tenth Year since the Vestal Virgins were acquitted from that Accusation which Catiline and his acquaintance too much frequenting their Company had drawn them into among which was Fabia Sister to Terentia the Wife of Cicero who therefore told Catiline in that Oration he made against him when he was Candidate You have lived after such a manner that there is no place so Holy but your very access to it though there be nothing but Innocence confers a Crime (d) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut. Cicer. Pag. 869. These Prophetick encouragements drove Lentulus to such resolutions that no small ordinary Villanies would serve his turn nothing less then murdering the whole Senate and as many more Citizens as he was able nothing less then burning down the City itself Thus superstition service invented and managed by the Devil is generally made use of to promote the most horrid Villanies and to sublimate humane corruption into the destructive fineness of his own Spiritual wickedness If at any time it be accommodated by Politicians to the uses of
Ancestors who by decreeing what became themselves more than what their Enemies deserved reduced them into a well composed and lasting Obedience in that Macedonian War which we waged with King Perses the great and rich City of Rhodes grown so by the favour of the Roman People became perfidious and adverse to our Interests yet when the War was concluded and a Consultation held what should be done with those Rhodians our Ancestors dismissed them unpunished that none might afterwards say the War was begun rather to enrich our selves then to repel injuries in all the Punick Wars the Carthaginians would often in times of Truce and Cessation of Arms practice the basest Villanies against us but we never took the opportunites of like requitals We ever more tenderly regarded the demands of Honour than the exactions of Justice This is that O Conscript Fathers which I would have you consult in the present Affair of Lentulus and the rest what will be most agreeable to your Reputation and Government rather then to your indignation If indeed a punishment be requisite which bears a just proportion to their Treason we must find out some thing new but if that exceeds all humane Invention then let us be contented to follow the most usual Methods of Law Those that spake before me have excellently commiserated the Common-wealth have considered the cruelty of War have recounted the miseries of the conquered The ravishing of Virgins the haling Children from the Embraces of their Parents the Matrons exposed to the Victors fury Temples and Houses demolished Fire and Sword raging in a word every place filled with Blood and Confusion with the heaps of the dead and the groans of the dying But what I wonder can be the design of such an Oration Is it to make us more enraged at the Conspiracy This is needless those who have not been moved by the horrid Nature of it will never be stirred up by an Oration No 't is needless We want it not no Mortal Men were ever apt to esteem the injuries intended them too small they have often judged them greater than indeed they were Above all O Conscript Fathers we should be afraid of an excess of Indignation when those who live obscurely err in undue heats of Passion but few take notice of it their Fortune and their Fame are equals but we who are raised to so great an Empire have all Mankind for the Censurers of our actions so that the greatest power hath the least liberty to transgress its just bounds We cannot honourably allow our selves to be partial to any to hate any no nor so much as to be angry with any What in others is only called Anger in us will be Pride and Cruelty I do indeed believe O Conscript Fathers that no torments are too great for their deserts but People are always inclined more to remember what was last and to consider the Cruelties of punishment than the Merits of the Cause I am certain what the excellent Silanus spoke was from a sincere affection to the Common-wealth that in so great an Affair he would not interpose either private love or hatred I am well acquainted both with his worth and modesty but what should lead him to such an Opinion Cruel I can't say for what can be cruel against such offenders But very different from our Polity 'T is idle to suppose fear should be the cause of it since by the diligence of the most renowned Consul we are abundantly secur'd from dangers As to the Nature of the punishment Death is not so much a torment it self as the end of others it dissoves all the Miseries of Mortality and beyond that is neither care nor joy But why let Heaven judge was it not proposed in the Senate that they should be first beaten with Rods Was it not because you know the Porcian Law forbids it And other Laws command the Penalty of Banishment not that of Death for condemned Citizens And now is it more grievous to be Whipt than to be put to Death If it be then why is not that most heavy and severe punishment inflicted upon Persons guilty as these are of the highest Crimes But if Whipping be the more gentle and moderate how comes the Law to restrain you in that which is the less if you are not to be restrained from that which is the utmost severity But you will say who shall ever blame us for such a Decree against the manifest Traitors of the Common-wealth Yes time and chance brings all things about and every Nation is subject to their Tyranny These men will deserve what they have But consider well O Conscript Fathers what you do the worst Presidents have good Originals when the Government comes into the hands of ignorant or less good men this new Example will be transferred from these who have deserved to die to those who have not The Lacaedemonians upon the Conquest of Athens appointed Thirty Persons to manage the Government at first these began to put to Death without Trial every one that was notoriously mischievous and hated the People rejoiced at this they said it was very well done after a while that the Tyranny was grown strong they were wont with the like Arbitrary Power to kill good and bad that all might be kept in awe Thus the City being slavishly oppressed suffered the severe rewards of its foolish joy In our Memory when Sylla executed Damasippus and some other vile Persons who did not rejoice and applaud it Ill and Factious men who disturbed the Government deserv'd as 't was said to be put to death but that was only an entrance afterwards whoever had an House or Farm or any Goods and Chattels which were worth coveting was brought into the Number of the proscribed till those that rejoiced at the Death of Damasippus were forced to follow that fate which they so unwarily admired Nor did Sylla ever leave cutting Throats till his whole Party was well replenish'd with the spoil This I do not fear from M. Tullius nor the present times but in our great City we may expect variety of Successors at another time there may be another Consul with an Army at his command who may think that true which is indeed false Now if he hath this example and by Decree of the Senate the Sword be put into the Consuls hands who shall put a stop to him or oblige him to moderation Our Ancestors O Conscript Fathers never wanted either Councel or Courage nor hath Pride hindered them from imitating the Customs of forreign Nations when they were honourable and advantageous their Arms and Military Exercises they learned of the Samnites the Ensigns of Magistracy they took up from the Hetrusci Lastly whatsoever seemed well either among Allies or Enemies they practised with the greatest emulation at home They were always for imitating rather then envying the good Then also they followed the Customs of Greece corrected their Citizens with Rods punished the Condemn'd with Death but afterwards
