Speeches against Catilina

PART I.—INTRODUCTION AND TEXT
THIRD EDITION, REVISED
OXFORD
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
1900
The text adopted in the following Orations is that of Halm (11th Edition, Berlin, 1882), from whose notes I have derived much help. I have also consulted the English edition of the Speeches, based on that of Halm, by Mr. A. S. Wilkins. My best thanks are due to Mr. Evelyn Abbott, Fellow and Tutor of Balliol College, the Editor of the Series, for his kind assistance in superintending the printing of the book.
E. A. U. Wellington College, June, 1887.
The four speeches against Catilina were delivered during the latter part of the year b.c. 63, when Cicero was Consul.
He was born probably about b.c. 108, though the exact date is unknown. His first appearance in public life was during the dictatorship of Sulla (b.c. 82-79). When the latter issued his proscription list, Catilina was among those who took an active part in carrying out the work of bloodshed and confiscation. This, however, was from personal motives, and not from any sympathy with the Senatorial party which had triumphed under Sulla; for he subsequently attached himself entirely to the popular side.
During this year (65) Catilina was acquitted on the charge of extortion. The trial had, however, been postponed long enough to prevent him from standing for the Consulship for the year 64.
Defeated in his immediate object, Catilina began to entertain the idea of carrying out his designs by force. The time was eminently favourable for an armed insurrection against the government. Seventeen years before, Sulla had rewarded the soldiers of his victorious army by establishing them in colonies in various parts of Italy, and assigning them allotments of land. Unsuited for an agricultural life, these men had for the most part mismanaged their farms and exhausted their resources. Accordingly they were restless and discontented, and desired nothing so much as a return of the civil wars, with fresh chances of plunder. From among these and other discontented spirits, Catilina began secretly to recruit and organize an army, selecting as his leader one Manlius, who had served with distinction under Sulla as centurion. At the same time he opened secret negotiations with the schools of gladiators in different parts of Italy. Thus prepared, he again stood for the Consulship for the year 62; his intention being to bring about a general rising if he should be once more defeated.