Conspiracy of Catiline and The Jurgurthine War | Page 3

people, as any occurrence
should seem worthy of mention; an undertaking to which I was the
rather inclined, as my mind was uninfluenced by hope, fear, or political
partisanship. I shall accordingly give a brief account, with as much
truth as I can, of the Conspiracy of Catiline; for I think it an enterprise
eminently deserving of record, from the unusual nature both of its guilt
and of its perils. But before I enter upon my narrative, I must give a
short description of the character of the man.
V. Lucius Catiline was a man of noble birth[40], and of eminent mental
and personal endowments; but of a vicious and depraved disposition.
His delight, from his youth, had been civil commotions, bloodshed,
robbery, and sedition[41]; and in such scenes he had spent his early
years.[42] His constitution could endure hunger, want of sleep, and
cold, to a degree surpassing belief. His mind was daring, subtle, and
versatile, capable of pretending or dissembling whatever he wished.[43]
He was covetous of other men's property, and prodigal of his own. He
had abundance of eloquence,[44] though but little wisdom. His
insatiable ambition was always pursuing objects extravagant, romantic,
and unattainable.
Since the time of Sylla's dictatorship,[45] a strong desire of seizing the
government possessed him, nor did he at all care, provided that he
secured power[46] for himself, by what means he might arrive at it. His
violent spirit was daily more and more hurried on by the diminution of
his patrimony, and by his consciousness of guilt; both which evils he
had increased by those practices which I have mentioned above. The
corrupt morals of the state, too, which extravagance and selfishness,
pernicious and contending vices, rendered thoroughly depraved,[47]
furnished him with additional incentives to action.
Since the occasion has thus brought public morals under my notice, the
subject itself seems to call upon me to look back, and briefly to
describe the conduct of our ancestors[48] in peace and war; how they
managed the state, and how powerful they left it; and how, by gradual
alteration, it became, from being the most virtuous, the most vicious
and depraved.
VI. Of the city of Rome, as I understand,[49] the founders and earliest
inhabitants were the Trojans, who, under the conduct of Aeneas, were

wandering about as exiles from their country, without any settled abode;
and with these were joined the Aborigines,[50] a savage race of men,
without laws or government, free, and owning no control. How easily
these two tribes, though of different origin, dissimilar language, and
opposite habits of life, formed a union when they met within the same
walls, is almost incredible.[51] But when their state, from an accession
of population and territory, and an improved condition of morals,
showed itself tolerably flourishing and powerful, envy, as is generally
the case in human affairs, was the consequence of its prosperity. The
neighboring kings and people, accordingly, began to assail them in war,
while a few only of their friends came to their support; for the rest,
struck with alarm, shrunk from sharing their dangers. But the Romans,
active at home and in the field, prepared with alacrity for their
defense.[52] They encouraged one another, and hurried to meet the
enemy. They protected, with their arms, their liberty, their country, and
their homes. And when they had at length repelled danger by valor,
they lent assistance to their allies and supporters, and procured
friendships rather by bestowing[53] favors than by receiving them.
They had a government regulated by laws. The denomination of their
government was monarchy. Chosen men, whose bodies might be
enfeebled by years, but whose minds were vigorous in understanding,
formed the council of the state; and these, whether from their age, or
from the similarity of their duty, were called FATHERS.[54] But
afterward, when the monarchical power, which had been originally
established for the protection of liberty, and for the promotion of the
public interest, had degenerated into tyranny and oppression, they
changed their plan, and appointed two magistrates,[55] with power
only annual; for they conceived that, by this method, the human mind
would be least likely to grow overbearing for want of control.
VII. At this period every citizen began to seek distinction, and to
display his talents with greater freedom; for, with princes, the
meritorious are greater objects of suspicion than the undeserving, and
to them the worth of others is a source of alarm. But when liberty was
secured, it is almost incredible[56] how much the state strengthened
itself in a short space of time, so strong a passion for distinction had
pervaded it. Now, for the first time, the youth, as soon as they were
able to bear the toil of war,[57] acquired military skill by actual service

in the camp, and took pleasure rather in