their assignations to attend upon the publick Safety The whole Multitude of the Free-born are here even the meanest For who is there to whom these Temples the Aspect of this City the enjoyment of Liberty the Light they see and the Air they have ever breathed in are not dear sweet pleasant 8. 'T is worth the while O Conscript Fathers to consider the affections of our Free-men who have obtained the Rights of this City and truly esteem it their own Countrey Which those who were Born here and of the highest Quality have not consider'd as their Countrey but as a City of mortal Enemies But why do I insist upon this Order of Men whom Estates Priviledges and above all Liberty have stirred up to defend the Safety of their Countrey There is no Servant who lives in any tolerable condition of Servitude that doth not tremble at the Villany of these Citizens That doth not only desire to maintain the present State of Government but as far as he dares and is able sets his Shoulders to the common Safety And therefore if any be concerned that 't is reported Lentulus hath his Pander to run from one Tavern to another hoping to hire som indigent rascally Fellows 'T is true that hath been tried and attempted but there are none found so miserable in their condition so pernicious in their desires who had not rather heave the Sedan carry their Packs ply their Fare and have their quiet course of life preserved to them By much the greatest part of those who attend upon Shops and Inns I may say all of them do above any thing desire Peace All their attendance their work their hire depends upon the Trade and quiet of the Citizens Whose gain if the Shops be shut is gone and where is it if they be burnt Since things are thus O Conscript Fathers the assistance of the Roman People is not wanting now see that you be not wanting to them 9. You have a Consul preserved from the greatest Dangers Treacheries the very point of Death not so much for his own Life as for your Safety All degrees and ranks of Men conspire to defend the Commonwealth with their Judgments Affections Desires Valour and Votes Our Countrey surrounded with the Firebrands and Darts of this impious Conspiracy stretcheth forth her supplicating hands to you to you she commits her self to you the lives of all her Citizens the Tower and the Capitol to you the Altars of our tutelary Angels the perpetual and sempiternal Fire of Vesta to you all the Temples of the Gods the Shrines the Walls and Houses of the City are recommended Besides this Day are you to decide the case for your own lives the lives of your Wives and Children you Goods your Estates your dwellings You have a Leader mindful of you forgetful of himself which doth not always happen you have all Men the whole Roman People which never before was seen in a domestick cause agreeing in one and the same resolution Think with your selves by how great labours this Empire was founded with what Valour our Liberty was obtained with how great bounty of the Gods these have been encreased our Estates heaped all these one Night had very nigh utterly ruined That this may never be done no nor thought of again by Citizens you are this Day to take care And this I do not speak so much to stir up those who are ready to run before me as that my Voice which ought to be principal in the Common-wealth may be heard to have performed the Consular Office 10. But before I return to the Sentence I must add a little as to my self By how great the Band of Conspirators is which you know to be considerable such a multitude of Enemies have I undertaken Yet I cannot but think them base weak low contemptible But if ever any Power raised up by their rage and wickedness should prevail over you and the Common-wealth's Dignity I shall never repent O Conscript Fathers of my Actions and Counsels For Death which they perhaps threaten me with is before us all but to that Glory of Life which you by your Decrees have honoured me with none else hath attained You have given to others the congratulation of well managing to me only of preserving the Common-wealth Let Scipio be renow'nd by whose Counsel and Valour Hannibal was driven out of Italy glad to return again into his own Africa Or let that other Africanus who subverted Carthage and Numantia two Cities most mischievous to this Empire be advanced with eminent Praise Let that L. Paulus whose Triumphant Chariot the most noble and potent King Perseus adorned be esteemed Honourable Let Marius be in Eternal Glory who twice delivered Italy from being invironed with Enemies and from the danger of servitude Before them all place Pompey whose Valour and success have run through so many Countries and Regions that they are Parallel with the Travels of the Sun Yet among the Praises of all these shall place be found for our Glory unless perhaps it be judged greater to open a way for entring into Provinces then 't is to preserve that place into which the Conquerors are to return Triumphant Though in one respect forreign Victory is much more desirable than domestick When Enemies abroad are subdued they either serve us or being received into Friendship acknowledge themselves oblig'd But when once those who being in the Number of Citizens are possessed with a Rebellious Phrensie commence Enemies to their Countrey they if you go to drive them from the destruction of the Common-wealth will neither be restrain'd by force nor appeas'd by kindness Wherefore I see my self ingaged in an eternal War with mischievous Citizens which I assure my self by the assistance of you and all good men by the Memory of so great dangers which shall have a being not only among the People preserved but in the Hearts and Tongues of all Nations will be easily diverted from me and mine Nor can there any force be found so great as may either subvert or shake the union of you and the Roman Knights or the unanimity of all good men 11. Wherefore O Conscript Fathers instead of that command that Army that Province which I have quitted instead of that Triumph those Ensigns of Glory which have been cast aside by me that I might effect yours and the Cities safety for those Retinues and provincial Guests whom I do at no less charge maintain then I did at first procure for all these things and my most eminent affections towards you for this my utmost diligence in preserving the Common-wealth the Fruits of which you all now behold I ask nothing else of you but the Memory of this time and of my whole Consulship which being imprinted upon your minds I esteem my irrefragable defence But if the violence of Villains shall deceive and baffle my hopes I recommend to you my little Son whose Safety and Honour shall be sufficiently guarded if you will but remember