Lucius Seneca - Yale Required Reading - Collected Works (Vol. 2)

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After the tribunitian authority was restored, under the consulship of Pompey and Crassus, certain young men, whose age and spirits were vigorous and buoyant, having acquired that high dignity, began, by inveighing against the senate, to inflame the populace; then by largesses, and great promises, to heighten their rage; and thus gained great credit and power to themselves.

The greatest part of the nobility exerted their utmost efforts in opposition to them; in appearance, to support the grandeur of the senate, but, in reality, their own: for, to declare the truth in few words, all who raised commotions in the state in those days made use of specious pretences; some, to assert the rights of the people; others, to advance the authority of the senate; all to promote the public good; while every one only endeavoured to gain power to himself. Their contests were carried on without any bounds or moderation; and whatever party prevailed, made a cruel use of the victory.

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But when Pompey was sent against the pirates and Mithridates, the power of the people declined, and the whole sway was in the hands of a few. These engrossed all public offices, the government of the provinces, and every thing else; lived unaccountable themselves, in great ease and security; overawed the popular magistrates with impeachments, and thus prevented them from exciting the spirit of the people. But as soon as there was any hope of a change in the state, the old contest fired the minds of the populace. And if Catiline had conquered in the first engagement, or come off but with equal loss, great distress and calamity must certainly have overwhelmed the state: nor would the conquerors have long enjoyed their victory; but, when they were weakened and exhausted, whoever had most power would have seized the government, and subverted liberty.

Some there were, however, who, though not concerned in the conspiracy, yet immediately joined Catiline. Among these was A. Fulvius, the son of a senator; who was taken on the road, brought back to the city, and put to death by his father’s orders. 27At the same time Lentulus, in obedience to Catiline’s orders, was endeavouring to gain over, by himself or others, all such as, from their characters or circumstances, he thought proper to be employed in bringing about a revolution; not only citizens of Rome, but all that could bear arms.

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Accordingly he employed one P. Umbrenus to apply to the deputies of the Allobroges, 28and engage them, if possible, to join in the war: for he imagined, that as they were oppressed both with public and private debts, and the whole nation of the Gauls was naturally warlike, it would be no difficult matter to persuade them to enter into such a design. Umbrenus, having traded in Gaul, was known to most of the principal men in it, and acquainted with the characters. Accordingly, without any delay, as soon as he saw the deputies in the forum, after putting a few questions to them concerning the state of their nation, and affecting a deep concern for their grievances, he proceeded to ask, what issue they hoped for to their calamities? then, perceiving that they complained of the covetousness of our magistrates; that they inveighed against the senate for yielding them no protection; and that they expected from death alone a remedy to their miseries; he replied, “If you will only act like men, I will put you on a method to get rid of all your pressures.” The Allobroges, on hearing this, conceived mighty hopes, and besought Umbrenus to take pity on them; for that there was no enterprise so difficult or dangerous in which they would not with the utmost readiness engage, provided it would free their state from so vast a load of debt. He then carried them to the house of D. Brutus, which joined to the forum, and was a very proper place for such a consultation, Sempronia being an accomplice, and Brutus then from Rome. To give the greater weight to what he had to say, he sent for Gabinius, too, before whom he laid open to them the conspiracy, named all who were engaged in it, and also many innocent persons, of every rank, to give them the greater courage; and then dismissed them, after they had promised their assistance.

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The Allobroges, however, were long in suspense what course to take. On one side were pressing debts, a passion for war, and the prospect of great advantages from victory: on the other, superior power, safe measures, and instead of uncertain hopes, a certain recompense. While they were thus balancing, the fortune of Rome prevailed. 29Accordingly, they discovered all they knew of the conspiracy to Q. Fabius Sanga, on whose patronage their nation chiefly depended. Cicero, apprized of the matter by Sanga, ordered the deputies to feign a mutiny zeal for the conspiracy, to go to the rest of the accomplices, to promise largely, and endeavour to bring them under as clear conviction as possible.

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Much about the same time there were commotions in Hither and Further Gaul, in the territory of Picenum, in Brutium, and Apulia. Those whom Catiline had sent into those parts acted like madmen, pushing inconsiderately all their measures at once; and by their consultations in the night-time, their carrying arms to and fro, their eager haste and precipitate proceedings, caused more alarm than danger. Many of these Q. Metellus Celer the prætor committed to prison, agreeably to the decree of the senate; as did C. Muræna in Hither Gaul, where he was deputy-governor.

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At Rome, in the mean time, Lentulus, with the other heads of the conspiracy, presuming on a sufficient force, resolved that, as soon as Catiline arrived with his army in the territory of Fæsulæ, L. Bestia the tribune should assemble the people, inveigh against Cicero’s conduct, and lay the blame of so distressful a war on the best of consuls; that on this signal the whole body of the conspirators should, on the ensuing night, betake themselves to the discharge of their respective parts, which were said to be assigned them in the following manner. Statilius and Gabinius, with a considerable party, were to set fire at once to twelve of the most convenient places in the city, that in the general hurry they might the more easily reach the consul, and all those whom they designed to assassinate. Cethegus was to force Cicero’s house and put him to death; while others were employed elsewhere in the like manner: young men too there were, living as yet with their parents (mostly indeed from among the nobility), who were to kill their fathers: and when they had spread consternation and horror every where by flames and massacre, they were to march out and meet Catiline.

While they were thus resolving and forming their measures Cethegus was constantly complaining of want of spirit in his associates; that, by their irresolution and delay, they abused the fairest opportunities; that, in so dangerous an enterprise, action was more necessary than deliberation; that for himself, would a few only but support him, he would, notwithstanding the cowardice of others, attack the senate-house. As he was naturally of a daring, resolute spirit, and brave in his person, he thought the success depended on expedition.

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Now the Allobroges, according to Cicero’s instructions, procured a meeting, by means of Gabinius, with the rest of the conspirators; and demanded from Lentulus, Cethegus, Statilius, and likewise from Cassius, an oath signed severally by them, to carry to their countrymen, who otherwise would not be easily prevailed on to engage in an affair of so great importance. The rest, suspecting nothing, readily granted it: but Cassius promised that he would be in their country in a short time; and accordingly left Rome a little before the deputies. In company with these Lentulus sent one Volturcius, of Crotona, that before they went home they might ratify the league with Catiline by mutual ties. He likewise gave Volturcius a letter for Catiline, in the following words: