Cicero: Why Not Put Catiline To Death?

   


    As Catiline's conspiracy began to unravel before Rome's eyes, Roman Consul Cicero continues his oration, attacking his new enemy, by addressing Catiline's designated death, as well as how he himself plans to take action.
   

    Cicero continues his speech by stating that, as time wears on, specifically 20 days since the discovery of Catiline's plots, the authority of the senate is weakening. Cicero metaphorically compares the authority of the senate to a sword, both being strong and sharp. (At vero nos vicesimum iam diem patimur hebescere aciem horum auctoritatis.) 

    With a solution in mind, Cicero arouses the idea of the execution of Catiline, by rummaging up an old law within the "senatus consultum" (a text maintaining laws passable by Consul) which seemed to have lost effect over time. Cicero uses a simile to compare the senatus consultum, or the decree of the senate, to a sword that has been put away into a sheath, both being deadly yet concealed. (Habemus enim huiusce modi senatus consultum, verum inclusum in tabulis tamquam in vagina reconditum, quo ex senatus consulto confestim te interfectum esse, Catilina, convenit)

      Next, Cicero scolds Catiline, telling him that his life itself is meant to grow more powerful in corruption. (Vivis, et vivis non ad deponendam, sed ad confirmandam audaciam)

    Conflicted on the matter, Cicero asks the Senate not to look upon him as negligent on the matter, and that he himself condemns his lack of aggression and blames himself for his delay of action. (Cupio, patres conscripti, me esse clementem, cupio in tantis rei publicae periculis me non dissolutum videri, sed iam me ipse inertiae nequitiaeque condemno)

    Cicero then makes reference to Catiline's camps, which have been set up in Faesulae, Etruria, or modern day Fiesole, Italy, which was colonized by General Sulla with veterans, who under the leadership of Gaius Mallius, began support the Catiline Conspiracy. (Castra sunt in Italia contra populum Romanum in Etruriae faucibus conlocata)

    In agitation, Cicero tells the "Conscript Fathers", or the Senate, that day by day, the enemies of Rome are growing larger, and their leader, Catiline, is, surprisingly right here in Rome, plotting from within. (crescit in dies singulos hostium numerus; eorum autem castrorum imperatorem ducemque hostium intra moenia atque adeo in senatu videtis intestinam aliquam cotidie perniciem rei publicae molientem)

    Cicero fears that, if he does in fact kill Catiline, the Senate will say action has been done too late, and any commoner would say action has been done too cruelly. Yet Catiline justifies his hesitation on the matter by saying that with time, he can assure the situation was handled both correctly and justly. (Si te iam, Catilina, comprehendi, si interfici iussero, credo, erit verendum mihi, ne non potius hoc omnes boni serius a me quam quisquam crudelius factum esse dicat

    When even the people as wicked and corrupt as Catiline believe his execution was lawfully, only then will Cicero kill Catiline. (Tum denique interficiere, cum iam nemo tam inprobus, tam perditus, tam tui similis inveniri poterit, qui id non iure factum esse fateatur)

    Yet Cicero assures Catiline that his remaining life will be just as bad as any death. Catiline will live under the eye of all of Rome, as well as Cicero's personal guards, which Catiline has neglected to realize have been watching him all along. (Quamdiu quisquam erit, qui te defendere audeat, vives, et vives ita, ut [nunc] vivis. multis meis et firmis praesidiis obsessus, ne commovere te contra rem publicam possis. Multorum te etiam oculi et aures non sentientem, sicut adhuc fecerunt, speculabuntur atque custodient.)