et legatorum Allobrogum convicti confessique sint caedem, incendia aliaque se foeda atque crudelia facinora in cives patriamque paravisse, de confessis sicuti de manifestis rerum capitalium more majorum supplicium sumendum.' [273] Cato says, '_When I consider the danger of our situation, I form quite a different view_ from what I do when I reflect upon the opinions expressed by some about the punishment of the criminals; for the present danger demands energetic measures of defence, while some of you are speaking only about the punishment of a crime already committed. But such a view is incorrect, for we are still surrounded by the greatest dangers.' [274] _Pluris facere_, 'to esteem higher.' [275] _Capessere rem publicam_, 'to take part in the administration of the state,' or 'to devote one's self to its service.' [276] _Verba facere_, 'to speak,' or 'to make a speech.' [277] 'I who had never connived at any of my bad acts'--that is, I who had never given way to my own weaknesses. About this subjunctive expressing the reason why the orator does not allow the faults of others to pass unnoticed, see Zumpt, SS 555, 558. [278] 'The strength of the state bore the negligence' in restraining the arbitrary proceedings in which individuals indulged. [279] 'And here any one will speak to me of clemency and mercy!' alluding to Caesar. The negative pronoun _quisquam_ is used because the meaning implied is, that no one ought to have done so. See Zumpt, S 709. [280] _Equidem_ for _quidem_, as often in Sallust, but never in Cicero. The meaning is: 'We have indeed (_quidem_) long since lost the habit of calling things by their true names, but this erroneous application of the word _mercy_ is not to be borne.' [281] _Eo_; Cicero would have said _ea re_. [282] Instead of _et_, the author might have used _neve_ (_neu_), since from the preceding clause we have to supply _ne_ to _et_. This is not a very common mode of speaking; but it occurs most frequently when, after a negative clause, _et_ introduces a kind of antithesis, and thus acquires the power of _sed_. [283] _Et non_ corrects the untrue supposition, that there were no rebels except at Rome. In such a case we can neither use _non_ without _et_, nor _neque_. See Zumpt, S 334. [284] 'If Caesar alone is unconcerned, it is more requisite (necessary or important) that I should be concerned for me and for you.' About _refert_, see Zumpt, SS 23, 449, note. [285] _Habetote_; this future imperative denotes that something is to be done when something else shall take place. Zumpt, S 583. [286] The meaning is: 'All will be there immediately'--that is, they will rise to make the attack. [287] Cato means to say, 'It is a wrong opinion that our state has become great by arms; for if this were true, it would now be in the most flourishing condition, as our military power is now greater than it ever was.