Rome -- History -- Republic, 265-30 B.C. -- Fiction
things false, I presume, which are believed by most men of a future state
that the wicked, I mean, journey on a different road from the righteous,
and inhabit places aloof from them, dark, horrid, waste, and fearful.
"He hath declared his intent, therefore, to vote for the confiscation of
their property; and the detention of themselves in the borough towns in
close custody. Fearing, forsooth, that if they be kept in Rome, they may
be rescued forcibly, either by the confederates in their plot, or by a
hireling rabble. Just as if there were only rogues and villains in this
city, and none throughout all Italy.—Just as if audacity cannot effect the
greatest things there, where the means of defence are the smallest.
Wherefore his plan is absurd, if he fear peril from these men. And if he
alone, in the midst of consternation so general, do not fear, the more
need is there that you and I do fear them. Wherefore, when you vote on the
fate of Publius Lentulus and the rest, hold this assured, that you are
voting also on the fate of Catiline’s army, on the fate of the whole
conspiracy. With the more energy you act, the more will their courage fail
them. If they shall see you falter but a little, all at once they will
fall on fiercely. Be far from believing that our ancestors raised this
republic from a small state to a great empire, by dint of arms alone. Had
it been so, much greater should we have rendered it, who have much greater
force than they, of citizens and of allies, of arms and of horses. But
there were other things which made them great, which we lack altogether.
At home, industry, abroad justice! A mind free to take counsel, unbiassed
by crime or passion. Instead of these things we possess luxury and
avarice. Public need, private opulence. We praise wealth, and practice
indolence. Between righteous and guilty we make no distinction. Ambition
gains all the rewards of virtue. Nor is this strange, when separately
every one of you takes counsel for himself alone. When at home, you are
slaves to pleasure; here in the Senate house, to bribery or favor. Thence
it arises that a general charge is made from all quarters against the
helpless commonwealth.
"But this I will pass over.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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