[143] Plots which he had laid for the consuls in the Campus Martius --_Insidiae quas consuli in campo fecerat_. I have here departed from the text of Cortius, who reads _consulibus_, thinking that Catiline, in his rage, might have extended his plots even to the consuls-elect. But _consuli_, there is little doubt, is the right reading, as it is favored by what is said at the beginning of the chapter, _insidias parabat Ciceroni_, by what follows in the next chapter, _consuli insidias tendere_, and by the words, _sperans, si designatus foret, facile se ex voluntate Antonio usurum_; for if Catiline trusted that he should be able to use his pleasure with Antonius, he could hardly think it necessary to form plots against his life. I have De Brosses on my side, who translates the phrase, _les pieges où il comptait faire périr le consul_. The words _in campo_, which look extremely like an intruded gloss, I wonder that Cortius should have retained. "_Consuli_," says Gerlach, "appears the more eligible, not only on account of _consuli insidias tendere_, c. 27, but because nothing but the death of Cicero was necessary to make everything favorable for Catiline." Kritzius, Bernouf, Dietsch, Pappaur, Allen, and all the modern editors, read _Consuli_. See also the end of c. 27: _Si prius Ciceronem oppressisset_.] [note 144: Had ended in confusion and disgrace--_Aspera faedaque evenerant_. I have borrowed from Murphy. [145] XXVII. Of Camerinum--Camertem. "That is, a native of Camerinum, a town on the confines of Umbria and Picenum. Hence the noun _Camers_, as Cic. Pro. Syll., c. 19, _in agro Camerti_." Cortius. [146] Wherever he thought each would be most serviceable--_Ubi quemque opportunum credebat. "Proprie reddas: quam, _et ubi_ illum, _opportunum credebat_," Cortius. See c. 23. [147] When none of his numerous projects succeeded--_Ubi multa agilanti nihil procedit_. [148] XXVIII. On that very night, and with but little delay--_Ea nocte, paulo post_. They resolved on going soon after the meeting broke up, so that they might reach Cicero's house early in the morning, which was the usual time for waiting on great men. _Ingentem foribus domus alla superbis_ Mane _salutantûm totis vomit aedibus undam_. Virg. Georg., ii. 461. [149] XXIX. This is the greatest power which--is granted, etc. --_Ea potestas per senatum, more Romano, magistratui maxima permittitur_. Cortius, _mirâ judicii peversitate_, as Kritzius observes, makes _ea_ the ablative case, understanding "decretione," "formula," or some such word; but, happily, no one has followed him. [150] XXX. By the 27th of October--_Ante diem VI. Kalendas Novembres_. He means that they were in arms on or before that day. [151] Quintus Marcius Rex--He had been proconsul in Cilicia, and was expecting a triumph for his successes. [152] Quintus Metellus Creticus--He had obtained the surname of Creticus from having reduced the island of Crete.