[14.]
[83] The author, after having given a description of the state of morality in the time of Sulla, now proceeds to the life of Catiline himself, and in the following two chapters, describes the associates in whom that criminal placed his confidence, and with whose help he hoped to overturn the constitution. Flagitia and facinora in this passage have the meaning of homines flagitiosi, and facinorosi.
[84] Manu, ‘by playing at dice’ (alea), because that game was played with the hand, either with or without the cup containing the dice (fritillus).
[85] Difficulter. See Zumpt, § 267, note 2.
[86] ‘In accordance with his (still) youthful age.’ Zumpt, § 309.
[87] Dum for dummodo, ‘if but.’
[15.]
[88] Catiline then had a son from a previous marriage, whom he got rid of because Orestilla would not become his wife, from fear of the young man, who was already grown up, and who would have become her stepson (privignus).
[89] ‘The consciousness of his guilt disturbed his thinking powers,’ for this is the meaning of mens as distinct from animus, which has reference to the feelings.
[16.]
[90] Gratuito, ‘gratuitously,’ ‘without any advantage.’ Respecting the form of this adverb, see Zumpt, § 266.
[91] Sulla had given settlements to the legions with which he had gained the victory over the Marian party in the territory of those towns which had longest remained faithful to his adversaries; and it was more especially in Etruria that this measure had brought about a complete change of the owners of the soil. But the new landowners had acted very recklessly on their new estates, and therefore were inclined to favour any fresh revolutionary attempt which seemed to promise an equally favourable result.
[92] Gn. Pompeius. Respecting the orthography of the prenomen Gneius, see Zumpt, § 4. Pompey was then engaged in the war against Mithridates, king of Pontus, and Tigranes, king of Armenia; and in consequence of this war, the extensive country of Syria, which had before been an independent kingdom, became a Roman province.
[93] Nihil sane intentus, ‘in no way attentive.’ For the difference between nihil and non, see Zumpt, § 677.
[17.]
[94] That is, in the year B.C. 64, or 690 after the building of the city.
[95] Necessitudo, ‘a close connection’ or ‘friendship’ is commonly distinguished from necessitas, ‘necessity,’ or ‘a compulsory circumstance;’ but the two words are often confounded with each other, as here, and subsequently in this chapter, necessitudo is used in the sense of necessitas.
[96] For the difference between plures and complures, see Zumpt, § 65.
[97] Juventus pleraque, ‘most young men.’ Commonly the plural plerique only is used; but see Zumpt, § 103.
[98] Ea tempestate, an old-fashioned expression, such as Sallust is fond of, for eo tempore; for in ordinary Latinity, tempestas is used only in the sense of ‘storm’ or ‘tempest.’
[99] M. Licinius Crassus had been consul several years before (B.C. 70), together with Cn. Pompey, and enjoyed considerable popularity both on account of his former practical usefulness in the state, and on account of his colossal wealth, which he used with proper discretion.
[18.]
[100] Antea. Sallust, who has commenced speaking of the conspiracy entered into in the year B. C. 64, considers it necessary, before relating its progress, to go back to an earlier conspiracy, which failed, and in which Catiline had likewise taken an active part. This earlier conspiracy the author relates in chaps. [19] and [20].
[101] Qua; supply conjuratione, which is to be taken from the verb conjuravere. This is an irregularity arising from the desire to be brief and concise.
[102] That is, in the year B. C. 66, or 688 after the building of the city.
[103] Interrogati — that is, accusati, ‘taken to account by accusers,’ because the beginning of all such accusations consisted in the accused being asked whether they owned having done this or that thing forbidden by law.
[104] Post paulo is less common than paulo post.
[105] Repetundarum reus, ‘accused of extortion.’ Res repetundae, in legal phraseology, signifies the things or money which had been illegally taken by public officers from those subject to their authority; for such citizens or subjects had a right, after the expiration of the official year of their ruler, to reclaim (repetere) their property in a court of law. Those officers who were found guilty had, in addition, to pay a fine, or were otherwise punished. A person who stood accused of extortion was not allowed to come forward as a candidate for any other office before he was tried and acquitted.
[106] Profiteri, ‘to announce one’s self’ as a candidate for an office.
[107] These are the consuls of the year B. C. 65, who had obtained their office after the condemnation of the above-mentioned P. Sulla (a nephew of the dictator) and P. Autronius.
[108] Hispanias. Ancient Spain was, for administrative purposes, divided into two provinces — Hispania Tarraconensis, or provincia citerior, with Tarraco (the modern Tarragona) for its capital; and Hispania Baetica, or ulterior, deriving its name from the river Baitis (the modern Guadalquiver). Its chief towns were Corduba and Hispalis (now Seville).
[109] About the force of quod, when joined to conjunctions, see Zumpt, § 807. Compare p.14, note 6 [[note 14]].