"No! by the Father of Quirinus! with my casque on my head, and my broad-sword on my thigh, and with three hundred of my clients at my back! They sup in my Atrium, at the fifth hour of the night, and at the sixth, we mount our horses. I think Cicero will not bar our passage."
"By Mars! he would beat the gates down rather, to let you forth the more easily."
"If he be wise he would."
"He is wise," said Catiline. "Would God that he were less so."
"To be overwise, is worse, sometimes, than to be foolish," answered Cethegus.
"And to be over bold, worse than to be a coward!" said Catiline. "Therefore, Cethegus, be thou neither. Now, my friends, I do not say leave me, but excuse me, until the third hour, when we will banquet. Nay! go not forth[pg 61] from the house, I pray you; it may arouse suspicion, which I would have you shun. There are books in the library, for who would read; foils in the garden, balls in the fives-court, for who would breathe themselves before supper; and lastly, there are some fair slaves in the women's chamber, for who would listen to the lute, or kiss soft lips, and not unwilling. I have still many things to do, ere I depart."
"And those done, a farewell caress to Orestilla," said Cethegus, laughing.
"Aye! would I could take her with me."
"Do you doubt her, then, that you fear to leave her?"
"If I doubted, I would not leave her—or I would leave her so, as not to doubt her. Alexion himself, cannot in general cure the people, whom I doubt."